It is critical that all PTA members demonstrate their role as child advocates by becoming educated about candidates for public office and their positions on legislative issues that are important to children and public schools. By exercising our democratic right to vote, we are able to give children a voice. This is especially critical in the upcoming elections on November 4, 2008. In the 2008 federal elections, voters will determine our president, our vice president, all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and 35 U.S. senators. In state elections, voters will elect 11 governors, more than 6,500 state house and senate members, and countless mayors, regents, city council members, boards of supervisors, county officials, and school board trustees. Your vote can make a difference for our children and communities. PTA SAYS VOTE NO! Vote NO on Amendments 5, 7 and 9. I encourage all of you to visit www.floridapta.org  and click on the NEWS icon to the right. In brief: Amendments 5 will eliminate the property taxes that fund public schools. Amendment 7 will allow the legislature to enact a voucher program that will deplete much needed funds from public schools, making us compete with private schools for funding, not to mention the loss of funds may lead to additional cuts in programs and services. If Amendment 9 passes, school districts will be unable to direct funding to meet the needs of individual schools. Vouchers would divert money from public schools. These Amendments deserve your attention. Flyers detailing each Amendment will be distributed at our CLE PTA General Meeting, September 4th. I urge all of you to take an interest in these Amendments and learn how they will affect our schools. Thank You, Jennifer Powers PTA President