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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Wilmette League has offered this cherished village-wide program for over 50 years, making it one of the longest running programs of its kind in any of the 900 local chapters of the League of Women Voters. It is a 7-week extra-curricular interactive civics program designed for Wilmette 8th graders that typically runs from January through March.
program recap this year - 2022
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The Student Government Leader (SGL) program made a successful return in 2022, given the ongoing battle with Covid 19. After its 2021 hiatus, both LWV-Wilmette and District 39 remained committed to continuing this legacy of offering students this important local civics experience. With the dedicated guidance of Eric Resis, WJHS 8th Grade Assistant Principal, and Erin Schwarz, WJHS 8th Grade Differentiation Support Teacher, all program details were re-designed to follow Covid protocols, including limited enrollment, 6’ social distancing and masking.
This year’s program involved twenty-six (26) 8th graders from WJHS experiencing the role and responsibilities of local government through the operations of the Wilmette Village Board. |
Details of the 2022 SGL curriculum were:
- Kick-Off Meeting for participating Students and Parents on January 12th, with welcoming remarks from LWV-W Co-Presidents Wendy Zun and Anne Sullivan, SGL Co-Chairs Rebecca Lieber and Shannon Hiltabrand, and Village President Senta Plunkett.
- Students met with leaders and board members from four Wilmette governing bodies: Village, District 39, Park District and the Library.
- Parents received a program overview and watched a video from previous years. - Students were divided into two groups and assigned roles as either elected officials (President or Trustee) or appointed officials (Police Chief, Fire Chief, Administrative Services Director, Engineering and Public Works Director, Water Management Director). Each group was tasked with approving up to $225K of village projects after considering ten (10) possible capital improvements totaling almost $500K.
- Four school-day workshops at WJHS Learning Commons.
- Program Introduction
- Robert's Rules of Order and Meeting Management
- Mock Board Meeting Prep
- Final Mock Board Meeting Prep - Mid-program evening meeting with Village Board Counterparts and observation of Village Board Meeting in action.
- Culminating Mock Board Meetings on March 9th at Wilmette Village Hall.
recordings of student-led mock board meetings
The two student-led mock board meetings can be viewed via the links below to the broadcast recordings on Wilmette Community Television (WCTV-6). Thank you to all those who helped make this program happen!
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highlights from 2020 (a typical year)
Approximately sixty 8th graders studied a variety of community issues, observed government officials at work, and learned how to run a public meeting. The program culminated in student-led mock board meetings televised on Channel 6.
School administrators and teachers provided the opportunity to interface with the students during the school day. Trained League members gave lively lunchtime instructions on Robert’s Rules of Order, the prescribed civil method for meeting management.
Elected and appointed officials from Wilmette District 39, Avoca District 37, SJFX School, Wilmette Village, Wilmette Park District and Wilmette Public Library served as program faculty and partners.
Topics covered in the mock meetings were school nutrition at D39 and 2020 budget at Village Board. Past topics have included capital improvement budgets for the Village; D37’s option of sale or renovation of the Avoca Center; menu offerings in the WJHS cafeteria and the Park District’s Gillson Park lakefront design.
School administrators and teachers provided the opportunity to interface with the students during the school day. Trained League members gave lively lunchtime instructions on Robert’s Rules of Order, the prescribed civil method for meeting management.
Elected and appointed officials from Wilmette District 39, Avoca District 37, SJFX School, Wilmette Village, Wilmette Park District and Wilmette Public Library served as program faculty and partners.
Topics covered in the mock meetings were school nutrition at D39 and 2020 budget at Village Board. Past topics have included capital improvement budgets for the Village; D37’s option of sale or renovation of the Avoca Center; menu offerings in the WJHS cafeteria and the Park District’s Gillson Park lakefront design.
volunteer opportunity - 2023
As usual, we will need volunteers in 2023 to run this program, especially assisting with the student workshops. No prior experience is necessary. Please check back in Fall 2022 to sign up.