The education spectrum from pre-K to universities will be the topic of conversation at an event on campus Monday, Aug. 11. The town hall meeting is being organized by state Rep. Phil Barnhart to discuss ways of reducing k-12 class sizes and making a college degree more accessible and affordable.  

Recognizing the important role funding plays in the development and maintenance of quality education, Jamie Moffitt, UO vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, will join a panel of experts from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Room 175 of the Knight Law Center. Attendees will learn more about education reforms that the legislature made and how Oregon is working to increase opportunities and lower costs for students.

Panelists will also include Chief Education Officer Nancy Golden, Higher Education Coordinating Commission Chairman Tim Nesbitt and Cascade Middle School Teacher Peter Bauer. They will tackle topics including the necessity of reducing K-12 class size and making a college degree more accessible and affordable.

“I am looking forward to participating in the discussion around public education funding,” Moffitt said. “Over the last decade, we have seen students forced to take on larger financial burdens to attend college.  I’m hopeful that there will be opportunities in the coming years for the state to reinvest in higher education, reversing this trend.”