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The Record, 4-19-11, 'Ridgewood to form legislative advocacy committee' RIDGEWOOD – School officials are asking residents to serve as public education advocates in an effort to involve the community in issues and legislation at the state level..."What happens in Trenton impacts us here in Ridgewood very directly,"[said Superintendent Dan Fishbein] "We are inviting all interested residents to join us on the Legislative Advocacy Committee." Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, will speak on the state-of-the-state concerning legislation...
"The Ridgewood Board of Education as well as the superintendent has historically been active in advocacy groups and individually representing the interests of our school district," board President Michele Lenhard said Monday. "Participation by community members will increase awareness in our community on important educational issues as well as provide the voice of the local taxpayer to our representatives in Trenton."
The Record - Ridgewood to form legislative advocacy committee
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
BY EVONNE COUTROS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
RIDGEWOOD – School officials are asking residents to serve as public education advocates in an effort to involve the community in issues and legislation at the state level.
Superintendent Daniel Fishbein and the school board will launch a Legislative Advocacy Committee on May 3, asking members of the public for input and ideas.
"What happens in Trenton impacts us here in Ridgewood very directly," Fishbein said in a written statement. "We hope to develop a group of citizens who want to learn about that dynamic and to understand how to contact our legislators with their opinions. We are inviting all interested residents to join us on the Legislative Advocacy Committee."
Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, will speak on the state-of-the-state concerning legislation.
Strickland will address school funding and provide information for contacting legislators.
"The Ridgewood Board of Education as well as the superintendent has historically been active in advocacy groups and individually representing the interests of our school district," board President Michele Lenhard said Monday. "Participation by community members will increase awareness in our community on important educational issues as well as provide the voice of the local taxpayer to our representatives in Trenton."
The community voice will be a vital addition to the public conversation on changing educational issues and potential legislation, Lenhard said.
The Ridgewood community should be involved at that level, Lenhard said.
The kick-off meeting will establish an action committee to follow educational issues as well as a system to communicate advocacy alerts to the community, Lenhard said.
"Our community deserves the opportunity to be part of this conversation as we evaluate the changing educational climate," she said.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
