SAUGUS — The Board of Selectmen proclaimed May 1 to be Student Government Day. The proclamation passed unanimously with the board.
This will be the first time in a few years that students will have the opportunity to fill the seats of their local government leaders and experience what it’s like to make decisions for the town.
Students will have the opportunity to be a part of mock meetings including, a Board of Selectmen meeting, School Committee meeting and Town Meeting, with students acting as the government body.
The proclamation read: Saugus Student Government Day, whereas the mission of the Saugus Public Schools is to educate, challenge and empower students to be lifelong learners and to achieve excellence with integrity in the 21st century as productive, caring and contributing members of society.
It continued that the mission of Saugus High School is to prepare students to be responsible thoughtful and effective global citizens and that the school is committed to providing a learning environment that encourages students to become actively involved in the learning environment fostering risk-taking, creativity and problem-solving.
The proclamation stated that the school’s purpose is to “produce students who have the knowledge base and intellectual curiosity to become productive, ethical and informed citizens of the 21st century.”
Town Moderator Steve Doherty, School Committee Vice Chair Thomas Whittredge and Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta recently met with Trish Prizio’s students who have signed up to participate in the day.
“They were very excited to participate. Mrs. Prizio is doing a great job getting the students prepared, asking them a lot of tough questions and seeing what they want to see on the agenda,” she said.
Panetta continued that she had created a mock agenda for Prizio to review. Peter Manoogian, a Town Meeting member and chair of the Ash Landfill Closure Committee, also visited the school and reported back that students were coming up with new ideas.
“They came up with some other ideas, and what they asked for the Selectmen to put on is put Dave and Buster’s on there for an entertainment license and, so that’s going to be added,” Panetta said.
She continued that the planning was coming along well and that Prizio had mentioned that a few more students had signed up.
“She’s very excited. It’s great to have a teacher that’s that vested into this day that’s so important to people,” Panetta said.
