***URGENT***State Advocacy needed by 3/31

/ Uncategorized / By
On 3/31 the MA Legislature Joint Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing on the FY27 Budget. School funding advocates from around Massachusetts are organizing to provide both oral and written testimony to the Committee. Based on the priorities outlined by both Project 211 and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, below is a letter template for those who want to submit a written statement ahead of 3/31. You can copy and paste the language in the letter into an email, adding any personal experience or comments in the highlighted section, and then send it off to the email addresses included below. The draft letter can be found in this Google Doc. 
 
It is critical that we advocate to the state for increased and more equitable funding for districts like ours. Right now we are pushing for our School Committee members to ask the Town of Amherst for more money, but that will never be enough money to truly stem the tide of the assault on our public schools. Especially at the Regional School level, because of the constrained economic situation of our three partner towns, the budget will always be constrained without more state funding.  Everyone who is frustrated by the current budget situation here is urged to also take a moment to send off this letter asking for relief from the state in the FY27 budget. 
 
The Amherst Town Council will be sending their own letter which they will be editing/finalizing at Monday’s Town Council meeting. 
 
Instructions: 
  1. Open the Google Doc
  2. Copy the sample language into an email 
  3. Edit the highlighted section to add any of your own personal anecdotes or experiences that you would like to share
  4. Paste the email addresses listed below into the TO and CC Fields
  5. Send your email by Tuesday 3/31
  6. Share with your networks – people in other communities can find templates on the Project 211 Website
Email to: 
Michael.Rodrigues@masenate.gov,Aaron.M.Michlewitz@mahouse.gov,Jo.Comerford@masenate.gov,paul.feeney@masenate.gov,Michael.Brady@masenate.gov,Nick.Collins@masenate.gov,brendan.crighton@masenate.gov,John.Cronin@masenate.gov,Lydia.Edwards@masenate.gov,Adam.Gomez@masenate.gov,Robyn.Kennedy@masenate.gov,Paul.Mark@masenate.gov,Liz.Miranda@masenate.gov,Jacob.Oliveira@masenate.gov,Pavel.Payano@masenate.gov,Mike.Rush@masenate.gov,Patrick.OConnor@masenate.gov,Ryan.Fattman@masenate.gov,kelly.dooner@masenate.gov,Kip.Diggs@mahouse.gov,Shirley.Arriaga@mahouse.gov,David.Biele@mahouse.gov,Manny.Cruz@mahouse.gov,Patricia.Duffy@mahouse.gov,Rodney.Elliott@mahouse.gov,Judith.Garcia@mahouse.gov,Ryan.Hamilton@mahouse.gov,james.hawkins@mahouse.gov,Natalie.Higgins@mahouse.gov,Russell.Holmes@mahouse.gov,Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov,Kristin.Kassner@mahouse.gov,patrick.kearney@mahouse.gov,Sally.Kerans@mahouse.gov,meghan.kilcoyne@mahouse.gov,Rita.Mendes@mahouse.gov,Samantha.Montano@mahouse.gov,john.moran@mahouse.gov,Steven.Owens@mahouse.gov,Orlando.Ramos@mahouse.gov,lindsay.sabadosa@mahouse.gov,Margaret.Scarsdale@mahouse.gov,Alan.Silvia@mahouse.gov,Priscila.Sousa@mahouse.gov,Chynah.Tyler@mahouse.gov,Todd.Smola@mahouse.gov,joseph.mckenna@mahouse.gov,Kelly.Pease@mahouse.gov,Michael.Chaisson@mahouse.gov,John.Marsi@mahouse.gov,alyson.sullivan@mahouse.gov,Marcus.Vaughn@mahouse.gov,Steven.Xiarhos@mahouse.gov,lmccabe@gdrsd.org, fixfundingformulama@gmail.com