Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado visited the Berlin Central School District on Friday, November 15, and took a tour of the Berlin Middle High School led by student council members.
The students – Haylee Jones, Madison Bell, Alexis Rifenburg, and Lillian Gardell – showed the lieutenant governor and several of his staff several notable features, such as the Aquatics Lab.
The Berlin Elementary School Ambassador program, comprising 15 students from grades 3-5, joined the tour and explored their future school.
The tour ended in Mr. Nate Ellis’ classroom, where a question-and-answer session with the BHS student council took place. There were valuable exchanges on topics such as foundation aid calculations, student financial aid, and public service versus politics.
One topic was the importance of government representatives visiting all constituents, regardless of political affiliation.
“Our Berlin students were highly engaged and asked excellent questions relevant to the wellbeing and future of the district and their opportunities,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Maureen Long who, with Middle High School Principal David Bernsely, took the student-led tour.
“I was very proud of them and appreciative that the Lieutenant Governor chose to visit us and engage our students in meaningful ways!” said Dr. Long.
Lieutenant Governor Delgado encouraged the students to follow up with him, and stay engaged. After the tour and question-and-answer session, senior and junior student leaders, student council members, honor students from 9th and 10th grade Social Studies classes, and elementary student ambassadors proceeded to the auditorium.
There, the lieutenant governor discussed his pathway to public service and civic engagement opportunities.
Mr. Delgado heads a new office, launched this year, to create paid opportunities for students to engage in their communities. The program focuses on supporting services that address issues like homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, and substance abuse.
Mr. Delgado was impressed with the Mountaineers’ feedback as he explained his initiative. He took note of their questions and the attention they brought to some of the hurdles they face, like access to the opportunities he was proposing, due to residing in a rural districts like Berlin.
The lieutenant governor emphasized that everyone, regardless of circumstance, should have the opportunity to participate in New York’s service initiative. He connects with constituents by visiting schools like Berlin, gathering information and ideas to help his team overcome obstacles that districts may face.
Berlin CSD appreciates the lieutenant governor taking the time to visit our rural school district more than once. As the former U.S. House of Representatives member for New York’s 19th congressional district, Mr. Delgado also visited, both in person and through virtual presentations.
BMHS’ Social Studies Department Chair, Mr. Robert Gould, arranged this unique chance for Mountaineers to engage with government leadership and learn about civic and service opportunities.
“We have been lucky to have New York State Senator Jake Ashby as well as the Lieutenant Governor visit us in the span of one week,” said Mr. Gould.
“That is wonderful for our students to see as they build a better understanding of what our representatives do – both of them stressed service and community.
“Those messages are important, and a cornerstone of what it means to be a Mountaineer.”
