WCS students propose ideas to enhance life in Wbg.

WARRENSBURG | Several dozen young students of Warrensburg Elementary School recently conceived proposals to enhance life in the town of Warrensburg, and they discussed their ideas virtually on June 4 with town supervisor Kevin Geraghty. The students of Darian Chapman's and Rachel Brown's fourth-grade classes individually devised projects or ideas for town improvement, and the students chose three by popular vote to present to Geraghty. This online meeting with the town's CEO was the culmination of the fourth grade's Town Supervisor for a Day program — a study of local government. Student Ian LaPell told Geraghty that if he were a supervisor, he'd boost local economic development by bringing a Dick's Sporting Goods store and Bass Pro Shop to town. Ian explained that he enjoys both sports and fishing, and if these stores were located in Warrensburg, local residents would save time and gasoline by avoiding trips to Glens Falls to purchase items carried by these stores. Ethan La Prairie told Geraghty about the misuse of canoes at a local campground and said such actions should cease. Ethan and his grandfather had previously discussed how people should respect other people's property. Celia O'Donnell talked about people dumping their trash and littering on public property, particularly in Pack Forest. She explained that this was offensive to people and harmful to the environment. Rachel Brown's class was unable to participate in the virtual meeting due to a scheduling conflict, although they accomplished the other aspects of their studies which included examining the role of town government and how local citizens can exert influence over their town's future. Among the students from Brown's class, Cody Bacon proposed building a skate park so children could have a local, safe place to ride skateboards and stunt bikes; Tillman Durkin suggested establishing and enforcing a noise ordinance beginning nightly at 9 p.m. so he and other town residents wouldn't be woken up repeatedly at night, and Jasmyn Prosser proposed establishing local ordinances to protect historical buildings in town in order to preserve the town's architectural heritage for future generations. At the June 10 town board meeting, Geraghty praised the students for their work. They included Brown's pupils: Kyle Foster, Aiden Helm, Anna Lang, Liam Langworthy, Carter Miller, Brayden Prevost, Rowen Seeley, Izabella Semon, Daisean Thomas, Trinity Winchell, Avery Baldwin, Jason Briggs, Addyson Briscoe, Serenity Clear and Bryson Rosson as well as the three whose projects were highlighted. Participating in the program from Rachel Brown's class, in addition to the aforementioned trio, were: Luz Hernandez, Kaylie Powers, Hailey Welch, Declan Monahan, Kenneth Gussow-Bell and James Belden. "I thank all the students for the effort they put into all their suggested projects," Geraghty said. "Listening to these children's ideas, it was clear they had a lot of passion about what they proposed. Thanks go to their teachers for arranging this very worthwhile session." Library & Media Specialist Jennifer Casabonne collaborated with Chapman and Brown in organizing the program. Her grandfather was Lee Orton, who served as Warrensburg town supervisor from 1944 to 1964 following 16 years as Town Clerk. She offered her thoughts on the Town Supervisor for a Day experience. "The students loved it because it was an authentic, real-world learning experience in which they got to fully participate," she said. "They really learned first-hand how they are able to influence local government and improve their communities."

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WCS students propose ideas to enhance life in Wbg.

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