Dear Unit Presidents,
 
Since a few of you have inquired, I wanted to provide some additional details regarding the letter which was sent to Dr. Gross and Trustees of IUSD yesterday on behalf of the IUCPTA Executive Board.
 
A special meeting of the executive board was held on Thursday, April 3 at 9 AM, called by a notice to board members on Monday, March 31.  The meeting was called at the request of several board members who were concerned that the board's scheduled vote on April 15th may be too early.  In discussions, the IUCPTA Executive board agreed that parents and the community have not had enough time to respond to proposed cuts, offer suggestions or raise funds.  Additionally, the governor has not yet published his revised budget. We felt that the advantages to waiting and making decisions with more specific information outweighed the benefits of voting on April 15th.
 
Because spring break is upon us (and already started at several schools), it was virtually impossible to call a general council meeting following the Exec Board meeting to vote on this matter, while providing adequate time for the school board to consider our request. Therefore, the IUCPTA executive board members voted to send the letter as a request of the Executive Board, rather than waiting to send a letter from the full council after break, which could have been too late.
 
As PTA leaders, I know that you are all concerned about the impact the budget reductions will have on our schools.  Please continue to call, write and e-mail your representatives and plan to attend the April 15th at 7:00pm school board meeting.  Your voices need to be heard and do have an impact for the future of our children.
 
Sincerely,
 
Kim Axene
IUCPTA President
 
 
 
 
 
 

clue030508

PROTECT PROP 98 CAMPAIGN – IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
 
 
SHOUT OUT FOR SCHOOLS DAY #1:  MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008
 
We are trying to FLOOD the Capitol phone lines with phone calls!
 
We need to put pressure on the governor and the legislature now. 
They need to know that we do not want them to suspend Prop 98.    
By protecting Prop 98 IUSD will not have to make many of those proposed $18 million cuts that will be so devastating to our students.
 
 
ANYTIME BETWEEN 9AM & 5PM ON  MONDAY, MARCH 3RD, ALL PARENTS & CONCERNED CITIZENS  PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:
 
Call (best) or e-mail (if you can’t get through on the phone) Governor Schwarzenegger, Education committee members & California’s First Lady, Maria Shriver, to let them know that you are extremely upset with the Governor’s proposal to cut funding to education next year and that you want to see Proposition 98 upheld. (Prop 98 is the minimum funding guarantee for education funding). We have selected these people because it is the Governor’s proposal & the committee members are the ones currently meeting to discuss the proposed education budget cuts.
 
This list is put together in priority order. If you only have time for one phone call or e-mail, please contact the Governor. Next, call Jack Scott etc.
 
A staffer will answer the phone and it will usually be a very brief conversation – about one minute. If the staffer asks why you are calling this particular person when you are not a constituent, say it’s because they are making decisions that will affect all the children in California, including ours in Irvine.
 
Here’s what you say (or something similar) to Governor Schwarzenegger:
 
·        My name is_____________, and I am a member of the Irvine Unified PTA (or a concerned citizen, teacher, businessmen, etc..) in Orange County.
·        I urge Governor Schwarzenegger NOT to be the terminator of public education
·        I am very unhappy with his proposed $4 billion budget cut to California’s schools. This will severely damage the quality of education in our state and prevent many students from ever reaching their full potential.
·        Please tell him to find a better solution to balance the state’s $16 billion deficit without doing it on the backs of children.
·        Please tell him to Protect Our Schools by Protecting Prop. 98.
 
If you e-mail the Governor:
·      You have to pick a subject -  select "Budget"
·      You also have to check either "pro" or "con" - select "con". 
·      Text for you to cut & paste is on next page - or using your own words is even better:
 
 
 
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
 
I am a member of the Irvine Unified PTA in Orange County (or a concerned citizen, teacher, businessman, etc..) and I strongly urge you NOT to be the terminator of public education.
 
I am very unhappy with your proposed $4 billion budget cut to California’s schools. This will severely damage the quality of education in our state and prevent many students from ever reaching their full potential.
 
Please find a better solution to balance the state’s $16 billion deficit without doing it on the backs of children and WITHOUT SUSPENDING PROP 98.
 
Thank you,
Your name & address
 
 
Here’s what you say (or something similar) to the Education committee members:
 
·        My name is_____________, and I am a member of the Irvine Unified PTA (or a concerned citizen, teacher, businessman, etc..) in Orange County.
·        I am very unhappy with the Governor’s proposed $4 billion budget cut to California’s schools. This will severely damage the quality of education in our state and prevent many students from ever reaching their full potential.
·        Please tell _______________ to REJECT the Governor’s proposed education budget and to NOT allow a suspension of Prop 98.
 
People to contact:
 
1.      Governor Schwarzenegger
916 – 445 - 2841
      http://gov.ca.gov/interact
 
2.      ** Jack Scott - Chair, Senate Budget Sub-Committee for education
916 – 651 - 4021
 
3.      Julia Brownley – Chair, Assembly Budget Sub-Committee for education
 916 – 319 – 2041
http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=AD41&
 
                4.  ** Maria Shriver – First Lady of California
916 -  445 - 2841
 
                 5.   Mark Wyland – Vice Chair, Senate Ed committee
916 -  651- 4038
                      http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=SD38
 
6.   ** Martin Garrick - Vice Chair, Assembly Ed
916 – 319 - 2074
 
** We have to phone these members. We are unable to e-mail them because they only          
     take e-mail correspondence from their own constituents.

FLUNK THE BUDGET!
Sample Letters and Phone Script
(Please email this to your ALL your PTA unit, council and district members.)

 
Dear PTA members:
 
The need for PTA has never been greater.  The Governor’s proposed 2008-2009 budget contains disastrous cuts to education and children’s program.  For the next several months (or however long it takes), we will be pursuing a statewide effort to make sure every legislator and the Governor hear PTA's message loudly, clearly and often:

 
FLUNK THE BUDGET!
 

 

• The proposed budget would make across-the-board cuts to education, health care and other programs that have a direct impact on the safety and well being of California’s children.  (Please see the attached fact sheet for details.)

 

• The Governor has recommended a $4.8 billion cut for K-14 education, on top of a $400-plus million reduction for education in the current year.

 
During the next week, we are asking all PTA members to do TWO things to Flunk the Budget: 
 
1.      Call your legislator
2.      Write your legislator
 

Hint: Do both

 

You can do this at home or as an activity at your PTA Meeting

 
 

Suggested PTA Activity:
 

 
Bring the information below to your PTA meeting and have all your members make phone calls to their elected officials at the meeting.
 
Then ask them to follow-up by going home and sending an email. 
 

Make sure you provide your members with the telephone numbers
 of their elected officials at the meeting.
 
Find Your Legislator:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
 

 

SAMPLE TELEPHONE SCRIPT

My name is ___________ and I reside in ______________. As a volunteer member of the California State PTA I ask that ___(Your elected official)___
strongly OPPOSE Governor’s proposed budget.
 
• The California State PTA opposes any cuts to education and children’s programs in the state budget.
 
• This budget flunks the basic test of good government: It hurts our children.
 
• Our children did not create this financial crisis and they should not have to pay for it.
 
Please do the right thing for California's children. OPPOSE the any cuts education and children’s programs in the budget.
 

SAMPLE EMAIL OR FAX OR LETTER
(You can find your elected official’s email address by clicking on to their home page from the search page Find Your Legislator above.)

 
Date
Your Address

 
My Legislator
State Capital
Sacramento, CA
 
Dear Senator or Assembly member _________:
 
As one of the nearly one million volunteer members of the California State PTA,
I ask that you strongly OPPOSE Governor’s proposed budget.
 
• The California State PTA opposes any cuts to education and children’s programs in the state budget.
 
• This budget flunks the basic test of good government: It hurts our children.
 
• Our children did not create this financial crisis and they should not have to pay for it.
 
Please do the right thing for California's children. OPPOSE the any cuts education and children’s programs in the budget.
 
Thank you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Your Name
Your Phone number
 

Find Out More About the California State PTA Campaign
to Flunk the Budget
www.capta.org

Flunk the Budget - Fact Sheet 2-20-08

Advocacy Roundtable
Friday, October 5      9:30 – 11:00 am         
Yale Loop Conference Center
2 Alderwood, Irvine, CA, 92604
(Off Jeffrey Road, between the 5 and the 405 freeways; enter the neighborhood from either Barranca or Irvine Center Drive—see the map in the October Orange Leaves)
 
We kick off the year with a double session roundtable with something for everyone. 
Beginner Session:  This is for anyone who is new or feels the need for a refresher on advocacy basics.  We will train new advocates, go over some basic PTA procedures for effective advocacy, and give you some resources for building your knowledge base on education issues. 
Advanced Session:  Those of you who have been attending roundtables and Safari in the past, we have some different activities in mind for you.  We will be launching our new legislator liaison idea and also discussing potential focuses for Sacramento Safari.
 
Here’s hoping to see you soon!
 
Yours truly,
Celia Jaffe
4th District PTA VP Advocacy
 

PTA Legislative Action 2007-08
Schedule of Meetings and Other Important Dates

(all meetings are at the IUSD District Office, in the Board room,
from 9:30-11:00 a.m., unless otherwise noted)

Monday - October 22, 2007

Wednesday – November 21, 2007

Wednesday – December 12, 2007

Wednesday - January 23, 2008

January 27-29, 2008 – State PTA Legislation Conference in Sacramento

Friday - February 1, 2008 – 4th District Advocacy Event in Irvine

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Monday, March 17, 2008 – Sacramento Safari Orientation at OCDE

April 1-2, 2008 – Sacramento Safari

Monday, April 21, 2008

April 17, 2008 – EdSource Forum in Pomona

April 25, 2008 – 4th District Advocacy Event at OCDE

Monday - May 12, 2008

Click here. For clear, easy-to-read background and information about California's finance system, including a budget calendar,click here. To understand how districts build their budgets,click here. We always look forward to your questions and comments. And if you find this material useful, we hope you'll let us know! You can contact us at:edsource@edsource.org.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget for 2008-09 has sent shock waves through the education community. He has recommended a $4.8 billion cut for K-14 education, on top of a $400 million reduction for education in the current year. The net effect is about $750 less per student than K-12 education would normally receive or about $18,750 per classroom. EdSource's new analysis of the budget provides an evenhanded look at the governor's proposal. It outlines the immediate impacts it is expected to have on California school districts as they complete this school year and plan for the next. This brief is available free online at our California School Finance website.

What happens in Sacramento…
                        …affects schools throughout the state!!!!!!
 
That’s why putting pressure on our elected officials to keep budget cuts away from education will be one of the most important things your PTA does this spring.  State PTA is counting on waves of grassroots members like us to come to the capitol and show our government officials that the voting public values education and other issues affecting children.
 
Join us for Sacramento Safari, April 1-2.  Registration is open right now, but closes the end of next week.
So now is the time for procrastinators to wake up and get that registration in!
 
Please register online, if possible:  http://fourthdistrictpta.org/legislation/sac-safari.html , reading the information page before you start.
 
You will save me from having to contact you afterward if you
            1.  Enter your name from your ID so that your plane ticket is usable
            2.  Know that “unit” means what school you’re from and “council” refers to your PTA Council affiliation—ask your president if you don’t know.
            3.  Have your unit/council approve you as a representative for Safari as well as approving the expense.  See the Safari instructions for a sample motion.
            4.  Fill in one or two emergency contacts and any important medical information on the form.
            5.  Remember to send in a check!  Print out your confirmation page or confirmation email and send it along with a check for $475 (double occupancy—You’ll be assigned a roommate if you don’t have one set up.) to 4th District PTA at the office address.  Your registration isn’t complete until it is paid.
 
Call or email with questions:  advocacy@fourthdistrictpta.org   or 714-963-5468
 
We’re going to have a great, meaningful trip.  I’m hoping you’ll join us!
 
Celia Jaffe
VP Advocacy
4th District PTA
 

FLUNK THE BUDGET Samples

USD has published a list of proposed budget cuts for the next school year.  Please follow the link below.
 
http://www.iusd.k12.ca.us/district_news_information/Budget_Notebook/Proposed%20Budget%20Reduct-Adjust.attach.pdf 
or for less typing... http://tinyurl.com/27lwb6
 
The cuts were discussed at the school board meeting March 18th and again at a budget study session on Tues. March 25, 4:00 pm at the district office where additional discussion will take place and you will have an opportunity to speak to the board about what you thing should and should not be cut.  It is extremely powerful for the board to hear your personal stories.
 
Here are some other ways you can help...
Write a letter to the Governor insisting he not penalize our students for the state’s budget woes.
Contact your local Assembly member or Senator to urge the rejection the Governor’s proposed cuts. 
Write a letter to the editor of your favorite newspaper opposing the Governor’s proposed cuts to education.

• Orange County Register: letters@ocregister.com or P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711-1626. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity, and those of about 200 words will be given preference. All letters must include a name and telephone number, which will not be published.
• Los Angeles Times: ocletters@latimes.com or 202 W. 1st Street Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please do not send group letters or attachments.

 
Support the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which raises money for IUSD and supports many of our most innovative programs.
Get involved through the Irvine Unified Council PTA, which advocates on behalf of our schools.
 
Thank you for advocating for the children of Irvine!
Kim Axene – IUCPTA President
Wendy Bokota – IUCPTA Legislative Action Chair