The Horace Mann League of the USA
Draft minutes of the HML Board meeting of October 6 and 7, 2013
Arlington, Virginia
Joe Hairston, President at 1:00 pm, called the HML Board meeting to order on Sunday, October 6, 2013.
Members Present: Joe Hairston, Charles Fowler, Gary Marx, Martha Bruckner, Carol Choye, Evelyn Holman, Christine Johns-Haines, James Harvey, Spike Jorgensen and Jack McKay
1. Approval of the minutes.
Motion by Jorgenson, seconded by Olson, to approve the HML Board meeting of February 23, 2013, and the HML Annual meeting of February 24, 2014. Motion passed.
2. HML and Corporate Sponsors
Motion by Bruckner, seconded by Olson, that Gary Marx, Charles Fowler and Jack McKay prepare “guidelines” for corporate sponsors of the Horace Mann League. This document will be presented for review (and possible approval) at the winter meeting of the HML board.
3. Update of the 2010 Strategic Plan Activities
a. International Indicators of Education. James Harvey, Gary Marx and Charles Fowler reviewed progress made to date. James Harvey presented an updated series of charts that could be used to illustrate the indicators. Discussion followed about strategies to share information with the media, legislators, and members of the League.
b. Recruitment and Retention of Members. It was suggested that all members be asked to provide two names of colleagues who might be interested in joining the League. Also, each board member is requested to, annually, submit ten names of potential members. Since HML is not able to provide a broad range of visible services, we can give our members a voice as we engage in a process of identifying developing brief descriptions and messages about the basic pillars of public education. We also noted that members need to be reminded that they are part of a distinguished honorary organization.
c. Affiliations with other Associations. Discussed the wisdom of affiliating with other associations involved in improving public education. No action recommended at this time.
4. Revenues and Expenditures. Reviewed year-to-date revenues and expenditures through September 2013. To date, 68% of projected revenues have been received and 58% of the projected expenditures have been spent.
5. League Media. Reviewed the HML web page redesign and the blog activities. It was recognized that the HML Blog recently earned the “Excellence in Electronic Media” award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).
6. Legal Issues. Reviewed the Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, which the HML is listed as a “Friend of the Brief.” Also, reviewed the implications of the Town of Greece v. Gallaway, regarding a religious prayer before the start of government agency meeting.
7. Nominations Committee
The HML Nominations Committee recommended Christine Johns-Haines for nomination as Vice President.
The HML Board recommended the following to be reappointed to the board: Evelyn Blose Holman
Linda Darling Hammond and
Stan Olson
The HML Board recommended the following be invited to consider being nominated to the HML Board of Directors: (The first three will be contacted first.)
Laurie Barron, Supt., Evergreen School District, Kalispell, Montana
Kevin Maxwell, Supt of Schools, Prince George’s County, MD
Jack Jennings, Writer/Researcher, Washington, DC
Steven Webb, Supt of Schools, Vancouver School District, WA
Valarie Truesdale, Past President ASCD, Charlotte, NC
The nominated officer and directors will be presented to the members at the 2014 Annual Meeting for vote.
7. Awards
1. Outstanding Friend of Public Education (Contacted in the following order)
a. Marion Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund (Joe Hairston)
2. Outstanding Public Educator (Contacted in the following order)
a. Larry Cuban, Stanford University (Joe Hairston)
3. Friend of the Horace Mann League
a. Julie Underwood, HML Past President (ALEC)
8. 2014 Annual Meeting Format.
Discussed alternatives to the past practices of meeting on Friday of the AASA Convention and agenda. Decided to remain with past practices. Annual meeting will be on Friday, February 14, 2014, in Nashville, TN, starting at 11:45 pm.
9. HML Winter Board Meeting
Thursday, February 13, 2014, 2 to 5 pm.
AASA Headquarters Hotel
Tentative Agenda
HML Corporate sponsors
Strategic Plan Update (Index, Membership, etc.
Financial Update
Annual Meeting review
10. Summer Board Meeting for 2014
Stanford University,
Theme would be further discussion on equity of educational opportunity. A significant amount of this meeting should be devoted long-range planning.
Meeting Adjourned at 11:30 am, Monday, October 7, 2013.
To do:
Membership list emailed to HML board members (done)
Ensure contact with newly nominated directors (Barron, Maxwell, Jennings, Webb and Truesdale)
Design 2014 membership certificate (in process)
Thank you to Andy Schaefer and Paula Reed of Discovery Network (done)
Thank you to Jack Jennings (done)
Follow-up on contacts for awardees (in process-have Cuban)
Contact Linda Darling Hammond on HML summer board meeting at Stanford
Letter to board members about nominating ten new members
Send nominating letter to board members for editing suggesting
Notes on “Equity” discussion facilitated by Jack Jennings
Some notes on the “Equity” discussion, facilitated by Jack Jennings.
Jack Jennings led the group in a discussion based on the premise that the President has told us he will devote a 1-1/2-minutes segment of his State of the Union Address to educational equity and has asked us for counsel on the points he should make. We will to form a 90-second statement based on what Jack and members of the Board had to say. We will then share that draft with Board members for their tweaks and suggestions. Then, we can share the statement with some number of HML members asking them for their tweaks. When the statement has been shaped, we will be in a position to share it with other national education organizations for their suggestions. Eventually, we can share it with the White House. Part of the process is the statement itself, but perhaps an even great part is having HML stimulating the discussion. This would be just one part, along with the Index, of demonstrating HML’s public education leadership to a broader mix of educators and society at large. It’s a matter of being strategic.
Opening remarks:
The United States places a priority on capitalism and individualism. But, education and the government can moderate the extremes.
Rothstein states that the US, despite the highest percent of children in poverty taking the PISA test, the children are doing quite well when compared to other nations.
Discussion questions:
What do children need to do well in school?
Health care, supportive teachers, arriving ready to learn, ability to work with others, safe and secure schools, well trained teachers,
What do poor children need to do well in school?
Preschooling, access to information, health care, well trained teachers,
Who should ensure the services listed above are provided?
Acknowledging that there are problems, the federal and state governments
Some quotes:
“The best legislation promoting public education by President is the Affordable Health Care Act.”
“The Common Core Standards are especially good for children living in poor communities and states is that it raises the educational expectations and standards.”
When the political leaders took “educational inputs” off the table, the decline in necessary resources followed and the educational agenda turned to testing, teacher evaluations, value added measures and charters.”
“The United States is an extreme outlier in both the very large proportion of children living in poverty and the lack of social services or income support for them.”
“The five things that the public schools should do well are providing safety, healthy, engaging, supportive and challenging learning environments.” ASCD.
The Horace Mann League provides you, as a member, a voice in the future of good public schools in your community and in our nation.”
“Of the 35 industrialized nations, the United States is ranked 34th in childhood poverty. One out of five students are in living in poverty.”
PHoto taken on Sunday, October 6, 2013, in front of the White House.
Left yo right: Spike Jorgensen, Gary Marx, Stan Olson, Paula Reed (Discovery Network), Evelyn’s friend), Joe Hairston, Evelyn Holman, Andy Scheafer (Discovery Network), Christine Haines, Martha Bruckner, Judy McKay, Charles Fowler, Jack McKay and Carol Choye.
Submitted by Jack McKay, Executive Director