Teachers, Parents, and School Advocates
Reject Measures 58 and 60

Urge Oregonians to join the coalition to protect Oregon schools

September 4, 2008

OR- Today, parents, teachers and school advocates came together to announce their opposition to two measures that would harm Oregon’s public schools. As children all across Oregon head back to school, the Parents and Teachers Know Better Coalition publicly kicked off the campaign to defeat Bill Sizemore’s anti-education measures.

“Measures 58 and 60 will take control away from local parents, teachers and school leaders to decide what’s best for their kids,” said Portland parent and Stand for Children member Meg Ruby. “At Atkinson, we are very luck that there is a high level of parental involvement. Unfortunately, that is not the case in a lot of Oregon schools. If these measures pass it will make it even harder to get parents involved in their kid’s education.”

The campaign kick-off featured the unveiling of the Parents and Teachers Know Better Coalition, a broad and diverse group of parents, teachers, business leaders and organizations that care about our children and our schools.

According to the fiscal impact statements, measures 58 and 60 have a combined cost of over $600 million dollars in the first two years alone. Given the size of the price tag, these measures will force deep cuts to Oregon’s schools and take money away from where students need it most – in the classroom.

“Measures 58 and 60 impose a one-size-fits-all approach developed not by educators, or experts, but by Bill Sizemore, who has no experience teaching our children and no experience in the classroom,” said Eugene teacher Abby Lane.

Measures 58 and 60 are being pushed by Bill Sizemore, who a jury found engaged in racketeering, forgery and fraud in the signature gathering process. Sizemore continues to abuse the initiative process and mislead Oregon voters. Sizemore has no background in education, but continues to promote unsuccessful initiatives that try to take away money and control from our local schools.

“The Oregon PTA advocates for all kids. That’s why we’re saying no to Bill Sizemore,” said Portland parent and PTA member Russ Albertson. “We know that if Measure 58 and 60 succeed, Oregon kids won’t succeed.”

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