Caledonia Argus

Youth focus of town meeting

Posted: 4/16/02

By Jane Palen
Managing editor

A town meeting Thursday evening will be the first step in what organizers hope will be an asset-building effort in the community.

The events that led to the town hall meeting began with a survey taken a year ago by students in grades 6-12 at St. Johnís (6-8) and Caledonia High School. A total of 536 students were interviewed. The attitudes and behavior survey, conducted by the Search Institute, identified assets that youth possess which contribute to a studentís later success in life. The more assets a student has, the more likely he or she has the skills necessary to succeed and the less likely they are to abuse drugs or alcohol.

Of the 40 assets identified, Caledonia students averaged 16.1, less than the national average of 18 and the lowest number in the area. Half of the students surveyed had only 11-20 assets.

According to the survey, only 17 percent of youth thinks that the community values them, and only 18 percent feels that the school provides a caring, supportive environment.

The release of the survey results prompted a meeting between community leaders and students, and further plans were made in order to determine what could be done to build assets in our school districtís young people.

A task force was organized to plan a meeting that would bring parents, youth and community leaders together in a ìtown hallî meeting format. Members of the task force include: Carolyn Devine (Houston County Womenís resources), Elementary Principal Connie Hesse, ISD #299 school board member Dave Klinski; Don Keefe, Brownsville; Fr. Don Schmitz of St. Maryís Church; Community Education Director Nancy Runningen; Houston County Extension Educator Naomi Fruechte; Superintendent Percy Lingen; CHS counselors Sue Howe and Tom King; Rev. Tom Schultz of St. Johnís; and Rev. Tom Zuhlke of St. Lukeís in Eitzen. Also on the task force are students Michael Kruckow, Annie Palen and Julie Abrahamzon.

The students on the task force committee will be conducting lyceums in the schools this week.

Sue Howe, who is a counseling intern at Caledonia High School, said the lyceums have three goals: to educate students; to gather studentsí responses and feedback from the survey and to encourage students to get involved in Thursdayís town meeting. Students who attend may be eligible for extra credit, noted Howe.

It is important, said Howe, for students to feel that people are listening to their concerns and that their concerns will be taken seriously.

ìOur hope is to plant a seed, get people motivated and in the fall have a meeting at the new school,î said Howe. ìThen we will go to the next step of developing programs.î

Julie Abrahamzon, a sophomore who serves on the task force, said that in her mind, the goal of the town meeting is to inform the public of the results, and get feedback on where the community goes from here.

Michael Kruckow, also a sophomore, believes itís important to give kids more of a say, and encourage them to be involved in more things in the community.

ìMainly, itís just talking to them and seeing how they feel,î he said.

Eighth grader Annie Palen said she hopes that the out come of the meeting is that students get more involved in their community, and that people in the community begin hearing the concerns of the kids.

Once the town meeting is held, the discussion will be followed up with an analysis of the data, and then goals will be set for the future.

Thursdayís meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. at St. Johnís School. It will end at 9:30. Childcare is available, and refreshments will be served.

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