Schuylkill County listened to its youth, and now it's time to put their plans into action.
The Youth Summit community advisory group met for the first time Tuesday since the annual event was held March 20. The second Youth Summit brought together students from at least 18 different school districts, technical institutions and universities in the county to discuss with local business, community and legislative leaders how they can make Schuylkill County a better place to work, live and raise families.
"I was really amazed how engaging they were in some things," Commissioner Gary J. Hess said Thursday. "I could tell they really got something out of it, and it was not just a day off of school for them. Now that they suggested the solutions, we need to help put them into action."
Hess spearheaded the project along with fellow commissioners and Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County's VISION, and other community organizations, legislative offices and business associations that make up the advisory board.
Following the summit, the students were asked to fill out an evaluation. The board discussed their responses Thursday.
There were various answers, but many of the students said they liked sharing their ideas with students from other schools and community leaders and they were motivated to make a change. Many also liked the mock council meeting held in the afternoon because it gave them a better understanding of local government. They said they would have liked to have more time for audience interaction and the mock council.
"In general, I think they liked the whole pace of the summit and they got a good feeling for how government actually works and how changes are made," Hess said.
The summit started with students from each school giving presentations highlighting the progress of the projects they started after last year's summit.
The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Foundation provided $2,900 in funding for the projects. Three of five projects awarded $500 used their grants. Two of the projects were not completed for various reasons. Four projects were awarded $100. One will use that money in the spring, two did not need the funding as community organizations funded the project and one did not complete their project.
Students will also be starting another project this year, which was voted on during the mock council meeting. Three groups presented a proposal concerning the three main issues they identified in a survey earlier this year: public safety, jobs and quality of life.
While the board ultimately voted on the project designed to bring driver's education back into schools, the students were encouraged to put all their ideas into action.
"We are not only listening, we want to put their ideas into action," Hess said.
Another suggestion from the students was to add a sophomore representative from each school so there would be more returning students each year.
"They wanted to see more continuity," Hess said.
The student ambassadors will meet for the first time since the summit on May 6.
Hess also thanked all the sponsors and schools for making the event another success.
"If it wasn't for the cooperation of everyone at the school districts, from the superintendents, teachers advisors, without their cooperation, this wouldn't be successful," Hess said.
Sponsors this year included PPL Corporation, Schuylkill Chamber Foundaiton, Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, Schuylkill County Economic Development Corporation, Wal-mart Stores Regional Distribution Center, Penn State Schuylkill, Mrs. T's Pierogies, Schuylkill County Conservation District, National Penn Bank and the Schuylkill County Bar Association.