Intermediate Unit 1 hosted its 2nd Annual Legislative Forum on May 21, 2025, at the IU1 McMurray Campus, bringing together students, school leaders, and legislators from Fayette, Greene, and Washington Counties for a powerful day of conversation focused on the future of education in Pennsylvania.
Students from Bentworth, California, Fort Cherry, and the IU1 McMurray Campus led the morning session by presenting pre-prepared questions directly to a panel of legislators. Participating lawmakers included Representative Bud Cook, Representative Joshua Kail, and Representative Jason Ortitay, along with staff from the offices of Representative Tim O’Neal and Senator Pat Stefano. The student-led dialogue covered topics such as school safety, mental health support, access to broadband and technology, and the direction of education in rural communities. Legislators responded in real time, creating an engaging and respectful exchange of ideas.
Following the student session, superintendents from across the tri-county region addressed the panel with questions on issues such as fair funding, school choice, and cyber charter school funding and restructuring. These conversations added depth to the forum, reflecting the challenges and opportunities school leaders face across the region.
Lunch was prepared and served by the culinary students from Western Area Career & Technology Center, and the day concluded with a debrief session led by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), offering legislative updates and advocacy resources to attendees.
IU1 extends its sincere thanks to the students, school administrators, legislators, and partners who helped make the event a success. The forum highlighted the importance of creating space for student voices in policy conversations and affirmed the value of collaboration across all levels of the education community.
