Weir High Students are participating in a statewide project to collect information from municipalities and counties to form a Web site containing need-to-know information in one centralized location.
Two Weir High School freshmen students, Kathleen Treetoe and John Pennacchio, are participating in the state Regional Education Service Agencies 6 project. The students spent time recently with Weirton Mayor Mark Harris to gather information for what they called an "all you need to know" Web site.
"They've asked about statistics, boards and commissions and general information about Weirton," said Harris.
Treetoe stated she and Pennacchio are also working to gather information from Chester, New Cumberland and Hancock County as a whole. She said they are contacting government officials in each location for the project. She stated they will also be gathering information from police, fire and emergency medical teams as well.
"We are also doing a video of each town and the county which will also be on the site," she added.
Treetoe said RESA6 is another way for the state to divide up the counties in the state of West Virginia. She said students from Brooke High School are taking care of towns in Brooke County such as Follansbee, Wellsburg, Beech Bottom and more.
"This is taking place in every county in the state," she said.
Pennacchio said there is also an educational process to the project. He said right now, the students involved are doing the leg-work and future students will simply have to go in and update as new members get elected. He said having all the information will make it easier for those who are from out of the area to have a better idea of where to go and whom to talk to when they need information.
Pennacchio said it will take approximately one year to complete these first phases of the RESA6 project. He also said they will be graded on the assignment for their civics class.
Harris stated the project is a good idea. He said students have an opportunity to learn about their area and elected officials and processes they may not get otherwise.
"This project is going to give them first-hand knowledge and help them give that information to others," he said. "It's a great idea and can't wait to see it up and running."
(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)
