Student Government Day offers lesson in how borough operates

High school seniors discussed the process with local leaders.

Charleroi Area High School seniors traded classrooms for council chambers Tuesday, stepping into the roles of local leaders during the borough’s long-running Student Government Day — a tradition that has been giving students a front-row seat to civic life since the 1950s.

By mid-morning, those seats came with a clearer view — not just of how government works, but how complicated, time-consuming and often underappreciated it can be.

Charleroi Area seniors Emerson Panzone, left, and Mikey Lee, right, shadowed council members Tuesday during Student Government Day. Taylor Brown / MVI

Students from the Charleroi Area School District spent the day shadowing borough officials, including council members, Mayor Ed Bryner, borough staff, code enforcement, police, firefighters and Magisterial District Judge Eric Porter.

The experience wrapped up with a luncheon at American Legion Post 22, where conversation continued between students and leaders.

But the most impactful moments came during open discussion inside council chambers, where students pressed officials on everything from pay and responsibilities to longterm

Senior Jackson Keranko served on council Tuesday during Charleroi Borough’s annual Student Government Day.

development and regional cooperation.

As part of that conversation, stu- dents introduced themselves and shared what comes next after graduation — a wide range of plans that reflected how varied their interests are. Among them were students planning careers in cybersecurity, professional golf management, sales, civil engineering, biomedical fields, neuroscience, mechanical engineering and emergency medicine.

For student Dylan Klinger, the biggest takeaway came quickly.

Charleroi Area Senior Terens Prananto asked about the governmental structure of a borough.

“I was surprised by how much work they actually put into it,” he said.

That work, officials explained, extends far beyond the twice-monthly meetings the public sees.

“There’s much more involved than just coming and showing up,” Borough Manager Joe Manning said. “If you’re in charge of streets, you’re meeting with the superintendent, deciding what gets paved, looking at materials. You run into people at the grocery store, and they’re bringing issues to you there, too.”

Councilwoman Kristin Hopkins explains how borough decisions are made to Charleroi Area seniors participating in Student Government Day on Tuesday

Councilwoman Kristin Hopkins echoed that point, describing the role as a constant balancing act.

“We have two meetings, but we do a lot of labor outside those meetings,” she said. “The meetings are just where everything is recorded. You have to budget your time and decide what’s important.”

For many students, the reality of that workload — combined with the compensation — was surprising.

Hopkins told students council members earn about $105 per month after taxes, while the mayor does not accept a stipend.

“So it definitely is not a job,” she said. “It’s just kind of like a hobby. But it’s passion for the community.”

That detail stood out to senior Naomi Black.

“Since they don’t get paid a lot, or get much recognition from the public, I appreciate it a lot more after being able to see it from the inside,” she said.

The conversation also turned to how decisions are actually made — and why they often take time.

“We’re governed by a body rather than a person,” Hopkins said. “Nothing is independent of council action. You need a majority vote, and that means people with different opinions have to come together.”

She explained that disagreement is not only common, but necessary.

“If everybody agrees with you, when do you learn?” she said. “The best leader brings different opinions to the table.”

That process — and the time it requires — was eye-opening for students like Katie Carpenter.

“It’s surprising to know how long it takes something to be completed from start to finish,” she said.

Officials pointed to projects like the Magic City Riverfront Park as an example.

The development is planned in phases, including a walking trail, amphitheater, recreational courts and pavilions, but progress depends heavily on funding and coordination with outside partners.

“It could be five years, it could be 15,” Hopkins said. “Everything depends on money.”

That led into broader discussions about funding challenges in the Mon Valley and the need for collaboration between neighboring communities.

“I’d love to see more regionalization,” Manning said. “Group purchasing, shared projects — things that benefit the entire area.”

Hopkins agreed, adding that cooperation could open the door for larger events and initiatives.

“I’d love to see the whole greater Charleroi area come together,” she said. “A big carnival, shared events — rotate them between communities. We could do big things if we all worked together.”

Students didn’t just listen — they contributed.

Some suggested ideas like community events and programming, while others asked about how to get involved or bring new energy into the borough.

Hopkins encouraged that involvement, even in small ways.

“Volunteer your time,” she said. “That looks good on a resume, but more importantly, it helps your community. If you have an idea — a clinic, arts and crafts, anything — come to us. We’ll work with you.”

Council President Paul Pivovarnik added that the borough is open to supporting those ideas.

“If we can put a program together, we can go out and get sponsorships,” he said. “We can show people where their money is going.”

For Mikey Lee, seeing that willingness to listen left a strong impression.

“I understand more know how much they care about the community and how much they are willing to do to change it and make it better,” he said.

Students also asked about how local government compares to state and federal systems, prompting a breakdown of the borough structure.

Unlike the federal system with three branches, Charleroi operates under the borough code, with council serving as the primary governing body and the mayor playing a more limited role, including breaking tie votes.

“It’s different at the local level,” Manning said. “Each classification has its own rules.”

The discussion even touched on perception — particularly how social media can impact local businesses and community morale.

Hopkins said negative narratives can hurt economic growth and discourage investment.

“We need to find ways to market Charleroi better,” she said. “This is a great place to start a business. The costs are lower, and there’s opportunity here.”

She encouraged students to support local events, including the borough’s Magic City Saturday celebration in June, noting that attendance directly impacts whether those events can continue.

“If people don’t come, vendors don’t come,” she said. “And then you lose the event.”

For some students, the day shifted not only their understanding, but their interest in future involvement.

Others walked away with a broader perspective.

Ethan Hartley said even if student priorities differ from current projects, the experience showed him something important.

“I think after today I know they have a bigger plan in place for better things in the future,” he said.

For borough officials, that kind of takeaway is exactly the goal.

“We always hope that everyone leaves and wants to change it for the better,” Hopkins said. “We need young people.”

Mayor Ed Bryner said he hopes students also gained an understanding of the challenges that come with that responsibility.

“I hope they realize after today that it’s really hard to get things done,” he said.

Still, the exchange left a positive impression on both sides.

“It’s good to see there’s still interest,” Pivovarnik said. “We got some good ideas today.”

For students, the day turned government from something distant into something personal — a system shaped by people in their own community, working through challenges, disagreements and limited resources to try to make it better.

For at least a few, it may have been the start of something more.

“For me, definitely,” Carson said. “I think this is something we should all try to do. … I see myself in the future trying to participate as much as I can in some form of government.”

Speakers at the luncheon included Gen. Dave Papak, state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi and Tom Anderson, Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans.

The luncheon was sponsored by the Mon Valley Alliance, Charleroi Borough and American Legion Post 22.

Dessert sponsors included Bartolotta and Charleroi Councilwomen Kristin Hopkins and Nancy Ellis.

The class sponsor is Joe Grodz.