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Seven area high school seniors presided over local government for a day during the annual Students in Government (SIG) Day, which was held this year on Tuesday, February 26. SIG Day provides area youth with a detailed understanding of the inner workings of Worcester County Government, and more specifically the responsibilities of the seven County Commissioners.
The 2008 Student Commissioners included Clayton Perry of Worcester Preparatory School, Matthew Gladding and Kori Pitts of Pocomoke High School, Breonna Miller and Alyssa Scott of Snow Hill High School, and Katie Nicholls and Dennis Teegardin of Stephen Decatur High School. Miss Nicholls and Mr. Teegardin were chosen to serve as commission president and vice president, respectively.
Learning about Worcester County’s form of government, Code Home Rule, becomes both entertaining and educational in this hands-on approach to government that includes both a mock open and closed session. These meetings introduce the students to the Commissioners’ responsibilities by providing them with the opportunity to exercise overall management of county departments and agencies.
Student commissioners become familiar with the process of making and voting on motions, conducting public hearings to receive comments from their constituents, and meeting in legislative sessions. Because there is so much information to review and process, the student commissioners meet with county staff to review their packet and ask questions the week prior to the meeting.
During the course of the open and closed meetings, student commissioners learn that it is vital to utilize their staff, public comments and other available resources in order to determine the course of action that will best benefit Worcester County and its residents as a whole. As the student commissioners took to their benches to preside over the matters before them, Worcester County Commissioners, various department heads, civics classes and area residents in attendance livened up the proceedings by representing themselves as concerned citizens, area political figures and even salesmen to voice their concerns and attempt to influence the student commissioners’ decisions.
While the lineup of items discussed by the student commissioners does change each year, some of the actions of this year’s student commissioners included conducting a hearing on a nuisance property and a public hearing on an emergency bill to increase the hotel rental tax, considering state legislation to permit video lottery terminals (a.k.a. slots) in Worcester County, reviewing bid proposals for the Pocomoke High School addition and renovation project, approving the County Operating Budget and more. In the past, student commissioners have established by resolution overall county policies on matters such as personnel rules, financial management, use of county property and construction standards, awarded bids for construction work and purchased equipment.
Following SIG Day, it is the hope of Worcester County Government that the experience has helped to ignite a passion in every student in attendance to become and remain involved in the political process throughout their lifetimes.
The 2008 Student Commissioners included Clayton Perry of Worcester Preparatory School, Matthew Gladding and Kori Pitts of Pocomoke High School, Breonna Miller and Alyssa Scott of Snow Hill High School, and Katie Nicholls and Dennis Teegardin of Stephen Decatur High School. Miss Nicholls and Mr. Teegardin were chosen to serve as commission president and vice president, respectively.
Learning about Worcester County’s form of government, Code Home Rule, becomes both entertaining and educational in this hands-on approach to government that includes both a mock open and closed session. These meetings introduce the students to the Commissioners’ responsibilities by providing them with the opportunity to exercise overall management of county departments and agencies.
Student commissioners become familiar with the process of making and voting on motions, conducting public hearings to receive comments from their constituents, and meeting in legislative sessions. Because there is so much information to review and process, the student commissioners meet with county staff to review their packet and ask questions the week prior to the meeting.
During the course of the open and closed meetings, student commissioners learn that it is vital to utilize their staff, public comments and other available resources in order to determine the course of action that will best benefit Worcester County and its residents as a whole. As the student commissioners took to their benches to preside over the matters before them, Worcester County Commissioners, various department heads, civics classes and area residents in attendance livened up the proceedings by representing themselves as concerned citizens, area political figures and even salesmen to voice their concerns and attempt to influence the student commissioners’ decisions.
While the lineup of items discussed by the student commissioners does change each year, some of the actions of this year’s student commissioners included conducting a hearing on a nuisance property and a public hearing on an emergency bill to increase the hotel rental tax, considering state legislation to permit video lottery terminals (a.k.a. slots) in Worcester County, reviewing bid proposals for the Pocomoke High School addition and renovation project, approving the County Operating Budget and more. In the past, student commissioners have established by resolution overall county policies on matters such as personnel rules, financial management, use of county property and construction standards, awarded bids for construction work and purchased equipment.
Following SIG Day, it is the hope of Worcester County Government that the experience has helped to ignite a passion in every student in attendance to become and remain involved in the political process throughout their lifetimes.
