Students from Southgate Independent Schools and St. Theresa School took over lead city roles to conduct the December city council meeting last week.
The annual event, sponsored by the city and the Southgate Optimists Club, gives a group of area students, usually in grades six through eight, the opportunity to experience city governance hands-on by conducting the final city council meeting of the year.
“Of my favorite meetings of the year, this is definitely one of them,” said Mayor Jim Hamberg. “I’ve done this for quite a few years, and I can tell you, this is one of the pleasures of being mayor, but also serving on city council. It is great to do this for the schools as well, for St. Therese and also Southgate Independent.
Students take control
Serving as mayor, council member, city attorney, police chief, fire chief and other staff positions, students sit at the front of the room in council chambers, each representing a particular council or staff member. Adults who typically fill those roles sit nearby and help the students understand and get comfortable in their various roles.
Parents, teachers and friends packed the room on Wednesday as the students conducted their meeting. Each student outlined the duties of each council and staff member before continuing with city business.
Here are the students who conducted the meeting:
Mayor and council:
- Priscilla Alford (Southgate Independent) represented Jim Hamberg, mayor
- Cali Cole (Southgate Independent) represented Joe Anderson
- Morgan Paxton (Southgate Independent) represented Mike Lycans
- Emery Koeninger (St. Therese) represented Paul Melville
- Olivia Bowman (St. Therese) represented Mark Messmer
- Layla Hoffstedder (St. Therese) represented Aileen Okura
- Mariah Collins (Southgate Independent) represented Thomas Wegener
City Administration and Departments
- Jamison Murphy (St. Therese) represented Brandi Barton, city clerk
- Mariah Collins (Southgate Independent) represented Patty Edgley, treasurer/finance director
- Bailey Aseltyne (St. Therese) represented Mary Ann Stewart, city attorney
- Verneda Crowder (Southgate Independent) represented Arvil Bowman, city foreman
- Zion Ellis (St. Therese) represented John Beatsch, Fire Department chief
- Owen Meyers (St. Therese) represented John Christmann, Police Department chief
A job well done
Greg Duty, Southgate Independent Schools superintendent, thanked the students and their parents for their work on the project. He also thanked middle school social studies teacher Meghan Dean and Principal Shannon Hansman, along with council member Aileen Okura, for helping prepare the students.
The mayor introduced Jeffery Paul, president of the Southgate Optimists Club. The organization partners with the city and schools on the Kids Day council project but also raises funds throughout the year for youth-related events and projects in the city. Paul noted the club also offers two scholarships for graduating students in the community.
“Maybe 45 years ago, I was sitting here as an eighth-grader of Southgate myself,” said Paul. “It’s a great community. We’ve raised our kids here. I’ve lived here all except for about six months, and it’s great to see the school put on events like this”
Hamberg told the students, “I hope that you all will take the opportunity, as you go, in this city or any city you end up in, to get involved with that city somehow. Come to city council meetings…We thank you for your participation. And to the schools for letting the kids participate — Thank you so much. It just means so much to us.”
For more information on the Southgate Optimists Club, see their website.