Welcome to another edition of Northeast Notes! I want to congratulate five Northeast Philadelphia schools that were just identified as high-achieving schools by the School District of Philadelphia. Watson Comly School, Stephen Decatur School, Anne Frank School, William Loesche School and Robert Pollock School were identified as “Vanguard” schools for meeting various performance criteria set by the school district and community partners. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the schools’ principals, teachers, students and their parents, and I congratulate them for consistently achieving their goals. They are setting a great example for the entire school district and they are demonstrating that our public schools are doing great things. Keep up the good work!

For all the latest news, stay in touch with me on the Internet through my Web site, on Facebook (search “Senator Mike Stack”) and on Twitter@SenMikeStack.
 

Honoring a Local American Hero

Sen. Christine Tartaglione and I had the privilege of welcoming a local soldier to the Capitol. We were honored on Jan. 26 to present Mayfair resident Sgt. Patrick Hamill with a Senate citation thanking him for his service to our country and for his courageous efforts to advance stability in Iraq.

Hamill, 30, a member of the 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, completed three tours of duty in Iraq and returned to his career at home as a state trooper last month.

Sgt. Hamill is a true hero. He has made tremendous sacrifices, not once, but three times so that the people of Iraq may achieve peace and stability in their country. He put his life on the line every day, and plans to continue a similar commitment in Pennsylvania as a state trooper. He’s simply a remarkably selfless individual.

Let us all remember to keep the men and women who are still on active duty overseas in our thoughts and prayers. They are all making tremendous sacrifices to defend our freedom and I’m grateful for their service.

Sgt. Patrick Hamill (center) receives a Senate citation from
Sen. Mike Stack and Sen. Christine Tartaglione.
 

Stack, Colleagues Form Law Enforcement Officers Caucus

I’m proud to be a member of a newly formed Senate caucus that focuses on the health and safety of law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania.

I’m joining Sens. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery/Berks/Chester), Sean Logan (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and Jane Orie (R-Allegheny/Butler) in the Law Enforcement Officers Caucus. The caucus will work on legislation aimed at benefitting state and local officers and will serve as a mutual legislative contact for the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police.

The number of police officers killed in the line of duty was actually down nationally in 2009; however there was a 23 percent increase in the number of officers killed by gunfire, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Our officers put their lives on the line every day to keep criminals off the streets and enforce the law, so I’m outraged to know that violence against police officers is on the rise. We must do something to reverse this trend.

I look forward to working on good policy that helps protect the men and women who serve and protect us every day.

Sen. Stack was recently honored by the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 5 in Philadelphia,
for his “dedicated support for law enforcement officers in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth.” Pictured from Left to Right: John McNesby, President, FOP Lodge No. 5, Sen.
Mike Stack, and Gene Blagmond, Government and Political Affairs Director, FOP Lodge No. 5.
 

Students: Get a Head Start on Financial Aid

High school seniors and others who wish to attend college this fall should begin the financial aid application process now.

Financial aid makes higher education possible and affordable for a number of students. Many families are struggling in today’s troubled economy, making it even more important for students to apply for financial aid.

The deadline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for a Pennsylvania State Grant is May 1, but students can begin filing applications now.

The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for almost all forms of need-based financial aid, including the Pennsylvania State Grant, federal Pell Grant, many scholarships and institutional awards and low-cost student loans.

Getting a head start on financial aid applications helps reduce some of the stress and chaos high school seniors and their families often face throughout the spring.
Families can access the 2010-11 FAFSA and seek assistance completing the FAFSA online.