Capitol rally urges boards for blind, deaf schools

From: Salem Statesman Journal - Salem,OR,USA - May 6, 2007

Courtney backs bills based on Washington model

RUTH LIAO
Statesman Journal
May 6, 2007

Advocates for the deaf and blind communities rallied on Saturday to garner support for a Senate bill that would create independent school boards for the Oregon School for the Blind and Oregon School for the Deaf.

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who backs the bill, appeared at the rally, held at the west side of the state Capitol. Courtney said the rally demonstrated the group's efforts to provide a legislative branch to the state schools.

"All you're trying to do is give a voice to these children and their education," he told the crowd of 20 to 30 people.

Senate Bill 757 and its companion bill, House Bill 3334, are both pending in the Legislature.

Rallygoers also oppose a recent proposal to merge the two schools. The Oregon Department of Education, the state agency that oversees the schools, released a study March 6 that considered combining the Oregon School for the Deaf and Oregon School for the Blind into one Salem-area location.

Rally leader Art Stevenson encouraged participants to contact members of the joint Ways and Means Committee, where Senate Bill 757 is being considered. Stevenson, a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, urged that Oregon schools modeled after those Washington state, which he said provides a stronger academic program for the blind.

Margi Morgan, president of Oregon Association of the Deaf, said the Senate bill considers the needs of the students' education and safety. Morgan believes oversight from an independent board would bring a stronger focus to the special schools.

Legislation to change control of the state schools followed an incident at the deaf school in December. Oregon School for the Deaf Director Jane Mulholland was abruptly dismissed by state officials, stirring an outcry in the deaf community.

Elizabeth Rousseau-Rooney, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, came to Salem from Oregon City on Saturday. Rousseau-Rooney urged individuals to spread awareness about the state schools.

"Whether we speak with our hearts, our eyes, or speak with our hands," Rousseau-Rooney said. "It's really important to get our message out there."

rliao@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6941

What's at issue:

Senate Bill 757 and House Bill 3334 are pending in the Oregon Legislature to create independent school boards for the Oregon School for the Deaf and Oregon School for the Blind. See this story at StatesmanJournal.com for a link to the Legislature's bill finder, where you can read the text of the bills.

©2007 StatesmanJournal.com