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As the Lakeland Youth Council concludes its third year, commissioners will shorten member terms from two years to one year and transition the council from high school students to eighth graders.
Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday, May 18, to approve the change. They will accept rising eighth graders for at least one year, seeing it as a trial period as they continue to hone the Youth Council.
There will be 10 or 11 open positions in 2026-2027. At least four high school students who already serve on the council and have a year remaining in their term will be “grandfathered in” to serve a second year.
The City Clerk will begin accepting applications online at the end of the summer. Once applications are received, city commissioners review candidates. Each commissioner appoints two members, and the mayor appoints three. Students are sworn in at the commission meeting in September, then they kick off the program with a retreat. Regular meetings begin in October.
What is Lakeland Youth Council?
The 15-member Lakeland Youth Council was created in 2023 to give students an opportunity to voice concerns, share ideas, discuss community issues, and provide recommendations to the City Commission.
“What we’re offering them is that insider’s view of local government,” said Commissioner Stephanie Madden, who founded and oversees the Youth Council.
She said that the youth council gives students the opportunity to better understand the way that city government works and parliamentary procedure. Members of the council tour city hall, visit Lakeland Electric, and learn about public services like trash pickup and storm recovery.
During visits to the fire and police departments, council members get to see rescue and SWAT equipment up close, lift a fire house, and visit the 911 call center. They also get a behind the scenes look into coordinating, managing, and cleaning up after downtown events, like the Christmas Parade and First Fridays.
When it was formed, Madden said she visited neighborhood meetings to share information on the council and encourage students from different areas around the city to apply. “I was so thrilled about the diversity of the students. We had students from most every school.”
Why change now?
Madden first suggested shortening the term length and changing the council to eighth grade at the May 4 City Commission meeting.
Commissioner Terry Coney said shortening terms will give more students the opportunity to participate. Madden said Coney was the one who originally suggested opening the council up to middle schoolers. She thought eighth graders could be the right fit, as most students take civics in seventh grade.
Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley said that being a part of the Youth Council can also fill a gap in civics curriculums. “Civics is predominantly state and federal government,” McCarley said. “It’s hard to teach local government because every local government operates differently.”
“What an opportunity, potentially, for seventh graders to take civics, and then for those teachers and principals to be able to nominate them or encourage them to fill out an application to participate in the year-long course as a youth council member,” Madden said.
Madden also said that middle school might also be a better fit because high schoolers have busy schedules, more stress, and additional opportunities with honor societies, clubs, and sports. Commissioner Chad McLeod agreed. He said he recently led a Youth Council meeting in Madden’s place and, due to conflicts, very few members were able to attend.
“I love the idea of doing eighth grade,” said McCarley. “I think it gives eighth graders the chance to do something in the community that they don’t often get the chance to do.”
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