Third-Grade ‘Town’ Visits City Fathers

Veronica Lee Rice may measure only 4 feet 3, but the third-grader stands tall over the city of Maple Valley.

Two weeks ago, the city of 27 elected Veronica mayor of their community--actually a third-grade class at Oxnard’s Rose Avenue Elementary School.

So when this pint-sized politician is off duty, she still plays kickball, collects stuffed animals and plows through the “Goosebumps” paperback series.

But when the city of Maple Valley stirs to life for an hour every school day, the 9-year-old from Port Hueneme takes her post very seriously.

“We really don’t have that many problems in Maple Valley,” said Veronica, wearing blue sneakers and a T-shirt with an image of Pocahontas from the Disney movie. “But I got to keep my promises. That is kind of easy, because I always do anyway.”

Veronica’s election to office is part of a program run by teacher Leslie Maple to give students in her third-grade class hands-on experience with how local government works.

Maple Valley “residents” have already elected five City Council members, appointed various city officials and launched businesses that run on play money.

“Just like a real city, we have to pay rent--but all we get is our desks,” Veronica said.

On Friday, residents of Maple Valley--which boasts no major crime, no homeless problem and a stable of well-liked politicians--met with Oxnard officials to find out how a city nearly 6,000 times the size of their teeny municipality is run.

“It is obvious to me that you will bring your elected officials to task,” said Oxnard City Councilman Andres Herrera, giving Maple Valley’s citizens a pep talk on civic responsibility.

After short speeches and the exchange of proclamations and gifts that is customary among cities, Maple Valley residents embarked on a one-hour tour of Oxnard’s civic center.

The students-turned-civic-activists dropped in on Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez for a short chat. They learned where records are filed at the city clerk’s office. And they breezed into the city’s planning department to inspect aerial maps and building documents.

Michael Hill, Maple Valley’s police chief, said he particularly liked the stop at Oxnard Police Department’s 911 dispatch center.

“There is not much crime in Maple Valley,” said Michael, 9. “Just some littering and bad language.”

In fact, Maple Valley’s crime rate is so low that Michael is the only officer in town.

“He’s the man,” said Maple Valley resident John Jefferson, 9.

Maple said her students, who attend school year-round, have studied Oxnard’s history and institutions and are now learning about real life by renting property, selling products and governing their city.

“They are learning a little about what their parents go through,” Maple said.