Whitehall High School seniors in Bob Panny’s government class took over the reins of Whitehall Township May 2 for Student Government Day, beginning with sitting in on a cabinet briefing held each week by Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr., then shadowing their counterpart bureau chiefs and capping off the day with a mock board of commissioners meeting.

The meeting agenda contained real issues - a proposed four-way-stop intersection, a grant submission for a parkway pavilion and a stipend to the Varsity W Club - and the conversation was spirited and the voting surprising.

What seemed as a routine item, voting on establishing a four-way-stop intersection at Presidential Drive and Hoover Street was defeated, after a lengthy pro-and-con debate, in 4-3 vote.

Before the vote was taken, Student Mayor David Labib said, “I urge you to make the right choice. Our job is to protect [the residents].”

Phillips Armstrong, board of commissioners president, stirred up the issue by saying, “You’re telling me you like to see more accidents,” questioning how many people have to be victims of accidents on the heavily traveled road.

Student board commissioners said monetary factors should be considered - budget costs of signage and legal advertising. Others said there are no records of vehicle accidents at the intersection.

Labib cast a veto vote, granting the four-way stop.

He argued, “It would save lives.”

Madison Lyle, park and recreation bureau student chief, asked for an affirmative vote to allow the mayor to file a state grant application for a Whitehall Parkway pavilion project.

Commissioners Student President Elliot Miller said, “There is no place to sit; they have to sit on the grass.”

An overwhelming vote supported the grant submission.

A lively discussion took place by the student commissioners, who ultimately agreed to a $300 donation to the Varsity W Club. The debate centered on politics, some saying the picture and name of the commissioners president or the board of commissioners names should not be printed as donors. Miller then consented to having the board of commissioners as donors, sans names.

Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent John Corby, present for the forum, was asked to speak on the matter. Corby said the donation does not go in the district’s general fund coffers; that is viewed as an addition to funding athletic programs.

“We do our part,” Corby said, mentioning it creates a bond between the township and school district.

Armstrong, a retired Whitehall High School teacher and organizer of the program, commended the students for their roles in Student Government Day, noting their interest and actions were superior.