Homer junior high students describe Enterprise America learning simulation to board
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Summary
Teachers and eighth-grade students told the Homer Central School District board about a WCNY-run Enterprise America simulation focused on financial literacy and civic readiness; students described jobs, voting, budgeting and real-world decision-making aspects of the exercise.
Homer Central School District teachers and eighth-grade students on May 27 described a day-long Enterprise America simulation run by WCNY that the district funded through arts and education grants.
The program put students into businesses and city roles to practice budgeting, voting and civic roles. Jen Greenfield and Kim Bucks, teachers who organized the trip, told the board the program included job applications, skills assessments, company teamwork, business loans from an on-site bank and voter participation with an actual voting machine.
"It entails basically, at WCNY in Syracuse, they have a model ... the program entails financial literacy and civic readiness," Jen Greenfield said. Greenfield said funding covered all students so no family payment was required.
Students who attended described their roles and what they learned. Lydia, a student who participated, said, "I worked at the delivery center, and I was the accountant manager." Kate, another student, said, "I worked in a media company as a news reporter, and I learned a lot how much teamwork is, like, how much it matters in a job." The students described practical tasks such as filling out checks, keeping a checkbook ledger, pricing items for a café and responding to simulated civic needs.
Teachers described how the simulation asked students to create and vote on city laws, elect a mayor and judge, and manage business finances. Greenfield and Bucks said chaperones were instructed to monitor but not solve problems so students would make decisions themselves. Greenfield added that some students who do not usually participate rose to leadership roles during the exercise.
Board members presented certificates to student speakers in recognition of their appearance before the board. Board comments also noted that district staff member Kara has already set aside funds to repeat the trip next year, now that organizers know costs and logistics.
The board received the presentation as an information item; no formal board action on the program was recorded at the meeting.