Sussex Academy students host Dewey Beach official

Dewey Beach Commissioner Paul Bauer visited Sussex Academy Jan. 29 to work with high schoolers studying the language of law and government.

Bauer met with juniors in Dr. Andie Kirtley's Honors English 11 class, where students are studying the language of the founding documents that govern Americans, and how local, county and state laws are written.

Students are researching local ordinances and state laws to evaluate what policies they feel need to be amended, and to learn how to effectively communicate with elected officials now and in the future. They said they learned a lot about the many steps it takes to create new laws.

Junior Aislynne Boyer said she learned that local laws were created to solve problems brought to municipalities by members of the public.

“Sometimes a law that was made can have unintended consequences,” she said.

Ryan Baldwin said he learned that he can support his community by sending letters to local lawmakers.

Sarah Lester-Stranick said Bauer was very knowledgeable about Sussex County’s legislative structure.

“He helped us to come to a better understanding of the laws we live by,” she said.

Hannah Purse said it’s important to collaborate with lots of different people with different points of view when making fair decisions.

Giovanni Lucero-Cruz said, “Mr. Bauer has taught me that I can do whatever I put my mind to.”

Bauer said he truly enjoyed working with the students. “After spending time with them, I am certain that the future looks bright,” he said.

After his visit, students Nate Elliott and Enrique Carbajal-Cifuentes contacted Bauer regarding their request that the town offer a student discount for bonfire permits, and Bauer said he would sponsor the request for an upcoming council vote.

Also, Aislynne Boyer wrote to the Delaware agency that handles animal health issues to suggest that someone in each county be assigned to oversee and follow up on spay/neuter and release programs. She received a response that the recommendation would be forwarded to the department supervisor for consideration.

Students said they were impressed that high school students could actually achieve community change by communicating with the adults in charge, and they were proud to be successful in their efforts.