Congressman Kevin Kiley, 3rd District California, pictured with Kelly Champion at the Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip
Kelly Champion, Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School Board President, traveled with the California School Board Association (CSBA) to their Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip in Washington, D.C., April 28th through April 30th, to discuss policies, funding, and meet with congressional representatives. The group went to Capitol Hill to meet with Congress members and their Legislative Assistants to discuss federal funding for students with disabilities and school meals, impacts of technology on schools including broadband and cybersecurity, the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act and teacher workforce issues.
"The Secure Rural Schools Act is particularly important to areas like ours where federal land ownership prevents tax collection that would otherwise be used to pay for public schools. Students in rural schools who often face great challenges already, would suffer from decreased educational services, staffing and support if these funds were to lapse. LaMalfa and Crapo have sponsored bills to reauthorize this funding through 2029 (HR 1383 LaMalfa and S 356 Crapo). Sierra County is over 70% federally owned land between the Tahoe National Forest, Plumas National Forest and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Our neighbors in Alpine County have over 90% federally owned land, Kelly states.
"I was fortunate to have a special meeting with Jamieson Greer, our US Trade Ambassador and graduate of Paradise High School, where we discussed work force development programs.
"I also sat in at the House of Representatives and listened to Doug LaMalfa and Kevin Kiley speak in support of the three Congressional Review Act resolutions to overturn California's EV mandates. If passed by the Senate, the resolutions would overturn the state's plan to phase out gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035 and mandate 100% EV sales.
"It was great to connect with education leaders from all over California. We shared stories of what it was like in our area and collaborated to find solutions to the many challenges of today. Some, to note: Jana Hanak, Chief Business Official from Alpine County Office of Ed/Alpine County Unified School District; Michael Greer, Board Member from Del Norte USD; Brooke Van Komen, Board Member from El Dorado Unified High School District; Craig Deluz, Board Member from Robla School District, and Bina Lefkovitz, Board Member from Sacramento County Board of Education.
"I really appreciate CSBA's efforts to give small districts a voice here in California! CSBA has also been a great tool for me since joining the Board. Last year I completed the Master’s in Governance – a 5-course education agency governance training program they offer."
Kelly Champion, Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School Board President, traveled with the California School Board Association (CSBA) to their Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip in Washington, D.C., April 28th through April 30th, to discuss policies, funding, and meet with congressional representatives. The group went to Capitol Hill to meet with Congress members and their Legislative Assistants to discuss federal funding for students with disabilities and school meals, impacts of technology on schools including broadband and cybersecurity, the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act and teacher workforce issues.
"The Secure Rural Schools Act is particularly important to areas like ours where federal land ownership prevents tax collection that would otherwise be used to pay for public schools. Students in rural schools who often face great challenges already, would suffer from decreased educational services, staffing and support if these funds were to lapse. LaMalfa and Crapo have sponsored bills to reauthorize this funding through 2029 (HR 1383 LaMalfa and S 356 Crapo). Sierra County is over 70% federally owned land between the Tahoe National Forest, Plumas National Forest and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Our neighbors in Alpine County have over 90% federally owned land, Kelly states.
"I was fortunate to have a special meeting with Jamieson Greer, our US Trade Ambassador and graduate of Paradise High School, where we discussed work force development programs.
"I also sat in at the House of Representatives and listened to Doug LaMalfa and Kevin Kiley speak in support of the three Congressional Review Act resolutions to overturn California's EV mandates. If passed by the Senate, the resolutions would overturn the state's plan to phase out gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035 and mandate 100% EV sales.
"It was great to connect with education leaders from all over California. We shared stories of what it was like in our area and collaborated to find solutions to the many challenges of today. Some, to note: Jana Hanak, Chief Business Official from Alpine County Office of Ed/Alpine County Unified School District; Michael Greer, Board Member from Del Norte USD; Brooke Van Komen, Board Member from El Dorado Unified High School District; Craig Deluz, Board Member from Robla School District, and Bina Lefkovitz, Board Member from Sacramento County Board of Education.
"I really appreciate CSBA's efforts to give small districts a voice here in California! CSBA has also been a great tool for me since joining the Board. Last year I completed the Master’s in Governance – a 5-course education agency governance training program they offer."
Jana Hanak, Chief Business Official Alpine County Office of Education/Alpine County USD shares time with Kelly Champion, President of Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District.
