Here\'s some numbers you should have in your Rolodex (or cell phone). Use these resources to cover important issues meaningful to your readership.
I\'ll add more numbers as I think of them. You add some too!
Timothy M. Allwein
Assistant executive director for governmental affairs (aka lobbyist)
Pennsylvania School Boards Association
717-506-2450 ex. 3325
tim.allwein@psba.org
http://www.psba.org
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.
What to do NOW: E-mail Mr. Allwein ask to get on his press mailing list
Jim Buckheit
Director of the state Board of Education
717-787-3787
Why you need this number: For accurate information about proposals before the state Board of Education
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.
Note: Mr. Buckheit is leaving the board soon. A replacement hasn’t yet been named.
Ron Cowell
President
The Education Policy and Leadership Center
ww.eplc.org
717-260-9900 ext. 13
cowell@eplc.org
Why you need this number: To add a perspective to stories about education initiatives.
Keith New
Spokesman for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
717-514-5787
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.
What you can do NOW: Introduce yourself to Mr. New. Ask to get on his press mailing list.
Gov. Ed Rendell’s press office
717-783-1116
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.
Michael Race
Spokesman for education secretary Zahorchak
717-783-9802
mrace@state.pa.us
Why you need this number: To get clarification on statewide education issues or to get Dr. Zahorchak’s opinion on controversial statewide education issues.
What you can do NOW: Introduce yourself and ask to be put on his e-mail list to receive press releases.
Other numbers to have handy:
Your superintendent’s office
District spokesperson (if any)
Student Council officers
Principal’s office
Board of Education president
Student member of your local school board (if any)
Other Board of Education members
