Fairhope Elementary students wrote a bill for a state crustacean, the brown shrimp, (Farfante) Penaeus aztecus. Their two sponsors for the bill are Senator Trip Pittman and Representative Joe Faust. Representative Faust initiated the bill in the House. This was a great project for our little students for many reasons.

There are only three states with a state crustacean…

• Louisiana has the freshwater crayfish; Procambarus clarkii.

• Maryland has the blue crab; Callinectes sapidus

• Oregon has the Dungeness crab; Metacarcinus magister.

We believe the brown shrimp would be a wonderful state crustacean for Alabama.

On Tuesday, March 31, the Alabama Senate gave final legislative approval to SB58 and on Thursday, April 30, the Alabama House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to HB88, which designates the brown shrimp as the “official” state crustacean.

The house gallery of lawmakers approved the bill 101-1 and the senate approved the bill 26-1.

The big idea originated in the tech labs as the K-3rd grade students, guided by teachers Susan Sims and Amy Smith, discussed ways to combine and enhance an Environmental and Governmental PBL Unit. Kacie Hardman, the Pelican’s Nest science teacher, added a wealth of enthusiasm and knowledge to the project.

All K-3rd students wrote and illustrated brown shrimp letters, guided by their teachers, to each and every senator and representative. The legislators praised the students as being the best lobbyists of the year! Representative Joe Faust said, “We are all about the voice of the people, they might be little people but they have big voices and showed it with their lobbying for their bill.”

What’s next, you ask?

A confirmation date from Governor Robert Bentley to sign the bill into law at our school!