SAUGUS — Saugus students gathered at the Town Hall Auditorium on Friday morning to learn the ins and outs of local government by taking part in a mock Board of Selectmen meeting, School Committee meeting, and a Town Meeting for Student Government Day.

On the school side, teacher Elizabeth Whittredge helped coordinate the event, and Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta, Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano, Selectman Jeff Cicolini, Selectman Michael Serino, and Selectman Frank Federico all participated. School Committee Chair Tom Whittredge, member Dennis Gould, and Superintendent Michael Hashem also participated. Other town officials included Town Meeting members and Town Manager Scott Crabtree.

The town officials guided the students through the mock meetings, helping them with public hearings, discussions, and Town Meeting votes as they made their way through various agendas.

The Board of Selectmen was chaired by Annie Jean-Baptiste, who, with the help of Panetta and the other selectmen and students, went through topics such as a request for a parade permit from the Saugus Veterans Council, a Common Victualler license and an Entertainment License for a GameStop, and the reading of the Student Government Day Proclamation.

The students also got to ask Crabtree questions as he went through the Town Manager’s Report, with student Jayme McPhee asking about snow removal and the need to fix sidewalks.

The School Committee, chaired by Cole Gosselin, nailed some key topics currently being discussed, like the new phone bill that was recently passed, the sibling bus policy, and AI in the classroom, speaking with Hashem on the different subjects.

What took center stage for the students, many of whom were currently dealing with this policy, was the no-backpack rule.

The students spoke to Hashem about different reasons why they should be allowed to bring their backpacks to their classrooms, creating a real dialogue between students and the school administration.

Town Meeting was the last mock meeting and was led by Nicholas Shaw in the role of town moderator. Shaw took a seat next to Saugus’ actual town moderator, Steve Doherty, to go through multiple articles.

In the end, the students were given lunch from Kowloon with the assistance of the Saugus Business Education Collaborative.

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Saugus Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta helps Annie Jean-Baptiste learn how to run a Selectmen meeting during Student Government Day.

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Saugus students, from left, Stephanie Perez, Kieiry Camilo Grallon, Annie Jean-Baptiste, Matthew Bell, and Jayme McPhee learn how to run a Selectmen meeting Saugus Board of Selectmen members, from left, Frank Federico, Anthony Cogliano, Debra Panetta, Jeffrey Cicolini, and Michael Serino during Student Government Day on Friday.

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Saugus Selectman Anthony Cogliano helps Saugus student Kieiry Camilo Grallon respond to a proposal during the mock meeting as part of Student Government Day.

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Saugus student Kieiry Camilo Grallon responds to public comment with the help of Selectman Anthony Cogliano during the mock meeting as part of Student Government Day on Friday.

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Saugus Selectmen Frank Federico and Anthony Cogliano guide Saugus students Stephanie Perez and Saugus student Kieiry Camilo Grallon through a typical meeting during Student Government Day.

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Saugus student Annie Jean-Baptiste plays the role of chair of the Board of Selectmen during Saugus' Student Government Day on Friday.

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Saugus student Jayme McPhee questions Town Manager Scott Crabtree about safe sidewalks during the mock meeting as part of Student Government Day on Friday.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Saugus Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini guides Saugus student Matthew Bell through a typical meeting during Student Government Day.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Saugus Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini guides Saugus student Matthew Bell through a typical meeting during Student Government Day.

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