Action Center
Wednesday June 25, 2008
Student Conduct Business of Running the Borough
It was an opportunity to give some eighth grade students the chance to run their own town.
A tradition at West Paterson’s Memorial Middle School, the “Youth Month” program lets students learn the official workings of their town and the business of running the borough. The 20 students who held positions in their own makeshift municipality put their knowledge to good use by taking part in an actual council meeting on May 21.
Each student that held a council seat was assigned to an actual council member and had the chance to operate the entire meeting inside borough chambers at the municipal building, according to Keith McElroy, social studies teacher. The students had the opportunity to discuss the agenda with council members prior to the meeting. They spoke for and represented each of their council members and conducted business on each of the agenda items.
Nick Pezzano who held the seat of Youth Month student mayor, ran the entire meeting. Also taking part were the student council members Angelique Agapito, Claudia Gomez, Rosa Llanos, Destinee Milan, Basil Saleh and Sarah Sheikh.
“Nick was briefed by Mayor Pat Lepore and the council members prior to the meeting,” said McElroy. “The other students were also briefed. Under the direction of the council members, the students passed certain items on the municipal budget. It was a real meeting with real proposals on real agenda items. They did a great job.”
The remainder of the students on the Youth Month 2008 ballot sat in during the council session to show support for their fellow student council members.
“This was a great group of eighth graders,” said Council President Keith Kazmark. “They were very interested in learning about the inner workings of their municipality. Earlier in the month they attended a board of education meeting and a court session. They toured the town to visit other municipal sites and marched in the Memorial Day parade. Overall, they were a very well behaved and bright group of kids eager to learn.”
The students finished off their Youth Month schedule of activities with a dinner at Francesco’s Restaurant where they were awarded certificates for their month long participation. Other Youth Month members who were also honored with certificates were Kristina Bronkowski as police chief, Elisa Corsetto as borough treasurer, Matt Mitchell as fire chief, Crisitina D’Amico as borough administrator, Andrew Konzelmann as borough attorney, Kelly Donovan as First Aid Squad captain, Alyssa DeNora as superintendent of schools, Jasmine Sconciafurno as borough judge, Marc Bonilla as board of recreation coordinator, Glen Wilke as superintendent of public works, Ashli Day as president of the board of education, Jamie Wiltshire as library director and Mark Zaki as tax collector.
Also present during the dinner were the West Paterson Board of Education members, council members, Memorial School Principal Charles Silverstein, McElroy and parents.
“This was the most well supported ‘Youth Month’ that I can remember,” stated Kazmark, during the dinner. “We appreciate everyone’s efforts for taking part in this year’s program.”
Reprinted with permission. (c)2008 Passaic Valley Today (Passaic Co., NJ) Tina Pappas
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