By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Local teens who are looking to have a direct say in Alabaster’s youth offerings while learning more about how the city operates will have a chance to do so by applying for the city’s next Teen Council.

Registration for the Teen Council is currently open, and will last through Saturday, March 31, city leaders announced recently. The group, which will be chosen and sworn in this spring, is open to all students in grades 9-11 who attend Thompson High School, Kingwood Christian School or Evangel Christian School and area homeschools.

Over the past several years, the Teen Council has grown significantly in numbers, as the group only consisted of 12 teens during its inaugural year in 2014.

As in past years, Alabaster City Council members and other civic leaders have agreed to serve as mentors to the kids selected to be on the Teen Council.

During their time serving on the council, the teens will complete a team building day at Family Connection before holding regular meetings with Mayor Marty Handlon and will be involved in organizing teen-focused events such as movie nights and a water slide day this summer.

The purpose of the Teen Council is to “create an informed group of students who are familiar with municipal issues, to develop long-lasting relationships between students and city leaders, to sustain youth presence in a broad range of impact and decision-making areas across the community, to develop future civic leaders and to organize events for community teens.”

To apply for the Teen Council, kids should visit Cityofalabaster.com/365/Alabaster-Teen-Council. In addition to completing the online form and questionnaire, applicants must submit a letter of reference from a teacher, principal, activities director or work supervisor, and submit a short essay describing what leadership is or should be and describing what contribution the applicant would like to make to the Teen Council.