Students wanted: Commission looks to appoint high school juniors, seniors

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High school juniors and seniors will soon have a chance to serve on a Woodbury advisory commission that makes recommendations for facilities they often use.

The city of Woodbury is recruiting up to two 11th and 12th graders to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

Those volunteer positions are for one-year terms open to Woodbury teens.

“I think it will add great value to the commission just because you’re going to get that youth perspective of students who live in Woodbury,” Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens said.

The Parks and Recreation Commission is comprised of seven citizens appointed by City Council to three-year staggered terms.

Student positions, however, will be shorter because of availability issues after graduation.

Members discuss issues regarding parks and recreation facilities and programs. They make recommendations to city staff and council.

One of the big discussion items coming up before the commission will be the Bielenberg Sports Center expansion.

Stephens said opening up the positions to high school students will give them a chance to use their skillset and experience using city recreational areas.

“I think 11th and 12th grade is that perfect opportunity to get them in there,” she said, adding, “They’re big users of the facilities.”

Applications for the positions are due by Friday, Oct. 26.

The City Council will conduct interviews for the Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as other advisory boards, in November.

City staff said they were promoting the two openings at area schools to see if students are interested. But Stephens said students do not have to attend school in Woodbury.

“It could be a student that lived in Woodbury and was home schooled,” she said.

As of late last week, the city had not received applications for students who wish to be appointed.

The Parks and Recreation Commission student application can be found at www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/government/advisory-commissions/applying-for-advisory-commissions.

Tags: news, government, woodbury