Lynn Students Assume City Government Positions for Day

By Thor Jourgensen and Dan Baer / The Daily Item

LYNN - The city's future leaders got a glimpse of what it takes to make an urban municipality go Tuesday, as Lynn City Hall hosted its annual Student Government Day.

Students from all of the city's high schools converged on City Hall early Tuesday morning where they met with Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. and his staff before being dispersed across the city as shadows for many high-profile municipal workers.

From City Clerk Mary Audley to Clancy himself, workers taught high school students the ropes of city government before giving them an opportunity to share their own ideas for making the city a better place.

Tuesday evening found a dozen high school students stepping into the role of City Councilor and debating an agenda focusing on anti-crime measures.

Their proposals included one by Student Councilor Fariha Ashraf (English) installing metal detectors in middle and high schools with student councilor Joseph Gill (St. Mary's) placing a $91,000 price tag on the safety measure.

"It's a price tag we can't afford," Gill said.

But Councilor Jessica Ladderbush (English) said installing detectors also means assigning security personnel to schools. Councilor Amy Bozarjian (St.Mary's) said the equipment and personnel expense is worth the added security but Gill cautioned assigning police officers to monitor detectors takes police officers off local streets.

Student proponents of detectors noted an English High School student brought a machete to the school last year.

"A school should be a safe have for kids to go to," said Councilor Richard Stevens (English.)

The motion passed 6-5.

Councilor Andrea Idusuyi (St. Mary's) proposed making parents liable for paying fines levied against minors caught smoking marijuana in Lynn. Councilor Elijah Womack (Tech) called for the establishment of a youth violence task force in proposing another anti crime measure.

Several student motions mirrored issues under debate by the council or initiatives undertaken by the city.

Councilor Jamie Barbuzzi's (St. Mary's) proposal to obtain energy grants for public buildings reflects the Water and Sewer Commission's effort to build a wind turbine on the waterfront. Another waterfront proposal by Councilor Mikhail Chaykler (English) to build a waterfront bicycle path parallels city efforts to development the waterfront.

Idusuyi's parental liability proposal sparked prolonged student council debate with Councilor John Chambers (St. Mary's) questioning the value of having parents share responsibility.

"Students must take responsibility for their own actions," he said, adding, "Should the parent take a fall with the child?"

The motion was defeated 7-4.

Councilor Vanessa DiFillipo (St. Mary's) proposed a motion establishing a public school teacher dress code requiring ties for men and "professional attire" for women. Womack pushed to amend the proposal by exempting Lynn Tech teachers working in trade shops. Despite questioning the merits of DiFillipo's motion, Gill wore a tie and dress shirt to Tuesday's meeting.

Gill sought to strike the tie requirement but the students split along gender lines 6-5 with women councilors defeating the tie exclusion, claiming it set a more lax dress requirement for men than women.

DiFillipo amended her proposal with a "dress-down Friday" option for teachers that won her support from colleagues except for Stevens before the council voted to pass the motion.

Real-life Assistant City Solicitor Richard Vitali praised the student motions and debate on them.

"Sometimes the council doesn't debate issues as long as you do. You did a good job," he said.