Why School Boards Matter

Why School Boards Matter

Tanya TarrTexas AFT

March 18, 2010

Overview• Elements of a School Board Race• Dallas• Key Takeaways• Discussion

“I'm tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn't work.  Of course it doesn't work.  We are supposed to work it.”

~Alexander Woollcott

The New Yorker Magazine

in the 1930s

Elements of a Race

Candidate Recruitment

Voter Registration

Create/ Revise Local Field

Plan

EndorseVoter and Member Contact

Get Out The Vote

WIN

Celebrate RecognizeRecover

Activist Recruitment

Fundraising

Training

The Candidate

Was the candidate recruited from our strong

community alliances?

Does the candidate hold up against a rigorous

endorsement review process?

Is this candidate fearless and willing to work harder

than volunteers?

Does the candidate have financial resources?

Will this candidate take direction?

Dallas ISD 2009 Races

Dallas

• Endorsed 3 candidates in the special election• Two seats - Parrott and Nutall - were elected • Even when you don’t win, you win.

Tactics and costsTactic Quantity Cost

List of school board elections voters

Approx. 7,000 records $50

Phone Match 7,000 $250

Labor Action Network Database to manage voter records Free

Hand address letters 3,500 $1,540

Postcards 1,000 $280

Phonebanking Approx 4,000 numbers Volunteer

Volunteer Food 6 dinners $300

Paid Live ID Calls 2,345 numbers $800

Paid Robo Calls 1,500 numbers $75

TOTAL COST $3,295

Why we won• Overlapping groups of voters

– Aggressive voter contact of known school board voters

– Robust voter contact of all ISD employees by our

members (expansion universe)

• Partnering with the candidates

– Phonebanking out of the Alliance-AFT office

– Technical assistance (list management)

– Encouragement and coaching

How elections support Organizing• After filing a grievance, more than 100 teachers

received $222,875 in performance pay

– Parrott was one of three members of the grievance board

• DISD Trustees that had been non-responsive or

hostile changed their attitude towards the local

president.

• The DISD School Board stopped threatening

consultation

WE have the POWER!

Questions? Please feel free to email me: tarr@texasaft.org