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The Board of Education postponed most of its agenda until today, after painstakingly working over every single grade level of social studies TEKS for about 10 hours yesterday (Thursday, 17 September--see previous posts). But first, the mariachi band from C.C. Winn High School  in Eagle Pass performed a brief concert of traditional border music, in black suits with silver trim, big black sombreros, and wide blue ties (and bows for the women).

10:10 "Tincy" Miller (R-Dallas) and Chair Gail Lowe (R-The Faction, Lampasas) are wrangling over a point of parliamentary procedure. Miller claims she is being cut off. Lowe says the item was discussed earlier, and will be discussed again, and that the discussion needs to be on the motion before them. (RARE EDITORIAL OPINION: I actually think Lowe's right on this one.)

10:14 Official agenda continues where yesterday left off, with discussion of TEKS review process. Mavis Knight (D-Dallas) mentioned that TEKS-writing teams at orientation meeting (which she attended) had several concerns. The key one was the qualifications of "experts. (Currently--all that matters is for two board members to agree on a nomination for anyone to be declared "an expert.")

McLeroy says that the criteria is the judgment of elected officials. (He once more says "a Ph.D. isn't worth much...) He also wants to push more parents, business leaders, and community volunteers in the TEKS-writing committees. He's concerned that the Board is not living up to the law which requires input from the community.

Barbara Cargill (R-The Faction, The Woodlands) was surprised to hear that some committees only had 2 or 3 on the panel, because of public intimidation with huge amounts of public pressure. "How do we get good people to commit to this?" We need to heed the advice to protect our work-group members and their privacy and focus on the work at hand.

Mavis says "perhaps we need to muzzle our own mouths while they are in session," because reporting in the media about what Board members think can cause undue pressure.

Pat Hardy (R-Weatherford)--too many parents on the TEKS-writing team can be a problem because they do not necessarily understand all the pedagogical issues (strands, etc.) that are working. She thinks majority of panel needs to be teachers. Hardy brought example of Pat Epstein from Dallas Council on Jewish Relations, who stayed and observed the panels' working, and offered valuable, well-organized comments.

Mavis says--if that's what we want, we need to be more diligent in nominating more parents and business leaders.

English Language Arts Electives TEKS still under review--writing teams return in October to finalize them. (Will include communications applications credit and whether or not other courses (i.e. speech) can be adjusted to also receive credit.) This will come back to Board for discussion in November, with first reading in January, and adoption in March 2010.

Social Studies TEKS still under review--similar schedule--writing teams working in October, and will come back for Board discussion in November, and eventual adoption in March 2010.

Technology Applications TEKS committees need to be created (self-applications due October 30th, Board member nominations due on December 4th). After TEA staff sorts through apps, nominees are contacted in January of 2010. The Board will once again nominate "experts" who will advise the TEKS review committees.

Math 2010-2011 TEKS will be reviewed/rewritten. (The cycle time is about every 6 years.)