Story posted Friday, June 12, 2009
Maine West Students Get Look At City Gov't
Beginning Monday, June 15, 22 Maine West High School students will be attending class at Des Plaines City Hall followed by a two-hour work session in individual city departments.
It's all part of the annual summer Des Plaines Clinical Government Program, allowing students to fulfill a half credit government course requirement.
Under the direction of Maine West Social Science Instructor Owen Doak, the program is designed to expose students to local government by providing them with hands-on experience.
In addition to attending workstations and/or touring City Departments such as Engineering, Public Works, Health and Human Services, Human Resources, Fire, Police, and the 9-1-1 Communications Center, students are required to attend a city council meeting.
They also visit the Des Plaines Park District, Cook County courts, the Center of Concern, the Grove (Glenview Park District), the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), the Self Help Closet and Food Pantry, the library, Maine Township Hall, the Maine Township Food Pantry, and the Des Plaines History Center.
Students will also work with Rainbow Hospice and more will visit Lee Manor Health Care and Asbury Court Retirement Community. City officials, department heads and department representatives address the students during their two-hour classroom session. Among those included as speakers are Mayor Martin J. Moylan, City Clerk Gloria Ludwig, City Manager Jason Bajor, Assistant City Manager Jason Slowinski, Director of Human Resources Mike Earl, Assistant Director of Engineering Jon Duddles, City Attorney David Wiltse, Fire Chief Randy Jaeger, History Center Programs Manager Susan Golland and Police Department Commander Nick Treantefeles.
This year Clinical Government student participants include Angelica Avalos, James Chrzan, Brian Essenberg, Claudia Gallardo, Vivian Gonzalez, Ivan Huynh, Sean Johnson, Danielle Kapolas, Ha Khong, Andrew Kreatsoulas, Tijo Manthuruthil, Elizabeth Martinez, Amanda Nach, Patricia Nowak, Eleni Pantelias, Kari Pearl, Liz Rodriguez, Joe Selby, William Triphahn, Amy Veit, James Vernola, and Jenna Zalazinski.
The three-week program includes a press conference, televised live on local cable channel 17, at 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 1 with a press conference in the Des Plaines City Council Chambers, 1420 Miner St., allowing students to questions city officials.
Speak Out!
Comments are edited first by Journal staff before running in print and appearing online.