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Why School Boards Matter Tanya Tarr Texas AFT March 18, 2010

Why School Boards Matter

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A short presentation on what we did in a set of Dallas School Board elections, and how we won.

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Page 1: Why School Boards Matter

Why School Boards Matter

Tanya TarrTexas AFT

March 18, 2010

Page 2: Why School Boards Matter

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

Page 3: Why School Boards Matter

“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

Page 4: Why School Boards Matter

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

Page 5: Why School Boards Matter

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?

Page 6: Why School Boards Matter

Dallas ISD 2009 Races

Page 7: Why School Boards Matter

Dallas

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

Page 8: Why School Boards Matter

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

Page 9: Why School Boards Matter

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

Page 10: Why School Boards Matter

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

Page 11: Why School Boards Matter

WE have the POWER!

Questions? Please feel free to email me: [email protected]