Take action now to defend public education!
On January 20, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee voted to release S-1872, a private school voucher bill known to supporters as the Opportunity Scholarship Act. This bill would divert up to $1 billion in tax revenue away from public schools and into the hands of private and parochial school operators.
Now comes word that the assembly version (A-2810) is scheduled to be heard on February 3 in the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. Should it pass that committee, only the Assembly Budget Committee stands between this bad bill and possible votes by the entire senate and assembly.
Time is short. NJEA members, and all those who support public education in New Jersey, must act now to stop this harmful legislation which drains much-needed resources from our public schools.
Please plan and carry out face-to-face actions against this legislation. We ask you do the following:
· Identify at least (5) people that are committed to contacting senators and
assembly members to voice their opposition to these bills before February
3rd.
· Identify at least (2) people that will visit the offices of Pamela Lampitt,
Angel Fuentes, Domenick DiCicco, Stephan Sweeney before February 3rd.
· Identify the date, time, and place you will meet with your members to
provide this voucher update before February 2nd.
· Identify other interactive organizing activities the local will implement
between Feb 1st and February 16th to get the message out into the
community, that they must notify legislators to oppose spending public
funds to private schools.
Associations may want to use breakfast meetings, legislative lunches, or any other creative activity. We recommend phone calls and written letters. It appears the emails are not getting read. When writing, urge legislators to call you to discuss the issue directly, or ask that they reply in writing.
This is a perfect organizing activity to do with parents, friends, family, and neighbors. Every member in every local must be involved to block the efforts of legislators. Go to njea.org for detailed information and up-to-date breaking issues.
Feel free to contact the UniServ office if you need talking points or any other assistance. Let us know what you are doing in your association.
