ADVOCACY

MASC advocates on behalf of Massachusetts school committees in all legislative and regulatory arenas, including at the federal level. The issues that are followed by Association staff, board of directors, MASC legislative committee and representatives to the Federal Relations Network have a direct impact on school district budgets, employer-employee relations, and the governance authority of every school committee in the state.
STAFF ADVOCACY EFFORTS
- Monitor and report to members on legislative bills.
- Inform legislators of the impact of various bills from the school committee perspective.
- Testify at legislative committee meetings in which education-related bills are discussed.
- Participate in various political roundtables and other advisory groups.
- Assist in the implementation of education-related legislative programs by working closely with the Executive Office staff, the Department of Education, the state Board of Education and local districts.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ADVOCACY EFFORTS
As the largest group of elected officials in the state, school committee members can have significant impact on the state's legislative process by taking the following actions:
· Contact local legislators to discuss vital educational issues and community concerns.
· Provide legislators with information about key educational issues and explain the impact of proposed legislation on the K-12 public education system.
· Participate in MASC advocacy and legislative events including Day on the Hill, the Federal Relations Network, and the MASC Delegate Assembly.
May 2007
Mary Jo Rossetti (Somerville) who chairs the MASC Advocacy Committee discusses proposed mobile student legislation with Day on the Hill participants.		 March 2007
MASC Immediate Past President Maurice Hancock, President-Elect Ellen Furtado and President Joseph Santos discuss school funding improvements with Lt. Governor Murray and Governor Patrick at their monthly meeting. 		May 2007
More than 40 students and faculty from the Swansea Public Schools attended Day on the Hill where the students got to witness the advocacy process and school leaders in action. 		January 2006
MASC Board Members Nancy Walser (Cambridge) Joe Santos (Ludlow), Maurice Hancock (Brockton) and Executive Director Glenn Koocher testifying before the Board of Education on high stakes testing concerns.
February 2007
Federal Relations members meet with Congressman Richard Neal during NSBA's FRN 2007 conference. Left to right: Ruth Kaplan (Brookline), Dorothy Presser (Lynnfield), Neal, Joe Santos (Ludlow), Jacqui Doherty (Lowell), Deb Bibeau (Amesbury).		 February 2007
MASC Division IV chair Kathleen Robey (Marlboro) greets Senator Edward Kennedy following his presentation to members at the 2007 Federal Relations Network conference.

February 2007
Members of MASC's Federal Relations Network prepare to meet with Senator Kennedy in his office during FRN.

November 2006
MASC 2006 President Maurice Hancock thanks newly elected Lt. Governor Tim Murray for his ongoing support of public school initiatives following Murray's presentation at the 2006 Joint Conference in Hyannis.