Sitting backwards in a blue plastic chair, Mayor Ray Masayko talked Thursday to Pioneer High School students about city government and their role in it.
"Prepare yourselves to be a part of the government in your community," he said. "The government will run with or without you. I think it would run better with you."
Government teacher Mallory Bozeman said he asked Masayko to come so the students would understand their own importance.
"The kids need to know they are counted in this town and that they are worth something," he said. "It gives them something to strive for."
Pioneer High School is available for those students who want an alternative to the traditional structure of Carson High School.
Bozeman is working with his students to make a 15 mph zone around the school.
"The cars just come flying down the street," said Rachel Bryla, 17. "One of us could easily get hit. There's nothing here to let people know there's a school."
The students wrote a letter to the mayor to advise him of the situation.
"Your letter is getting the kind of attention it deserves," Masayko told them.
Street Operations Manager John Flansberg said he turned the responsibility of designating the school zone area to the government class.
"You just don't go out and throw signs up," Flansberg said. "We want them to decide where to put the signs. We're just trying to get them involved in the process."
Each sign will cost about $150, which could cost the city $1,500 for all of them.
Bozeman said he expects to designate the school zone by May 31.
Masayko also encouraged the students to take part in the political process by voting.
"Registering is just the first step," he said. "If you don't vote you're missing the process."
He said one of the key components to voting is to become aware. In order to become aware, he said, they must be educated.
"This school is aimed at helping you young men and young women understand what you need to know to become productive members of this society," he said.
"Education is one of the skills that young people in this country need to take advantage of."
A banner in the classroom reads, "You are the author of your own life story."
Masayko told them the consequences of bad decisions.
"If you can't cope in society then society will segregate you," he said. "There's a four-letter word for that - jail."
Masayko explained the levels of government to the students and the form of government.
"We're a representative democracy called a republic," he said. "That means that people, like myself, are elected to be the representative of Carson City."
Desiree Gates, 17, said she was impressed with the mayor.
"I think he's cool," she said. "I appreciate him because it seems like a lot of people in the city don't care about our school, but he does."
He told them so.
"You are important to this community," Masayko said. "You are important to this school district, not only as a group but as individuals."
