Hello,
The start of the First Session of Maine’s 132nd Legislature is coming up shortly, as our state's newly elected Representatives and Senators will be sworn in on Wednesday, December 4th.
We all know that the legislative session can be a chaotic time. Lawmakers will debate thousands of bills, with many of them potentially impacting public education. To help you sort through that flood of news and information, our legislative staff have put together several new tools that we hope will keep you active, informed and engaged over the next several months.
Staying Updated
Our first new feature is a regular email newsletter, which I am currently calling “The Weekly Brief.” I’m intending the newsletter to be both a look backwards at the week that was (featuring analysis of public hearings, work sessions, newly released bill language, etc.), while also offering a preview of bills you should pay attention to in the weeks ahead. We will also use the newsletter to highlight bills that we are particularly concerned about – and ask you to join our effort and voice your support or opposition to your own local lawmakers.
Click this link to find a sample version of the update. We will also be recording a video version of “The Weekly Brief,” which will be posted on YouTube. You can subscribe to the episodes (and watch a sample video) at this link. An audio/podcast version of the bulletin can also be downloaded at this Dropbox link.
You should expect to see the first newsletter out later this week, with early details on Maine’s budget situation and the rules we can expect for the upcoming session.
A Legislative Dashboard
To keep you informed, we have also created an “MSSA/MSBA Legislative Dashboard” -- a single landing page housing our legislative news, trainings, resources and more. (MSSA version is here, MSBA is here, please contact rfeinberg@msmaweb.com for the password).
Our latest “Weekly Brief” bulletins – written, audio, and visual – will be posted on this dashboard. You can also find all of our staff’s legislative resources in one place: information on bills of concern, contact information for lawmakers, and an MSSA/MSBA Legislative Calendar, which will be continually updated with events and public hearings that we are monitoring. We hope this dashboard will provide a one-stop resource that you can rely on to get the latest news and analysis on Maine education policy.
Let’s Work Together
I’ve spoken with many lawmakers since taking over this role, and I’ve heard one message over and over again: legislators want to hear from their local schools. When discussing policy proposals, lawmakers have repeatedly asked me, “How would this policy impact my district?” or “I need to hear about this issue from my superintendent.”
That’s why, in order for us to ensure your voices are heard at the Legislature, we need to work together. Our MSSA and MSBA staff will be testifying at the State House, but we need you to join us. If you are a superintendent or school board chair, reach out to your local elected officials as soon as possible. Set up a time to meet. Invite them to a board meeting. Tell them about your district’s needs and concerns, and what they can do in Augusta to assist you.
Then, when our organization alerts you to bills we feel would be particularly beneficial or harmful to public education, please join us by reaching out to your local lawmakers about these bills and sharing your perspective. If you join us in this work, our reach will extend across Maine and ensure the legislature is well-informed about the impacts of policies on public education.
If you’re unsure where to begin with your advocacy efforts, I would invite you to watch this MSSA/MSBA Legislative Advocacy Training, which was recorded just a few weeks ago. The 30-minute presentation details Maine’s legislative process, MSSA/MSBA’s advocacy efforts, and offers actionable steps for how you can connect with lawmakers and advocate for public education. You can also download this one-page companion handout.
We also now have dedicated sections of our MSSA and MSBA websites devoted to all of these new legislative resources. You can find them on the menus of each site, and at these links:
MSSA Legislative and Government Relations
MSBA Legislative and Government Relations
We know the legislative process can be confusing and opaque. We hope that by getting this important news and information to you more regularly, we can all stay more informed and engaged, which will be critical at such an important moment for public education, in Maine and across the country.
Thank you and talk soon,
Robbie Feinberg
Director of Communications and Government Relations