http://paschoolpress.org/home/forum/topic/rolodex-for-covering-education-issues since 1926 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:55:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://paschoolpress.org/home/forum/search.php http://paschoolpress.org/home/forum/topic/rolodex-for-covering-education-issues#post-8 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:37:07 +0000 tmauriello 8@http://paschoolpress.org/home/forum/ <p>Here\&#39;s some numbers you should have in your Rolodex (or cell phone). Use these resources to cover important issues meaningful to your readership. </p> <p>I\&#39;ll add more numbers as I think of them. You add some too!</p> <p>Timothy M. Allwein<br /> Assistant executive director for governmental affairs (aka lobbyist)<br /> Pennsylvania School Boards Association<br /> 717-506-2450 ex. 3325<br /> <a href="mailto:tim.allwein@psba.org">tim.allwein@psba.org</a><br /> <a href="http://www.psba.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.psba.org</a><br /> Why you need this number: PSBA is an organization of school board members. You can call Mr. Allwein to find out what his organization thinks about various educational proposals. The organization is active on many issues including Keystone Exams.<br /> What to do NOW: E-mail Mr. Allwein ask to get on his press mailing list</p> <p>Jim Buckheit<br /> Director of the state Board of Education<br /> 717-787-3787<br /> Why you need this number: For accurate information about proposals before the state Board of Education<br /> What to do NOW: Introduce yourself. Tell the director you’re interested in information relating to regulations that affect high schools. Ask him to keep you in the loop on developments and to put you on his press-release recipient list.<br /> Note: Mr. Buckheit is leaving the board soon. A replacement hasn’t yet been named.</p> <p>Ron Cowell<br /> President<br /> The Education Policy and Leadership Center<br /> ww.eplc.org<br /> 717-260-9900 ext. 13<br /> <a href="mailto:cowell@eplc.org">cowell@eplc.org</a><br /> Why you need this number: To add a perspective to stories about education initiatives.</p> <p>Keith New<br /> Spokesman for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency<br /> 717-514-5787<br /> Why you need this number: PHEAA is a major clearinghouse for grant and loan applications. Mr. New can be a resource for stories about college aid. You might consider those kinds of stories toward the end of the school year. You also can ask him NOW about how the state budget impasse is affecting aid to students.<br /> What you can do NOW: Introduce yourself to Mr. New. Ask to get on his press mailing list. </p> <p>Gov. Ed Rendell’s press office<br /> 717-783-1116<br /> Why you need this number: The governor’s office will weigh in on major education issues that go through the Legislature or the state school board. (Not likely to weigh in on local education issues, though.) The governor has been a strong proponent of high-school exit exams. He’s also advocating for increases to education funding. </p> <p>Michael Race<br /> Spokesman for education secretary Zahorchak<br /> 717-783-9802<br /> <a href="mailto:mrace@state.pa.us">mrace@state.pa.us</a><br /> Why you need this number: To get clarification on statewide education issues or to get Dr. Zahorchak’s opinion on controversial statewide education issues.<br /> What you can do NOW: Introduce yourself and ask to be put on his e-mail list to receive press releases.</p> <p>Other numbers to have handy:<br /> Your superintendent’s office<br /> District spokesperson (if any)<br /> Student Council officers<br /> Principal’s office<br /> Board of Education president<br /> Student member of your local school board (if any)<br /> Other Board of Education members </p>