Resources to help fight in the school board wars?
May 10, 2023 12:09 PM Subscribe
My local school district was recently taken over by an extremist board and they seem to be running the same playbook that's taken place nationally. What should I be reading to stay informed of general tactics and counter-arguments?
The new majority gained momentum by drumming up opposition to masking and vaccine mandates and now that they have control of the board of trustees they've fired our superintendent, started "curriculum audits" and reviews of any program that mention DEI, SEL, or social justice. Administrators are retiring, principals are leaving for other districts, and the new board is just getting started. There's also a large push for charter expansion, including a local charter that's affiliated with the Hillsdale college charter curriculum. There's an effort to get a recall election on the ballot that will hopefully be successful.
I'm looking for resources that will help me understand what they may do next, the national thought leaders driving their arguments and what they're based on, and arguments to counter them when talking to the local community. Since a lot of their rhetoric is based on Christian nationalism, I'm particularly interested in folks in the christian community that are pushing back on this.
I want to help shut this down now with a successful recall so we don't end up like the Woodland Park, CO district that's getting a lot of press recently.
The new majority gained momentum by drumming up opposition to masking and vaccine mandates and now that they have control of the board of trustees they've fired our superintendent, started "curriculum audits" and reviews of any program that mention DEI, SEL, or social justice. Administrators are retiring, principals are leaving for other districts, and the new board is just getting started. There's also a large push for charter expansion, including a local charter that's affiliated with the Hillsdale college charter curriculum. There's an effort to get a recall election on the ballot that will hopefully be successful.
I'm looking for resources that will help me understand what they may do next, the national thought leaders driving their arguments and what they're based on, and arguments to counter them when talking to the local community. Since a lot of their rhetoric is based on Christian nationalism, I'm particularly interested in folks in the christian community that are pushing back on this.
I want to help shut this down now with a successful recall so we don't end up like the Woodland Park, CO district that's getting a lot of press recently.
Become well-versed with your state's public/open meetings laws.
School boards--even the non-extremist ones--love to violate them and it can provide a opening for your state's attorney general to get involved.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:30 PM on May 10, 2023 [22 favorites]
School boards--even the non-extremist ones--love to violate them and it can provide a opening for your state's attorney general to get involved.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:30 PM on May 10, 2023 [22 favorites]
You have to run your own candidates. That’s pretty much the play. Short of that, make sure that open meetings laws are followed and look into what other procedural rights may exist.
posted by haptic_avenger at 12:35 PM on May 10, 2023 [26 favorites]
posted by haptic_avenger at 12:35 PM on May 10, 2023 [26 favorites]
To the point of the recall - I think you need to focus on being proactive and not reactive. You say they got elected on the strength of covid policies but don’t make the mistake of believing that there are not parents who opposed school closure/masks/mandates, but support diversity etc. Don’t paint everyone with a broad brush. A conversation about how “schools thrive best with academic freedom” would probably go over better than focusing on masks or closed schools.
posted by haptic_avenger at 12:40 PM on May 10, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by haptic_avenger at 12:40 PM on May 10, 2023 [7 favorites]
Find other people locally -- perhaps LGBTQ parent groups? -- who are also organizing locally and combine forces.
And yes, the time is now to get ready to run against every single one of these candidates. Recruit and train. You have time. You have neighbors who are also upset about this. And you have a local political scene that probably has a lot of this information already.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:41 PM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
And yes, the time is now to get ready to run against every single one of these candidates. Recruit and train. You have time. You have neighbors who are also upset about this. And you have a local political scene that probably has a lot of this information already.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:41 PM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: This is all super helpful! We've got candidates to run, have filed the recall paperwork already, and they only won the majority by 200 votes after outspending the incumbents by 20:1 thanks to charter PAC dollars. We're not planning on focusing on COVID. That's in the past, schools are open, there's no mask or vaccine mandate, and it has no real impact on what's going on now. The new majority is also currently facing two separate lawsuits for brown act violations (CA's public meeting law).
I'm not particularly concerned about the local organizing aspect of it. We've got that well in hand. I'm looking more for resources for my understanding to get a better handle of the pro/anti-CRT arguments, christian thought leadership to counter 7 mountains dominionism, pro/anti-social emotional learning resources, etc. Books to read? Social media folks to follow? Podcasts on similar fights like the School Board Wars podcast that went over the fight in Central Bucks.
posted by Arbac at 12:56 PM on May 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
I'm not particularly concerned about the local organizing aspect of it. We've got that well in hand. I'm looking more for resources for my understanding to get a better handle of the pro/anti-CRT arguments, christian thought leadership to counter 7 mountains dominionism, pro/anti-social emotional learning resources, etc. Books to read? Social media folks to follow? Podcasts on similar fights like the School Board Wars podcast that went over the fight in Central Bucks.
posted by Arbac at 12:56 PM on May 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
Do you want those resources for yourself, or for the recall? I guess what I'd say is that the more you can take this fight out of the culture wars and focus on schools and "good government," the better.
I was recently involved in a very local recall, and I was surprised to find that most people were less interested in the substantive issue than the fact that our opponents were using the elected body to create chaos rather than fight for the common good. People are generally tolerant of differences in substantive opinion, but not tolerant of people who are using public office to undermine public works. Even though the other side was outright lying about the substantive issues, what voters actually cared about was that the other side were ineffective and mean-spirited, whereas "my" side were hard-working and made a huge and sincere effort to help the community. At the end of the day they cared less about the issues and more about the sense that the representative was trying to do the right thing, and, you know, actually represent them. I hope that makes sense.
posted by haptic_avenger at 1:07 PM on May 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
I was recently involved in a very local recall, and I was surprised to find that most people were less interested in the substantive issue than the fact that our opponents were using the elected body to create chaos rather than fight for the common good. People are generally tolerant of differences in substantive opinion, but not tolerant of people who are using public office to undermine public works. Even though the other side was outright lying about the substantive issues, what voters actually cared about was that the other side were ineffective and mean-spirited, whereas "my" side were hard-working and made a huge and sincere effort to help the community. At the end of the day they cared less about the issues and more about the sense that the representative was trying to do the right thing, and, you know, actually represent them. I hope that makes sense.
posted by haptic_avenger at 1:07 PM on May 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
Serious question: are you on Facebook?
My small city (35,000 people) has a bunch of Facebook groups, several of which are right leaning, including some targeted towards parents.
If you can get into those groups, or get an ally to get into them, do so. This was a huge source of information on our last SB campaign. You could see the talking points fermenting and spreading there; people organizing to go to meetings to speak about a particular topic, etc. I can tell you the "SEL is CRT in disguise!" talking point came up in those groups in like, mid 2021.
This allowed the left leaning folks to counter- they could go to the meetings and speak in favor of SEL or banned books. They also took screenshots and posted them in the neutral to left leaning groups-"Can you believe this is what candidate X said?"
Also, FOIA requests-yes, keep doing that. We were able to connect a bunch of candidates to a bonkers lawsuit against the district led by a bonkers lawyer who was sanctioned by the state thanks to campaign donation forms and the incorporation paperwork for the non profit. "Candidate X says she's for fiscal reform but she's suing the district and costing them legal fees! And hiding behind a non profit to do so! Also look at this lawyer she hired- what does that say about her judgement?"
posted by damayanti at 1:16 PM on May 10, 2023 [12 favorites]
My small city (35,000 people) has a bunch of Facebook groups, several of which are right leaning, including some targeted towards parents.
If you can get into those groups, or get an ally to get into them, do so. This was a huge source of information on our last SB campaign. You could see the talking points fermenting and spreading there; people organizing to go to meetings to speak about a particular topic, etc. I can tell you the "SEL is CRT in disguise!" talking point came up in those groups in like, mid 2021.
This allowed the left leaning folks to counter- they could go to the meetings and speak in favor of SEL or banned books. They also took screenshots and posted them in the neutral to left leaning groups-"Can you believe this is what candidate X said?"
Also, FOIA requests-yes, keep doing that. We were able to connect a bunch of candidates to a bonkers lawsuit against the district led by a bonkers lawyer who was sanctioned by the state thanks to campaign donation forms and the incorporation paperwork for the non profit. "Candidate X says she's for fiscal reform but she's suing the district and costing them legal fees! And hiding behind a non profit to do so! Also look at this lawyer she hired- what does that say about her judgement?"
posted by damayanti at 1:16 PM on May 10, 2023 [12 favorites]
Response by poster: I want those resources for myself. I want to personally understand the other side's position and rational and I'm interested in the philosophical arguments pro and con.
Recall messaging is almost entirely focused on unnecessary chaos, wasted resources, incompetent leadership, backroom dealing/lack of transparency, and the undermining of our public schools by folks not invested in our schools (board majority's kids are all in or went to private schools or the Hillsdale affiliated charter).
posted by Arbac at 1:17 PM on May 10, 2023
Recall messaging is almost entirely focused on unnecessary chaos, wasted resources, incompetent leadership, backroom dealing/lack of transparency, and the undermining of our public schools by folks not invested in our schools (board majority's kids are all in or went to private schools or the Hillsdale affiliated charter).
posted by Arbac at 1:17 PM on May 10, 2023
Think about campaign finance reform. Here in Colorado Springs, just down the hill from Woodland Park, school board candidates were raking in individual contributions of $10K and up. Some sources say individual contributions were as high as $40K. For school board. For school board.
Think also about overrides built into the school board rules. In Woodland Park, the sitting board members say they're using a democratic process because they were elected, so what they say goes. If you were to, however, create a bylaw for policy overrides via public votes and the teacher's union, that's a good thing to do before a bloc comes in and creates a roadblock. (Look to Disney in Florida for how to override a government board.)
posted by mochapickle at 2:01 PM on May 10, 2023
Think also about overrides built into the school board rules. In Woodland Park, the sitting board members say they're using a democratic process because they were elected, so what they say goes. If you were to, however, create a bylaw for policy overrides via public votes and the teacher's union, that's a good thing to do before a bloc comes in and creates a roadblock. (Look to Disney in Florida for how to override a government board.)
posted by mochapickle at 2:01 PM on May 10, 2023
Best answer: Check out chalkbeat.org
The NEA puts out a lot of accessible stuff like this.
Be sure to include teachers. Ask them who/what they read. Ask the departing principals for suggestions.
posted by mareli at 2:28 PM on May 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
The NEA puts out a lot of accessible stuff like this.
Be sure to include teachers. Ask them who/what they read. Ask the departing principals for suggestions.
posted by mareli at 2:28 PM on May 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
i don't know if you have been following what has been happening in Florida with the New College of Florida. It's a tiny (700 students) liberal arts college ranked 4 of public colleges in the USA
DesSantis replaced 6 trustees with his own loyalists to control the board and then went nuts.
The amount of damage being done since January is amazing.
They wish to turn this quirky school into the Hillsdale of the South. They've actually said this.
The takeover is being applauded and is being used as a model in the "war" on education.
People that wish to emulate this, use words like coup, war, speed , stealth . aggression. To move before the "left" can react.
They are quite open about it.
I mention it as a case of know your enemy.
One of the next things will be to introduce a new " civics" curriculum.
--
Here's a bit about Hillsdale Academy Grades K-12;
Opening Ceremony.
After the students have arrived, a formal ceremony is conducted every morning around
the flagpole, the headmaster leads them in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance,
a patriotic or traditional American song is sung, followed by a student’s recitation from memory
of a poem or Bible verse.
Weekly Prayer. Once a week, the College Chaplain attends the opening ceremony and offers a nondenominational prayer, followed by a short reading from the Bible. Either he or the headmaster then offers a sermon . These sessions promote the
spiritual development of the students within the faith traditions of our Judeo-Christian heritage.
Students must maintain a respectful attitude in
class and respond to teachers with politeness and
deference. Whenever an adult enters a classroom, all students rise
and wait to be acknowledged by the visitor
The Hillsdale Academy history curriculum develops
these themes:
1. The settling of America and the founding of
the United States as an expression of Christian intention.
--
Frankly Hillsdale charter school is a religious school,
It should not receive any public funding, hence the roundabout 'charter' designation.
Good luck with your battles . If you retake the board codify existing norms. The other side doesn't give a damn about norms.
posted by yyz at 3:31 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
DesSantis replaced 6 trustees with his own loyalists to control the board and then went nuts.
The amount of damage being done since January is amazing.
They wish to turn this quirky school into the Hillsdale of the South. They've actually said this.
The takeover is being applauded and is being used as a model in the "war" on education.
People that wish to emulate this, use words like coup, war, speed , stealth . aggression. To move before the "left" can react.
They are quite open about it.
I mention it as a case of know your enemy.
One of the next things will be to introduce a new " civics" curriculum.
--
Here's a bit about Hillsdale Academy Grades K-12;
Opening Ceremony.
After the students have arrived, a formal ceremony is conducted every morning around
the flagpole, the headmaster leads them in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance,
a patriotic or traditional American song is sung, followed by a student’s recitation from memory
of a poem or Bible verse.
Weekly Prayer. Once a week, the College Chaplain attends the opening ceremony and offers a nondenominational prayer, followed by a short reading from the Bible. Either he or the headmaster then offers a sermon . These sessions promote the
spiritual development of the students within the faith traditions of our Judeo-Christian heritage.
Students must maintain a respectful attitude in
class and respond to teachers with politeness and
deference. Whenever an adult enters a classroom, all students rise
and wait to be acknowledged by the visitor
The Hillsdale Academy history curriculum develops
these themes:
1. The settling of America and the founding of
the United States as an expression of Christian intention.
--
Frankly Hillsdale charter school is a religious school,
It should not receive any public funding, hence the roundabout 'charter' designation.
Good luck with your battles . If you retake the board codify existing norms. The other side doesn't give a damn about norms.
posted by yyz at 3:31 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Former 4 term school board member here. I can speak to NYS laws and tactics. Not sure where to begin so I will jump in in the middle. School boards become somewhat immune to criticism. We could be giving out free chocolate ice cream to every person in the district and we will be criticized because it is not vanilla or strawberry or whatever flavor. While on my terms on the board we received some very valid criticisms, we received many more slightly unhinged rants mostly from parents who thought their kids deserved higher grades or their child deserved more playing time on a team. You want to avoid making this personal to any one person or one child or one taxpayer.
In NYS, school board meetings are held in public, but they are not public meetings. The distinction is that the boards are not required to have public comment or any input from anyone attending a meeting. If anyone disrupts a meeting, they can be removed. It is highly unlikely any logical (to you) argument is going to sway a bunch of ideologues just elected to change.
The other thing I think is relevant is that the school board members answer to all residents, not just those with school age children. That is through the annual budget vote. In my district, there was a 50-50 split of families with students and those without. The budget is a roadmap for where the board and the administration wants to allocate their money. It is where classroom size is determined, it is where curriculum beyond what the NY State Regents require is determined (fund a DEI administrator or not), it is where facilities decisions are made, etc. Where is this newly elected group going to fund their agenda? What are they planning to cut to stay within the budget? You can put pressure on the board by the budget allocations and the budget vote.
Your playbook for the highest probability of success is simply voter turnout. Whether it is a recall or the annual election, you need to focus on voter turnout. You need to get those who normally do not vote, to turnout and vote and vote your way. In a non contentious school board election here in Westchester county, 100 votes new voters can change an election outcome. I do not want to speak for another member of this site, but I am aware of a long term member of the site who sat on a school board in Illinois that was involved in some contentious elections and issues. They, if they so choose, will likely have some good advice.
Also, with voter turnout, getting the households in the district that do not have school age children is critical and can be the turning point. Families with preschool children or with graduates can have a big influence on the budget and the board candidates.
If it makes you feel better to win some argument, by all means do so, but I can say with a lot of confidence that no matter what you say in response to the school board members positions, the best course of action for change is at the ballot box. Remember, you don't need to be right, you just need to get votes.
posted by JSM at 4:30 PM on May 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
In NYS, school board meetings are held in public, but they are not public meetings. The distinction is that the boards are not required to have public comment or any input from anyone attending a meeting. If anyone disrupts a meeting, they can be removed. It is highly unlikely any logical (to you) argument is going to sway a bunch of ideologues just elected to change.
The other thing I think is relevant is that the school board members answer to all residents, not just those with school age children. That is through the annual budget vote. In my district, there was a 50-50 split of families with students and those without. The budget is a roadmap for where the board and the administration wants to allocate their money. It is where classroom size is determined, it is where curriculum beyond what the NY State Regents require is determined (fund a DEI administrator or not), it is where facilities decisions are made, etc. Where is this newly elected group going to fund their agenda? What are they planning to cut to stay within the budget? You can put pressure on the board by the budget allocations and the budget vote.
Your playbook for the highest probability of success is simply voter turnout. Whether it is a recall or the annual election, you need to focus on voter turnout. You need to get those who normally do not vote, to turnout and vote and vote your way. In a non contentious school board election here in Westchester county, 100 votes new voters can change an election outcome. I do not want to speak for another member of this site, but I am aware of a long term member of the site who sat on a school board in Illinois that was involved in some contentious elections and issues. They, if they so choose, will likely have some good advice.
Also, with voter turnout, getting the households in the district that do not have school age children is critical and can be the turning point. Families with preschool children or with graduates can have a big influence on the budget and the board candidates.
If it makes you feel better to win some argument, by all means do so, but I can say with a lot of confidence that no matter what you say in response to the school board members positions, the best course of action for change is at the ballot box. Remember, you don't need to be right, you just need to get votes.
posted by JSM at 4:30 PM on May 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Best answer: If I'm reading your updates right you're more looking for what motivated a bunch of formerly uninterested people to recall the school board and start meddling. The following articles are people saying in their own words what they're concerned about:
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2021/05/homeroom-antiracist-education/618796/
https://manhattan.institute/article/woke-schooling-a-toolkit-for-concerned-parents
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9487093/Woke-culture-infecting-schools-turning-education-indoctrination-author-warns.html the person profiled here also has a book called Woke, Inc.
As for "thought leaders" I think the common names of Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, and all the other right-wing radio and television hosts are the main people spreading and disseminating this stuff. At least when I went to a city council meeting that devolved into curriculum choice and anti-DEI stuff people were citing that. Heritage Foundation is probably the biggest think tank in the area, their stuff is often picked up by the right-wing media.
posted by hermanubis at 5:34 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2021/05/homeroom-antiracist-education/618796/
https://manhattan.institute/article/woke-schooling-a-toolkit-for-concerned-parents
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9487093/Woke-culture-infecting-schools-turning-education-indoctrination-author-warns.html the person profiled here also has a book called Woke, Inc.
As for "thought leaders" I think the common names of Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, and all the other right-wing radio and television hosts are the main people spreading and disseminating this stuff. At least when I went to a city council meeting that devolved into curriculum choice and anti-DEI stuff people were citing that. Heritage Foundation is probably the biggest think tank in the area, their stuff is often picked up by the right-wing media.
posted by hermanubis at 5:34 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Prior Ask MeFi thread with some relevant resources linked.
posted by humbug at 5:51 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by humbug at 5:51 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
My parents joined the League of Women Voters mainly for this reason. (You do not have to be a woman to join!) They have guidelines for observing local government meetings such as school board, city council, etc. LWV—Observing Your Government
The actual chapter where they live has in person meetings where they address this locally as well.
posted by Violet Hour at 10:54 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
The actual chapter where they live has in person meetings where they address this locally as well.
posted by Violet Hour at 10:54 PM on May 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
(Derailing just to say: thank you. My school board in a rural Midwestern town in the early 90s was so throughly taken over by right-wing christian zealots intent on saving the children from the devil and also hair metal that I didn’t have a World History class, or an art class, or a single factual sex ed lesson in four years of public high school. It was unconscionable, and beyond my power to remedy, being a kid. You’re doing a good thing.)
posted by minervous at 6:54 PM on May 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by minervous at 6:54 PM on May 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
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It will only have an effect on people who are still behaving somewhat reasonably, but you hit them with a one-two punch of Matthew 6:5 and the Establishment Clause.
posted by phunniemee at 12:30 PM on May 10, 2023 [3 favorites]