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Community leaders give Hilltoppers civics lesson
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Canfield Local Schools Board of Education President Adrianne Sturm used a football analogy in her speech to Hilltop Elementary School third-graders during Civic Day. To emphasize her point, Sturm declared Schools Safety Officer Gartska the mascot as she placed the Canfield Cardinals mascot head on his head.
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Youngstown Mayor Chuck Sammarone spoke to third-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School during the school’s Civic Day May 17.
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Canfield Local Schools Superintendent Dante Zambrini started off Civic Day for Hilltop Elementary School third-graders May 17.
By ABBY SLANKER
Third-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School received a lesson in civics May 17 when city leaders, township leaders, school district leaders and Mahoning County leaders gathered in the school’s library to give the students a description of the duties their jobs entail.
Canfield Township Trustee Carmen Heasley, Canfield City Manager Joseph Warino, Canfield Local Schools Board of Education President Adrianne Sturm, Canfield Local Schools Superintendent Dante Zambrini, Youngstown Mayor Chuck Sammarone, Canfield Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Matt Rarick, Department Schools Safety Officer Steve Gartska and Canfield Police Chief Charles Colucci spoke to the students.
Zambrini started the civics lesson by explaining his job to the students. He told the students the schools work together with different parts of the community, including the Canfield Police Department resource officer. He also mentioned the school system has 2,950 students and 290 employees.
Zambrini also addressed the procedure for school closings in case of inclement weather.
“I am happy the city and township are in charge of clearing the streets when it snows. They are the ones who prevent snow days. Don’t blame me — it’s their fault school’s not canceled,” Zambrini joked.
Sturm explained the Board of Education jobs are to hire a treasurer and a business manager. She likened the school system to a football team to make it easier for the children to understand how it works.
“Mr. Zambrini is our head coach. You are all members of the third-grade team. You will be on a new team each year as you move through the schools. School principals are coaches for each school and your teachers are the coaches for each class. The entire community is your fans and your Super Bowl is graduation,” Sturm said.
Sturm then declared Schools Safety Officer Gartska as the mascot as she placed the Canfield Cardinals mascot head on his head.
Gartska then took his turn to tell the students about his job. He said his main responsibility is safety and security in schools. He also part of his job entails educating the students about issues that relate to them, like seat belt safety.
“I make sure school is a safe place for you to learn,” Gartska said.
Police Chief Colucci then explained his roles to the students. His main concern is keeping the streets of Canfield safe.
“Our department is doing everything we can to keep Canfield safe,” Colucci said.
He also asked the students partner with the Canfield Police Department.
“The most important thing I can ask of you is to be good people. Be respectful to each other, to your parents and adults. That’s your job — to be respectful. That would really help the members of our department do their jobs,” Colucci said.