When the 2024 Florida Legislative session starts in January, a bill asking for teachers to take a CPR certification course will be going to Tallahassee with Rep. Paula Stark (R St. Cloud).
It’s not her bill — it came from the minds of middle school students.
St. Cloud Middle School students Allayah Rodriguez, Ella Wetzel, Evangeline Morrero Mosa and teacher Morghan Cameron were honored last week for winning a contest, sponsored by Stark, to participate in developing a “Bill” that focuses on issues or problems that would affect communities throughout the state of Florida to present in the State House in Tallahassee.
The bill needed to include a title, objective, background information, a proposed solution, supporting evidence and an implementation plan.
The entries were judged on relevance, originality, innovation, feasibility to implement, clarity and persuasiveness and supporting evidence.
The Middle School Civics Students finalists’ “Bills” were judged and announced by Rep. Stark’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Oct. 30.
“The collaboration with the School District of Osceola County, and to share with our students the process of how a bill is put together and what it takes to build it and then present to the House is key in understanding the legislative process,” Stark said. “This was a real-life experience for our middle school students to learn and be a part of our Osceola County District curriculum was exciting. The goal here is to inspire these students to take a leadership role in their community and beyond.”
Stark said she hopes to make the contest, much like one done by another legislator in the Panhandle, an annual event.
