Take Action
The best way to increase funding for our schools is to contact our elected officials and candidates. With the primary elections coming up in NJ on June 10, this is a valuable opportunity to make our voices heard.
Use these templates to reach out—personalize them to make your message more impactful. If you don't know what to say or add, consider using AI tools to help refine your message while maintaining its core points.
While each of us has our own story and concerns, we share a common goal: ensuring our schools have the resources they need to provide quality education for all West Orange students.
Why Individual Outreach is Powerful:
- Elected officials pay special attention to personal messages from their constituents
- Your unique perspective as a parent adds authenticity to our cause
- Multiple personalized messages show the depth of community concern
- Your story helps make the impact of funding cuts real and tangible
The Power of Unified Messaging:
- While we encourage personalization, maintaining our core message ensures consistency
- Our shared key points demonstrate community-wide priorities
- Unified messaging shows we're organized and focused
- It helps elected officials understand exactly what we're asking for
By using these templates as a foundation and adding your personal touch, you're contributing to a powerful, coordinated effort that combines individual voices with unified purpose. Together, we can make a stronger impact than any of us could alone.
Filling out your information here will automatically personalize all email templates and the phone script. This saves you time and ensures consistency across your communications. Your information is only used locally in your browser and is not stored anywhere.
Using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude can help make your message more personal and engaging. Elected officials receive many form letters, but a personalized message that reflects your unique voice and experiences is more likely to get their attention and prompt a meaningful response.
Here's a sample prompt you can use to personalize your message:
"Please help me personalize this letter to my elected official. I'm a [your role, e.g., parent of two elementary school students] in West Orange. I'm particularly concerned about [specific issue, e.g., increasing class sizes at my children's school]. Please maintain the key points about state aid and funding, but adjust the tone to be more [desired tone, e.g., urgent and personal] and include specific examples of how these cuts affect my family. Keep it professional but make it more engaging and authentic to my voice."
When using AI tools to personalize your message:
- Keep the core message and key points intact
- Ask the AI to adjust the tone while maintaining professionalism
- Request specific examples or data points to strengthen your argument
- Have the AI help you adapt the message for different audiences
- Always review and edit the AI's suggestions before sending
Contact Your Elected Officials
Assembly Members
Note: Both Assemblymember Collazos-Gill and Assemblymember Bagolie are up for re-election in the June 10 primary.
Assemblymember Rosy Bagolie
On the Financial Institutions & Insurance and Education Committees
Former Principal, Superintendent, and Chief School Administrator of the East Newark School District
Assembly Member Alixon Collazos-Gill
State Senator
Senator John McKeon
Former Mayor of West Orange
Phone Script
Assemblymember Rosy Bagolie: (973) 535-5017
Assemblymember Alixon Collazos-Gill: (973) 509-0388
State Senator John Mckeon: (862) 930-7071
Tips for an effective phone call
Prepare for verification
Staff may ask for your address to verify you're a constituent.
Be prepared for follow-up questions
A staffer may ask: "Which specific bill or proposal are you referencing?" or "Have you spoken with your Board of Education?" Know the basics: cite general fund shortfall, we've hit the tax cap, and recent BOE budget cuts.
Stay concise but personal
If an aide asks for personal impact, share a short detail: "My child's class is going to increase in size, and I'm worried about the quality of education they'll receive." Personal stakes make your call more memorable.
Anticipate voicemail scenarios
If you reach voicemail, leave your full script: name, address (to confirm district), the three asks, and request a call-back or email confirmation. Speak slowly and repeat your number.
Ask for a direct follow-up
End with: "We hope [Assemblymember/Senator Name] will take a stand and work with families like ours to protect public education in West Orange. Thank you for your time—may I get an email address or anticipate a response?" This prompts staff to note your request and get back to you.
Log the day and time of your call
Right after hanging up, jot down who you spoke to, their title (e.g., "Legislative Aide Jenna Smith"), and any commit/next-steps they mentioned. That record helps you follow up if you don't hear back in a week or two.
Follow up in writing
Send an email reiterating the same script. Attach any additional links or articles about the cuts to strengthen your case. Written correspondence reinforces that phone call.
Contact Other Officials & Candidates
Use the dropdown below to select a state official or candidate. The email and phone fields will update automatically. Personalize your message for greater impact!