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District Legislative Team (DLT)Chairperson (2008-2009): Cindy Clancy Warren
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What is the DLT?The District Legislative Team is committee of the PTA Council. It aims to
Why is the DLT important?
Involved and knowledgeable PTA member parents want their voice heard beyond the parking lot and into the offices of both local administration as ell as state and federal elected officials! Representatives of the DLT have worked to have letters written from all PTA’s on relevant issues. We also track how our elected officials vote. Our team participates in the activities of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, the grassroots lobbying organization that the Scotch Plains Fanwood School district is a member of. Representatives from the DLT have spoken at Garden State events for a better school funding formula, they have spoken to legislators about our memberships concerns about legislation like “S1701”. DLT members have attended rally events around the state work to have the our voices heard about property tax and quality education and fair appropriations for special education. DLT meetings have included guests presenters, like Linda Nelson, President of the Board of Education. We are also open to ideas for other guest speakers. DLT members are also encouraged to attend NJPTA legislative events. At NJPTA legislative events, DLT members have heard presentations from key legislators and NJ School Board Association representatives. The DLT is also a great place for parents who might be future Board of Education members to learn some of the critical issues.
MeetingsMeetings are open to all PTA members and, in general, are held at the Scotch Plains Fanwood School Board offices or Evergreen Media Center. 2008-2009 Meeting Dates
MembershipThe Team is made up of at least one (if not more) representatives from each school in our district. With the formation of the DLT the role of the representatives from the schools has been made easier.
DLT Roster (2007-2008)
The
person or team who handles this job does not need to be a lawyer or
education expert. What is important is that the person(s) feel
committed to excellence in our schools and recognize that the well
being of children improves our communities and society. While
this job is not a hands- on activity, like the wonderful enrichment
programs that many of us on the PTA enjoy so much, it has important
consequences and huge possibilities for the schools whose PTA
membership has an active PTA Legislative committee. In other
districts around our state PTAs have become informed and lobbied for
such things as required meningitis vaccines and school bus seat
belts. Active representatives and liaisons can forge relationships
that make the issues important to your PTA, important to your school
district and to your elected officials. They can also work with
those same groups to accomplish mutual goals, such as, improving
voter turnout and motivating community members to be active in the
legislative process. Much of
the work of monitoring issues and related advocacy work can be done
on your schedule, meeting attendance can be shared among team
members, making this an attractive way to contribute to our
children’s schools
Resources and ActionInvolvement at a Local Level
Involvement on a State Level
Involvement on a Federal Level
State> Scotch Plains & Fanwood is in the 22nd Legislative district for the state. Our Legislators are:
FederalSenate
House of Representatives
Call for Action: School Funding Formula School funding reform is in danger of being relegated to Trenton's "back burner". Right now it is estimated that about three quarters of a million New
Jersey students are deemed ineligible for basic educational aid.
Many others live in districts thatdo not receive enough aid to
provide the "thorough and efficient" education required by law.
Special education costs are now at $4.7B this year (New York Times,
4/07), while state aid for that category has remained flat since
FY02 at a little over $900M. State support had dropped to an
all-time low of less than 20% of these necessary costs. Overburdened
local taxpayers like in our towns must make up the difference when
education aid falls short. Though the State has provided some
property tax relief for fiscal year 2007-2008, the vast majority of
communities will only receive long term relief when a new, more
equitable funding formula becomes a reality.
Click here for a sample letter (PDF format MS Word document format)After November, our legislators will have much less incentive to
create these very necessary changes.
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