Citizens for Equity

Meeting Minutes 11/16/06

Horizon Books, Traverse City 6:00 p.m.

Past Business

Amend previous minutes to indicate that the web site does have a charge, rather than free as mentioned in minutes. 

Motion to approve amended minutes from last meeting.

 

Discussion Items

 

A. Discussion of press from the November election.  Most candidates supported our issue and mentioned it in media sources.

 

B. Discussion of web site updates

 

- Overview of Hits on the web site. 

Color coded bar graphs show activity.  Noted that blue bars represent unique visitors, green is our own activity, yellow is returning visitors. 

Lots of hits from Lansing, specifically several from the  for Governor domain

New Changes - List of accomplishments, including minutes,

Future Additions might include adding a link for old minutes, adding a blog to the web site to generate more interest.  Blog entries requested to be pre-written by some of our current members, possibly provide150 to 200 word commentary. 

Pay-Pal service should be put on the website to take donations

By Laws will also go on the website, continue to update the data, re: funding. 

 

C. IRS fee for our processing 501C3 = 300$.  Need to raise funds to pay this bill.

 

D. News

 

- Retraction of Funding Promise

Article in Detroit Free Press regarding the withdrawal of funding that was promised.  It will most likely be a mid-year cut of 125 $ per pupil. 

Proposal was made to do a letter writing campaign to protest this in December.  Keep message straight and simple.  Possible talking points: 1) make it equitable on a percentage basis, because it hurts those with the least the most , 2) please DO NOT ELIMINATE THE EQUITY PAYMENT in the process.

 

E. Other groups want to set up new CFE groups.  Rick Teres from Howell and his superintendent are interested (see letter.) 

 

F. Discussion of continuing awareness drive by making phone calls to all the districts superintendents and/or to contact us.  Best to target the larger schools first

 

G. James Feil emphasized the equity issue in the UP Northern Michigan School Legislative meeting.    This prompted a superintendent in the UP to express serious interest. 

 

H.  Continued discussion of legal options: lawsuit or perhaps a referendum, but increasing our base is a first priority. 

 

I. Discussion that National Standards (NCLB) and new mandated state graduation requirements may help us as we are compared nationally as not having equitable funding. 

 

J. Education Finance Committee - we need to make sure to plan and find individuals who will testify at next hearing. 

 

K. Establishment of Initial Trustees

Trustees will commit to a financial contribution, attendance at all meeting and be a member of one or more sub committee(s). 

Current Trustees: Kristie Bach, Kirt Kilbourne, Megan Lewis, Tami, Deb Nickerson, Bethany Onthank, Dan Rice, Roman, Paul, Susan Smith, Beth Tyler. 

 

L. Ideas

Possible  publishing a list of superintendents who are supporters of this issue. 

Contacting GT Band to assess interest. 

If you would like someone to come to speak to a group email us a request. 

 

New Action

 

A. Contact Roman regarding By-Laws. (M.Lewis)

 

B. Post letter on website so people can get ideas and write letter regarding not cutting education mid way through the year. 

 

C. Email commentary for the blog to Dan Rice.  (All )   

 

D. Contact NPR to plug our meetings. 

 

E. Meet again in December 7, trustee meeting.

 

F. Possible plan for large informational meeting in January.

Meeting Adjourned 7:30 p.m.