Newton County Board of Education District Four representative Almond Turner has been selected to represent both Newton County and the state of Georgia at the Federal Relations Network Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 5-7. Turner will attend with other school board members from across the United States. He was nominated by Georgia School Board Association Fourth District Director, Mrs. Katrina Young, and approved by the GSBA District Directors.

According to Jeanette Shelnutt, GSBA Administrative Assistant, 23 school board members from Georgia's 13 congressional districts are attending the Federal Relations Network Conference.

"We will speak as a group to members of congress and their staff concerning legislative issues that affect all school board districts across this nation," said Turner. "The Georgia Delegation will coordinate strategy sessions to compile information that will be presented to our senators and congressmen when we meet with them on Capitol Hill."

While at the conference, Turner also intends to hand-deliver a letter and information on the Newton County School System to Congressmen Austin Scott and Robert Woodall, who represent Newton County in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as Georgia U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss.

"I feel it is very important that we have the opportunity for someone from our school district to play an active role in discussing the needs of Newton County with those at the state and federal levels," said Turner. "It is indeed an honor to be able to meet with other school districts across the country in an effort to have constructive dialogue and gain knowledge as to how federal legislation and policies impact our district. In addition, we will let the concerns of Newton County be heard in Washington."

"Elected officials in Washington are recipients of vast amounts of information presented in writing and in person," said Zenda Bowie, GSBA Director of Field Services. "It's important for representatives from school boards to be able to address our elected officials with the real story of the impact of federal legislation on education in Georgia. We are competing for their attention and their focus."