Forum with Hamden Legislators January 8, 2009 - Reminder

The format this year is going to be a bit different – more of a round table than a formal question and answer. Here are the main topics that we will be covering:

· ECS funding
· Wintergreen – enrollment, sustainability
· Moratorium on Mandates – and other cost cutting measures that don’t cost anything
· Regionalization / SmartGrowth
· Funding from the Fed / Fate of NCLB
· Tax Reform / Property Tax

We’re in quite a mess, on many levels, but there will be no finger pointing tonight. We already know that we all need to “give a little” to meet the state’s budget requirements.

The main question is, “what is the best course of action that does the least harm, while putting us in a stronger financial position?”. We have invited our legislators to share:
· what theyknow of the current situation in Hartford
· what we should prepare for
· what they are suggesting AND,
· most importantly, what we can do as a town and organization to help find a solution.

BTW – The meeting at Wintergreen (6 PM), which Sen. Looney is attending prior to our meeting, has gotten a lot of press today. I urge you to alert anyone who thinks that their meeting is our meeting (6:30 PM), that our meeting is just as important to attend.

I look forward to seeing you this evening.

Marjorie

Forum with Hamden Legislators January 8, 2009

On the first draft of our January 8 PTA Educational Forum announcement (below), one of the bullet points was "lower quality of schools and lower test scores." Supt. Rabinowitz commented that she didn't think that a diminished education budget would have any impact on her ability to maintain the quality of our schools and their test scores, so I took it out. I really hope she's right; if anybody can work that kind of magic, it's Fran.

Even with such a miracle worker, we need every able-bodied person in Hamden to insist that educational funding at the State level be maintained. We're not asking for more, just to maintain the status quo. If they want to cut 12% from ECS funding, cut it from what WE SHOULD GET not what we DO get.

Make sure your legislators and Governor Rell hear your opinions and suggestions on how to do that. Here's your opportunity:

Tell your legislators “NO! You can’t reduce

Hamden’s educational funding!”

at the Hamden PTA Council/Board of Ed Forum

with CT Legislators
Thursday, January 8, 6:30 PM
Hamden Middle School Cafeteria

Babysitting provided by Hamden High Cheerleaders

For Hamden, cuts in educational funding at the state level could mean:

• Fewer teachers and larger class sizes
• Wintergreen Magnet losing its charter and becoming a Hamden Public School
• Less funding for art, music and TAG programs
• Less electives and career programs
• Fewer offerings from Adult Education
• Higher property taxes

This could lead to:

• Resident flight to other towns
• Hamden High dropping out of top 35 high schools in the state
• Hamden no longer being #33 in Fortune’s top 100 towns to start and own a small business

“How can I stop this threat to my thriving town?
I’m just one person.”

You are ONE of MANY who will voice your opinion and solutions to our state legislators and the Governor. YOU elected them and they work for YOU.

Join us on Thursday, January 8th and/or…

Call or email your legislators.
· Sen. Martin Looney, 800-842-1420
Looney@senatedems.ct.gov
· Sen. Joe Crisco, 800-842-1420
Crisco@senatedems.ct.gov
· Rep. Brendan Sharkey, 800-842-8267 / 203-281-4647
Brendan.Sharkey@cga.ct.gov
· Rep. Peter Villano, 800-842-8267 / 203-562-5251
Peter.Villano@cga.ct.gov
· Rep. Cam Staples, 800-842-8267 / 203-773-9123
Cam9123@hotmail.com
· Rep. Elizabeth Esty, 800-842-8267 / 203-271-3248
ElizabethEsty08@gmail.com

Write letters to the editor of the Hamden Chronicle and New Haven Register.
· hamdenchronicle@ctcentral.com
· letters@nhregister.com

Review the budget and give Governor Rell feedback at www.ct.gov/governorrell.

Share this information with your friends and family and ask them to take action with you.Things always work out better when we work together

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, January 8, 6:30 at the Hamden Middle School.

Marjorie

Hamden Public School Brag Sheet

• Hamden High School is named #32 out of 139 CT public high schools ranked by Connecticut Magazine in October 2008.
• Hamden High had a “Cool Day” where over 650 students showed up at 5 AM, complete with live news coverage. Principal Highsmith got pies in the face.
• Church Street’s Principal, Joyce Kossman, awarded the Hamden Chamber of Commerce 2008 Educator of the year award.
• Grace Griffin, a Church Street school teacher was given the prestigious Milken Award and a $25,000 grant. Griffin and other teachers at Church Street have helped to boost student performance in math, writing and reading on state mastery tests.
• More info at Hamden Public School's site, http://www.hamden.org/

Please comment to share your school's accompolishments.

Education Budget 2009 - All Hands On Deck

The following were ideas we shared on how to increase awareness of all the great things you do for your schools, and ways to frame the argument for fully funding the upcoming education budget:

• Get kids involved in the process, as spokespeople for their school. What has their experience been like? What do they get out of it? Tim Nottoli has will lead a kid letter writing campaign in early spring.
• Always accentuate the positive and offer solutions, rather than just complaining.
• Make the correlation of property values and town prosperity to educational system.
• Build / talk about alliances between the Hamden business community and Hamden Public Schools.
• Get testimonials from parents, alumni and grandparents. Where are they or their children now and how did HPS help them get there? Ask council members, Mayor Henrici and his staff, BOE members, teachers, staff, business leaders, HHS alumni group and family members.

Please Post Testimonials in Comments Below ...

How to Make Lemonade - Hamden PTA Idea Bank

The faculty basketball game between Dunbar Hill and Shepherd Glen was an “off-the-hook” success.

Who’s pairing up next?

The following is the start of a list of fundraising/family fun ideas:

• Inter-district ball game


• Bottle collection/return


• Crazy hair / clothes / hat days


• Skate party
• Duckpin bowling
• Collect receipts – Big Y, Shaw’s
• Faculty and student waiters at Applebee’s, TGIF’s
• Hamden / School Pizza Night – get a bunch of area pizzerias to pledge 10% of bills from HPS families one or two nights this year
• Walk-a-thon / Dance-a-thon / Read-a-thon
• Talent show – parents, teachers, kids, pets
• Silent Auctions
• Movie Night
• Game Night
• Father / Daughter Dance
• Themed Festival or Fair
• Bingo
• Alumni event
• Local Pro Baseball, Basketball, Hockey Games (Sun, Bluefish, Wildcats, college)
• Coco Keys (at Waterbury Holiday Inn) – discounted rates while they are building clientele
• ESPN free tours

More ideas at:

• www.pta.org/pta_great_idea_bank.asp


• www.ptoideas.com/category/1/Fundraisers


• www.globalideasbank.org/site/home/

Remember to have a membership table at all events

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Make Lemonade

If you are being kept awake at night by the fact that your PTA fall fundraiser only brought in half what it did last year, you need to come to our next meeting, on Thursday, November 6.

This correction in the economy is an opportunity for us as an organization to lead by example about what’s truly important. To quote Suzy Orman, “People first, then money, then things.”

Even though we act in the best interest of children, that may not be what is perceived at the unit level. Parents who do not sit on committees, or are constantly involved, only see the fundraising flyers. Even if they are involed, myself included, when the message from the larger world says to conserve, they recycle the flyer instead of getting out their check book.

So now that we’ve experienced a couple months of the new economy, let’s put our heads together and share strategies for how we’re going to keep our commitments to the children of Hamden.

We will also discuss a communication strategy for PTAs to get our message to parents, politicians and taxpayers, in advance of budget season. If you thought last year was tough, just wait.

I’ll see you at the Middle School, Thursday, November 6 at 7 PM. Please bring your current budget and some low-cost-high-fun-factor ideas to share with everyone.

Election Day Opportunity

I hope everyone is working on their Election Day Bake Sale plans. The CT Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz, says that 2 million voters are now registered in CT (out of 3 million people) and that she expects turnout to exceed 90%.

Needless to say, this is a huge economic opportunity.

Please have healthy choices available - local apples and pears. Perhaps even harvest decor like pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. http://www.buyctgrown.com/

If you have not yet reserved a space at a polling place, please send your request, in writing to the Registrar of Voters, Peggy Rae at PRae@Hamden.com and follow up by phone at 287-7081.

October 2 - CMT/CAPT Forum Recap

Thanks to Supt. Rabinowitz for enlightening us about the CMT/CAPT exams, numbers and process. Those that took the 6th grade math primer now have a much greater appreciation for our children's stamina and test scores.

We will make it through these lean times, but our success is only guaranteed if we work together.

Have a great Halloween and Election Day and I'll see you on November 6, 7 PM in the Middle School cafeteria.

CMT/CAPT Forum October 2

Have you ever wondered how to interpret your child’s CMT or CAPT scores?

Why are these test scores so important?

How are they used to shape my child’s education?

At the next Hamden PTA Council meeting, on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 7 PM in the Hamden Middle School Cafeteria, Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz will answer these and any other questions you have about the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). We will no doubt touch on No Child Left Behind and the effect its mandates have on school choice and what options parents' have.

We are so grateful for Fran's willingness to help parents understand the public education process. Between the news stories about "failing schools" and parents' worry about "teaching to the test," this kind of honest dialog is an incredibly valuable resource.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Marjorie Clark