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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 21, 2005 School backers head to Salem By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings Two years ago, the bus left at 5:30 a.m. for the school funding rally on the steps of the Capitol building in Salem. Christine Norton-Cotts, left, and Chuck Keil, center, of Ashland join about 30 students, parents and educators from Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass on the bus heading to the state capitol to lobby for school funding this morning. Orville Hector | Ashland Daily Tidings This morning, the departure time was pushed back to 6 a.m. There's a big difference between 5:30 and 6 in the morning, Stand for Children organizer and Ashland School Board chairwoman Amy Amrhein said. Regardless of when the bus leaves, she says it's an important trip. "I believe if we don't do anything else, we need to get on the bus every two years," said Amrhein. Six years ago, Amrhein made her first trip to lobby the state Legislature for school funding. She and her son, then 8 years old, watched the entire fourth special session. This year, her 12-year-old will be on the bus. "It really is a great experience for children." About 30 students, parents and educators from Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass got on the bus heading to the state Capitol to lobby for school funding this morning. Another 50 to 60 people from Southern Oregon were expected to drive up in personal vehicles for the event, which was estimated to draw 2,000 people from around the state. "I've never done anything like this," said Cyndi Mathews, who has two children at Griffin Creek Elementary School in Medford. She, her husband and their children drove up to Salem on Sunday night to be on-hand for the rally today. "They're really excited." People will be advocating for $5.4 billion in funding for K-12 education, what they call the "hold harmless" budget public schools that would basically maintain public education at its existing level. The current school-funding figure being tossed around Salem is $5.2 billion. "We really can't afford more cuts. Our kids can't have their class sizes grow any larger," said Laurie Kappel, the chair of the Jackson County chapter of Stand For Children who runs the Discovery Corner child development center in Phoenix. "This is just really the first step in this fight through this legislative session to hold our legislators responsible." The Southern Oregon delegation will meet with local legislators, including Rep. Peter Buckley and Sen. Alan Bates, both Ashland Democrats, following the noon rally. "For me, a big part of what we do is elect representatives who support public schools," Amrhein said. "My part, our part in going to Salem is to support them in funding public schools." They hope to convince legislators to approve a "long-term stabilizing investment in K-12 funding," Amrhein said. "Basically, this whole rally is the kicking-off point for making responsible choices," Kappel said. Staff writer Jennifer Squires can be reached at 482-3456 x 3019 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams