1. RALLY ALERT
2. Statewide Parent Summit
3. NEAT Action Planning Assembly
4. After the Rally - What can we do?
5. Communicate with Each Other
6. March 29 - School Readiness
7. Election of New Officers
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1. RALLY ALERT
Updated parking and bus information has been posted at
www.parentsunitednetwork.org/Map.html
If at all possible, ride a bus!
BRIDGE BANNERS - NEAT is looking for 15 volunteers to hold banners on the
freeway bridges 4:30-5:30 pm. Please call Jennifer at 651-774-2957 or email
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
SIGNS! SIGNS! SIGNS! - Make signs as a family project at home or as a group
after school. Make a lot. Make them big! Invite your family, friends and
neighbors to join you!
DRESS WARM, WEAR BOOTS!
The rally will overflow onto the Capitol lawn.
2. STATEWIDE PARENT SUMMIT
Monday, March 7, 9:30-4:00, Kelly Inn & State Capitol
Spend the morning networking with parents from across the state and the
afternoon meeting with your legislators. Pre-register by March 3.
Information is posted at www.parentsunitednetwork.org
3. NEAT ACTION PLANNING ASSEMBLY
What Issues Matter to You?
NEAT will hold its annual Issues Forum on Saturday, March 12, 9:00 a.m. - noon
at 360 Colborne. Facilitated by Roger Barr, Support Our Schools. Interpreters
and childcare available. This annual assembly shapes the NEAT Action Plan for
the next year! Be sure your school / community group is represented. Any
"education action team" - site council, PTA, PAC or community-based group - can
be an organizational member of NEAT for $50.00 per year. Individual
memberships are based on a free-will contribution. For more information see
www.stpaulneat.org/Membership
4. AFTER THE RALLY - WHAT CAN WE DO?
4.1 Parent Presence at the Capitol
NEAT is taking small groups of parents to the education committee meetings
throughout the session. You can do this on your own or as a group.
General committee schedules are posted at
www.parentsunitednetwork.org/CapitolLinks
Up-to-date schedules are posted at www.parentsunitednetwork.org/Capitol
Pick a general time/date that works for you and contact NEAT at [EMAIL
PROTECTED]
4.2 Advocacy Training at Your School
NEAT is training school and community-based parent groups throughout Saint Paul
on how to advocate for our children and schools. Invite a NEAT representative
to your next parent group meeting! Available in English, Spanish, Somali and
Hmong! Contact Roxy Foster at 651/776-6238 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
4.3 Communicate with the Capitol
Parents United for Public Schools has developed an online toolkit to help you
learn how to communicate with the capitol throughout the session. See
www.parentsunited.org/Communicating
TIMELINE: The House and Senate leadership make singularly important decisions
in late February or early March immediately following the release of the
February forecast-they set the "targets" for each spending division. The
February budget forecast is scheduled to be release on the 28th. Governor
Pawlenty may release revised budget recommendations shortly thereafter.
There's a narrow window of time, between the release of the February forecast
and when division targets are set, when it's critical to let House and Senate
leadership know where you stand. For more information, see
www.parentsunited.org/Leadership
5. COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER!
NEAT is building the base for an online discussion among site council / parent
group leaders / active volunteers to share ideas and exchange information on
topics such as:
- volunteer recruitment
- fundraising
- community building events and celebrations
- teacher appreciation activities
- advocating on behalf of individual schools at district level or statewide
- other......
Too often, school groups find themselves working in isolation from one another.
This discussion group is an opportunity to hear what groups are doing in other
schools, to ask each other for ideas, and share learning. This will not open
until we have at least 50 subscribers. To subscribe, visit
www.stpaulneat.org/NEAT_E-List
6. MARCH 29 - SCHOOL READINESS
Come find out what you can do to help every child arrive at school ready to
learn! See www.stpaulneat.org/12Feb20055
7. ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS
NEAT elects new officers in May. Nominate yourself or another from your school
today! (Do ask them first!) See www.stpaulneat.org/Election Become part of
this happenin' association.
8. THINGS YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN OR WITH YOUR PARENT GROUP
Call the governor or legislative leadership.
Write to your elected officials or a letter to the editor.
Show up at the rally or a committee meeting
Speak up - make sign, talk to a committee administrator about testifying at a
committee meeting
--Jennifer Armstrong, President
NEAT - St. Paul Network of Education Action Teams
651/774-2957
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.stpaulneat.org
NEAT engages, strengthens and empowers St. Paul public school parents, parent
organizations and community members working together to improve public
education in St. Paul.
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