GULF SHORES, Ala. — Members of the 2009-10 Gulf Shores High School student government recently attended a Gulf Shores City Council meeting to learn more about the way city government works and to prepare to work alongside the city on future projects.

Along with Principal Dr. Ernie Rosado and sponsor and history teacher Susan Nelson, the students sat through Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, and were encouraged by Mayor Robert Craft to ask questions if needed.

“We are observing this work session to give our students more insight as to how city government works,” Nelson said. “This is actually the first time that we have done this but we hope to make it an annual event. Some of the students with us today are SGA members and some are class officers, representing each grade at the high school.”

Dr. Rosado said he hopes the kids will see how things operate within the city government as compared to their school government set up.

“We’ll be going to Orange Beach (Tuesday) and observing them as well,” Rosado said. “We want the students to observe, see how the council interacts, what they do and what they do for us.”

Dr. Rosado said the student government is looking forward to working with both cities in the future on projects that will be beneficial to the students and the school, as well as to the cities.

Members of the student government are selected through an election by the entire student body after campaigning for different class offices.

Nelson said she hopes some of the students will follow possible political ambitions.

“That’s what we are hoping to find out. That is why we want to give them this opportunity to see how it all works,” Nelson said. “Community involvement is really our focus this year. So in addition to seeing how things work, we want them to be able to get involved and give back to their community.”

Craft explained the purpose of the meeting and exactly what was taking place.  For some of the students it was their first experience at a city government meeting.

“We welcome you and we welcome your continued participation in our city,” Craft said. “What we are doing tonight is really a work session where staff brings up recommendations for future council action. We open it up to the public for discussion and comments, so we can gain information from the public. Next week, we will vote on some of the items that we discuss tonight.”

Craft told the students that if they had questions or comments to raise their hand and he would give them an opportunity to speak.

“This is just a baby step in the direction that we want to go, but we are hoping this will help our students get involved with our community,” Rosado said.