Meetings on surplus schools and legislative advocacy

Two meetings to put on your calendar:

Jan 28 – The Robbinsdale Area Schools’ Divestiture Plan Advisory Committee invites the community to a public information meeting 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28, in the media center at the Plymouth Middle School, 10011 36th Ave. N., Plymouth.

Superintendent Aldo Sicoli and Chris Gibbs, facilitator and community member, will provide an update on the work of the committee to date, and solicit input from community members on ideas for the appropriate use of surplus school property.

The divestiture committee is responsible for providing a recommendation to the school board by the start of the next school year for long-term use of surplus school facilities/property. The committee is made up of community members, city representatives, school district staff and school board members.

More information: 763-504-7998 (Sherry Tyrrell), or Sherry_Tyrrell@rdale.org.

Jan 21 – Advocacy forum (a.k.a. “Help us ask legislators for more money from taxpayers so we can spend more!”)

The Legislative Action Coalition of Robbinsdale Area Schools has scheduled an educational forum titled “Advocacy — YOU can make a difference” in preparation for this year’s legislative session 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Winnetka Learning Center, 7940 55th Ave. N., New Hope.

The 2010 legislative session will begin on Thursday, Feb. 4.

If you are interested in learning skills on how to advocate effectively, or you want to become more involved in education advocacy in general, attend and learn more about how state policies and funding dictate much of how schools educate our children, and how you can help make those policies and funding most effective.

The Special Education Advisory Council is co-sponsoring the event.
Kim Kang, public policy director for PACER Center will be the guest speaker.
More information: 763-504-4087 (Andrea Wiley), or Andrea_Wiley@rdale.org