Elected officials visit Longfellow fifth graders

Fifth graders challenged local officials with difficult questions about government operations during a visit on Tuesday at Longfellow Elementary School. State Representatives David Harris and Elaine Nekritz, Buffalo Grove Village President Beverly Sussman, and CCSD21 Board of Education member Arlen S. Gould, spoke about the various roles and responsibilities of elected officials and how different levels of government work together to support the community.

“Putting a face and a name with a government official is incredibly valuable for our students and helps them better connect with what we’re learning,” said Jessica Weiss, Longfellow fifth grade teacher. “We appreciate the time these elected officials took to visit Longfellow.”

Each guest began by describing his or her specific role, and then expanded to describe how their branch or level of government works together with other elected officials. Students then asked questions about the legislators’ daily schedule, how they prioritize issues like education, and how ideas turn into bills and are then signed into law.