Jennifer Seidel, president of the Board of Education of Carroll County, took part in the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) 39th annual Federal Relations Network Conference, held Feb. 5-7 in Washington, D.C. The Network is a national grassroots legislative effort that urges members of Congress to make K-12 education a top priority.      

Seidel joined more than 800 school board and state school boards association leaders to ask Congress to support public school students as they consider the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) this year. Once Congress reauthorizes ESEA, local school boards will be responsible for implementing the federal policies, so it is important that school board leaders are involved in the legislative process.

They also requested that Congress help ensure that public education is adequately funded and discontinue the practice of passing education legislation without providing the necessary funding for local implementation.      

Seidel said that her message was simple, asking to "Please put partisan politics aside. Education is about kids, not politics. We ask you to put children at the forefront of your decisions, just as we do at the local level. It is time for someone in Congress to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough. We need to end the gridlock because it is in the best interest of students.' "

For more information visit the NSBA website at www.nsba.org. 

Information from a Carroll County Public Schools press release.