Building Support for Public Edcation

The Building Support for Public Education committee focuses on community involvement and government relations. The committee also works to recognize individual member achievement through articles in our award winning newsletter, On the Edge, with cards sent through the "Care and Share" program, and with our last major event, the Linn County Educator of the Year Awards which will be held on May 7th, National Teacher Day. The ceremony is quite an honor for those teachers nominated from the area. The annual event is sponsored by Farms State Bank.

Community based events have traditionally included parade entries with the "CREA Dragon and the H.O. Maxey Memorial Food Drive. In addition to these events, the cadre is planning to work with vested partners to spotlight educational issues in the November elections as well as sponsor a tree for the St. Lukes Festival of Trees celebration. Bowling for Kids Sake has become an annual opportunity for members to give back to many of our student through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Three teams will be bowling this February.

The committee is also busy throughout the year monitoring political events on the local, state, and national scene. This year we need to continue to elect and support legislators who promised and followed through on their pledges to adequately fund public education. However, there are no guarentees. Lobbying needs to happen in a variety of ways: write your legislators regularly and tell them the impact of the budget cuts; attend a coalition lobbying event; speak with legislators face to face at local forums and breakfasts. We are making a difference, but we cannot afford to relax our efforts.