Olympia School Superintendent Andrew Wise was in Washington DC July 8-10 to meet Federal Legislators, as well as those in charge of K-12 education and College, Career Tech education. As a recently elected member to the Governing Board of the American Association of School Superintendents (AASA), Dr. Wise and a select group of Superintendents across the country advocated for promised dollars in E-Rate, Childhood Nutrition, Title I, Title II, Title IV, Special Education, Medicaid, Capital Bill for Infrastructure, Mental Health Services, and other funding sources that are necessary to meet federal law. Dr. Wise met with each of the following legislators or their staffers: US Senator Durbin, US Senator Duckworth, US Representative LaHood, and US Representative Davis. Each of them have gone on record to support past education topics, such as the ones mentioned above. Dr. Wise was able to share how each funding stream impacts Olympia as well as offer some creative solutions to help meet the needs of kids, employees, and families, in a time where funding is tight and needs are high. Dr. Wise appreciates the time that each Secretary of Education provided him and each Congressional team. He also appreciates each of the Illinois US congressional members above who have supported public education in the Central Illinois. He also appreciates being elected to the AASA Governing Board and having expenses for the Advocacy event covered by AASA.
Pictured: Assistant Secretary Frank Brogan who oversees K-12 Education and Dr. Wise after their meeting.
Also pictured in lead photo: Assistant Secretary Scott Stump who oversees College and
Career Tech and his Deputy Assistant Secretary Cassie Sacks who oversees
Community Colleges, with Dr. Wise and fellow AASA Governing Board
members Jennifer Kelsall Superintendent of Ridgeview School District and
Wayne Burke Superintendent of Union Hill School District