2022: Winning Proposal

Seven different groups made up of Melrose High School students put together seven proposals for the Mayor's 5kOURway Participatory Budgeting competition.

2022 Winner!

The student body voted, and in a landslide, Team Outdoor Seating won! Melrose High School now has 6 new "Melrose Red" picnic tables being used for socializing during lunchtime! Congratulations, team Outdoor Seating!

2022 Participatory Budget Finalists
 

Team 5K For Sunnier Days

5K For Sunnier Days is led by a group of students working to put a sunlight lamp in every classroom without windows. Students spend hours on end in classrooms without windows and the lack of Vitamin D does not benefit students’ health- both physical and mental. We have determined the amount of classrooms without windows and how many teachers in these classrooms would like a lamp to make sure the amount of lamps needed fits the budget.  We have worked to gather data on the need, support, and costs for this project.

Team Hand Dryers

Project Hand Dryers is led by a group of students who believe Melrose High School waste too many paper towels and that  paper towels make a mess in the bathroom. To stop the waste and mess, they propose the installation of 6 hand dryers in order in MHS bathrooms to reduce the number of paper towels used and do so with energy-efficient appliances that dry hands without increasing exposure to bacterial growth.

Team Project Safe Wheel

Currently the MHS-MVMMS campus only has a single old and rusted bike rack that is in an inconvenient place for the majority of people looking to use it. Biking also is good for the environment and for low income/working families as it has no carbon admissions and is a viable option for students to get to school on their own. We need a place where students can easily store their bikes and other transportation without fear of damage or theft. This will also encourage green transportation and can make it easy for those whose parents work to attend school sports and clubs. The overarching goal is to provide safe and reliable parking for students and athletes on the mhs/mvmms grounds who use green transportation such as bikes and scooters.

Team Outdoor Seating

At Melrose High School, many students love to have the option to eat outside for lunch. Not only would students and teachers be thrilled with the seating, more outdoor tables would encourage eating outdoors which could lessen the risk of being exposed to Covid. We have a few tables already but they are quickly filled up and only remain in the front of the school. An increase in outdoor seating, provided by various tables, will decrease the Covid risk for students, as well as staff. More students would have the chance to eat lunch outside with more seating options around the school rather than in one spot. Our objective is to have seating outside that will last the high school students many years. We want to allow students to have the option of a new environment where they choose to eat outside whenever they please. Furthermore, giving students outdoor seating can allow them to get a break from being stuck inside all day, which can help them come back to class refreshed with an open mind.

Team Autism Awareness

Autistic Students are often either put in special needs classes where things may be too over stimulating for them, or in regular classes where they are also not given the opportunity to thrive or classes don’t fit their needs. Teachers are often not equipped to deal with Autistic students and are unable to help them thrive in an active environment. Project Autism Awareness would like to raise more awareness through creating projects and classes that will help teachers meet their students needs.

Team Cross Fit Rig

Team Cross Fit Rig proposes the installation of outside fitness equipment. The construction has many advantages: it does not require any additional supervision, it is reliable for a variety of exercises, and it is sustainable, meaning that it will be in usable condition for many years. An installation of such equipment in school areas will inspire students to do sport activities - because now it will be timesaving, interesting, and encouraging. "Also, within the opportunity to participate in this project, I am proposing to support my country - Ukraine. As we all know, the Russian invasion caused damage not only to the civil infrastructure of Ukraine but also to the economic system of the country. Therefore, small businesses, who are the greatest reliance for the Ukrainian economy right now, need to be maintained. Ordering fitness equipment from Ukraine would be the same in price as ordering it from other countries, but in this way, we can provide our help to other people."

Team Send All the Trash Away 

Team Send all the Trash Away belives believes that if people are made aware of how prominent the trash problem is, they might be able to make change happen. Some of the people of Melrose already know about the ongoing litter problems through interviews conducted. Our goal is to add specific trash cans that allow recycling and waste to be removed. Along with this, we will have images of trash in the area to promote public awareness and encourage a cleaner Melrose. We want to add these around the city in places known for having a lot of litter and high foot traffic. This will reduce litter and will help keep our environment clean.