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. <br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Jim Groves</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jgroves4ward2@gmail.com">jgroves4ward2@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 7:44 PM<br>Subject: [HOPE_in_Hyattsville] Budget Cuts - where is the outrage?<br>To: "<a href="mailto:hope_in_hyattsville@yahoogroups.com">hope_in_hyattsville@yahoogroups.com</a> (HOPE)" <<a href="mailto:HOPE_in_Hyattsville@yahoogroups.com">HOPE_in_Hyattsville@yahoogroups.com</a>><br>
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<p>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. </p>
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<br></div><div>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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Remember - these cuts will negatively impact you regardless if you have kids in the school or not. PLEASE cross post!</div><div><br></div><div>Jim<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">___________________________________________________________________________________<br>
Because of a severe shortfall in funding from the State of Maryland,<br>
the Prince George's County Public Schools are proposing budget cuts<br>
that will change the face of HMS. As best I understand the proposal.<br>
1. Counseling staff may be reduced.<br>
2. We may lose our media specialist (that our librarian to you and<br>
me). The budget proposal is not clear on this. Imagine a school of<br>
close to 700 students without a library.<br>
3. Transportation for out of district CPA students will be cut.<br>
4. Our afterschool sports program will be cut or reduced.<br>
<br>
Parents and students are invited and encouraged to speak at the Budget<br>
sessions. Several HMS parents have already signed up to speak. The<br>
PGCPS is hoping that if enough parents show up at the budget sessions<br>
and create enough of a buzz, the State of Maryland will rethink the<br>
reduction in funding.<br>
At the very least, parents and students need to participate in this<br>
process to advocate for our children's education.<br>
<br>
To become an advocate for your child's education and for HMS, you can:<br>
1. GET INFORMED:<br>
<br>
Check the link to budget issues on the PGCPS website:<br>
<a href="http://www1.pgcps.org/superintendent/budget.aspx" target="_blank">http://www1.pgcps.org/superintendent/budget.aspx</a><br>
<br>
2. GET ACTIVE: Email, make phone calls and testify at the public<br>
budget hearings – help remind everyone Children First.<br>
<br>
PGCPS recommends:<br>
Call Governor Martin O’Malley at 410-974-3901 and Lieutenant Governor<br>
Anthony Brown at 410-974-2804 or fill out the online E-mail form at<br>
<a href="http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/" target="_blank">http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/</a> and say “Thank you for<br>
supporting education for the past 4 years. Please help Maryland hold<br>
its place as #1 by fully funding education. Funding cuts hurt Prince<br>
George’s County more than any other school system in the State. Fully<br>
funding education will help PGCPS continue to make the gains in<br>
student achievement that helped make Maryland #1. Please keep your<br>
promise to make Education a priority during these difficult budget<br>
times.”<br>
<br>
Communicate with your State delegates and Senators and your County<br>
Council representatives about the critical need for additional funds.<br>
Your voice is needed if Prince George's is to successfully obtain<br>
additional state monies. Add your voice by calling for additional<br>
funding from the State. Timely emails and/or phone calls in these<br>
next few weeks are critically important.<br>
<br>
Don't know who your legislators are?<br>
<br>
University Park is District 22<br>
<br>
Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D), District 22<br>
James Senate Office Building, Room 220<br>
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401<br>
(410) 841-3155, (301) 858-3155<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:paul.pinsky@senate.state.md.us" target="_blank">paul.pinsky@senate.state.md.us</a><br>
<br>
Del. Justin D. Ross (D), District 22<br>
House Office Building, Room 151<br>
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401<br>
(410) 841-3652, (301) 858-3652<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:justin.ross@house.state.md.us" target="_blank">justin.ross@house.state.md.us</a><br>
<br>
Del. Tawanna P. Gaines (D), District 22<br>
House Office Building, Room 416<br>
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401<br>
(410) 841-3058, (301) 858-3058<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:tawanna.gaines@house.state.md.us" target="_blank">tawanna.gaines@house.state.md.us</a><br>
<br>
Del. Anne Healey (D), District 22<br>
House Office Building, Room 350<br>
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401<br>
(410) 841-3961, (301) 858-3961<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:anne.healey@house.state.md.us" target="_blank">anne.healey@house.state.md.us</a><br>
<br>
HMS students are represented by two County Council Members<br>
<br>
WILLIAM A. (WILL) CAMPOS, Member, County Council (Democrat)<br>
County Administration Building, 2nd floor<br>
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 - 3070<br>
(301) 952-4436<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:wacampos@co.pg.md.us" target="_blank">wacampos@co.pg.md.us</a><br>
<br>
Eric Olson<br>
Prince George's County Council Member<br>
District 3, Democrat<br>
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive<br>
County Council, 2nd Floor<br>
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772<br>
Phone:(301) 952-3060<br>
Fax: (301) 952-4904<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:EOlson@co.pg.md.us" target="_blank">EOlson@co.pg.md.us</a><br>
<br>
Public hearings:<br>
<br>
The public is encouraged to participate in the FY2012 Operating Budget<br>
development process by attending one of the upcoming Budget Work<br>
Sessions (open to the public, but no public participation) or Budget<br>
Public Hearings (can register to speak on the budget) listed below.<br>
To share your input and priorities for the next school year’s budget<br>
during a Budget Public Hearing, community members can register to<br>
speak by contacting the Board Office at 301-952-6115 by 4:30 p.m. the<br>
day of the hearing. For details visit: <a href="http://www.pgcps.org/board/" target="_blank">www.pgcps.org/board/</a>.<br>
<br>
Budget Public Hearings<br>
<br>
Budget Public Hearing<br>
• February 10 • 7 p.m. (rescheduled from January 26)<br>
<br>
Budget Work Session & Adoption of the FY2012 Budget<br>
• February 24 • 7:05 p.m.<br>
This budget will effect our children and is worth acting on!<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
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You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br>
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To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br>
<a href="mailto:hms-pta%2Bunsubscribe@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">hms-pta+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com</a><br>
<br>
Visit the HMS webpage at<br>
<a href="http://www1.pgcps.org/hyattsvillems/" target="_blank">http://www1.pgcps.org/hyattsvillems/</a><br>
</font></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br>Jim Groves<br><br>Moderator - Hyattsville Wiki <br>Moderator - Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment <br>Corn Manager - SOS Home Heating Cooperative <br>Hyattsville Environmental Committee Member<br>
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