Sharing from the Shawnee Mission Area Council PTA
SMAC PTA Action Alert – April 2, 2015
OPPOSE Changing Local Elections (HB 2104 Conference Committee Report)
All 6 superintendents of the Johnson County public school districts sent a joint statement yesterday to the entire Johnson County delegation of state legislators, in opposition to changing local elections (see email below).
Help stop this bill today. Contact your legislators and let them know that you oppose the changes to local elections too. This bill is close to passing and your phone calls and emails could change that outcome.
· Call your legislator’s office.
To find the number, go to www.openkansas.org – enter your address, click on name of each legislator listed under STATE.
Leave a polite message, briefly stating that you oppose changing local election (House Bill 2104), as do all the Johnson County superintendents, state your name and the city and school district in which you live – so the legislator knows you are a constituent.
· Send a group email. Amanda.Grosserode@house.ks.gov, Barbara.Bollier@house.ks.gov, Bill.Sutton@house.ks.gov, Brett.Hildabrand@house.ks.gov, Charles.Macheers@house.ks.gov, Craig.McPherson@house.ks.gov, erin.davis@house.ks.gov, Greg.Smith@senate.ks.gov, James.Todd@house.ks.gov, jarrod.ousley@house.ks.gov, Jeff.Melcher@senate.ks.gov, Jerry.Lunn@house.ks.gov, Jim.Denning@senate.ks.gov, John.Rubin@house.ks.gov, Julia.Lynn@senate.ks.gov, Kay.Wolf@senate.ks.gov, Keith.Esau@house.ks.gov, Larry.Campbell@house.ks.gov, Linda.Gallagher@house.ks.gov, Marvin.Kleeb@house.ks.gov, Mary.PilcherCook@senate.ks.gov, Melissa.Rooker@house.ks.gov, mike.kiegerl@house.ks.gov, molly.baumgardner@house.ks.gov, Nancy.Lusk@house.ks.gov, Pat.Pettey@senate.ks.gov, randy.powell@house.ks.gov, Ray.Merrick@house.ks.gov, Rob.Bruchman@house.ks.gov, Robert.Olson@senate.ks.gov, Ron.Ryckman@house.ks.gov, Scott.Schwab@house.ks.gov, Stephanie.Clayton@house.ks.gov, Willie.Dove@house.ks.gov
Briefly state that you oppose changing local elections (House Bill 2104), as do all the Johnson County superintendents, state your name and the city and school district in which you live – so the legislator knows you are a constituent. You could add that electing new school board members mid-school year would be highly problematic – disruptive during sensitive and complex decision making cycles, create lame duck positions, and inefficient. Even more problematic is placing these non-partisan positions onto a partisan ballot. The leadership of our public schools demands the impartial guidance of community members vested in quality public education for all Kansas youth. This change in NOT among the known strategies that can be used to increase voter turnout and is predicted to just overwhelm voters even more with the extra long ballots.
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Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Subject: HB 2104 Conference Committee Report
We want to be sure that you are aware that Johnson County School Districts are united against the Conference Committee Report for HB 2104. This is the bill that moves municipal and school board elections to the fall of even numbered years. We are yet to hear a compelling reason for the change.
Please join us in opposing the Conference Committee Report for HB 2104.
Tom Trigg (Blue Valley), Marlin Berry (Olathe), Jim Hinson (Shawnee Mission), Bart Goering (Spring Hill), Doug Sumner (DeSoto), Pam Stranathan (Gardner Edgerton)
Tom Trigg
Superintendent of Schools
Blue Valley Schools