February 9, 2006
Contact: Rick Andreano
For Immediate Release
Phone: 732-0585
Youth Council to have voice at School Committee meetings
WARWICK– Mayor Scott Avedisian, a longtime proponent of including student representation on the School Committee, said today that the committee has agreed to allow the Volunteens Youth Governing Council a “student forum” portion at their general meetings. Approval of the forum followed the election of Robert Cushman as the new School Committee chairman, said Volunteen coordinator Rick Andreano.
Beginning February 16, the School Committee will devote the first 15 minutes of its meetings to hearing students’ concerns and questions. The Youth Council’s first topics will include mutual expectations of each group, furthering student representation, and increasing service-learning opportunities in the schools.
The Youth Council, which along with the Volunteens Program was created two years ago with Avedisian’s leadership and endorsement, is a group of students nominated from each Warwick public high school to serve as the teen-version of the Warwick City Council. The Youth Council works to address community needs by creating and implementing volunteer service projects with all teens in the community. The Youth Council also works to increase the youth voice in our city government, schools, and local organizations.
Last year, the Youth Council invited former School Committee Chairman Dr. John Thompson to a student forum pertaining to an exam policy at a Youth Council meeting. This gave students the opportunity to ask questions and give their opinions about the policy. As a result of this forum, the Youth Council adopted a resolution requesting student representation on the School Committee. Their proposal was to create non-voting student members of the School Committee to give the schools more student perspective on the many issues affecting them. The Youth Council presented this to the School Committee last year. The School Committee asked the Youth Council to make some changes in their proposal and return with their changes.
The Youth Council has also invited Cushman and other School Committee members to its meetings to further discuss issues important to students. Youth Council meets in formal session every other Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Warwick City Hall in Council Chambers. Contact Rick Andreano at 732-0585 for more information about Volunteens and the Youth Council.