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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Democratic Policy Committee | State Rep. Jake Wheatley D-Allegheny Hearing Co-Chairman |
MEDIA ADVISORY
Democratic Policy Committee to hold public hearing
on school vouchers Wednesday in Pittsburgh
HARRISBURG, March 22 – House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, announced today that the committee will hold a public hearing on school vouchers in Pennsylvania from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 23 in the Kurtzman Room at the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Union Building, 3959 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh.
State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, who serves on the House Education Committee, will co-chair the hearing.
The current hearing agenda is:
- 9 a.m. – Welcome and opening remarks
- 9:10 a.m. – Panel one:
Ø Ira Weiss, solicitor, School District of Pittsburgh
Ø John Tarka, president, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
Ø Marianne Neel, president, Pennsylvania School Board Association
Ø Dr. Ronald Sofo, superintendent, Freedom Area School District
- 9:50 a.m. – Panel two:
Ø Dawn Chavous, executive director, Students First
Ø Randall Taylor, former member, Pittsburgh City School Board
Ø Otto Banks, executive director, REACH Alliance and Foundation
- 10:10 a.m. – Panel three:
Ø Phillip Murren, attorney, Ball, Murren & Connell
Ø Matthew Brouillette, president, Commonwealth Foundation
- 10:30 a.m. – Panel four:
Ø Sandra Zelno, school reform associate, Education Law Center
Ø Sara Rose, staff attorney, ACLU of Pennsylvania
Ø Shauna D'Alessandro, education committee member, PA State Conference of NAACP Branches
Ø Lynn Foltz, member, PA State Conference of NAACP Branches
Ø Christine Stone, state public affairs chairwoman, National Council of Jewish Women Inc.
- 11:10 a.m. – Panel five:
Ø Dr. Ronald Bowes, superintendent for public policy and development, Diocese of Pittsburgh
Ø Sean Berger, student, North Catholic High School
Ø Sam Siple, president, Eden Christian Academy
Ø Miriam Hixon, parent, Penn Christian Academy
Ø Dan Kraut, CEO, Hillel School
- 11:50 a.m. – Closing remarks
The hearing is open to the public and media coverage is invited.