Pat-Med Students Turn Civic Lessons Into Action
A classroom campaign launched in 2020 and revived by another group of students four years later has secured $1.9 million for sidewalks along Buffalo Avenue, demonstrating how young people can make a lasting difference in their community.
What began as a classroom assignment at Patchogue-Medford High School has become a $1.9 million victory for student safety, thanks to two generations of civics students who refused to let their idea for sidewalks along Buffalo Avenue fade away.
Social Studies teacher Shaun Carlson, now in his 23rd year at the school, introduced the effort through the Generation Citizen civics program, which challenges students to identify community problems and work toward solutions.
In 2020, students selected Buffalo Avenue sidewalks as their priority, citing heavy traffic, missing shoulders, overgrown vegetation, and dangerous conditions for pedestrians.
“They really made a case both times that we just need sidewalks,” Carlson said.
The original effort stalled during COVID, but in 2024, an entirely new group of students revived the campaign.
“That’s the first time and only time so far we’ve had a repeat issue,” Carlson said. “That means a lot to them.”
Students researched conditions, conducted surveys, gathered photographs, and interviewed elected officials, including Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Senator Dean Murray, Councilman Neil Foley, and Legislator Dominick Thorne.
“They listen to the kids, they hear the kids, and, most importantly, they try to help the kids,” Carlson said.
The effort has now resulted in $1.9 million for pedestrian improvements from a new round of state funding approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“When I got texts and calls from all these local legislators, I was through the roof,” Carlson said. “It was just an incredible feeling that we finally did it.”
The program has produced other successes, including $130,000 for library improvements and a student campaign for solar panels.
Carlson hopes to reunite the former students so they can witness their accomplishments. “They deserve to know the fruits of their labor,” he said.
For current civics students, the sidewalk victory offers a powerful lesson: meaningful change can take years, but persistence can pay off.
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