TEPSA Voting Series.2: What can a principal do?

This is an election cycle that could see real damage to public education! The power to build up our public schools for generations to come or to increase the chances that children will not have a 'free and public education' is in your hands as voters.

That’s my editorial as we discuss the importance of primary elections, tips for principals, and the ‘dos and don’ts’ encouraging those with whom you come in contact to vote. And, by vote, I mean vote in favor of public education.

If you missed my first article in the TEPSA Voting Series, you can find it at www.tepsa.org. Scroll down and click on the blog button (it looks like this ). You can also go to www.tepsatalk.blogspot.com.

The Primaries
In most cases, electing candidates who support our children will be completed in the Primary Election. Because so few people vote in the primaries, every vote counts. Your vote will make a difference! Just look at this quote from SBOE, District 9 Member, Thomas Ratliff:

In my first race in 2010, there were over 116,000 votes cast. I won by a margin of 402 votes over 31 counties (just under 13 votes per county). Needless to say, every vote counts. Texas public education is too big and too smart to let their power and their voice go unheard. Find out about who supports public education and get out there and vote for them.
Be sure to put early voting for the primaries on your schedule: February 16-26, 2016!

Please review the candidates running for office in your area. A complete list of elections is available through Ballotpedia:

• Texas Senate Races
• Texas House Races

If you are not sure which Texas Senate and House district you reside within, please use this link to learn more.

Be sure and review the statewide offices that will make a difference for public education. It can be confusing in the primary election! For example, in the race for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 5, there are two Republicans running who have the same last name. Their stances regarding public education cannot be more different. Paul Green has been a moderating force on the court who has voted ‘friendly’ to public schools and to educators (think funding and TRS). Rick Green has run for the court before and hasn’t shown a propensity to support public education. While TEPSA does not endorse candidates, a bit of research will show you who to vote for when considering children and public education.

How do I know who to vote for?

Find out who your candidates are for the Texas House and Senate and the Texas Supreme Court then consider finding out how they answer some of these questions:

• How do you support public education? (Not, “Do you support education?” Or even, “Do you support public education?”)
• Do you support vouchers?
• Do you support a tax credit plan? (that would decrease the amount of funds available to public schools)
• Do you support giving private schools access to public funds (or money from tax credits) to private schools? They should say, “No!”
• Do you support a defined benefit plan for all current and future TRS retirees?
• Do you support providing reasonable, affordable, quality healthcare for TRS retirees and future?
• What will you do as my legislator to ensure that the TRS pension fund and TRS–Care health insurance program are preserved and improved?
• And, if you are feeling frisky, ask them where their own children attend school. Do they attend a public, private or home school? This question will tell you where their allegiance will lie.

If you have contacted your candidates already, and determined who your candidate of choice is, your work as a voter may not be done. Now is the time to begin educating your teachers. But, how do you do that without getting yourself in trouble? While you cannot use school time or resources to endorse a candidate of issue, you can help develop a climate of civic and patriotic voter participation. The next in our TEPSA Voting Series will deal with just that question and will give you some ‘dos and don’ts’ to keep yourself within legal and policy bounds.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me: mark@tepsa.org or 512.650.6286.