O CAPITOL VIEW By Janice Palmer, ASBA Director of Governmental Relations & Public Affairs
Transforming ASBA’s Political Agenda
W
e’ve heard you! This year ASBA is transforming our Political Agenda process to make it more relevant, focused and accountable. We are doing this by altering the timeline (shown below) and taking a more strategic approach to identifying and advocating the political priorities of Arizona school boards. This means leaving behind a document filled with 100-plus action agenda items organized under seven broad content areas, and instead compiling priorities in three categories based on achievable timeframes: long-term, short-term, and 2014 session-specific legislation. Two things will not change: First, the development of ASBA’s Political Agenda will be guided by our membership, and, second, every active/district member board will have a vote at the annual Delegate Assembly to determine the final Political Agenda for the coming year.
As a reminder, you should schedule a discussion at an upcoming board meeting on any proposals for long-, shortor 2014 issues your board plans to submit for consideration by the ASBA Legislative Committee; any submittals must ref lect the collective will of your board. There are not limits on the number of submissions a single board may propose, and they may be in any or all of the categories. These proposals are due by the close of business on May 24, 2013. The Legislative Committee, comprised of over 30 governing board members from across the state, will consider these proposals and create a draft document that will be circulated to all governing boards and superintendents. This will be the basis for discussion at the official Delegate Assembly on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the J.W. Marriott Camelback Inn.
April 26 ASBA holds webinar to provide overview of new Political Agenda process. To view/listen to a recording of the webinar, visit www.azsba.org.
26 ASBA Journal I Spring 2013
June 7 ASBA Legislative Committee meets.
May 24
Week of June 17
Deadline to provide local board input to the ASBA Legislative Committee. An online input form is available at www.azsba.org.
Member boards receive email with complete Legislative Committee recommendations for 2014 Political Agenda.