[RP TownTalk] Fwd: [HOPE_in_Hyattsville] Budget Cuts - where is the outrage?

[Dwight Holmes]

Forwarding Jim's eloquent statement from the HOPE list of the impact of
letting our schools head south.  There's plenty of research showing that
further investment in a community's schools increases property values.  So
everyone benefits from increasing investment in our schools - not just the
families with children of school age. Everybody benefits: The people who
work there (better working conditions), the kids who go to school there
(more resources), and the entire community (amenity value of the community
goes up translating into higher home values and (eventually) lower property
tax rates.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jim Groves <jgroves4ward2 at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 7:44 PM
Subject: [HOPE_in_Hyattsville] Budget Cuts - where is the outrage?
To: "hope_in_hyattsville at yahoogroups.com (HOPE)" <
HOPE_in_Hyattsville at yahoogroups.com>




So, I can understand the general "hurrah" about the Willoughby house going
up for auction.  It is a blight on the neighborhood that brings down house
prices.  But folks, whether you have a kid in public schools, private school
or don't have kids, the budget cuts to our public schools are going to
seriously harm your property values as if there were 1,000 Willoughby houses
in the neighborhood.  Why do people leave this County?  Schools.  Why do
people move to Montgomery County?  Schools.  Why are the taxes so low in
Montgomery County compared to Prince Georges?  Better schools means more
people buying houses which pushes the price of the house up....at least that
is my theory.  I don't think anyone can refute that if the schools are bad
in a County, nobody with kids is going to want to move there.

I ask, where is the outrage?  How do we put a stop to even more overcrowding
in the classrooms and less service for the children?  Do the officials think
that if they teach less and offer less services the "all so important" state
test scores are going to be better?  Below is an email that comes from the
Hyattsville Middle School listserve about the cuts there.  At the bottom is
a list of things you can do.

Remember - these cuts will negatively impact you regardless if you have kids
in the school or not.  PLEASE cross post!

Jim

___________________________________________________________________________________
Because of a severe shortfall in funding from the State of Maryland,
the Prince George's County Public Schools are proposing budget cuts
that will change the face of HMS.  As best I understand the proposal.
1.  Counseling staff may be reduced.
2. We may lose our media specialist (that our librarian to you and
me).  The budget proposal is not clear on this.  Imagine a school of
close to 700 students without a library.
3. Transportation for out of district CPA students will be cut.
4. Our afterschool sports program will be cut or reduced.

Parents and students are invited and encouraged to speak at the Budget
sessions.  Several HMS parents have already signed up to speak.  The
PGCPS is hoping that if enough parents show up at the budget sessions
and create enough of a buzz, the State of Maryland will rethink the
reduction in funding.
At the very least, parents and students need to participate in this
process to advocate for our children's education.

To become an advocate for your child's education and for HMS, you can:
1.  GET INFORMED:

Check the link to budget issues on the PGCPS website:
http://www1.pgcps.org/superintendent/budget.aspx

2.  GET ACTIVE: Email, make phone calls and testify at the public
budget hearings – help remind everyone Children First.

PGCPS recommends:
Call Governor Martin O’Malley at 410-974-3901 and Lieutenant Governor
Anthony Brown at 410-974-2804 or fill out the online E-mail form at
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/  and say “Thank you for
supporting education for the past 4 years. Please help Maryland hold
its place as #1 by fully funding education. Funding cuts hurt Prince
George’s County more than any other school system in the State. Fully
funding education will help PGCPS continue to make the gains in
student achievement that helped make Maryland #1. Please keep your
promise to make Education a priority during these difficult budget
times.”

Communicate with your State delegates and Senators and your County
Council representatives about the critical need for additional funds.
Your voice is needed if Prince George's is to successfully obtain
additional state monies. Add your voice by calling for additional
funding from the State.  Timely emails and/or phone calls in these
next few weeks are critically important.

Don't know who your legislators are?

University Park is District 22

Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D), District 22
James Senate Office Building, Room 220
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3155, (301) 858-3155
e-mail: paul.pinsky at senate.state.md.us

Del. Justin D. Ross (D), District 22
House Office Building, Room 151
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3652, (301) 858-3652
e-mail: justin.ross at house.state.md.us

Del. Tawanna P. Gaines (D), District 22
House Office Building, Room 416
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3058, (301) 858-3058
e-mail: tawanna.gaines at house.state.md.us

Del. Anne Healey (D), District 22
House Office Building, Room 350
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3961, (301) 858-3961
e-mail: anne.healey at house.state.md.us

HMS students are represented by two County Council Members

WILLIAM A. (WILL) CAMPOS, Member, County Council (Democrat)
County Administration Building, 2nd floor
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 - 3070
(301) 952-4436
e-mail: wacampos at co.pg.md.us

Eric Olson
Prince George's County Council Member
District 3, Democrat
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive
County Council, 2nd Floor
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone:(301) 952-3060
Fax: (301) 952-4904
Email: EOlson at co.pg.md.us

Public hearings:

The public is encouraged to participate in the FY2012 Operating Budget
development process by attending one of the upcoming Budget Work
Sessions (open to the public, but no public participation) or Budget
Public Hearings (can register to speak on the budget) listed below.
To share your input and priorities for the next school year’s budget
during a Budget Public Hearing, community members can register to
speak by contacting the Board Office at 301-952-6115 by 4:30 p.m. the
day of the hearing.  For details visit: www.pgcps.org/board/.

Budget Public Hearings

Budget Public Hearing
• February 10 • 7 p.m. (rescheduled from January 26)

Budget Work Session & Adoption of the FY2012 Budget
• February 24 • 7:05 p.m.
This budget will effect our children and is worth acting on!

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Visit the HMS webpage at
http://www1.pgcps.org/hyattsvillems/



-- 

Jim Groves

Moderator - Hyattsville Wiki
Moderator - Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment
Corn Manager - SOS Home Heating Cooperative
Hyattsville Environmental Committee Member
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