‘We need to make our voices heard.’
Let your senator know voucher advocates do not belong on the State
Board of Education.
Each of you knows the importance of having a supportive school
board. On the local level, citizens are elected as trustees for
our public school districts. The Missouri State Board of Education
is similar to your local school board, but rather than being elected,
the members are appointed by the governor. Although these are partisan
appointments with specific members from each of the major political
parties, the State Board of Education has always been focused on
supporting the public schools that educate the vast majority of
students in Missouri. That may change soon.
In November, Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Donayle Whitmore-Smith to
the Missouri State Board of Education. Whitmore-Smith is an outspoken
advocate for school vouchers and tax credits. She is the founder
of the Ptah Academy of Arts and Science, a private school in St.
Louis that ended operation last year. For a number of years, she
has headed School Choice Missouri, a group that advocates for charter
schools and tax credit vouchers. School Choice Missouri is funded
by the Friedman Foundation, an Indiana-based group that advocates
for school vouchers. Whitmore-Smith testified in Jefferson City
for the tax credit voucher legislation that would have diverted
$40 million in public tax dollars to private schools that aren’t
accountable to the public. This fall she testified repeatedly before
the House Special Committee on School Choice advocating efforts
that will undermine Missouri’s public schools.
So you may be asking yourself, “Why would the governor appoint
this person to a board that is supposed to advocate for public schools?”
Follow the money. Let’s start with All Children Matter, a
Michigan-based group that advocates for school vouchers. Since 2004,
this out-of-state organization has pumped hundreds of thousands
of dollars into targeted Missouri races to elect tax credit voucher
supporters. They dumped almost $200,000 into getting Gov. Blunt
elected. They also donate to the leaders of the Special Committee
on School Choice.
Gov. Blunt’s new chief of staff is Ed Martin, a supporter
of school vouchers and a lawyer who previously represented All Children
Matter. Martin has known Whitmore-Smith for years.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch quotes Whitmore-Smith as saying, “I’m
not there to destroy public schools, nor am I there to say that
I’m no longer open to school choice.” Why does that
quote make me think of Richard Nixon when he said, “I am not
a crook?”
The good news is the appointment is not a done deal. That’s
where you come in. The nomination needs to be sponsored by Sen.
Jeff Smith and approved by the Missouri Senate. This vote is likely
to occur in early January.
The Missouri Education Roundtable, comprising the major statewide
education organizations, and People for Public Schools, the coalition
that fights efforts to undermine public schools, are also opposing
this appointment.
We need to make our voices heard. Go to the Missouri NEA Web site,
www.mnea.org for the link to contact Sen. Jeff Smith and your senator.
Let them know that you oppose the appointment of Donayle Whitmore-Smith.
Tell them that great public schools are a basic right for all Missouri
children, and all members of the State Board of Education need to
support that principle.
by Greg
Jung
MNEA president
Other Reflections
Brazen proposals funnel public
dollars to private and religious schools
'Experience the power
you have as a member of the NEA.'
'We speak for you.'
‘Students deserve
more than a funny-money formula....’
‘Why are they stealing
from Missouri kids?'
‘We on the front lines
must take charge of making our schools safe for all children.’
‘MNEA is ready to fight
this attack on teacher certification, but we cannot do it alone.’
‘Our recommendation
process does exactly what it is designed to do.’
‘The best part of being
an MNEA member is the power we have when we stand up for public
education.’
‘Tell them their payment
is well overdue.’
‘It’s time for people
to recognize the value of the work we do.’
‘The people we elect to the
PSRS Board...
will have the ability to make decisions that affect your retirement
forever.’
Send a message Feb. 16 to legislators
that they need to take care of kids first!
Another hoop for you to jump through
in a single bound
‘Now is the time for all members
to reach out to invite others to join.’
'Missouri's economy will improve
only when legislators realize education is an investment.'
Almost 13,000 Missouri teachers aren’t
currently covered by Medicare
'Temper your frustration with determination'
The Classroom Trust Fund
'Having a pro-public education legislature
has never been more uncertain'
Missouri teachers missing benefits
of Social Security
Reflecting on our work
Every child deserves a great school
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