Ray Borane Students and Mayor Gomez share simulated City Meeting

Douglas’ Mayor Michael Gomez invited several students from Ray Borane Middle School to a field trip throughout City Hall facilities on April 26 with the intention of let them experience what a City Council Meeting would be like.

Gomez, RBMS teacher Brad Linsday and Counselor Teo Rodriguez agreed in the importance of let these kids going through the whole experience of conducting and participating at a simulated meeting on behalf of the understanding of the system Douglas uses to keep the city running.

“I have taken this opportunity to really teach them how this system works, about public speaking, and to be aware about how our society works,” Lindsday said.

The kids simulated to be conducting a city regular meeting, in which, they discussed resolution No. 12-876, which authorizes the creation of a sports program for public schools, proposing that the City of Douglas sponsor an intramural league for Volleyball, Flag Football, Basketball, Track and Field Baseball and Softball for the youth of the community.

In order to approve or reject the resolution, simulated mayor and council discussed the requirements for the resolution, which included that in order to participate in sports students must have a score of 7 AIMS test points. Each council member expressed their opinions, as well as the mayor. After listening to each one of the participants, mayor allowed public to make any comment related to the resolution. Opinions were divided between the agreement of having 7 points in the AIMS test at least and not including the AIMS test to decide who plays, but taking in consideration the grades of each class instead.

At the end, Mayor and Council decided to reject the resolution and look forward to working together to find a better way to decide who will participate.

After the meeting, Gomez offered a guided tour throughout the city hall facilities to the students and allowed them to speak to the staff of each department.