Bobbie Regan goes to Washington

The group gathered in D.C. for the National School Boards Association Federal Relations Network Conference.

The group's main messages to Congress: stop federal budget cuts to education, reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, secure consistent funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (also known as County Timber Payments) and ensure that Oregon's waiver from No Child Left Behind is made permanent.

"This was a great way for Oregon and Portland to make our needs known to our delegation in Washington,"  Regan said. "The need to advocate to Congress is just as great as the need to advocate to the state Legislature; things like federal funding for Title I, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other key federal programs help us to provide services where needed and Congress needs to know that they have been decimating these programs and that has to stop."

Visiting with lawmakers
Regan and conference delegates from Oregon met with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to discuss these key issues.

Though the House of Representatives was not in session, Director Regan met separately with staff for U.S Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Susan Bonamici to discuss ways that Congress can act to make schools safer and limit access to dangerous weapons. She presented them with a copies of the resolution that the PPS Board of Directors adopted calling on greater measures for student safety and supporting President Obama's recent report on security.

Other districts represented at the conference were: Gresham-Barlow, Hillsboro, Oregon Trail, Pendleton, Silver Falls, Vernonia and Winston-Dillard.

At Portland Public Schools, this is our goal: By the end of elementary, middle, and high school, every student by name will meet or exceed academic standards and will be fully prepared to make productive life decisions. For more information on Portland Public Schools, call 503-916-3304, e-mail us at pubinfo@pps.net, or visit www.pps.k12.or.us. Portland Public Schools is an equal opportunity educator and employer.