Valley Voices encourages public involvement

In a continued effort to get the Legislature to fully fund education for fiscal year 2005 and beyond, local grassroots community group Valley Voices for Children has asked each Alaskan who cares about education to get involved by contacting their legislators and expressing a concern about education funding.

"Voices for Children cannot save education, each of us and our individual voice is what is necessary to increase funding for education," said Kris Moore, who started the group.

Valley Voices met last week to discuss plans to promote not only the funding increases that would be provided by House Bill 471, but also to ask for the PERS/TRS funding of $35.8 million that could come about as a separate one-time allocation to be included in the foundation formula for education.

"Status quo does not provide our districts to fund quality education," Moore said. "We must hold harmless as well as have the opportunity to restore years of previous cuts."

The group is continuing their efforts to get information to the public to promote school funding. A community outreach effort is being organized by Valley Voices member and Palmer Junior Middle School Parent Teacher Organization president Katie Mangelsdorf.

"With all the phone calls we are making, we need to show them we mean business," Mangelsdorf said. Plans are in motion to have booths available with information, and Mangelsdorf is encouraging anyone who would like to help to contact her at 746-3234.

A hearing for HB 471 is scheduled for Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. Valley Voices has asked community members at large to continue to contact their legislators in support of education, and to call in during the Tuesday hearing.

"You have a choice, if you are comfortable with the proposed cuts and you don't see any reason to do anything, then continue to do nothing," Moore said. "If you are not willing to accept the proposed future of education, then by golly, do something."