I'm working on a report to the Board of Supervisors on the subject of the Youth Commission. Here are completed parts of that report:
The Board of Supervisors approved the Youth Commission in April 2010, and it was up and running by September, 2010. Students were selected for a two year term of service and only one of the original Commissioners left the Commission. The rest (plus two alternates) remained for the entire two year term which ended in May of 2012. The Commissioners came from four County Schools, viz., Sonora Elementary, Sonora High, Summerville High, and Tioga High. The current roster of Commissioners is as follows: Emma Holloway, Megan Holloway, Luke Houghton, Kendra Jamar, Kelsie Klaahsen, Kristin McCluskey, Camilla Richardson, April Robles, Jared Smith, and Katie Young. We had mentors from the public who volunteered their time to work with Commissioners. Here are their names: Ron Kopf, Amanda Klaahsen, and Mari Brabbin. John Keiter, Superintendent of Summerville High School District, also participated as a mentor for a short period of time. Other key people working on the Youth Commission include County staff: Alicia Jamar, Daniel Richardson, Sarah Carrillo, and Carlyn Drivdahl.
Here is a summary of the learning experiences offered to Commissioners during the first two year session:
1) How to run a meeting using a posted agenda with a quorum present. How to develop and approve a set of by-laws. How the Brown Act works. How to listen to other people's ideas and build on them. How to bring an idea to a vote. 2) What the Community Resources Agency offers the public in the way of service. How the Housing Division of the Agency works. How Code Compliance is accomplished, from referral to enforcement. 3) What the Human Services Agency offers the public in the way of services. 4) What the Sheriff's Department offers the public in the way of services. 5) How the Public Health Department works with agencies both inside and outside the County government to bring information, training, and services to the public. 6) How the private sector works with government to help bring Physical Education activities to schools that cannot afford to offer them. 7) How to prepare letters of support for grant proposals. 8) How to change attitudes and behaviors which may produce bullying on school campuses or at school sponsored activities. 9) How to recognize leadership behavior in one's self and in others.
The first two year session of the Youth Commission is now history. We are in the process of building a program for the next two years. I am pleased to give this positive report and believe that as we move along with the development of the Youth Commission, we will see more ways to include greater numbers of students in it. The potential for good which results from the Youth Commission activities is unlimited.
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Just a few additions here and there, and this report will be ready to go to the Board of Supervisors.
