From the United Arts of Central Florida group on Facebook:

Now is the time to let members of the Orange County Public School Board know that arts education matters for our children and should be maintained even in difficult financial circumstances. Over the next five weeks, each school board member will hold a town hall meeting in their district to discuss funding challenges in light of next year's projected shortfall in state revenue.

Please remind them that it's essential to maintain arts and music specialists in the schools, and let them know that the curriculum-based extended learning experiences our children receive through local arts organizations contribute to academic success.

Whether you're a parent interested in providing your children with a first-class education, an artist or arts organization working to share the creativity and history of your art form and build future audiences, or a community member who recognizes that arts education helps develop the future innovators and creators in business, medicine, the humanities and other fields that will continue to make Central Florida a vital and thriving region - please act now.

Ask Orange County Public School Board members to continue to support arts education for our students!

Town hall meetings will be from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m

Mon. 2/2/09 - District 7 - Christine Moore
Apopka Middle Auditorium, 425 N. Park Ave, Apopka

Thurs. 2/5/09 - District 5 - Kat Gordon
ELC, Downtown Board Room, 445 W. Amelia St., Orlando

Wed. 2/11/09 - District 3 - Rick Roach
Pine Castle Elementary Auditorium, 905 Waltham Ave., Orlando

Thurs. 2/12/09 - District 4 - Vicky Bell
Hunters Creek Middle Cafeteria, 13400 Town Loop Blvd., Orlando

Wed. 2/18/09 - District 2 - Daryl Flynn
Legacy Middle Media Center, 11398 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando

Thurs. 2/19/09 - District 1 - Joie Cadle
Union Park Middle Café, 1844 Westfall Drive, Orlando

Mon. 2/23/09 - District 6 - Nancy Robbinson
Lee Middle Cafeteria, 1201 Maury Road, Orlando

Wed. 3/4/09 - District 4 & 7 - Vicky Bell & Christine Moore
West Orange High, 1625 Beulah Road, Winter Garden

As always, thank you for your advocacy efforts. Your voice does make a difference.

Margot H. Knight
President & CEO

Minda Logan
Director of Grants & Government Affairs