April is National County Government Month and there are two contests in which Preston County students can compete.
Preston County Commission President Samantha Stone appeared before the Preston County Board of Education at its regular meeting Monday, seeking permission to go into schools and spread awareness about the contests.
BOE President Jack Keim said he didn’t see a problem with her going into the schools and there was no need for a motion by the board.
“You have at it,” Keim said.
The first contest is an annual essay contest sponsored by the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia (CCAWV) for 8th grade students. The essay topic, “How does my county commission make life better for me?” is always the same, Stone said.
“The duties are endless,” Stone said.
However, some people don’t understand the role of county commissioners and Stone said she thought it was important to educate kids on how their local government works.
“I believe that it’s our job to start educating the youth so as they come up in age to where they’re going to become voting citizens in this county, that they understand what they’re really voting for,” Stone said.
The top three students and five honorable mentions receive a monetary prize as do their teachers, according to the contest rules. The first-place student’s teacher also wins money to use for classroom activities.
Stone said she’s previously visited schools to talk about the essay and Preston County has had some great success with both winners and honorable mentions.
Of course, not everyone is a writer, Stone said.
This year, the National Association of Counties has launched an art contest called, “I love my county because …” Any student under 18 and living in the United States is eligible to enter.
The CCAWV offers suggestions for getting a better idea of what the local county commission works on.
- Take a class field trip to a county commission meeting.
- Watch a commission meeting online — many livestream their meetings.
- Ask your county commissioners to come speak to your class.
There are also five informational videos at www.ccawv.org, along with more information about the contests.
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