Columbia High School Participation in Government classes hosted their Legislative Day on Thursday in the school auditorium with students presenting their bills to classmates. Most of the projects focused on health and safety topics such as mandating school resource officers in all district elementary schools, seizure certification for teachers, and eating disorder prevention.
The winning project, voted on by students, was Mandating School Resource Officers in EGCSD Elementary Schools, which would add uniformed police officers to each of the five elementary schools. It was presented by Mia Phillips ’25 and Olivia Schultheis ’25.
Participation in Government is a required class for seniors at Columbia High School. The Legislative Day included all second semester classes taught by Social Studies Teachers Kelley Sheraw, Jeff Tooker and Dan Wagner.
“All of the groups who presented at the PIG Assembly worked very hard on their bills,” said Mr. Tooker. “It is always our hope that the students then understand the importance of the work that is done by our elected officials year in and year out when it comes to passing legislation.”
After all of the bills were presented, students lobbied for votes with their classmates to simulate the legislative process. Students also heard special presentations from Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly and the League of Women Voters.
Participation in Government Bills
- Legalized Assisted Dying – Ella Hegener
- Mandating Student Resource Officers (SROs) in the EGCSD Elementary Schools – Mia Phillips and Olivia Schultheis
- Eating Disorder Prevention in NY State – Danielle Adams and Brianna Brink
- Animal Welfare Act – Aurora Milem, Taylor Prescott, and Kayla Senich
- Seizure Certification for Teachers – Klara Daoust, Taylor Linscott, Laila McNeal, and Juan Munoz
- Recycling Graduation Gowns – Lena Bromberg