CC Minutes - 05/26/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Torrey introduced the youth representatives present. He said that at the request of the South Eugene High School principals, he had recently visited the high school to visit with the students informally during lunch hour, and three students had asked him if the councilors would consider similar, informal visits. He urged councilors to contact Margaret Wilkenfeld of the City Manager's Office if they wished to arrange for such a visit. Zake Zerzan and Nate Baker represented Marist High School. Mr. Zernan requested that a stop light be placed at the intersection of Kingsley and Goodpasture Island roads. He said that the traffic at the intersection was heavy, inconvenient, and dangerous. He said that Marist High School had 656 students, faculty, and staff traveling the road to and from school at roughly the same times. Increasing development in the area placed an additional demand on the road. He suggested the best way to deal with tragedy was to prevent it. Mr. Baker added that the school did not want to see a fatal accident be the catalyst for a stoplight. Kristin Garcia of New Roads discussed the problem of runaways. She said that the majority of students at New Roads were runaways. She said that runaways were not bad people. They were frequently forced to leave their homes because of physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Ms. Garcia said that in her experience, it was difficult for minors to secure help from the authorities. She said that people in fear deserved help. She asked the council to consider the issue she had raised. Peter Reed and Kuwasia Hutchinson represented North Eugene High School. Ms. Hutchinson discussed the dropout rate at her school. She said that many students were enrolled in school and were not actually attending school. Those students were not concerned about themselves and others were not concerned anymore either. Ms. Hutchinson said that she had also been contacted by students concerned about discrimination at school that was not merely racial or gender focused but directed against students who were different. She discussed the discrimination free zone planned at the school the next year, but cautioned such a zone was not a cure but only a sign. Ms. Hutchinson requested the council's input on creating programs that would actually make a discrimination-free school possible. Kim Edwards and Val Blair represented Sheldon High School. Ms. Edwards discussed the changes in class rotation and the institution of longer classes at her school. She attended three classes each day that were each 83 minutes long, which was too long for many students' attention spans. Ms. Edwards said that classes were much longer and fewer electives were being offered. She had to take two classes offered at the same period, which was difficult. Ms. Edwards requested the council's assistance. Ms. Blair added that her school's principal said the longer classes were needed to save money. She suggested that more money be directed to more teachers and shorter classes. Marshall Clement represented South Eugene High School. Mr. Clement discussed the Youth Voice rally at the Federal Building and said that more than 50 percent of the students did not attend school that day because of fear. He had to convince his mother to allow him to attend. Mr. Clement spoke of the inadequacy of counselors at the schools. He said that counselors helped to identify at-risk youth who might be prone to violent acts. He asked the council to consider ways to fund more counselors. Mr. Clement noted that Willamette and South Eugene high school students have met to discuss more collaboration in their presentations to the City Council and to ensure that the same people gave presentations to the council next year. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 26, 1999 Page 3 5:30 p.m.