THE CARGILL CONNECTION, November
2005
Dear Friends
and Supporters,
Greetings to
you all!
I hope that you had a fun
and safe Halloween with your children. Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast
approaching! We will drive to Memphis to be with my parents for
Thanksgiving, and we look forward to spending time with family and friends.
The
purpose of this month’s newsletter is two-fold: to let you know what
happened at our one-day State Board meeting in October and to tell you what
is on the agenda for our three-day meeting in November. So here we go!
FOLLOW-UP TO THE OCTOBER SBOE
MEETING:
A few highlights…
-
Textbook Resolution:
The Board
discussed our commitment to provide funding for and delivery of
error-free, content-rich material to the schoolchildren of Texas. The
resolution that stated the Board’s commitment was sent to the Texas
Legislature.
-
Proposed Selection of Open-Enrollment Charter Schools:
The Planning Committee
(of which I am a member) recommended the granting of specific charters.
Thirteen charters were granted to well deserving applicants from across
the state. (I wish these new charter
holders the very best as they work diligently over the next year to open
their new schools!)
-
Proposed Amendments to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for
Mathematics, Elementary:
This item presented
proposed amendments to the state curriculum for elementary math. This was
the second reading and final adoption.
-
Proposed Amendment to Assessment, Development, and Administration of
Tests: Performance Standards:
The SBOE
passed a three-year phase-in for the Grade 8 Science TAKS test.
Chris Comer, the Director
of Science for TEA explains the scale this way:
For
2005-2006: Met Standard will be
about 27 out of 50 items; ALL TAKS Tests will be released after
administration and scoring; TAKS-I goes into effect for students at or
slightly below grade level if determined by ARD and part of the IEP for that
student; Next academic school year:
2006-2007: Met Standard will be about 30 out of 50 items; In
2007-2008: Met Standard will be
about 33 out of 50 items at a scale score of 2100.
(This is also the year that the state
accountability system will start to incorporate the Grade 8 science test
results.
I know
this can be a bit confusing. Let me know if you have any questions.)
ON THE NOVEMBER SBOE MEETING AGENDA:
Here is a description of some of the
issues that are on the agenda for our meeting in Austin on November 16-18.
1.
Discussion of Technology and Instructional Materials:
This item gives the board the opportunity to discuss instructional materials
and the impact of technology: history of technology and education, the
Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for
Technology, 1996-2010 publication, the process for a twice yearly
review and adoption cycle, hardware and laptops defined as “content,” and
other appropriate issues. A presentation on technology in the classroom is
scheduled. (Side note:
I have been going to school districts to
see how they use technology in the classroom. It has been a terrific
educational experience, and I am impressed with the things that teachers and
students are doing! Visiting classrooms has given me a bird’s eye view
about the impact of technology on our students. I would like to continue
learning, so please invite me to see how you are using technology in your
school or district by e-mailing
sboe@barbaracargill.com or call 281-465-8095. This is so important for
our schoolchildren!)
2.
Review of Membership and Participation in the National Association of State
Boards of Education (NASBE): This item presents the board with the
opportunity to review continued membership in and guidelines for State Board
of Education participation in the National Association of State Boards of
Education (NASBE).
3.
Proclamation 2005 of the State Board of
Education Advertising for Bids on Instructional Materials:
Proclamation 2005 advertises for bids on new instructional materials to be
used by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools beginning in
school year 2008-2009. Subjects and grade levels proposed include
kindergarten learning systems, all subjects, Mathematics, Grades 1-5 and
Mathematics (Spanish), Grades 1-5.
4.
Discussion of Proposed Amendment to
Assessment, Development and Administration of Tests, Schedule:
Senate Bill 658 passed by the 79th Texas Legislature requires the
SBOE by rule to prohibit participation in a University Interscholastic
League area, regional, or state competition during the school week in which
the primary administration of assessment instruments occurs. This item
allows board members to discuss the proposed amendments to Assessment,
Development and Administration of Tests, and Schedule.
5.
Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 66,
State Adoption and Distribution of Instructional Materials: At the
September 2004 SBOE meeting, the Chair announced the formation of an ad hoc
committee on textbooks. The committee discussed numerous proposed changes
in General Provisions, State Adoption of Instructional Materials, and Local
Operations. This item will provide members an opportunity to discuss needed
amendments, including changes needed to implement recent legislation.
6.
Discussion of Teacher Shortage Report:
This item provides board members the opportunity to discuss the report
provided annually to the U.S. Department of Education regarding teacher
shortage areas in Texas.
ACTION ITEMS:
*November
8th is a very important day
for voters in Texas. Nine amendments, including the marriage amendment,
will be voted on. Please take the time to go vote
FOR the Marriage Amendment and
encourage your friends to do the same.
Election Day
--
November 8, 2005
– Marriage Amendment (Proposition 2 -- HJR 6) to the Texas Constitution.
Polls open from 7:00 A. M. to 7:00 P. M.
I received the following information and thought you would benefit from
reading it as well.
Why are we voting in November?
The Texas
Constitution provides that the legislature, by a two-thirds vote of all
members of each house, may propose amendments revising the constitution and
that proposed amendments must then be submitted for approval to the
qualified voters of the state. For an official analysis of all 9 amendments,
go to
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/analyses05/analyses05.pdf .
One of these
proposed constitutional amendments reads as
follows:
"The constitutional amendment providing
that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one
woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state
from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to
marriage."
There can be no compromise on the sanctity of traditional marriage in the
State of Texas!
Representative Dan Flynn (District 2) wisely puts it this way:
The consideration should center on the fact that since the beginning of time
marriage is the foundation of society. Same-sex families deny children
either their mother or their father. Same sex-families would be an untested
social experiment with children. Schools would be forced to teach that the
homosexual family is normal. Churches would be legally pressured to perform
same-sex ceremonies. Where does it stop? How then does the law say ‘no’ to
group marriages for example? This proposition is on the ballot because over
two thirds of the Texas Legislature agreed with the majority of Texans that
an experiment against nature's law is not a worthy experiment and the need
now exists to add this definition to the Texas Constitution.
The editorial used the argument that because the divorce rate in Texas is
high that somehow this is justifiable. Using this argument could conclude
that the author would choose to eliminate speed limits from Texas highways
because some motorist drive over the limits. Are we ready to do this?
Proposition 2 will protect traditional marriage from court decisions that
strike down state laws defining marriage being between one man and one
woman. Opponents of traditional marriage cannot win legislatively, because
the majority of Americans and Texans support marriage between one man and
one woman. Those who want to redefine marriage are using the courts and
activist judges to achieve their goals. Passage of this amendment will
prevent that from happening.
Bill Crocker, our Republican National Committeeman for Texas, says the
following, “The
stakes are huge.
Texas has the biggest conservative image in the country.
If our state
rejects the Marriage Amendment or adopts it by a very
small majority,
the movement to preserve the institution of marriage as the union of
one man
and one woman may be dead in the
United
States.
Then our culture will be compelled to suffer the consequences of
everything from “gay marriage” to polygamy, and beyond.
Please do everything in your power to encourage every person who supports
the Marriage Amendment to be sure to
Vote For Proposition 2, and encourage those people to urge
everyone else they know who supports the Marriage Amendment to
Vote For Proposition 2,
also.”
An excellent
website with additional resources:
http://www.texansformarriage.org/ .
Sample
Ballot - http://www.texansformarriage.org/SammpleBallot.pdf
Free Voters'
Guides
http://www.freemarket.org/portal/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=165&op=page&SubMenu=
OTHER
HAPPENINGS:
*
It has been
so enjoyable to visit the wonderful constituents of District 8. Upcoming
events include a December 8th visit to San Augustine where I will
present “T Time: TAKS, TEKS, TEXTS, and TECH!” County Chair Donald Baum is
kindly inviting folks from surrounding counties to attend. We hope to see
you there!
Please send
an e-mail to
sboe@barbaracargill.com or call 281-465-8095 if you would like me to
visit your school, club meeting, or event.
*It
was a pleasure to speak to several hundred members of the Texas Science
Education Leadership Association in Houston on October 26th.
These science supervisors and teachers are working diligently to make
science education in Texas the best it can be, and I thank them for their
hard work and dedication. Also, it was very nice speaking to the Montgomery
County Republican Women on October 27th. This is my “home” club
and the members have been supportive and encouraging—what a blessing!
*As mentioned in previous
newsletters, I have been nominating teachers to serve on various committees
with the Texas Education Agency. Following their work time in Austin, the
teachers share a brief description of their experience with me. In this
month’s newsletter we will hear from Olive Moore, teacher extraordinaire at
David Elementary in Conroe ISD and from Kathy Stephens who is also doing
great things to educate students at LeTourneau University in Longview. Both
ladies serve on working panels that are revising the English/Language Arts
TEKS (the state curriculum); their time and expertise is much needed and
appreciated!
From Olive Moore:
Hurricane Rita didn't stop progress from continuing in Austin as educators
from across the state met to begin the revision/realignment process
for the reading/language arts TEKS. After a brief Friday evening session
where participants were welcomed by state officials, questions were
answered and the direction of the weekend was mapped out. Early
Saturday morning committee members met in small focus groups to work
primarily on the revision process for each individual grade level.
The afternoon session was devoted to reviewing the alignment of the
TEKS across grade levels and included the incorporation of ESL.
Discussion was lively and much was accomplished. Because of the
complexity and depth of this assignment, the committee will continue their
work via satellite hook-up and e-mail until it is completed. (Hurray for
21st century technology!) Once the first draft is
finished, teachers from across the state will be given an opportunity
to review the committee's work and provide their input by way of
an internet survey. All in all, it was a highly productive and
enlightening day.
From Kathy
Stephens:
I really enjoyed working with the group to realign the ELA TEKS!
While it was a very fast day, I enjoyed the process. I think it
will be a good document after some additional work. I was a bit
concerned about one area of third and fourth grade - the reading
fluency rates but I did express my misgivings and they were recorded.
Thank you again for this opportunity. I will be eager
to see the final product. If there is anything else that I can
do to help in the process of updating the TEKS, please let me
know.
***********************************************************************
As
Thanksgiving approaches I want to say a huge
THANK YOU for your support, encouragement, and confidence in me to
represent you and your children on the State Board of Education. I do not
take that role lightly and will continue to do my best to serve you well.
May God
bless you over the Thanksgiving holidays as you spend time with family and
friends!
Barbara
Cargill
State Board of Education, District 8
281-465-8095,
www.barbaracargill.com
Please
feel free to forward this e-mail to other people who have an interest in
education.
