Redistricting Forum: Are You Prepared to Cast an Informed Vote?

The April 21 forum at ASU at the West Campus provided detailed information on the redistricting proposal for the Glendale Elementary, Washington Elementary and Glendale Union High School Districts.

The forum provided residents of the three districts, information on a redistricting bill that will be on the November 2008 ballot. The forum was moderated by Holliday Moore, former political reporter, ABC & CBS affiliate stations. The panelists presenting on both sides of the redistricting issue were Susan Bitter-Smith (Executive Director of the Arizona – New Mexico Cable Communications Association), Senator Linda Gray (District 10), Representative Steve Gallardo (District 13), Martin Shultz (Chairman of School District Redistricting Commission (SDRC); VP of Government Affairs, Pinnacle West Capitol Corporation), Mark Speicher (President, OptiMed Resources),and Joseph Thomas (SDRC member; teacher, Mesa Unified School District).

Click here to watch the movie with Microsoft Media.

Thanks to the Associated Students of Arizona State University at the West Campus for hosting the event.

ALIS Instruction - Communication With Arizona State Legislators on Upcoming Education Legislation

SOSAz Public Forum December 2007
WESD Office

Special thanks to Rep. Jackie Thrasher (District 10) and Rep. Doug Clark (District 6) shared their 2008 goals for public education and gave technology training for the Arizona Legislature Information Register to Speak System (ALIS Register to Speak).

The single most effective approach to enacting legislative change to the State of Arizona's education policy is to communicate your views to our elected officials. SOSAz once again hosted an informal training session for parents, community members, and school employees. Communicate with legislators from your computer using the Arizona Legislative Information System (ALIS), a valuable online tool to track pending legislation, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up-to-date on current issues.

SOSAz Public Forum:

A public forum held at DeVry University on September 2007 discussed and debated the following:

• Student Need: Budget Support – What will help our kids and what will hurt their learning environments?
• Redistricting – What do we know so far?
• The Arizona State Legislature and You – What does an authentic representative government mean for our students?

SOS Workshops - How to Positively Affect Public Education

To understand how the legislature impacts children and gain tools to personally influence educational funding, attendee gathered at the various locations in the Washington Elementary School District.

Special thanks to the very talented Toni Shiles, owner of 30th Century Graphics, for her concept and design of all workshop materials.

 

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The Forums: "Civic Conversations" - Freedom Maintained by Education

Two forums in the "World Cafe" format offered candidates and constituents an opportunity to discuss their ideas and concerns. The format offered a great alternative to the more traditional and formal candidates’ forum, allowing for two-way dialogue. Both were held at Shadow Rock Congregational Church and sponsored by a diverse community of organizations.

In October 2006 candidates and delegates for the offices of Arizona US Senate; Arizona US Representative, Congressional District 3; Glendale Union, Washington Elementary and Glendale Elementary School District Governing Boards met in small groups with participants to exchange viewpoints. Click here, for a summary and photos of this event.

Thanks to the following legislators & candidates participating: Arizona US Senate: Jim Pederson (sent a delegate); Arizona US Representative Congressional District 3: Herb Paine; Glendale Elementary School District Governing Board candidates: Isaac Avina Jr. Washington Elementary School District Governing Board candidates: Bill Adams, Aaron Andrew Jahneke, Chris Maza Glendale Union High School District Governing Board candidates: David Braswell, Kevin Clayborn, Terri Schroeder-Owen

In August 2006 local candidates, legislators and constituents from Districts 6, 10 and 12 shared viewpoints and discussed educational issues in a unique setting. Click here, for a summary and photos of this event.

Thanks to the following legislators & candidates participating: District 6: Ted Carpenter, Jim Larson, Clark Thomas; District 10: Linda Gray, Lamont Lovejoy, Jackie Thrasher, Doug Quelland, Martin Monroe (sent a delegate); Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tom Horn, Slade Mead, Jason Williams

Thank you to event sponsors
Alta Vista Neighborhood Block Watch, Manzanita Block Watch, North Valley Voters Network (NVVN), Shadow Rock Congregational Church, Support Our Schools Az (SOSAz)

SOS Legislative Training Session Draws 150 Attendees

The single most effective approach to enacting legislative change to the State of Arizona's education policy is to communicate your views to our elected officials. The SOSAz Legislative Action Team hosted an informal training session for parents, community members, and school employees, sharing valuable tools and insight, and helping attendees make a difference from home or work. SOS would like to express appreciation to speaker Bryan Ginter, parents Toni Shiles and Bill Adams, and DeVry University for providing the venue for the January session.