The South County Blue Tiger Community Action Committee and the Michigan Education Association hosts an education townhall meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Niles Senior Center, 1109 Bell Rd. in Niles.

Discussion will focus public education funding and the affects of recent legislation upon schools. This forum is open to the general public and all opinions are welcome.

A panel of experts includes a bipartisan group of state legislators and state and local level education officials who will speak on a variety of education related topics followed by audience questions.

Panelists include Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, Sen. Coleman Young II, D-Detroit, Rep. Ellen Cogen-Lipton, D-Huntington Woods, Rep. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, Gary Miron, a professor of education at Western Michigan University, and Jack Arbanas, a community leader.