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M-CHS government students tackle community issues

Class seeks solutions to school, city problems
Students in Christopher Kelley’s government class were asked to identify a problem in the community and come up with solutions. One student group presented a proposal to put in new locker rooms at the softball and baseball fields.

Government students at Montezuma-Cortez High School have all the answers.

The students in Christopher Kelley’s government class were asked to identify a problem in their community and come up with solutions, which they presented in the school’s auditorium Feb. 19. Projects ranged from addressing more localized, student safety problems to larger issues at the city and county level.

Government students at Montezuma-Cortez High School looked into building a new playground at Battle Rock Charter School.

After identifying an issue, students were asked to look for various alternatives, interview relevant sources and determine the costs and funding sources for their preferred solution.

Student safety came up in multiple presentations, including the South Sligo Street crossings, campus monitors and congested bus routes. Their solutions detailed various logistical quandaries confronted by city planners and school officials such as choosing crosswalks and street signs and hiring additional campus monitors.

Government students at Montezuma-Cortez High School considered tackling a large-scale issue such as constructing and operating a rehab center to address county opioid and drug problems.

Some groups chose to tackle problems of more monumental proportions such as building a detox or rehab center to help tackle drug abuse in Montezuma County. Another crew said Cortez needs its own shopping center, and they plotted out the shops and land parcels available for use.

ealvero@the-journal.com