Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/916449
Winter 2017 | wyoea.org 2 Sometimes you must stand up for what you believe in. Wyoming citizens say, "We support our schools." Now is the time to act. Despite data that shows Wyoming students' success is among the best in the country, some legislators are considering drastically reducing funding, thus dismantling the education system that has taken years to create. Wyoming students can't sit back and wait for the mineral industry to recover. It is time to create a stable and reliable funding system that can withstand our historic boom-and-bust cycle. We need your help! The WEA is strong because of our nearly 6,000 members, and others who support our mission, which is to promote the cause of public education and improve the quality of teaching and learning. Legislators want to hear from you, their constituents and the people who know Wyoming education best. With our citizen legislature, it is easy to talk with our legislators. Many of us already know who they are. It is best to reach out and have a conversation with them, in person or by phone. Personal letters or e-mails are also effective. In this era of technology, WEA is utilizing systems to make it even easier for you to contact your legislators. By following links on our website (wyoea.org) or Facebook page (facebook.com/wyoea), you can quickly determine who is your Senator and Representative. You will find templates for creating a letter via e-mail to send to your legislators. We STRONGLY encourage you to personalize your letter and not completely rely on the template. Tell stories about why small class size is important to you, and why your school cannot sustain additional cuts without damaging the quality of education for students. Please encourage people you know outside of your school district to also submit letters. Parents of students are especially good messengers. Ask your friends and neighbors to support education by contacting legislators. The decisions the Legislature will make between now and the end of the legislative session will impact Wyoming education for years to come. We must rally together to guarantee Wyoming's students receive the best education possible. Ron Sniffin WEA Executive Director rsniffin@wyoea.org It's Time for Action! Executive Director's Message "Tell stories about why small class size is important to you, and why your school cannot sustain additional cuts without damaging the quality of education for students."