Press Advisory
From the Office of
State Representative
Gale D. Candaras


April 11, 2002
Contact: Kathy Mitchell: 413.599.4785

CANDARAS AND LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTE TO HOST EDUCATION HEARING AT WNEC

Springfield – State Representative Gale D. Candaras (D-Wilbraham) announce today that the Legislative Joint Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 10, 2003, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Western New England College, Room 100, Sleith Hall. The Education Committee will hear public testimony regarding 29 bills relating to personnel matters for teachers and regulations concerning the teacher certification and licensure process. The event is open to the public.

State Representative Gale D. Candaras (D-Wilbraham), was instrumental in coordinating the event for the Western New England College School of Law’s Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs. “I am pleased that education professionals and other interested individuals will have an opportunity to testify on these bills here in western Massachusetts on Thursday, April 10th,”said Candaras.

“This upcoming hearing will be an opportunity for all western Massachusetts residents and educators in the field to express their opinions on issues that impact their everyday lives and their students. As Speaker of the House Thomas M. Finneran has noted, the Legislature needs to be visible in all parts of the Commonwealth,” Candaras concluded.

Western New England College School of Law’s Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs was established in the spring of 2000. Its purpose was to provide opportunities to its students to participate in activities relating to the legislative process. One of the Institute’s goals was to bring live action policy making to Western Massachusetts by hosting Legislative Committee hearings.

“One of the goals of the Legislative Institute is to bring committees of the General Court here to Western Massachusetts,” stated Professor Art Wolf, Director of the School of Law’s Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs. “Holding legislative hearings in Springfield gives our students and other residents of the four counties in Western Massachusetts the opportunity to observe the workings of our Legislature and to participate as witnesses in the hearings. The presence of the Committees also gives area voters and residents, together with our students, the chance to meet and speak with members of the Legislature,” Director Wolf observed.

For further information regarding the Education Committee’s hearing on Thursday, April 10th please contact the office of State Representative Gale D. Candaras. The telephone number is (413) 599-4785.