For the first time in Blue Valley Northwest’s 27 year history, a Town Hall was held at the school according to We the People teacher Ken Thomas. The event was put on for educational purposes, Thomas said. 

“[We organized the Town Hall] to get these representatives and senators here and talk about the important issues that are coming up [and] to inform,” Thomas said. “I think the panel did such an outstanding job today, discussing the issues in a coherent, concise manner.”

The elected officials who attended the Pre-legislative Town Hall consisted of Kansas State Senators John Skubal and Jim Denning and Kansas State Representatives Brett Parker, Cindy Holscher and David Benson. 

Representative Benson, a former superintendent of the Blue Valley School District for 11 years, said it was great to be back at a school in which he once oversaw. In addition, Benson said he jumped at the invitation to attend the Town Hall at BVNW when he heard it was student-led and organized. 

“I just appreciate the fact that as a former educator, [I am] able to come back and speak directly to students,” Benson said. “They are so well versed in the issues.”

One of the student organizers, StuGo Executive President Annabelle Nitz said she found the event empowering, learning all that can be done at the state level of government. Nitz added that she believes the Town Hall was a positive experience for her fellow students. 

“Our goal in our Student Government, and We the People’s goal in hosting this event was to help students see that even if they can’t vote or they are not a representative, they do have a say in the things that happened in their government and the things that affect them directly,” Nitz said. “It’s really important for them to be educated on these topics, so that when the time comes, they can make informed decisions.”