Parents using listservs to organize support for the budget referenda

From the Midvale-Lincoln PTA listserv, of interest to folks considering the various cyberspace-based media and conversation swirling around this issue:

Greetings fellow travelers. As you may know, on May 24 Madison School District voters will be going to the polls to weigh in on 3 referenda concerning funding for our schools. Your PTA is asking you to engage in a little cyber conversation about what role, if any, your Midvale Lincoln PTA should play in the weeks running up to May 24.

PTA members have, as a group, heard from both MMSD representatives, and community members who are advocating "yes" votes on all 3 referenda. We have collected information on the impact of each referendum on the district's budget and on the Midvale and Lincoln communities. We have discussed steps we will take to distribute information on the content of the referenda. Now, we would like your input on other actions we might take, individually or collectively as representatives of the Midvale Lincoln parent community. Specifically, is there a more active advocacy role we should adopt, and what message should we communicate?

Given that the outcome of the referenda votes will have a real and direct impact on most of us, this seems like an important conversation to have. If you have some thoughts on the issue you can share, please take a few moments to respond here. Unless you request otherwise, I'll post all responses to the listserv, in the hope that we might generate some thoughtful discussion on the issues.

Thanks for being there!