Local kids take over town!

Sixteen high school students, who were selected to participate in the annual Students in Government Day on May 26, accepted the keys to the Town of Hempstead from Supervisor Kate Murray. Two Five Towns students, Alexandra Shafran, from the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, and Kelsea Medard, from Hewlett High School, participated as honorary officials.

Shafran was appointed honorary director of communications and public affairs, and Medard spent the day as honorary commissioner for the Water Department.

“Each of these students, on a daily basis, learn about government from textbooks; while that is useful, our Students in Government day is able to take the words on a page and put them into action,” said Murray.  “All of these students are rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in the inner workings of town government.”

Shafran, who worked in conjunction with Press Secretary Susan Trenkle-Pokalsky for the day, took on more than just simulated communications duties The student actually worked with members of the media, coalescing them to cover the event.   

Murray and other officials were assigned a student buddy who wanted to learn about their individual responsibilities. The students were chosen based on an essay submitted on the topic of local government.  

The honorary-commissioners also tested their decision-making skills by responding to a simulated hurricane headed for Long Island. Department heads brainstormed with the teens, eventually coming to the proper conclusions together. Students suggested calling a press conference to warn residents of the storm, where shelters were located, and what precautions to take. Hempstead Town was saved, and calamity averted.