Wadsworth City held its annual Students in Government Day on May 15, 2025. Students in Government Day is an opportunity for juniors enrolled in Advanced Placement Government to get real-world experience on what it is like to work in a local government. Students chose to go with a member of the local government, ranging from the mayor to the parks service director.
The day started with everyone gathering in the City Council Chambers for a quick meeting before splitting off into three groups.
Group one was focused on public safety. They started with the students touring both of Wadsworth’s fire stations. Then, the group toured the Police Department with Detective James Allenby.
Group two was the group focused on economic development and public development. They started their day at the City Hall meeting with the city engineers, administration and utilities. Group two then went to visit with the Streets and Parks Department. They concluded their tour with a tour of Trolley Line Park.
Group three focused on Public Service. They started the tour at the Electric and Communications Division and the Water Treatment plant. They then toured the Transfer Station as well as Water Distribution.
Afterwards, all of the groups met up back at City Hall, where the students would split up into their own groups and go with an employee of the city. The students would learn from these city employees and get to look into what they do.
“You’ll learn and see what we actually do on the ground,” said Robin Laubaugh in a speech to the AP government class.
Laubaugh is currently serving her fifth four-year term as Mayor of Wadsworth.
“You actually get to see an on-the-ground viewpoint of our local government,” Laubaugh said.
This on-the-ground approach allows students to get a view of what it is like to work in local government.
The Students in Government day will continue next year with the AP Government students, with the goal of getting students involved in government.
