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 The Community Legislative Network, or CLN, was formed as the result of a grassroots effort. Members of the community are strong supporters of public education and of the Paradise Valley Unified School District.
In 2005, former superintendent Dr. John Kriekard called for the formation of a new district committee, the CLN. Superintendent Dr. James Lee has affirmed his commitment to continue with this advisory committee. Each fall, the committee develops a legislative agenda for the PVUSD. They track legislation and meet with state legislators to inform and educate them about the district’s positions. The CLN utilizes an e-mail network and send legislative updates to individual stakeholders with the goal of activating them to communicate with their legislators.
Goals of the committee
- Become educated on legislative issues that may impact Paradise Valley Unified School District
- Develop an annual district legislative agenda and recommend its adoption to the governing board each November
- Introduce legislation of our own, as needed
- Stay abreast of all legislation pertaining to our district legislative agenda
- Provide direction to the contracted lobbyist
- Recommend those who will be authorized as lobbyists to speak on behalf of the district in addition to the designated lobbyist
- Lobby our state legislators to make them aware of the district’s positions
- Communicate with the governing board through regular legislative updates at their meetings
- Communicate with individual stakeholders in a timely manner via an email network. Activate them to lobby the legislature.
- Promote the availability of the email network to each of our own stakeholder groups
- Network with other positive education activist groups when beneficial, but without adopting others’ agendas as our own
- Initiate positive public relations when action is needed, for example, by authoring newsletter articles, with the assistance of the PVUSD public relations officer
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2010 Agenda
- Support a bipartisan approach to balancing the state budget in a timely manner that considers revenue enhancements in order to minimize budget cuts.
- Advocate structural change to Arizona’s tax system to support a competitive business climate and funding for public education and other child support services. Oppose changes that are not comprehensive or do not adequately address the needs of public education.
- Advocate to preserve local governance of schools and oppose any efforts to limit governing boards’ ability to set policy.
- Support efforts to recruit, support, and retain quality teachers and staff.
- Oppose attempts to weaken Arizona’s Voter Protection Act and any efforts to undercut voter-approved measures specific to K12 education.
- Oppose any legislation that results in the direct or indirect use of public funds to support private schools, including, but not limited to, school vouchers and tax credits
- Support legislation that adequately encourages, assists, and financially supports the curriculum and instructional needs of Arizona's public schools to ensure college and career readiness of all students.
- Oppose legislation that restricts spending of, imposes unfunded or burdensome mandates on, or negatively affects school district programs.
 Download Agenda ( PDF)
Community Legislative
Network
Committee Members, 2010
Name |
Representation |
Kay Norris |
Community Member |
Laurie Smith |
Parent |
Julie Bacon |
Parent |
Nancy Compton |
Parent |
Chris Usher |
Parent |
Anne Greenberg |
Governing Board |
Jill Hoogendyk |
Governing Board |
Kathy Glindmeier |
Central Office |
Ibi Haghighat |
Principal |
Sandy Kilian |
Support Staff |
Roxanne Ruppert |
Certified Teacher |
Susan Sain |
Certified Teacher |
The Community Legislative Network works closely with Mr. Jim DiCello, the district’s contracted lobbyist, and with Mr. Tom Elliott, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services in the PVUSD.
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