Twelve students, ranging from fourth to eight grades at 3 Oaks Academy, had the opportunity to learn how the Village Council and staff work for Estero residents.
Village Clerk Carol Sacco gave the students an overview of how Council conducts their meetings. She then had the children sit at the dais and conduct their own “Council” meeting where they acted out the positions of Vice Mayor, Councilmembers, Village Attorney, Community Development Director and Village Clerk. The agenda’s Action Item was “Longer School Lunch Periods” which was voted in unanimously.
The group then toured the various departments where they met with a number of Village staff, including Village Manager Steve Sarkozy. Staff at each stop gave a short, informal description of the type of important work they perform for the city.
Sacco worked with 3 Oaks Academy Director Pamalea Baker to provide the students with this community engagement project. Some of the comments overhead included, “That was inspiring” and “That was awesome.”
3 Oaks Academy is a non-profit, non-sectarian, private, independent school established by educators in 2018.