***HOS Note- Daniel FC and his peers are doing some nice work on this year's Colorado Youth Advisory Council. We look forward to seeing the Council finish out the year strong in Denver as they continue their work with the CO Senate. ****
Youth council brings fresh ideas to Colorado Legislature Youth council brings fresh ideas to Colorado Legislature
http://www.durangoherald.com/
By Joe Hanel Herald Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: Thursday, March 17, 2011 11:25pm
Durango High School sophomore Brenna Christensen, left, testifies at the state Capitol.
DENVER – All the usual suspects were at the Capitol this week to testify on a bill that would let parents close their low-performing public schools – lobbyists for school boards, superintendents, the teacher’s union, the charter schools’ association.
But lawmakers also heard from a voice that rarely is heard at the Capitol – actual students.
Durango High School sophomore Brenna Christensen provided the perspective of teenage Coloradans on behalf of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, a 3-year-old group created in part by Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango.
The youth council officially takes a neutral position on House Bill 1270, a bill that is opposed by public school leaders and teachers and supported by charter-school advocates, because it would allow parents to vote to convert a school to a charter without the blessings of the school board.
But Christensen raised concerns in her testimony that the bill did not ask for student involvement.
“Change can be stressful on kids,” Christensen said. “Kids don’t like change if they’re not involved.”
The House Education Committee voted 8-5 to kill HB 1270.
Legislators in the committee’s stuffy basement room perked up when they heard Christensen’s testimony. It was the kind of input Roberts had in mind in 2008, when she sponsored the bill that created the Youth Advisory Council.
The council has 40 students from around the state who meet in person four times a year, in addition to working together online. They study bills before the Legislature and pick out which ones affect youths, then craft positions and talk to legislators.
Christensen was the first council member this year to offer formal testimony in a committee.
“That’s really what COYAC is about, is bringing that perspective, which has gotten overlooked because we can’t vote,” said Christensen, daughter of Katherine and Steve Christensen.
She serves as vice president of DHS’s sophomore class, but she has never testified publicly before. She did not read from a script.
Cheyenne McCoy of Dolores had never been to the state Capitol before she joined the advisory council two years ago.
“I’ve learned more from this than any government class,” said McCoy, daughter of Patrick and Vangi McCoy. “On the news, it just says a bill passed. But there’s so much that goes into it.”
The council met Sunday afternoon and Monday, and the members agreed to draft letters of support to Gov. John Hickenlooper for two bills that appear to be on their way to his desk. The bills would allow students to take their own prescription medication at school and require youth sports coaches to pull kids out of games if they suspect a concussion.
McCoy, who plays volleyball and basketball, supports the concussion bill and said she has a friend who has suffered five concussions – too many, in her opinion.
Roberts recruited Animas High School sophomore Daniel Fallon-Cyr to be on the council because she thought a charter school student would offer a valuable perspective.
Fallon-Cyr said he probably would have supported HB 1270, but he agreed with Christensen’s testimony that the bill failed to get student input.
“She definitely hit all the points that hadn’t been hit. It got the committee thinking that youth should be involved,” said Fallon-Cyr, son of Mark and Maureen Fallon-Cyr.
He is on his first year on the council, and he’s impressed by how much self-directed work the students do, without marching orders from The Civic Canopy, a nonprofit group that provides logistical and financial support to the youth advisory council.
“It’s just kind of amazing what we can get done without being guided,” Fallon-Cyr said.
Some of the council’s most pressing needs are recruiting members and keeping them participating. Members serve two-year terms, so each year, 20 seats are open. There is one person from each of the state’s 35 Senate districts, plus five at-large members.
Participation is a constant challenge. By the end of Monday’s meeting, 22 of the 40 members were present to vote.
The members also are hoping to increase their visibility and influence at the Capitol, McCoy said.
They’re starting with the little things.
Their chairwoman led Monday’s meeting by banging a paper cup on the table. The last vote was to spend no more than $30 to buy her a proper gavel.
jhanel@durango herald.com
DENVER – All the usual suspects were at the Capitol this week to testify on a bill that would let parents close their low-performing public schools – lobbyists for school boards, superintendents, the teacher’s union, the charter schools’ association.
But lawmakers also heard from a voice that rarely is heard at the Capitol – actual students.
Durango High School sophomore Brenna Christensen provided the perspective of teenage Coloradans on behalf of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, a 3-year-old group created in part by Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango.
The youth council officially takes a neutral position on House Bill 1270, a bill that is opposed by public school leaders and teachers and supported by charter-school advocates, because it would allow parents to vote to convert a school to a charter without the blessings of the school board.
But Christensen raised concerns in her testimony that the bill did not ask for student involvement.
“Change can be stressful on kids,” Christensen said. “Kids don’t like change if they’re not involved.”
The House Education Committee voted 8-5 to kill HB 1270.
Legislators in the committee’s stuffy basement room perked up when they heard Christensen’s testimony. It was the kind of input Roberts had in mind in 2008, when she sponsored the bill that created the Youth Advisory Council.
The council has 40 students from around the state who meet in person four times a year, in addition to working together online. They study bills before the Legislature and pick out which ones affect youths, then craft positions and talk to legislators.
Christensen was the first council member this year to offer formal testimony in a committee.
“That’s really what COYAC is about, is bringing that perspective, which has gotten overlooked because we can’t vote,” said Christensen, daughter of Katherine and Steve Christensen.
She serves as vice president of DHS’s sophomore class, but she has never testified publicly before. She did not read from a script.
Cheyenne McCoy of Dolores had never been to the state Capitol before she joined the advisory council two years ago.
“I’ve learned more from this than any government class,” said McCoy, daughter of Patrick and Vangi McCoy. “On the news, it just says a bill passed. But there’s so much that goes into it.”
The council met Sunday afternoon and Monday, and the members agreed to draft letters of support to Gov. John Hickenlooper for two bills that appear to be on their way to his desk. The bills would allow students to take their own prescription medication at school and require youth sports coaches to pull kids out of games if they suspect a concussion.
McCoy, who plays volleyball and basketball, supports the concussion bill and said she has a friend who has suffered five concussions – too many, in her opinion.
Roberts recruited Animas High School sophomore Daniel Fallon-Cyr to be on the council because she thought a charter school student would offer a valuable perspective.
Fallon-Cyr said he probably would have supported HB 1270, but he agreed with Christensen’s testimony that the bill failed to get student input.
“She definitely hit all the points that hadn’t been hit. It got the committee thinking that youth should be involved,” said Fallon-Cyr, son of Mark and Maureen Fallon-Cyr.
He is on his first year on the council, and he’s impressed by how much self-directed work the students do, without marching orders from The Civic Canopy, a nonprofit group that provides logistical and financial support to the youth advisory council.
“It’s just kind of amazing what we can get done without being guided,” Fallon-Cyr said.
Some of the council’s most pressing needs are recruiting members and keeping them participating. Members serve two-year terms, so each year, 20 seats are open. There is one person from each of the state’s 35 Senate districts, plus five at-large members.
Participation is a constant challenge. By the end of Monday’s meeting, 22 of the 40 members were present to vote.
The members also are hoping to increase their visibility and influence at the Capitol, McCoy said.
They’re starting with the little things.
Their chairwoman led Monday’s meeting by banging a paper cup on the table. The last vote was to spend no more than $30 to buy her a proper gavel.
jhanel@durango herald.com