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rely on your employees, just like you rely on your teachers. Thanked the City's employees for picking up the slack and putting community first and for delivering services on behalf of the community. Trustee Bowser shared how he mentioned the student board member at his first board meeting with PUSD and staff has been working on making that happen in the future. Councilmember McGovern concluded that there's a high level of respect of everyone among the City and the District and that's why we can all work so well together and make a real difference in the community with the same goals, direction, and trying to protect our community the best we can. 7. OVERVIEW OF 2011 YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT DAY Superintendent Ahmadi noted this was her first experience participating in Youth and Government Day. The students learned a lot by shadowing us, but we learned a lot from them by listening to them and what's on their minds. She introduced Julie Duncan, PUSD Coordinator of the Career and Technical Education program who shared that the youth would introduce themselves and share their experiences. There were four youth commissioners that helped "run" the day and two of them were present to share their perspectives and experience on how they planned the day. Emma Rigl, a junior at Amador Valley High School shared how her and three other commissioners, Lauren Ancora, a senior Amador Valley HS and Rina Romano, a senior at Foothill HS (who were not in attendance) and Rahael Borchers, a senior at AVHS were able to participate in this wonderful day. Becky Hopkins, of the Youth Commission Committee asked them if they wanted to help plan this event and met every other week and as the event got closer they met more to make sure everything would go as planned. She shared how they started at the Firehouse Arts Center with breakfast/coffee for everyone, provided by the AmadorNillage catering classes. They proceeded into the theater area where the students, staff and community members were introduced and were paired up and shadowed the adults throughout the morning. They met back at the Veterans Hall for a delicious lunch which was also provided by the AmadorNillage catering classes. Mayor Hosterman, Board President Arkin spoke to the groups. Emma stated how they began to set up the afternoon activities and in the past they had small focus groups, which were productive but not as engaging, so they changed it this year and divided it into two groups which would mock a school board meeting on the Homework Policy and a city council meeting which would be discussing the Bernal property. Most of the meeting was scripted, but some public comments were not. Emma shared how she really enjoyed the role of leadership which she had never experienced before, speaking in front of a huge group for the first time and really enjoyed the experience. After spring break they will meet, debrief and review the survey and see how they can make Youth and Government Day better for next year. Vice Mayor Cook-Kallio asked Emma what she would do next year to make it better. Emma said that would be hard but wants the students to participate in what they would want to do and express their thoughts on how to change Pleasanton. Rahael Borchers shared how she participated in Youth in Government Day over the past four years and noted that it "opened eyes and doors". She thanked the City and the District for cooperating and making this special day possible. She shared how she shadowed different staff over the years and this year she shadowed Superintendent Ahmadi and got to see what great hands the district is in now, visited some elementary sites and saw the great interaction she had with students and staff. She also was exposed to jobs within the City that she didn't even know existed at the District level. Thanked the Board and City Council for allowing the Youth Commission to get an opportunity to lead the day. She enjoyed the afternoon session and the mock meetings, but suggested giving the students a bigger role to fulfill their personas on who they were shadowing. She noted it was great working with Julie Duncan and Becky Hopkins as well. She thanked the City and the District again for supporting the program. Students received their certificates and took a group picture with both governing boards. 8. ADJOURNMENT: 8:59 p.m. Joint City Council and PUSD Board Minutes Page 7 of 7 March 28, 2011