TAG Opportunity to Act by 3/21/14 - School Funding Task Force

Information shared by TAG advocate Margaret DeLacy: The School Funding Task Force will be meeting to hear public testimony in Salem on Friday, March 21. This is your chance to get your written testimony in to the task force before it meets.  Let's do this for the sake of our children.  Don't they all deserve a chance to learn? You can see the testimony that has already been submitted at: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=4122 Please plan to participate. It's important!  This is likely to be a crowded and busy hearing. Instead of testifying in person, I strongly recommend sending written testimony to  the committee staff member:  jan.mccomb@state.or.us . Let her know that your message is intended as testimony for the hearing.  Your testimony should be short and concise. Express your views about the need for consistent TAG funding based on your own experience. Include your name and address and any relevant status information--for example, "a parent of an Oregon public school student" "an elementary school teacher", "a resident of Woodburn" or "a small business owner" .  Letters written by students are always especially welcome. Task Force on School Funding Date:   Friday, March 21, 2014 Time:   1:00  4:00pm Place:  Hearing Room A         State Capitol Building 900 Court Street NE, Salem OR Public Testimony         The task force will take public testimony on the State School Distribution Formula Witness signup sheets will be available in the hearing room at 12:45 pm.  If distributing written testimony to the task force, please bring at least 15 copies to the meeting. School Funding Task Force The Task Force on School Funding was established by HB 2506 (2013). Its directive is to “make recommendations regarding possible modifications to the funding formulas used to distribute State School Fund moneys to school districts and education service districts.” Task Force Membership The task force consists of 13 members. The Speaker of the House appoints two members; the Senate President appoints two members; and the Governor appoints 9 members. The Governor’s appointees shall be persons who represent school teachers, school administrators, school district business managers, district school board members, and education service districts. Task Force Members Senator Richard Devlin Senator Fred Girod Representative Betty Komp Representative Sherrie Sprenger Kelly K. Devlin John W. Hayes, Jr. PhD Claire S. Hertz Steven G. Isaacs Sena E. Norton Bobbie Regan John M. Rexford Heidi A. Sipe Michael D. Wolfe A report from the task force must be submitted to interim committees related to education no later than October 1, 2014. Oregon Department of Education meetings comply with open meeting laws and accessibility requirements. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Jan McComb at (503) 947-5616.  Questions or requests to be added to the task force distribution list may be e-mailed to Brian Reeder, brian.reeder@state.or.us or Jan McComb, jan.mccomb@state.or.us