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“Successful Educational Advocacy in your School District”

72nd IASB Joint Annual ConferenceNovember 23, 2013

Presented by Oak Park ESD 97

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CLAIM

Committee (for)

Legislative

Action

Intervention (and)

Monitoring

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As we begin our time together…

Thank youIntroductionsQuestions, clarifications, comments

CLAIM as a work in progress

Access to this PowerPointTake away manual

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An overview of Oak Parkand District 97Why CLAIM? Why now?CLAIM’s 10-step processPanelists commentsFinal questions and commentsManual handout

Our Agenda

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LocationDemographicsEducational systemsFamous Oak Parkers

About the Village of Oak Park

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History of D97’s legislative advocacy

Educational realities in Illinois

Community expertise and involvement

IASB Effective Board Governance

Why CLAIM? Why now?

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◦After the April 2003 election:District 97 formed a Finance Task Force Finance Task Force recommended creation of Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC)

◦In December 2003:LAC was formed Spring 2005 HB750 offers 2% increase in state income tax in exchange for property tax relief AKA “The Tax Swap”

HB750 failed to pass in General AssemblyBy 2006, the LAC lost its energy and became dormant

D97’s History of Legislative Advocacy

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o AFTER THE 2009 ELECTION: New impetus to revitalize legislative

advocacy Board assigns volunteers to create a new

charge Multiple iterations are created, vetted, and

sent back to the drawing board

o APRIL THROUGH JUNE 2011: CLAIM is created, vetted, and approved

o SEPTEMBER 2011: CLAIM convenes first meeting

D97’s History of Legislative Advocacy

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• Illinois ranks 50th in use of state tax dollars to support K-12 public education, 21.4%*

• Illinois ranks 50th in property tax dependence to support public education, 70%*

• Prorated GSA – 89% to 82%

•Unfunded and underfunded mandates continue in spite of Public Act 96-1441

• Public pension issues / $ responsibility shift on the horizon

*Source: Center for Tax and Budget Accountability

Educational Realities in Illinois

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IASB expectation of community engagement that:

Creates trust and support

Involves the community in collaborative problem solving

Delegates authority

Community of Oak Park:

Commitment to education

Long history of volunteerism

Diverse and talented skill sets

Engaged and involved citizens

Why CLAIM? Why Now?

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And …

Another reason we are presenting today is because we need your:

Partnership in shaping / impacting educational legislation

Strength in numbers

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STEP 1: The Board’s initial role STEP 2: Community outreach STEP 3: Going public STEP 4: First steps STEP 5: The team grows and learns

CLAIM: Step by Step Process

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STEP 6: The CLAIM support team

STEP 7: Celebrating success

STEP 8: Addressing adversity

STEP 9: Assessing effectiveness

STEP 10: Core values move us forward

CLAIM: Step by Step Process

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Discuss concept’s meritsSelect 2 members to write committee charge

Scrutinize charge draft Chose 2 board members to serve on CLAIM

Approve final draft of charge*

*Document included in “A 10-Step Process for Creating a Successful Advocacy Committee” and accessible via link provided

1. The Board’s Initial Role

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Overview – advance district mission through oversight on legislation

Purpose – propose, support/oppose, monitor legislation

Charge – specific committee tasks and assignments

Authority – standing board committee

Composition –

>13 to 17 voting (citizens)

> 3 to 5 district non-voting (2 board, up to 3 administrators, superintendent as ex-office member)

Open Meetings Act – compliance

*Document included in “A 10-Step Process for Creating a Successful Advocacy Committee” and accessible via link provided

Charge Components*

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Examples of CLAIM Tasks from Charge

1. “Annually receive direction for a legislative agenda from the District 97 Board regarding school policy and finance issues at the state level, and, as the Board deems appropriate, at the county and/or federal level.”

2. “Strengthen connections and participation with lobbying groups, especially those with whom the district currently has formal relationships, such as ED-RED and IASB.”

3. “Identify, partner, and leverage organizations aligned with one or more items on the District’s legislative agenda.”

*Document included in “A 10-Step Process for Creating a Successful Advocacy Committee” and accessible via link provided

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4. “Generate informational materials to identify the impact of state, county, or federal legislative issues on District 97.”

5. “Engage Oak Park’s legislative delegation to keep them informed of the ways current and proposed legislation, policies and practices impact District 97.”

6. “Craft, periodically review, and, if necessary, seek District 97 Board approval to amend the committee’s scope, procedures, practices, and guiding principles.”

*Document included in “A 10-Step Process for Creating a Successful Advocacy Committee” and accessible via link provided

Examples of CLAIM Tasks from Charge

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District Communications Director:Announces formation of CLAIM committee and posts call for citizen volunteers on district website, district and PTO list serve, local print and electronic media sources*Sends CLAIM application* to interested parties Vets applications and submits list to the Board

*Document included in “A 10-Step Process for Creating a Successful Advocacy Committee” and accessible via link provided

2. Community Outreach

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Contact informationReasons for wanting to serve on a legislative action committeePrevious District level involvement / serviceWork experience / expertisePrevious community level involvement /service

CLAIM Application Board Selection Criteria

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Copy of Initial Public Announcement“The District 97 Board of Education is looking for community members to serve on its newly created legislative committee: CLAIM (Committee For Legislative Action, Intervention and Monitoring). Its focus is to ‘develop a legislative agenda to propose, support or oppose legislation impacting board priorities.’

In addition, the committee will take direction from the board concerning policy and finance issues at the state, county and federal levels, among other duties. The district is looking for 13-17 people to serve on the committee. Interested parties should contact the district's spokesperson for more information: Chris Jasculca, cjasculca@op97.org”

*Document included in “A 10-Step Process for Creating a Successful Advocacy Committee” and accessible via link provided

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District announces selection of CLAIM committeeBoard introduces CLAIM committee in open session and extends its gratitude Appoints CLAIM chairperson for 1st yearSocial non-business meet and greet at our home got the group off to a positive start

3. Going Public

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CLAIM chairperson:Contacts committee members to schedule 1st meetingConvenes first meeting

Introductions and committee related talents / strengths

Set meeting datesReview and discuss charge

4. First Steps

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Over time, the CLAIM chairperson and full committee:Create meeting agenda templateDevelop sub-committees to address board prioritiesReview OMA and comply with training requirements

5. The Team Grows and LearnsDevelop list of guest speakersDevelop committee work plansSet dates to report to the Board

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Other Items

1. IASB Annual Conference Presentation

2. Elected Officials Forum

3. Connecting With

Educational Advocacy:

Downers Grove Elementary

School District 58  Adjournment

Call to Order / Roll CallPublic Comments / Member CommentsAction ItemsApproval of Minutes Committee Activities

1. Finance Subcommittee

2. Data Subcommittee

3. Early Ed. Subcommittee

Sample CLAIM Agenda

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Board Administration Parents

Citizens Affiliated OrganizationsCLAIM

STEP 6: CLAIM Works with Partners to Act, Intervene, and Monitor

Who look to engage and work with:

Elected representatives of the Oak Park taxing bodies and members of the Illinois General

Assembly and United States Congress

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A = ACTION

Bring in guest speakers, apply for KIDS pilot status, propose General Assembly budget resolution to IASB, hold Legislator’s Forum

I = INTERVENTION

Identify data sharing problems in non-unit district and work with local legislators to propose legislative fix

Meet with legislators and explain District’s position on pending legislation

M = MONITORING

Propose bills such as PTELL, pension reform, early childhood education

Examples of CLAIM Engagement

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•District 97 was selected as a pilot district for the KIDS (Kindergarten Individual Development Survey) whose goals were to:

Identify gaps in school readinessProvide information to drive more effective classroom instruction

Support state and local data-driven decision-making on professional development and resource allocation

Step 7: Celebrating Success

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•Achieved goal of drafting new resolution to become part of the IASB Resolution Proposals at 2012 IASB state conference: Resolution 14. Position Statement 3.09 Budget Stability for School Districts passed unanimously.

•Achieved goal of being recognized by ED-RED (Educational Research and Development) as an effective educational advocacy group, and being invited to post on the ED-RED’s “Member Legislative Committee and Event Information” page.

Step 7: Celebrating Success

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Achieved goal of hosting D97 Legislators Forum attended by:State Senators Harmon and Lightford State Representatives Ford and Lilly Allowed both the Board and community stakeholders to interact personally with their local legislators on a range of issues affecting the community, from property taxes to the General State Aid formula to student lunches

Step 7: Celebrating Success

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Over the past two years, CLAIM has struggled with:The unintended consequences of the OMA, which greatly limits sub-committee work and communication / discussion among CLAIM membersIts goal of improved sharing of longitudinal data with D97’s neighboring high school district (D200)FERPA and many other legal encumbrances that make student performance data sharing in a non-unit district nearly impossibleObtaining a quorum of members for meetings

Step 8: Addressing Adversity

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In spite of these challenges:CLAIM has accomplished most of its goals during the past 2 yearsThe Legislators Forum has laid the ground work for potential state legislation regarding student performance data in non-unit districtsCLAIM’s struggles with data sharing have led to a better understanding of FERPA and enabled the committee to develop its network of educational experts and educational lobby groups

Step 8: Addressing Adversity

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oMeeting to meeting internal assessments oRegular board reports: January and JuneoEnd of year Board assessment

of CLAIMReviews effectivenessRevises charge as neededCreates new tasks for CLAIM

Step 9: Assessing CLAIM’s Effectiveness

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“The Board has been very pleased with CLAIM’s accomplishments. Based on CLAIM’s successes and the strength of the committee members, the Board is eagerly awaiting recommended changes to the charge to ensure and increase CLAIM’s productivity going forward.”

-Bob Spatz, President Oak Park ESD D97 Board

Step 9: Assessing CLAIM’s Effectiveness

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Plan: strategize for success Share: the authority Trust: in each other Empower: the community Celebrate: the successes, small and large

Reflect: on the struggles Assess: candidly and frequently Believe: in your power to effect change

Step 10: Core Values Will Move Us Forward

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Citizen MembersDeacon Wiley SamuelsMeredith SchachtGreg SmithAnne Desmond Warden

Oak Park District 97 BoardAmy FeltonJim Gates

Oak Park District 97 AdministrationDr. Al Roberts, Superintendent

CLAIM Panelist Comments

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Commit to the concepte.g. Budget the time, engage the community

Focus on the attainable goalse.g. Push for GA budget timelines to aid in district

planning as opposed to seeking more GSA dollars

Identify specific tasks for the committee e.g. Support early childhood data collection /

analysis by becoming KIDS pilot district

Review, revise, and empowere.g. Regularly seek feedback / guidance from the

committee

In Review: Create a Successful Legislative Advocacy Committee

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Please access this power point and the “10 Step Manual” via the links provided. In addition, feel free to contact CLAIM about:Attending a future CLAIM meetingSetting up a legislative advocacy group in your district

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And on behalf of CLAIM and

Oak Park District 97: