Pictured left to right: Caley Nestor Baker (Advanced 7th grade Social Studies teacher), Anna Borders, Sarah Gellner, Danielle Ingram, Adriane Thompson, Rachel Kaufman, Todd Kleismit (Director of Community and Government Relations for the Ohio History Center) and Debbie Pellington (Gifted Education Facilitator).
Following a visit to the Ohio Statehouse in which students from Genoa Middle School’s Advanced 7th grade Social Studies classes proposed new state symbols that should be considered for the State of Ohio, State Representative Anne Gonzales presented what is now House Bill 143 to fellow representatives for a first hearing two weeks ago. House Bill 143, created by five Genoa Middle School students, proposes that the barn be considered the official historical architectural structure of the state. These students are now preparing to visit the Statehouse sometime soon to give testimony to the State Government Committee on behalf of their bill.
In order to prepare for their visit and in support of their efforts, the group had the opportunity recently to meet with Todd Kleismit, the Community and Government Relations Director for the Ohio History Connection. He shared information about how to conduct additional research as the pupils prepare to give their testimony, along with explaining the legislative process as their bill moves through the House and hopefully on to the Senate.
Also in support of their research, Beth Weinhardt, Coordinator of the Local History Center at the Westerville Public Library, met with the group to share information about the history of the Everal Barn, which located in Westerville.