Chalkboard forms community leader team to advocate for K-12 education
Contact:
Chalkboard Project
(503) 542-4325
info@chalkboardproject.org
Statewide citizens’ corps will help champion Chalkboard proposals
PORTLAND – December 12, 2006 – Community leaders representing every region in Oregon have signed on to a new effort to support the Chalkboard Project and its plans to improve K-12 education.
Chalkboard today announced the formation of its statewide citizens’ corps, which will assist the independent, non-partisan organization in promoting a broad set of proposals to boost student achievement in Oregon.
“I believe we need to take some very focused action to improve Oregon schools, and Chalkboard’s work has laid an important foundation to take the next steps,” said Ken Thrasher, CEO of Compli and member of the newly formed Chalkboard citizens’ corps. “I hope all Oregonians will take a look at Chalkboard’s proposals to improve the quality, accountability and funding of our schools – key requirements in raising overall student achievement, closing the achievement gap and building public confidence in our schools.”
“Chalkboard has worked hard to build the public support needed to bring true changes to our schools,” said Liz Cawood, president of CAWOOD in Eugene and Chalkboard citizens’ corps member. “If we want great schools in Oregon, we need a consensus plan everyone can support. That’s what Chalkboard brings to the table.”
In late September, Chalkboard unveiled its 2007 legislative agenda, which focuses on providing more support to educators and early learners, improving financial accountability and stabilizing school system funding.
Complete details on the Chalkboard plan are available at www.chalkboardproject.org.
“We’re moving forward into 2007 with the strong backing of Oregonians, and our newly formed citizens’ corps is one more indication of the kind of appetite and support for change there is throughout our state,” said Sue Hildick, Chalkboard Project president.
The citizens’ corps members reflect the diversity of Oregon. They include parents, educators, businesspeople, civic volunteers and leaders, retirees, philanthropists and students. Nearly all of Oregon’s 36 counties are represented in the group, which includes more than 100 members so far.
About Chalkboard Project
Launched in early 2004, Chalkboard Project exists to inspire Oregonians to do what it takes to make the state’s K-12 public schools among the nation’s best, while strengthening our school system’s financial accountability to taxpayers. Chalkboard aims to help create a more informed and engaged public who understand and address the tough choices and trade-offs required to build strong schools, and to enable statewide programs that can be applied at the local level to improve school quality, accountability, and funding. To date, Chalkboard has connected with about 100,000 Oregonians, asking for their best ideas to strengthen the state’s K-12 public schools. It also has partnered with other education organizations to create the Open Book$ Web site www.openbooksproject.org to track school district spending.
Chalkboard – an initiative of Foundations For A Better Oregon – is sponsored by a growing list of independent foundations. The founding five foundations are: The Collins Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, Jeld-Wen Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, and The Oregon Community Foundation. For more information about Chalkboard and to learn how to get involved, call (877) YOUR-K12 or visit www.chalkboardproject.org.
