OSD parents and supporters,
Here’s an update about what is happening with the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind. As you know, Susan Castillo has made the recommendation to move OSB to OSD’s campus. If you haven’t seen the articles about this, please check out the ODE website (http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/) and look at the press release for May 18. The AP and the Statesman Journal newspaper (http://www.statesmanjournal.com/) also had articles about the “co-location” recommendation.
A joint coalition of supporters of OSD and OSB met recently to brainstorm next steps for advocating for the schools. A necessary step in allowing the Deaf and Blind communities more input into the running of the schools would be the establishment of two independent school boards, as outlined in Senate Bill 757 (SB757).
Here is what you can do to help:
Please make four quick phone calls about OSB, OSD, and SB 757. Time is short and the legislature is moving fast, we need to get people calling the KEY legislators listed below as soon as is possible. Please stress that a quick phone call is all we are asking, you don’t have to be an expert on the subjects.
Urge key legislators to not merge the Oregon School for the Blind program onto the Oregon School for the Deaf campus. Give one or two reasons why you oppose this . A brief message will make a difference. Examples: The needs of students continue to be our main concern. ODE should not implementing significant policy changes through budgetary notes. Please remove the budgetary note that ODE is using to try to move OSB to the OSD campus. Even more troubling than the decision itself, was the lack of process for parents, administrators, educators and community members to voice their concerns.
Remember to voice your support for SB 757 .
Example: The Legislature should approve Senate Bill 757, which creates an independent board – similar to a local school board - to oversee the schools. SB 757 would also enhance lines of communications between stakeholders and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) as well as create an appeals process . Key Legislators on OSB and OSD issues and SB 757
Senator Kurt Schrader’s phone # 503-986-1720
House Rep. Mary Nolan’s phone # 503-986-1436
Senator Peter Courtney phone # 503-986-1722
Representative Jeff Merkley phone # 503-986-1200
There will be a Rally to express our support on these issues on June 1 from 2-4 at the Capitol. Save this time and watch for more info to follow.
Share this e-mail with others who share our interest in these two schools!
Thank you!
Robyn Brown, parent of OSD student
Please all of you write a message to each of all Ways and Means Committee members about Sen. Walker’s request. I sent my message to each of them this past Wednesday. We badly have your valuable help. If we do not do it, the bill will be possibly dying in the committee and we will have ODE control us forever. Please support Sen. Walker and our deaf/blind school communities.
Thanks, Robert
I will add to Robert’s comments that we in the Deaf Community must speak up now and take action. Do not send emails to Legislators in a group email but send it INDIVIDUALLY.
Come on folks lets give then a lot of mail.
George
OSD UPDATE . . ODE is up to it’s old TRICKS Again!!!
Heads up to one and all . .Kevin and I met with Sen. Walker this morning(4/27/07) and she said she needs ALL OF OUR HELP!!! ODE has been out lobbying all the legislators that the OSD and OSB Senate bill 757 will cost TOO MUCH $$$ and that it should left in committee to DIE A SLOW DEATH . .we can not let all of our hard work be wasted we must contact our legislators NOW and let them know we want it to get out of committee and to a VOTE by the whole legislative body . .I will not bore you with all the NASTY details but it is VITAL that we contact our legislators(George and Kevin have give you their e mail lists) both via phone and via computer NOW . . this is BILL DERVES a VOTE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION !!!! Thanks . . Rob Bartell
Ways and Means (plus see below for Ways and Means Education subcommittee
emails)
Co-Chair Sen Kurt Schrader - Sen.KurtSchrader@state.or.us
Co-Chair Rep Mary Nolan - Rep.MaryNolan@state.or.us
Vice Chair Sen Margaret Carter - Sen.MargaretCarter@state.or.us
Vice Chair Rep Nancy Nathanson - Rep.NancyNathanson@state.or.us
Sen Alan Bates - Sen.AlanBates@state.or.us
Sen Avel Gordly - Sen.AvelGordly@state.or.us
Sen Betsy Johnson - Sen.BetsyJohnson@state.or.us
Sen David Nelson - Sen.DavidNelson@state.or.us
Sen Joanne Verger - Sen.JoanneVerger@state.or.us
Sen Ben Westlund - Sen.BenWestlund@state.or.us
Sen Doug Whitsett - Sen.DougWhitsett@state.or.us
Sen Jackie Winters - Sen.JackieWinters@state.or.us
Rep Bill Garrard - Rep.BillGarrard@state.or.us
Rep Bruce Hanna - Rep.BruceHanna@state.or.us
Rep Chip Shields - _Rep.ChipShields@state.or.us_
(mailto:Rep.ChipShields@state.or.us)
Ways and Means Education Subcommittee Members:
Rep Larry Galizio - Rep.LarryGalizio@state.or.us
Sen Richard Devlin - Sen.RichardDevlin@state.or.us
Sen Ryan Deckert - Sen.RyanDeckert@state.or.us
Sen Frank Morse - Sen.FrankMorse@state.or.us
Sen Bruce Starr - Sen.BruceStarr@state.or.us
Sen Vicki Walker - Sen.VickiWalker@state.or.us
Rep Phil Barnhart - Rep.PhilBarnhart@state.or.us
Rep David Edwards - Rep.DavidEdwards@state.or.us
Rep Bob Jenson - Rep.BobJenson@state.or.us
Rep Susan Morgan - Rep.SusanMorgan@state.or.us