Damascus School students become township supervisors for a day, run meeting

An annual tradition for over 25 years, a group of eighth graders from Damascus School on March 18 literally ran the monthly Damascus Township supervisors' meeting — well, almost.

Township Secretary/Treasurer Melissa Haviland said this was the 26th year of the township's Supervisor for a Day Program.

Social studies teacher Peter Casazza at Damascus School selects four eighth-grade students, recommended by the seventh and eighth grade teachers, to participate to learn about local government.

The students join the supervisors for the day, then run the regular township board meeting with the supervisors later that evening.

Vince Conroy was the teacher who started the program. Casazza has continued with the program since 2006.

This year, Cole Dieterich, Maddy Freiermuth, Abby Hunter and Brayden Maciejewski took part. Casazza commented, "All four are well prepared for school each day, they work hard and take pride in their schoolwork and studies and are terrific role models for their classmates."

Haviland said that Damacus Township makes appointments with local businesses and the supervisors take the students on a tour of each business. The following businesses participated in this year's program: Rutledge Excavating & Jen's Materials, Grain to Glory, Calkins Creamery and Boyce Products.

Lunch is included at the Milanville General Store. With time remaining after visiting the businesses, the supervisors show the students some of the township road work and other projects undertaken by the township.

After putting in a full day, the students go home and then return for the supervisors' meeting at 7 p.m.

The supervisors go over the meeting agenda with the students, so they are prepared to run the public meeting. Three of the students sit alongside the supervisors, chairperson Joseph Canfield, Scott Rutledge and Steve Adams. Another student sits with Constable Chris Lee, who also provided information to the students.

Each student is assigned a role, including chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and zoning officer.

The students read aloud the reports, and actually vote. One will make the motion, and another offers the second. Haviland said that as needed, the supervisors will step in. The supervisors still must handle discussion with the public during the public comment period.

"They reported that all of the students were attentive, engaged and eager to learn," Casazza said. "I was able to witness these students run the monthly meeting and I was extremely pleased. They took their roles seriously and were well prepared."

For three years, from 2020 to 2022, the school and township did not have it due to the COVID pandemic.

Haviland said that the hope is that the program helps instill respect for local government and may inspire the students to become involved in their township in years ahead.

"It is meant to expose and teach our young people about the importance of local government in their everyday lives," said Casazza, who is retiring at the end of this school year after 36 years of teaching.

"On behalf of the Wayne Highlands School District and Damascus School, I would like to thank the Damascus Township Supervisors for their support of this valuable program," he said. "It is a great program for our young people that hopefully will last another twenty-five years!"

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Damascus School students become township supervisors for a day