Youth Commission

Regular Meeting

Arlington Heights, IL · August 15, 2024

Minutes

Minutes Village of Arlington Heights Youth Commission Arlington Heights Memorial Library 500 N. Dunton Ave 2nd Floor, Room I August 15, 2024 6:00 PM I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Son called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyone introduced themselves. II. ROLL CALL Present Also Present Alice Son, Chairperson James McCalister, Liaison Jennifer Borrell Kimberly Witt, Administrative Assistant Matt Healy Alejandria Galarza, Teen Librarian Taryn Gombar Colin Smith Absent Sydney Galla Afroz Hafeez Michael Bauer Lucy Jochaniewicz Riley Phillips Christopher Hong Ava McQuade III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes from June 20, 2024 A motion was made by Commissioner Hong to approve the minutes of the June 20, 2024 meeting, seconded by Commissioner McQuade and approved by unanimous consent. IV. REPORTS 1 A. Library Chair Son reported that summer reading has come to an end and they are thrilled to report it was a huge success! With the start of the school year, they are shifting gears into back-to-school mode. If you’re a student at Buffalo Grove, Prospect, Rolling Meadows or Hersey – you’ll likely see them on campus. They visit during lunch hour once a month for “Tinker Days”. Chair Son mentioned that the Teen Film Fest is tomorrow in the Hendrickson room, starting at 7:00 PM. If you love teen films, you won’t want to miss it. The after-party with mocktails start at 9:00 PM after the library closes. B. Park District Commissioner Healy reported that the Park District is wrapping up summer and pools are beginning to close – many have already started shutting down. Special events are winding down. Chair Son asked if the Park District hired many teen staff, given the Job Fair's focus on bringing in young workers for the summer. Commissioner Healy responded that the aquatics department sees the highest number of teen hires. This includes lifeguards, cashiers for concessions, swim lesson instructors, and swim team coaches. Additionally, summer camp staff, which often includes around a hundred members, also consists largely of teens. The Park District also recently launched CAP, the before and after-school program, which employs about 100 staff members, many of whom are high school and college students. Hopefully, everyone had a chance to enjoy the park district. They are now ramping up for fall events. C. Police Department Commissioner Gombar reported that they are currently hiring many new officers. She also noted that National Night Out was a success this year, despite being held on a Thursday instead of the usual Tuesday. The change in date resulted in a greater number of vendors participating and higher turnout. Highlights of the event included a helicopter flying by at a low altitude and a variety of food trucks. D. Schools No report. E. Members at Large Commissioner Bauer from Rolling Meadows reported that the first day of school was a success. This year, the school schedule has been adjusted, with the school day now starting at 8:20 AM and ending at 3:10 PM, an increase of 20 minutes compared to last year's schedule of 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The change was made to meet the legally required instructional time, which had not been fully met since the onset of Covid. Chair Son mentioned that she saw Rolling Meadows school featured on ABC news for the first day of school. Liaison McCalister noted that Rolling Meadows has a new football coach, Robbie Gould. Commissioner Bauer plays percussion in the Marching Band and also works in theater tech. Commissioner McQuade from Hersey reported that yesterday marked the first day of school. The schedule includes 8 periods, which everyone seems to dislike. She described the day as chaotic, particularly for incoming freshmen who were confused to learn that 2 their lunch period is based on their 5th-period teacher's last name rather than their own. Lunch hours are inconsistent: B lunch lasts 40 minutes, while C lunch extends for an hour. Additionally, she mentioned that football is gearing up, with the first scrimmage scheduled for August 22. As for cross country, the official season began this past Monday, but she has been involved in camp throughout the summer. Sports teams are currently holding tryouts and making cuts, and girls' flag football is getting underway. Commissioner Galla from Prospect reported that things are much the same as at Hersey. She’s already swamped with homework and found her schedule to be quite chaotic. Commissioner Riley from Prospect reported that the lunchroom was so overcrowded that extra tables had to be brought out, and some students ended up sitting on the floor. She also noted that Homecoming is scheduled for September 14. Commissioner Hong from Buffalo Grove reported that students need to scan their IDs to enter both the lunchroom and the library. Similar to other schools, the schedule is causing some confusion. The incoming freshman class is notably large, with around a couple hundred students. Additionally, the school is undergoing extensive renovations, with construction taking place throughout the outdoor areas. Commissioner Smith from Viator reported that the first day of school was Tuesday. Everyone is adjusting to returning from summer break. V. OLD BUSINESS A. 2024 Voting Awareness Project Chair Son provided an overview of the 2024 Voting Awareness Project. During the previous meeting, a question was raised about the number of teen voters. To address this, she reviewed data from the US Census Bureau. According to the report, 60% of the overall population participates in voting, and among the 18 to 24 age group, approximately 50% are voters. The report shows that 18-year-old percent of reported voters are the lowest percentage and it increases as the age increases. The Commission deliberated on whether to focus on this project and how to effectively reach and inform young people. They decided to implement a small-scale initiative featuring a poster with a QR code that links to reliable resources on voting and voting centers. B. Fall/Winter Project Chair Son discussed plans for a fall/winter project and mentioned that in the previous meeting, some Commissioners had proposed focusing on teen volunteering and encouraging the reduction of screen time. Most schools have service clubs that assist teens with their volunteer hours. There was also discussion about the value of reducing screen time for teens. The Commission decided to organize an event for volunteer services in late fall or early winter and to keep the issue of screen time reduction on the agenda every other month. In the upcoming meeting, the Commission will brainstorm ideas for a volunteer event. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. OTHER BUSINESS 3 VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT IX. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Hong, seconded by Commissioner Gombar, moved to adjourn at 7:08 p.m. all concurred and the motion carried unanimously. 4

Agenda

Agenda Village of Arlington Heights Youth Commission Arlington Heights Memorial Library Room I - 500 N. Dunton Ave AH 60004 August 15, 2024 6:00 PM I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. June 20, 2024 Minutes IV. REPORTS A. Library B. Park District C. Police Department D. Schools E. Members at Large V. OLD BUSINESS A. 2024 Voting Awareness Project Commission will discuss and review what would make for an effective resource for new voters. B. Fall/Winter Project Commission will determine whether to pursue an opportunity/event for teen volunteering or for encouraging reduced screen time. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. OTHER BUSINESS VIII.PUBLIC COMMENT IX. ADJOURNMENT Persons with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services, such as an American Sign Language interpreter or written materials in accessible formats, should contact Erin Mercado, at 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005, emercado@vah.com or (847)368-5793. Youth Commission 8/15/2024 Item: Minutes Department: HHS ATTACHMENTS: Description Type June 20, 2024 Minutes Minutes Minutes Village of Arlington Heights Youth Commission Arlington Heights Memorial Library 500 N. Dunton Ave 2nd Floor, Room I June 20, 2024 6:00 PM I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Son called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. The Commission welcomed new members Colin Smith, Sydney Galla, Riley Phillips and Michael Bauer. Everyone introduced themselves. II. ROLL CALL Present Also Present Alice Son, Chairperson James McCalister, Liaison Chyrel Moore Kimberly Witt, Administrative Assistant Lucy Jochaniewicz Dr. Jerome Meservey, Chair of Board of Health Christopher Hong Jennifer Borrell Absent Colin Smith Detective Taryn Gombar Sydney Galla Matt Healy Michael Bauer Dr. Afroz Hafeez Riley Phillips Ava McQuade III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes from February 15, 2024 A motion was made by Commissioner Borrell to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2024 meeting, seconded by Commissioner Hong and approved by unanimous consent. 1 IV. REPORTS A. Library Chair Son reported that it is summer reading time at the library. She described the reading program where teens and high schoolers will receive a beach ball upon signing up, have a chance to spin the prize wheel, and win various prizes along the way. At the end of summer, the teens receive a book for participating. For those who find reading a challenge, reading for the summer program can also count towards required reading for school. Chair Son mentioned that the library has another exciting event coming up which is Fan Con on July 14th, the library's version of Comic Con. This day-long event offers activities for different fandoms and draws in a large crowd around 700 to 900 people. Additionally, the Teen Film Fest is happening on August 16th. Teens submit their short film by August 2nd for a chance to win cash prizes. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase their creativity. The library is bustling with summer activities, and thrilled to have teens utilizing the library. A. Park District No Report B. Police Department No Report C. Schools Commissioner Moore mentioned that children are currently out of school, enjoying time with their friends and engaging in activities, ideally away from social media. In the meantime, schools are undergoing renovations and integrating new technologies. D. Members at Large Commissioner Smith from St. Viator mentioned that he is currently attending summer school, which runs daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm for three weeks. Commissioner Jochaniewicz, also from St. Viator, reported that camps and summer school are ongoing. She has been assisting at a kids' golf camp. Commissioner Phillips from Prospect shared that her finals went well and she has been playing tennis daily. Commissioner Hong from Buffalo Grove stated that he is attending summer school online and participating in sports camps. He noted ongoing renovations at the school. Commissioner Gala from Prospect reported successful finals and her participation in a cross-country camp, highlighting the numerous camps currently taking place. Commissioner Borrel commented on the presence of new faces at the Commission meeting, expressing appreciation for the meeting. 2 V. OLD BUSINESS A. Teen Job Fair Chair Son provided an overview to the new Commissioners on the Teen Job Fair’s events and activities held in March. She noted that this fair is an annual event initiated by the Youth Commission had has been held for more than a decade. She worked closely with the attending Commissioners to discuss successful aspect and areas for improvement. What worked well? • Having a map/checklist of businesses • Layout was good so that teens could walk in a circle around and visit businesses • Parent Lounge being separated • Good number of businesses, new ones and returning ones • Timeframe was good - 1.5 hours What could be improved? • Parent Lounge o Providing a list of best practices for those who are attending, including the parents o Teens going in by themselves shows that they are independent and responsible o Maybe parents should not be allowed in the room. More strict guidelines? o Maybe parents being there could help a teen ease into a new experience. • Ask businesses earlier to attend the fair – start asking in January • Raffle o Clearer instructions on how to register for the raffle o Clearer guidelines that it’s 1 per person o More QR codes to register their raffle - add it on the pamphlet/map o QR code prevented teens without phones to register o Provide laptops for teens registering without phones o Maybe change to in-person drawing at the end of the event • Welcome Desk o Bigger desk to speak with multiple people at once o Microphone and speaker to be heard by more people/accessibility o Let people in waves to be able to discuss the Teen Job Fair o Draw raffle during the fair. Note in the pamphlet the drawing time.  Draw 1 every 30 minutes • Commissioner Hong in costume next year B. 2024 Voting Awareness Chair Son discussed the 2024 voting awareness project, mentioning that while it was initially proposed by former Commissioners who have graduated out of the Commission, it is important to revisit and discuss whether the Commission still wish to pursue this initiative. There was discussion about the project's focus, which includes educating teens on the voting process and teaching them how to research candidates. Voting occurs biennially, and it's valuable for teens to understand this process well before they reach the age of eighteen. A question was asked if there is data available on how many teens vote. While Chair Son didn't have the answer at the moment, she assured she would look into it. Many Commissioners agreed that teens often do not vote due to a lack of awareness 3 about the process and issues at stake. They suggested that increasing awareness would be beneficial in encouraging teen participation. The Commission discussed if they would like to continue with this project. After discussion and deliberation, the Commission has decided to proceed with the project. They may create a flyer containing questions and resources for teens interested in learning about voting. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. OTHER BUSINESS Chair Son proposed to the Commissioners that they brainstorm additional engaging projects. The discussion involved exploring ways to assist teens in meeting school graduation requirements for volunteer hours by identifying suitable volunteer opportunities. Another idea was to organize offline activities where teens can gather to reduce screen time. Additionally, there was a suggestion to host a laser tag event at the library as a screen-free activity option. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT IX. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Hong, seconded by Commissioner Galla, moved to adjourn at 7:09 p.m. all concurred and the motion carried unanimously. 4