One of the more important functions of both the local government and our educational system is providing our younger generations with an appreciation for what it takes to make a community thrive.
After all, today’s students are tomorrow’s community leaders.
For more than 25 years, Cherry Hill has given its high school students a unique, hands-on look at how local government operates, and the many moving parts involved in running a town, on Student Government Day.
This year, on Jan. 23, council and I welcomed 12 students from Cherry Hill High Schools East and West for this annual tradition.
With the help of township staff, local elected officials, and outside experts in various fields, Student Government Day participants are tasked with researching and proposing resolutions to real-life issues affecting the community.
This challenging yet rewarding program is a premier opportunity for students, and many past participants have used their newfound knowledge in their eventual careers. Many have gone on to serve as council members, State Senate employees, and as community leaders in other forms.
Each year, students begin their day by electing a mayor and council from among their peers, before being split into two groups to begin working on their assigned issues.
One group worked with the township’s Community Development and Recreation Departments, as well as Cross County Connection, to identify ways to better utilize alternative (non-motorized) means of transportation to help with traffic calming. They also focused on how to educate the public about existing bus routes, bike lanes and sidewalks to travel between neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers and other high-traffic areas.
A second group worked with the Cherry Hill Police Department and Recreation staff to discuss ways the township can improve its non-electronic communications during and after natural disasters, using Hurricane Sandy as an example. During this summer’s storm, township staff and first responders were diligent in sending pertinent information to residents via e-mail, the township website, and social media. But when power went out across town, we faced a new dilemma: How do we get that information out without using technology?
Each group worked diligently throughout the day to address their assigned topic, and with the help of township staff and outside professionals, they crafted formal proposals for addressing the issues at hand. Council members and I stopped by throughout the day to offer our own insight and feedback on their ideas.
Lunch was a working session, where students met with various department heads and prepared for a mock council meeting that evening, where they would present their proposals. Our Legal Department staff taught them how to draft ordinances, while the Township Clerk reviewed the format of council meetings.
The evening meeting was the culmination of a busy day for these young men and women. Council and I joined the students and briefed the student mayor and council members on their role in the adoption of their peers’ proposals. Then, in front of a Council Chambers filled with parents and school officials, the day’s teams delivered their proposals — in the form of an ordinance — and took part in a lively question-and-answer session leading up to the council vote.
Student Government Day is one of the highlights of our year here in Town Hall, and I am so proud of the young leaders who participated in this year’s event. It was wildly successful once again, and the lessons our young community members learned will undoubtedly stay with them for years to come.
Congratulations — and thank you — to all the young men and women who participated in this year’s event!
Mayor Chuck Cahn
