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A group Hope Academy Charter School middle schoolers got a behind the scenes look at just how city governance works.

Led by Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton and Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, the tour is a part of a burgeoning program aimed at garnering an early interest in neighborhood involvement by educating students on the role local government plays in their community.

“We want to expose them and encourage them to get involved in what happens in their city and how it happens,” Clayton said. “This is the first step and hopefully, one day, they will be the mayor and city council, our city manager, planner, and police lieutenants.”

The tours launched last year after Quinn began working to help school-aged children understand local government’s role. 

“This is our second year with Hope Academy Charter and we would welcome other schools to participate,” she said. “We want kids to see how local government works and encourage them to get involved in the process.”

On Wednesday afternoon a dozen LEADS club members asked questions as they toured the police department, municipal court, city council chambers, zoning, construction and code enforcement offices, and while speaking with Mayor John Moor, City Manager Michael Capabianco, Beach Office Manager Garrett Giberson Sr and safety supervisor Jon Bongiovanni.

Most popular with the students were the pounding of the gavel during mock municipal court hearing and City Council meeting, the map of the city [at right] and the busy police watch commander’s station.

LEADS is an acronym for Learning Educating and Driving Success. The leadership club is led by special education and ESL educator Cindy Norkus. Students help organize school events and charitable drives, she said.

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