New generation offers ideas for St. Mary projects

Last month, the Rotary Club of Morgan City brought together teams from parish high schools – nine of them this year – to present ideas for school and community improvements.
It was the 30th year the Rotary has hosted the New Generation event. And public officials listen to what the young people have to say.
In the past, student ideas have become reality in the form of new recycling receptacles, a dog park, road and park improvements, and intergenerational mixers for high students and senior citizens.

Here are summaries of this year’s proposals, courtesy of Scott Melancon of the Rotary Club:

Morgan City High:
Covered area
Outside covered area to enhance school/student environment.
The school facility offers only interior space for students to interact; students noted the school has no outside space creating a closed-up atmosphere.
It is not conducive to their daily experience and may be a negative influence affecting the educational experience.
Students also noted that the School System has procedural requirements to obtain approvals that include idea approval, professional planning and funding.

Franklin Senior High
Sexual assault awareness
and prevention
Students noted all the negative aspects of this subject, along with the need to bring awareness to students about sexual assault and methods to prevent sexual assault, ultimately to develop formal communication to educate students and others about these subjects and how to get help.
Sheriff Gary Driskell took ownership with Franklin students.

Hanson Memorial
Fun in Franklin,
pickle ball courts
Students noted the need and suggested locations for the national sensation of pickle ball. They noted participation has a large range of age; many senior citizens participate. These courts are great gatherings places for many age groups that also cross over into a past topic, intergenerational mixers.
State Sen, Robert Allain took ownership with the students, announcing the Bayou Bend Wellness Center next phase includes pickle ball courts. But they should also take the idea to the Franklin City Council.

VG Glecoe
Gators, who are we?
The charter school was introduced to the audience and students.
Paul Naquin took ownership, then complimented them and welcomed them to the forum for the first time.

West St. Mary
Community health center
Students discussed the need in Baldwin proper for such a facility and its overall benefits to the Baldwin community.
Bart Folse, chief operating officer of Bayou Bend Health and Wellness Center, emailed to take ownership with the school information, as he would like to meet with the students.

Centerville High
Dog park and
Pickle ball courts
This seems to be a theme with the CHS students, asking for additions improvements to the community recreational park. Rodney Olander, parish councilman, took ownership with the students, offering them assistance with the parish government.

Central Catholic
Morgan City Youth Council
This council is an existing program that students Lucy Kincade and Addison Loupe introduced. Lucy, who currently is a member of a state council, led a very strong discussion about replicating in Morgan City and parishwide.
Allain took ownership, as he had already met in Baton Rouge with Lucy who has assisted with the drafting of a legislative bill.

Patterson
Make St. Mary Parish a
Work Keys Ready community
Students presented this as a continuation from the 2023 New Generation. The program is established to identify certain work skills and education opportunities within participating businesses and educationally identifying skill sets to high school and vocational students.
Beth Chaisson, president of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, took ownership with the students. The Chamber is currently involved in this established program that is also available statewide with other communities the students noted in their presentation.

Berwick High
Student advisers
Students wanted to identify or solicit upper classmen to monitor and meet with incoming freshman and sophomores to offer help and guidance in the daily activities in a high school.
One example was getting into a locker and organization of locker. We sometimes overlook the finer or little things that can create frustration unnecessarily.