The Future of Science 2012: 50% cut? Tx Bd of Ed 9/18, IV

12:18: While waiting for the agency to do some calculations, the Board moved to consider Proclamation 2012 for science materials. The Agency says that budget issues now make it not feasible to start working on this when there's hardly enough money for Proclamations 2010 and 2011.

Agency proposes delaying Proclamation 2012 instead of voting on one immediately. But they want Board guidance: what new strategies do you want to look at: full K-12 science adoption or other ways to achieve cost efficiencies, such as statewide licenses, and electronic instructional materials in certain parts of science. They are trying to find a way to get to $250-$300 million mark instead of $590 million mark. Alternatively, the Board can just wait and hope the financial picture improves.

Terri Leo (R-The Faction, Spring) wants proclamation to include the following points (proposed by Agency staff, but language strengthened by Terri): publishers of electronic programs to be required to offer a price for statewide license, and to provide digital versions of all teacher and ancillary materials. All digital versions offered must be bid separately. (They can also be included within a print submission.) All digital versions must be platform-neutral (PC vs. Mac). Publishers are encouraged to offer print programs in a format that is appropriate for eBooks.

Cynthia Dunbar (R-The Faction, Richmond) is concerned that once publishers go all-electronic, they are subject to the Commissioner, and not the Board. (New law passed this Spring gives Commissioner authority over electronic submissions instead.) Moves to strike eBook reader encouragement, and it passes on a voice vote.

Geraldine "Tincy" Miller (R-North Dallas) wants to establish clarity about equipment vs. content to Leo's vote, and asks to put the word "content" in on every point. "All digital content versions must be platform-neutral..." etc. Instead, she suggests an over-arching amendment that all the points made are about electronic content materials. It passes, and then Terri Leo's suggestions are adopted, and will be put into Proclamation 2012 whenever it is brought forth.

Agency asks Board whether they will try to issue Proclamation 2012 in November 2009 or not. (According to typical schedule, this would have been done in May 2009.) Terri Leo argues that November is the right time because January would be too busy because of Social Studies. Cynthia Dunbar wants to move forward immediately, because it will probably change anyway. Gail Lowe argues that they might as well plan on how to deal with a lower-cost adoption, possibly half the size. Terri Leo asks when Agency would prefer to deal with it, and they ask for March 2010.
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Then followed a brief discussion of some committee reports (fund performance up 13%, but still way below before the start of the Recession), and an announcement from Gail Lowe that there will be a discussion of ethics issues concerning the Permanent School Fund in the November meeting after the Committee works on a first draft of the Ethics Policy in October, the Board adjourned at about 1:26 pm.