ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
http://www.iagcgifted.org  
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Greetings, friends of gifted,

Thursday evening, Jan. 19th,  the ISBE Board met to consider requests
and to make recommendations that will go to the governor with regards to
funding.  Nancy Hertzog, IAGC Advocacy Co-Chair and IAGC Board member,
testified and then stayed for the entire meeting.  The ISBE Board did
not recommend a line item for gifted.  No funding was allocated for
gifted!

The next step is to contact the governor.
This is an election year and Governor Blagojevich needs votes. The more
calls he gets, the louder he hears the message to restore gifted funding.  
His budget address will be Feb. 15. The problem is that this year is on a
fast track and legislators will probably go along with most of what he has
proposed (although there are fights going on right now). Legislators will
want to get out of session early so that they can campaign.  IF the governor
doesn't include gifted, our next step is to go to the legislators. This can
be done, but will be much harder and with short time frames.

Please contact the governor's Chicago office

  • voice:  312-814-2121
  • fax: 312-814-6775

as well as his Springfield office

  • voice:  800-642-3112 or 217-782-0244
  • fax:  217-5244049

to let him know that funding for gifted is essential.

Hint: Write out what you want to say. The message should include that
funding for gifted is needed.  Call Springfield and Chicago.  Fax your
message to Springfield and Chicago.  They tally to number of calls and faxes
they receive on issues.  You can get 4 tallies for your message.

If you know others who will call the governor, please encourage them to
do so NOW. The final state budget is being prepared NOW and will be
presented Feb. 15.

Thanks ,
Sally Walker, Executive Director
Illinois Association for Gifted Children

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For more information, contact IAGC Advocacy Committee Co-Chairwomen:

  • Cathy Greene - Normal greeneca@unit5.org
  • Nancy Hertzog - Champaign nhertzog@uiuc.edu
  • Kris McElligatt - Mt. Prospect kmcellig@comcast.net

GOAL: Educate the decision-makers about the needs of gifted children




by tmohaupt@chicago.us.mensa.org