1. At a regularly scheduled school board meeting, a unanimous vote was necessary to amend the agenda to allow for discussion on Eureka Math. All voted for this change except for the board president. Everyone was upset and board members agreed with parents after the meeting that this was a travesty on the part of the president.
The People, LLC found the board policy regarding the calling of special meetings and informed St. Tammany parents who then pressured the board members until three members called for the meeting.
The Takeaway: Know your school board policies. They will come in handy for more than just an instance such as that one.
2. Some of the board members were clear on the difference between "standards and curriculum" and some weren't. Those board members who were confused believed that parents were asking that the district not follow the standards.
Parents explained many times that they understood that the district, by law, must teach to the standards. Parents further explained that Act 532 gives the district the authority to teach from whatever curriculum, content and methodology that it chooses; and, that any curricula (including traditional math) can be aligned to the standards.
The Takeaway: Be prepared to explain this more than once.
3. The People, LLC called for a motion to be made to eliminate Eureka and replace it with a traditional Math curriculum. At that point, a motion was made to not follow the standards. We then pointed out the error in that motion and called for a motion that actually addressed curriculum rather than standards. At that point, the original motion was withdrawn and a new motion to eliminate Eureka Math was made.
The Takeaway: Be to the point and clear in telling the board what you want them to do. Wording is very important. Write the motion down and read it to them. Heck, hand it to them!
4. The motion to eliminate Eureka Math was substituted. The new motion called for the administration to report back the next week with options for eliminating and replacing Eureka Math. This motion passed.
The Takeaway: This gave the administration time to get a gameplan which would enable them to retain Eureka Math throughout this year. If this happens at your meeting, use that week to formulate your own gameplan based on the Takeaways from St. Tammany.
5. St. Tammany's administration could have returned with any number of options for eliminating Eureka Math. Instead, they chose to offer three:
Option 1: Give teachers the standards and hit the "delete button" to eliminate any suggested resources and supports from the toolbox.
Option 2: Phase out Eureka Math by January 2015 and provide resources and supports for teachers.
Option 3: Phase out Eureka Math by August 2015 and provide resources and supports for teachers while incorporating an "increased emphasis" on traditional Math.
The People, LLC was able to speak to the motion and reminded the board that the administration was not limited to three options. We offered that a 4th option should be considered: Eliminate Eureka Math immediately and continue to provide resources and supports to the teachers as was seen in Option 2 and 3.
The Takeaway: True to the dialectic/concensus process, it was evident from beginning to end that the decision had been made prior to the meeting; and, that the meeting was orchestrated (along with testimony by Teacher Leaders and school administrators) to culminate in the desired result (Option 3).
Have your option ready and give it to your school board members as far in advance of the meeting as possible and let them know you expect their prompt feedback.
Use the public comment period prior to the board discussions (check your school board policy regarding this) to express clearly what desired outcome you expect.
6. The first argument against elimination of Eureka Math was that it is the only Tier 1 curriculum. The second argument is that the students must prepare for the PARCC assessment or the district risks losing funding through failing schools.
The Takeaway: Be prepared to repeatedly drive home the facts to your school board members on these points as far in advance of the meeting as possible, just before the meeting and during the meeting:
--Tier 1 is simply a SUGGESTION.
--Act 532 says the buck stops with the School Board.
--NO ONE knows what is actually on the PARCC or any other high stakes assessment, so NO ONE knows how best to "teach to the test"
--70% of students in the state of New York failed PARCC after using Eureka Math
--Traditional Math (and any other curriculum) can be aligned to the standards
--Since the CC standards are more than 90% the same as the GLEs, curriculum specialists should have no trouble and it should take minimal time and effort on their part to realign their previous curriculum to the standards.
7. It was repeated by the administration several times that teachers will continue to have the option to choose any resources they wish; and, that many would likely continue to choose Eureka Math.
The Takeway: Make it clear that what you are expecting from the board is that they set policy to forbid the use of any discovery/investigative/"new" math curriculum, content or methodology--including Eureka Math.
8. The administration definitely worked to keep Eureka Math as long as possible. They also, obviously, had the upper hand in the discussions given their stature with and access to the board members and their ability to say something is "impossible" with nothing to back it up and still have it carry weight.
In St. Tammany, we witnessed one school board member attempt to make headway in the direction of eliminating Eureka Math only to be loudly and aggressively interrupted and shutdown by the Superintendent. We witnessed at this same time that the board president did nothing to stop the Superintendent who had not been given the floor and was most definitely out of order.
The Takeaway: If you have any school board members who are willing to speak up on behalf of the facts and of getting Eureka Math out of your schools, be ready to address any attempts to shutdown their dialogue.
9. Be ready to be "how dare you'd" and told how they don't get paid or get paid very little and it's easy to sit in the audience and judge but why don't any of you try to sit in their seats and see how easy it is, and blah, blah, blah.
The Takeaway: Remember that, no matter the confusing statements that may be made to the contrary, the buck stops in all school district matters at the School Board. Remind them of this and that the Superintendent and staff work at the pleasure of the board which has the authority to hire and fire any or all of them. Remember and remind them also that the board works at the pleasure of the voters who also have the authority to hire and fire.
Much of what was done in St. Tammany, including the "how dare you's", are tried and true and as-old-as-the-ages techniques of the dialectic process. Recognize them and stand up to them. They can only manipulate you and the process if you allow them to do it.
10. One suggestion by a board member that had strong support from the administration and was, therefore, voted on favorably was to form a task force that will go to the schools and speak to the Teacher Leaders and Administrators in small groups ("so that we won't be subject to the Sunshine Laws") under the guise of giving them a forum to express anything that they may be afraid or uncomfortable to express for fear of reprisals. The task force would be made up of the board members and the administration.
Wow! That should work...
The Takeaway: It was never clear to us if the intention is for the task force to speak to anyone other than Teacher Leaders and Administrators. From the coordinated and unsubstantiated propaganda and heckling of parents/citizens that was on display by the Teacher Leaders and Principals throughout the meeting, we have to conclude that such a task force is a WASTE of time.
When possible at the meeting, it will be very important that you highlight the inconsistencies and lack of evidence in the testimony of Teacher Leaders/Administrators and call them out for their unacceptable behavior.
Considering that the teachers in the trenches whom we know have problems with this curriculum are too afraid for their jobs and their children to speak up, our opinion is that the task force is a WASTE OF time.
It is very important for you to remember that it is the district administration that evaluates the teachers during the school year. This fact cannot be underappreciated when considering such a Task FARCE.
Given that task forces are always formed for the purpose of achieving perceived concensus on an issue where there really is none, our opinion is that the task force is a WASTE OF TIME designed to allow the participating board members and administrators to report back that all is well with Eureka Math and a small group of vocal parents should not be able to change such a popular and viable curriculum.
Special Note: During the special meeting and since, the administration and certain board members have continued the mantra that Act 532 can't be used because it conflicts with other laws. The only laws that have been cited are those that say districts must teach to the standards and must administer the assessment.
Be ready to adamantly require that they provide the laws that are in conflict with Act 532 and to get them to respond to the fact that the two laws alluded to thus far have no conflict with Act 532 whatsoever.
To illustrate the lengths to which the administration was willing to go to get the votes necessary in favor of Option 3, the assistant superintendent read what she referenced as Act 532. There was only one problem: what she read was NOT Act 532.
The People, LLC cleared this up by reading the actual Act and this information actually appeared to be news to several of the board members--as was the fact that the standards have not really changed from the GLEs since CCSS were adopted.
The Takeaway: Have a copy of Act 532 handy and give one to each board member.
Finally, please, know that we will be praying for your success as you take the next steps in wrestling Local, District Control from the hands of the State Dept. of Ed.