Peabody students, officials meet

PEABODY – Seventy students from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School mingled with city officials Tuesday morning in preparation for the 37th annual Student Government Day.Each year, students run for elected positions, such as Ward Councilor, City Clerk, School Committee member, or Mayor. Some even dare to run for the position of a local journalist responsible for fairly and accurately reporting Peabody news.”It’s a pretty good program,” said Mayor Michael Bonfanti, who attended Tuesday’s meet and greet.Thursday, April 10 marks the official date of Student Government Day in Peabody when students will shadow their counterparts for the entire day.To ensure students get to truly experience their roles and the responsibilities that come along with them, they’ll participate in mock staff meetings, City Council meetings, and School Committee meetings at City Hall and the Kiley School.Bonfanti said that the students will be given some realistic motions to make, as well as some not so realistic ones, such as giving teachers a $10 million raise. They will also have a chance to discuss any personal issues they might have with the city.Students and their counterparts will arrange to meet again sometime before April.