STOP CC: BESE COMMITEE MTG...... WE NEED PEOPLE!!

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ ALL THE INFO BELOW........ KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU SEE "THE END"

PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE ATTENDING THE TUESDAY MEETING OF BESE INSTEAD OF THE WED OCT 16.

COMMON CORE IS ON THE AFTERNOON AGENDA FOR TUESDAY (2:30PM) ...THANKS TO BESE MEMBER LOTTIE BEBE!! Committee meetings will be held all day starting at 8:30 am if you are interested in the entire BESE agenda.

PLEASE ARRIVE BY 1:30PM TO SIGN IN ETC. The committee meeting we want to address ...Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement Committee and the Agenda Item # is 2.3 . The meeting could start as early as 2pm although it is SCHEDULED for 2:30pm.

Claiborne Building
Room 1-100, The Louisiana Purchase Room
1201 N. Third Street, Baton Rouge, 70802
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
2:30 p.m.

(Notice: This meeting may be convened up to 30 minutes prior to the posted schedule to facilitate the orderly conduct of business)

PLEASE PLAN TO BE AT THIS MEETING TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT WE WANT CCSSI OUT OF LOUISIANA. Even if you do not wish to speak...we can use moral support and your presence!!

Here are some excellent hints and points on decorum for these public meetings from Lee Barios (who goes to every BESE meeting!)

I have some suggestions regarding conduct at public meetings of which I have lots of experience. Specifically regarding school board and BESE meetings.

1. It is most important and effective to have a clear, concise, HARD hitting message that can be delivered in 3minutes. The law provides for public meetings to make their rules. As long as they follow the law they are within their rights.
2. Take every opportunity to speak. School bd offers 3 minutes at beginning if the meeting or 5 if you apply before noon Monday before the Thursday meeting. Then you can address each agenda item that fits your argument w 3more minutes.
3. BESE publishes their agenda several days in advance of the meeting. There are many, many agenda items that we could address. I speak to every single item that I can.
4. Remember that we cannot substitute all the other opportunities we have for a voice by attempting to co-opt a meeting. Letters, phone calls, emails, radio shows, appointments with legislators and policymakers. Get your message out there.
5. An attack can take various forms (I can't help but throw in jabs at White by referring to him as wholly unqualified for his position etc) but it's the issue that needs to be attacked rather than the person if you want your message to resonate with the public. Remember that unfortunately with BESE they are not the audience you will effectively reach. It's the public listening and the press.
6. I have never seen a BESE meeting that had a disruptive crowd so I don't know how they would handle that. I have seen numerous videos of John White in NYC sit there as parents and teachers railed w the audience yelling etc and his tactic was to wait it out. I have also seen meetings shut down and the panel walk away. Neither of these gives each and every one of us opportunity to speak. There is strength in numbers. Knowledge is power. Believe me Most members of the BESE board know nothing. The data sharing issue came to a head when I gave proof that White had signed on w inBloom, had signed an MOU with CREDO to share student data and the board saw he was lying and they knew nothing about it. To say you don't like the curriculum does not compare to proof/examples of bad curriculum. Handouts are effective to support your position. Ask a direct question (not rhetorical)? They may or may not answer. I have seen White engaged in a "debate" by a member of the public and it is effective in that it reveals his true intent or exposes lies.
7. If nothing else, a good solid accurate statement that gets the audience attention (and the press) is most effective. Put a question in the mind if the public. "Why are you asking BESE to approve a million dollar contract with TFA when certified teachers are being laid off?" "lSU graduated 154 certified teachers in June. Why aren't you reaching out to them at virtually no cost?"
   While I would love to see an insurrection and would personally love to be carted off to jail for exercising my constitutional rights, I want to be within the law and viewed by the public as a credible, professional expert in the process."
   If hundreds show up to testify, BESE will make an attempt to limit your speech. THAT is an opportunity to put your foot down. Trouble is, only a handful show up and show up consistently.
   Thanks.
   Lee P. Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT

THE END !!!!!