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 Your Legislative 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 21 st 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 – 3 rd 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 Joyce Malainy, Ed.D. C-TEC ext