getting ready for your legislative office visit gregory j. lestini, esq., bricker & eckler llp...

Getting Ready for Your Legislative Office Visit

Gregory J. Lestini, Esq., Bricker & Eckler LLP

Joyce L. Malainy, Ed. D., Superintendent, C-TEC

Wednesday, January 23, 2012

Getting Ready for YourLegislative Office Visit

Political Landscape OACTE Policy Priorities Budget Issues Lobbying Follow Up

2013 Political Landscape

Kasich Administration Speaker Batchelder Senate President Faber

2013 Political Landscape

17 New Members Same basic political makeup:

– Senate = 23 Republican, 10 Democratic members

– House = 60 Republican, 39 Democratic members

2013 Political Landscape

Senate Education Committee– Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), Chair– Tom Sawyer (D-Akron), Ranking Member

Senate Finance, Education Subcommittee– Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), Chair– Nina Turner (D-Cleveland), Ranking Member

2013 Political Landscape

House Education Committee– Gerald Stebelton (R-Lancaster), Chair– Ranking Member (TBA)

House Finance, Primary & Secondary Education Subcommittee– Bill Hayes (R-Harrison Twp.), Chair– Ranking Member (TBA)

2013 Political Landscape

Richard Ross, Governor’s Director of the Office of 21st Century Education

Jim Petro, Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents

Debe Terhar, President, State Board of Education

Michael Sawyers, Acting Superintendent of Public Instruction

2013 Political Environment

Budget Year 2014 Election

– Governor’s next steps Federal impact

OACTE Policy Recommendations

Maintain weighted funding for career and technical programs

Create a funding formula for adult workforce development programs

Provide incentives for children and adults to choose career technical education

State Budget

Budget surplus

No requested standard cuts to agency budgets

Severance taxes

Education funding reform

State Budget and Your Visit

Personalize the money Describe the return on investment

– Emphasize what funding can do for students– Emphasize job creation aspect of investments

in CTE Understand your member’s pet issues

Meeting with Legislators

TIPS: Clearly state your policy position Share a personal story Cite facts, research and statistics Give legislator opportunity to ask questions Leave information Offer to provide additional information Provide contact info Thank them for their time

Bills/Issues of Note

SB 316 – 3rd Grade reading guarantee, teacher evaluations

HB 555 – School report cards

HB 525 – Cleveland Schools plan

State of the State

School attendance audits

Opportunities

Brand your district– Unique programs, graduates, business

partnerships Build on CTE recognition and goodwill

– Federal, state, and local Forge new relationships Educate staff

Follow up

Start immediately Thank you letters Create and utilize in-district events Invite legislators and staff to tour your

school Utilize ambassadors in the community Other ideas?

Questions?

Greg Lestini, Esq. Bricker and Eckler LLP

614.227.4893

glestini@bricker.com

Joyce Malainy, Ed.D.C-TEC

740-364-2832 ext. 2210

jmalainy@c-tec.edu