TRAVELING — Franklin Elementary School fifth graders, from left, Jaena Manson, Dannielle Zuern, Chelsea Flodin, Chelsey Fix and Mallory McPhee will head to Lansing June 16 and 17 to present a proposed bill to the state House Transportation Committee. The girls have proposed legislation asking the state to make seat belts mandatory on school buses. (Daily Press photo by Carol Blanchard)

JOSH JOHNSON
Daily Press
ESCANABA — Five Franklin Elementary sixth-graders will have the chance to take a proposed bill from the classroom to the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Chelsey Fix, Chelsea Flodin, Jaena Manson, Mallory McPhee and Dannielle Zuern will travel to Lansing to present their bill on requiring school buses to have safety belts to the state House June 16-17.
The students originally presented their bill to Rep. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, and Doug Hart, R-Rockford, on May 14 at a Michigan House Civics Commission forum at Escanaba High School, along with other area students in fifth through 12th grades.
Franklin Principal Kay Johnson said the practicality of the bill and the above-average effort of the students made the legislators take notice.
“I don't think we'd be invited to travel all the way down if they aren't taking the issue of seat belts on buses seriously,” Johnson said. “The girls have a lot of quality data to support their testimony.”
The students will present their findings to the Transportation Committee, and then will view a full session of the House.
Chelsea Flodin, of Wells Township, said the idea originated from a class brainstorming session with their teacher, Michelle Dykema. The five girls searched the Internet for statistics about school bus safety belts, using research from across the United States and Germany.
“I'm looking forward to what (the Legislature) will say about bill proposal,” Flodin said. “I think that they'll say good things about it.”
Flodin said her parents were especially proud of the girls' accomplishment.