| | | January 31, 2008
Update for January 31, 2008 — From Mary Cecconi, Executive Director
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In This Issue
Important Events
Events are listed here for your information (not all sponsored by Parents United).
6th Annual Parent Leadership Summit
Monday, April 7, 2008
At the Capitol
The 2008 legislative session begins on February 12. You are signed up to receive our weekly legislative updates by email. PLEASE forward this email to those you think would be interested in having this information. If you have received this email and want to learn more about us, check our website and let us know if you have questions.
In this issue
Cuts...Cuts...Cuts... What can I do?
Since the first of the year, I have been receiving calls daily from parents who want to know what they can do to get their local school boards to stop the cuts. Schools are closing, class sizes are sky rocketing, teachers and dearly loved programs are being eliminated. It is sad that the most uplifting thing I can say is that you are not alone. Districts all over the state once again are experiencing annual budget reductions. Many of these districts had attempted levies that failed—but many of them had levies that passed!
This is the most painful time of the year for me since the truth is your local school board can only spend what is appropriated from the state and mounting evidence supports what we see in our schools everyday: that the state is under-funding our schools and has been doing so for years. [For an article that explains this underfunding, link here.]
What can we do? We need to make a great deal of noise. We cannot let our schools go down without a fight—but that fight needs to be at the state level. I am asking you to do two things before the session begins on February 12. And please, please, please believe that these two things will make a difference!
- Send an email to your local legislators (find them here) asking if education is still a top priority for this state. Copy that email to the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader [Email Form], the Governor and the chairs of the tax committees, Rep. Ann Lenczewski and Sen. Thomas Bakk [Email Form].
rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn
tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
rep.ann.lenczewski@house.mn
With the increases in local property taxes that many of you asked your neighbors to endorse, this has become a runaway tax issue and we need the chairs of the tax committees to be on board. Copy us in on those emails, since we are collecting what you have to say.
- Find five people you know to do the same thing.
Throughout the session you will hear that there is no money. You will hear that our schools have been given enough. You know better. One way I think of this is from one of Parent United’s first ads: “Our children cannot go back to grade school and get another education when times are better and we all have more to give. When the playground is empty and the children are gone, either we will have sacrificed for them, or we won’t.”
In this issue
February 5 Minnesota Caucuses!
What are you doing at 6:30 on February 5? Since great schools begin at the ballot box, in Minnesota we propose ballot issues and influence candidate positions through the resolution process at our caucuses. Find everything you need to know about the caucus process at our website, including proposed resolutions that are being advanced by all members and partner organizations of the statewide Alliance for Student Achievement. Print out these resolutions and bring them to your local caucus. Imagine how great it would be for all parties to hear the same outcry from every corner of the state. Here are the resolutions:
- Resolution 1 - Invest in public schools and fund the per pupil formula.
- Resolution 2 - Fully fund special education mandates.
- Resolution 3 - Increase state investment in child care and early childhood education.
In this issue
Minnesota Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity released
On January 29, the second Minnesota Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity was released, and the legislature and governor share a "D" on racial equity. This is the work of the Organizing Apprenticeship Project and the information in the report is critical for all of us to know, understand and do something about: “The report documents the progress our state legislature and governor have made during the 2007 session toward closing disparities and increasing equity for all Minnesotans.” The future of our state depends on this.
Hot Topics
In this issue
Questions? Email Mary Cecconi
Parents United for Public Schools
1667 Snelling Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55108
651-999-7391
www.parentsunited.org
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