Horace Mann League Board Meeting / MINUTES. Submitted by James Minichello
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Agenda
- Approve Minutes (June HML Board Meeting) / Carl
- Website Redesign / Jeannie, Jimmy
- Membership / Financial Update / Jimmy
- HML Luncheon / Jimmy
- NAEF / HML Partnership / Carl
- Scholarship Tax Credit / Toba
Minutes
Minutes from the June HML Board meeting were unanimously approved.
Website Redesign
Jeannie led a discussion about the HML website redesign and previewed the new site. Special thanks went to Toba Cohen-Dunning, executive director of the Omaha Public Schools Foundation (OPSF), for generously donating $3,500 toward the project. The League hired Firespring to build the new site.
Membership and Financial Report
Jimmy provided an update on membership and the League’s finances. The League has generated more than $16,000 in revenue this year, including a sizable donation from OPSF earlier this year. In 2026, 20 new members have joined the League, and nearly 80 existing members have renewed their memberships.
2027 HML Luncheon/Reception
Jimmy led a discussion about HML hosting a luncheon or reception in conjunction with AASA’s National Conference on Education (NCE), Feb. 25–27, 2027, in Atlanta, Ga. The Board agreed to form a committee to explore options for an in-person HML gathering. In the meantime, Jimmy will contact restaurants near the NCE venue to confirm availability and costs. Comments, suggestions, and considerations included:
- A luncheon or reception could offer an opportunity to recruit new members.
- A luncheon could compete with AASA’s popular Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award Luncheon.
- Alternatives could include a breakfast or reception or holding the event on Wednesday.
- It may be difficult to persuade NCE attendees to leave the conference venue for an HML luncheon at a nearby restaurant.
- As a cost-saving measure, HML could hold a virtual meeting in 2027 and plan its next in-person meeting for 2028.
- HML should explore securing a session or roundtable at a future NCE. The 2027 program is already set, but 2028 may offer an opportunity.
HML/NAEF Partnership
Carl led a discussion on the HML/NAEF partnership. As Carl noted, a key purpose of the partnership is to strengthen collective advocacy for public education. Through HML’s vision and the partnership, there are opportunities to engage more school district leaders and other public education advocates to advance the League’s mission and strengthen the organization.
Carl will discuss the partnership when he addresses the Arizona Superintendents Association’s General Meeting in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 4.
Scholarship Tax Credit
Toba led a discussion on the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, which nationalizes the voucher movement. The National Association of Education Foundations (NAEF) has taken the lead in creating a structure for creating statewide Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) to help ensure that, if a state has opted in to the federal program, there are SGOs that will help ensure the tax funds can directly support our public schools. AASA has provided significant assistance on this matter. NAEF and the League are currently awaiting guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As of July 24, 30 states have opted in; the tax credit takes effect beginning January 1, 2027.
Interesting side note: the Education Department calls it the Education Freedom Tax Credit, and the IRS refers to it as the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.
For more information, see https://www.ed.gov/media/document/education-freedom-tax-credit-fact-sheet-113147.pdf and https://www.irs.gov/government-entities/federal-state-local-governments/federal-scholarship-tax-credit-fstc.
Adjournment
Attendance:
Ruben Alejandro
Martha Bruckner
Doug Burge
Toba Cohen-Dunning
Jeanne Collins Deweese
Carl Hermanns
Jimmy Minichello
Tobin Novasio
Kevin Riley
Ray Sanchez
Kenneth Spells
Therese Rouse
Michael Simeck