To help seventh-grade students better understand what happens in the Wyoming Legislature, Northwest College President Stefani Hicswa started with “Schoolhouse Rock.” In the 1970s “I’m Just a Bill” video, an animated bill moves between committees in the House of Representatives and Senate, singing about the legislative process as he moves along.

On Wednesday afternoon at Powell Middle School, Hicswa described her recent experience following bills in Cheyenne, which was similar to the Schoolhouse Rock video — without the catchy music.

Hicswa told students she is advocating for House Bill 118, which would change the way two-year colleges in Wyoming apply for and receive funding. The funding formula revision would help stabilize funding for community colleges, Hicswa said.

She explained to students how the bill was approved unanimously in the House Education Committee, and then went to the appropriations committee, where it was approved. In the House, an amendment was added to the bill for further study by the Joint Appropriations Interim Committee and Wyoming Community College Commission.

“No, we don’t want to study it — it’ll die in committee,” Hicswa said. “But that’s what they decided to do.”

Following House approval, the bill advanced to the Senate.

“We’re waiting for the leadership in the Senate to decide where it goes,” Hicswa said. She’s asking legislators to take out the amendment for further study.

Hicswa taught the seventh-grade students how to track a bill’s progress on the Wyoming Legislature’s website, legisweb.state.wy.us.

The students, who are in Tara Kennedy’s social studies class at Powell Middle School, have been learning about the legislative branch of state government.

Students also have learned how to write, research and support claims in their language arts class with instructor Kara Samuels.

“Studying the subjects simultaneously enhances student understanding of the process as a whole,” said Kari Walker, a para-educator who organized the enrichment activity with President Hicswa.

Hicswa said she was happy to have the opportunity to work with Powell Middle School students.

She split students into groups to debate various bills as a way to show them how lawmakers debate bills in committees.

Students became proponents or opponents of House Bill 198, which would raise the school dropout age from 16 to 17.

The seventh-graders also debated each side of House Bill 114, a bill to repeal gun-free school zones in Wyoming, and House Bill 83, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Hicswa said students’ arguments often mirrored lawmakers’ debates in Cheyenne.

“Student response to Hicswa’s presentation was positive,” Walker said in a written summary. “Students remained engaged with the learning environment, eager to research their position on the bills and excited to share their argument in front of their peers.”

Walker said the experience helped students understand the importance of the legislative process. Hearing from Hicswa also made students excited to work hard and think about pursuing a college education, Walker said.

Hicswa encouraged students to contact her if they had any questions. She gave all of the students her cell phone number and email address, saying she likes to provide open access.

“You’re welcome to message me,” Hicswa told students. “I will answer your questions or direct you to someone who can.”