Woodstock Advocacy Toolkit 2025

If you are a constituent of Oregon State Senate District 21 (search here if you're not sure), please join us virtually on Zoom from 2:40pm-3pm on Tuesday, May 13 for a brief virtual meeting with District 21 State Senator Kathleen Taylor to advocate for improved funding for public schools.

RSVP
For planning purposes, RSVP here.
If you are not able to RSVP, you can still attend using the link(s) below.

Links

• Google Calendar Event – Includes Zoom link and notes below
• Zoom link – Meeting ID: 811 5561 5222 – Passcode: lobbyday

Notes and logistics for those who can join:

• Plan to login at 2:40pm for a prompt 2:45pm start.
• If you're not a regular user of Zoom, you may want to download and test the application on your device in advance of meeting time.
• Wear red if you can, with cameras on.
• We have a brief time together—let's communicate respectfully and allow space for as many folks as possible to engage.
• If you have questions you'd like to share with the Senator in advance, email them to amymhardy@gmail.com before 7pm on Monday, May 12

Let's be aligned; here are Oregon PTA requests for our review/reference:

• To increase the State School Fund allocation above $11.4B to narrow the gap between the status quo and funding levels necessary to improve student outcomes.
• To ensure students are ready to learn by fighting chronic absenteeism, providing school meals for all, investing in early literacy and addressing other basic needs.
• To better support students with disabilities.
• To develop a shared long-term strategy to improve outcomes for our students.

Oregon PTA is hosting “Advocacy Connection” every other Wednesday; May 14, May 28, Jun 11, and Jun 25, from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. This Zoom meeting space allows parents to informally connect and coordinate advocacy efforts. Find out what is happening in the legislature, share upcoming opportunities and most importantly, support one another!

It is open to everyone, PTA-member or not. Registration required.

Oregon PTA is hosting a special webinar with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden to talk about what’s happening in federal education policy and funding — and you’re invited!

It’s a chance to hear directly from the Senator about what’s happening in D.C., what it means for schools and students, and to ask your questions.

📅 When: May 19th
🕒 Time: 2pm - We will have a 30-min discussion with the Senator plus an opportunity to connect with others in the audience afterward.
📍 Where: Online (link sent after sign up)

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator or just care about what’s happening in our schools, we’d love to have you join us.

To email questions ahead of time, please contact us at legislation@oregonpta.org.
The webinar will also be recorded and posted to the Oregon PTA website.

Watch previous episodes of the "From the Capitol to Our Classroom" series here.

Election Day is May 20, and Portlanders have started voting! Those who live in the Portland Public Schools District are being asked to approve an important school bond renewal. Measure 26-259 renews the current tax rate, delivers critical repairs to aging schools across Portland, and completes the modernization of our high schools.

This bond is a generational investment, ensuring students and families have access to high-quality high schools no matter where they live in the district for decades to come. the Woodstock PTA has endorsed the school bond, and we urge you to vote YES.

Measure 26-259 DOES NOT increase tax rates–it is a renewal of the rate we already pay. That rate, $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed value, will stay the same. Renewing the rate allows us to raise almost $1.83 billion for important investment in our schools.

Portland's students deserve schools that are safe, comfortable, and ready for the future. Right now, too many of our schools–some over a century old–are struggling. That’s why this bond measure will invest in upgrading outdated heating and cooling systems and aging plumbing and roofs. Our students need updated classrooms that are warm, safe, and dry.

With respect to seismic safety, our region is at risk of experiencing a large earthquake, and too many older buildings were not built with this reality in mind. This bond will invest in seismic reinforcements to make our schools stronger and more resilient and keep our teachers and students safe. As Willamette Week recently put it, "it’s almost certainly the case that passage of the bond will make schools safer when the Big One hits."

Our students deserve up-to-date schools and learning tools. Yet, Cleveland and Ida B. Wells high schools still await modernization, and Jefferson remains unfinished. In 2012, a promise was made about modernizing every PPS High School–approving this bond keeps that promise. Every student deserves access to a high-quality high school, and voters can make that happen by approving Measure 26-259. Please vote YES by May 20!