THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120566
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Schools Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols is known for his thick, dark hair, but it was particularly full Thursday afternoon. And a little longish. Shoulder-length, in fact.
Jennifer Durkin, a Western Branch student, sat in the superintendent's chair at a mock School Board meeting Thursday.
The meeting was part of Mayor's Youth Day, which allows Chesapeake public and private school juniors and seniors to assume jobs of school and city employees for a day.
During the meeting, Durkin paused a moment before beginning a discussion on classroom scheduling.
``I want to take a minute and thank Dr. Nichols and others for today,'' Durkin said.
``It's been a great opportunity, and we've really learned a lot about the school system and city government.''
Durkin and 209 other students dressed up before getting a hands-on glimpse of what it takes to keep one of the state's fastest-growing cities going.
Students switched seats with elected officials and librarians, the secretary of mosquito control, and planetarium personnel. Kim Jarrett, a Deep Creek senior, became an environmental coordinator and handled inspections for a few hours.
``I got to do several things really. They have to check zoning inspections for new buildings, making sure they are safe, making sure the safety codes aren't being violated,'' Jarrett said.
``I went to the new shopping center, with the new Target, and checked it out. It was beautiful seeing the layout. . . . They only have to finish the interior design, the bathroom and stuff. It was fun.''
Erica Clarke of Great Bridge served as clerk of the School Board and hustled around School Board members, distributing packets of information when Nichols, er, Durkin, asked for her help.
``I thought it would be a lecture-type of program but, given the chance to meet our mentors has been really informative,'' Clarke said after the meeting.
``I didn't realize what the clerk's job entails,'' Clarke said. ``He receives announcements, handles correspondence . . . and he takes minutes for the meeting.''
Kirsten Shelton, the deputy-clerk-for-the-day from Western Branch, piped in.
``No, that's my job, I take the notes of the meeting,'' Shelton said.
``And I step in if she's absent.''
The city's Chesapeake Youth Committee sponsors the event each year and asks the schools to select students with good academic records, leadership ability and participation in extracurricular activities.
Pearl Hunt, an English teacher at Indian River High School, looked for student leaders - Miss Indian River, Mr. Indian River, standout football players and club presidents.
``I picked students from my public speaking class, too,'' Hunt said. ``I wanted to get students who could organize their thoughts quickly and well, since they were going to be with their mentors one-on-one today.''
They weren't the only ones.
School Board member James Reeves sat in the audience at the board meeting, whispering to his shadow, ``Say, `I,' don't refer to me, say `I'.''
``We had lunch today and talked a lot about various issues the School Board faces. I told him to use the pronoun `I' but he wouldn't use it,'' said Reeves, laughing after the meeting.
``But I've had a lot of fun with him today.'' ILLUSTRATION: MORT FRYMAN photos/The Virginian-Pilot
Chesapeake schools Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols goes over a
list of things to do with Western Branch senior Jennifer Durkin.
Durkin and other students assumed the duties of city officials
Thursday and some attended a mock School Board meeting.
Anyone attending an official School Board meeting has seen these
expressions on the faces of older board members. But, assuming those
expressions and roles Thursday were Stephan Hart, left, acting
chairman; Erica Clarke, acting clerk; and Doug Heimburger, an acting
board member.
by CNB