On Friday, October 21, at 6PM, Cedar Key School students formally met in chamber, quickly elected a mayor, effectively dealt with two significant city problems, managed unexpected, challenging input from audience participants, expressed appreciation, and charmed an audience of approximately fifty delighted Cedar Keyans. Students` proved themselves able to solve problems in a collegial, participatory, and respectful manner. The evening commenced with Student Government Organization President Claire Brown welcoming the public, explaining the process that lead to the evening`s mock meeting, and thanking all involved. Brown specifically thanked Commissioner Sue Colson for her vision and tutelage in this venture.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Mock City Clerk Emily Colson introduced the five mock commissioners, Tiqvah Cahours, Taylor Davison, Taryn Epperson, Patrick Jackson, and Kalei Wilson and the three hired mock staff members, Police Chief Tyler Anderson, Fire Chief Austin Pope, Public Works Director Kevin Carswell. Students thanked and presented certificates of appreciation to the actual City of Cedar Key staff. Two weighty problems were presented to mock commissioners from the Mock Public Works Department Manager Kevin Carswell: a vandalism issue and a Students Against Tobacco (SWAT) concern. The vandalism issue was clearly, and humorously, depicted with computer-generated graphics picturing the city`s normally pristine fire station marred by graffiti and posed the question of how to eliminate the vandalism problem. The SWAT presentation posed the question of how to minimize the huge amount of cigarette butts littering the city landscape. Adding emphasis to the SWAT issue was the actual presentation of some 4,185 real cigarette butts gathered after the local Coastal Cleanup by the SWAT team. Both the vandalism and the SWAT problems were discussed by the commissioners, aided by staff`s knowledgeable input, assigned to specific individuals, and scheduled with follow-up presentation of gathered information dates. Mock City Attorney Sue Colson advised and guided the commissioners when appropriate. The audience held numerous surprises for the mock commissioners. Mock skater Sarah Martin firmly declared that the City of Cedar Key should provide a skating area for the young people of the town. Mock basketball advocate Tyler Miller took umbrage at the suggestion that part of the basketball court could possibly be devoted to the skaters. Still other city public pool advocates, Mock Potential Coach of the Prospective Swim Team Carol Cooke and student Jemima Cahours, ardently articulated the city`s needs to: teach infants to swim, provide seniors pool exercise, create a new school sport, and, importantly, keep students "out of trouble." Each group, the skaters, basketball players, and the swimmers, were charged with returning to the mock commission with plans, complete with funding, to actualize their wishes. Audience members` smiles were continuous throughout. Key behind the scene players to Cedar Key School`s students` success are Principal Sue Ice and Student Government Co-Sponsors Sue Penney and Kathy Hudson. |
