Mainers For Excellence in Education
Mainers for Excellence in Education is a grassroots initiative launched by Maine First Project in late 2022.
These local groups of parents and taxpayers are being organized to hold school boards accountable for what’s going on in Maine’s K-12 classrooms — as well as the restrooms and locker rooms.
Beginning at the level of government closest to the people, these Mainers are working to expose the dumbing-down and indoctrination that are the rule rather than the exception in Maine’s government-run schools.
Whether they’re attending school board meetings, submitting FOAA requests, writing letters-to-the-editor, making phone calls, knocking on doors, or stepping up as school-board candidates, these Maine patriots are on the frontlines of Maine First Project’s grassroots army of activists.
Brief explanation of Robert’s Rules of Order
The main point of Robert’s Rules of order is to conduct meetings in an orderly and efficient manner.
Items to be discussed must be listed on the agenda or voted to be added to the agenda by a majority of those participating at the meeting. Participants are all board members and those who have signed into the meeting as participants and/or those who have been listed as guest speakers, and visitors (parents, grandparents etc.) even if limited in their time of speaking….If they exclude you from speaking, you can say, “ I appeal from the position of the chair”. See Note below if there is no sign-up sheet.
Discussion will only occur on motions and after speakers who are included on the agenda.
A motion requires opportunity for pro and con comments. Almost every motion must have both sides, pro and con, discussed. (There are very few that are not debatable, such as a motion to adjourn.)
All discussion will be limited to the pro and con comments, no discussion occurs unless a motion is on the floor.
Any motion made may be amended by another motion which must be seconded and voted upon. Amendments and motions are taken in order, i.e., in the order that they have been recognized by the Chair. It is proper and necessary to have every motion read in its entirety, even including the punctuation.
The Chair will announce a speaking order if several people wish to speak.
The Chair will not allow for repeated arguments, pro or con. Any participant may say “I move the previous question”, which means you are calling for a vote now on the motion. The Chair will allow the vote unless there is a request for more discussion of the motion. The secretary will read the exact wording of all motions and amendments prior to the actual vote.
If there is a signup sheet, be ready to make a motion, second a motion, or speak on a motion. Often there is a signup sheet for those who are not members of the board. Visiting participants who wish to speak must be on the agenda or added to the agenda by a majority vote and the speaking time may be limited. There are several ways that you can be a speaker: all members of the board are speakers, guests listed on the agenda are speakers, guests added to the agenda by a vote at the meeting may be speakers, and finally those who have signed in as participants on a signup sheet usually provided at the beginning of the meeting may be speakers.
A motion to adjourn must be voted upon with no discussion allowed and takes precedence over all other motions. If the motion is passed by a majority vote, the meeting stands adjourned.
Note: Most motions are passed or failed by a majority of the votes. The vote may be counted by: voice, by standing, by a secret ballot, or by a show of hands — any member may request the manner of counting the vote.
If there is no sign-up sheet, you will probably not be recognized. If this happens your best alternative is to have a board member present your motion.
Robert S. Wilkinson copyright 7-8-2022
School Board Guidelines by Robert S. Wilkinson
- Meet and talk with, (LISTEN to) all superintendents, principals, teachers, bus drives, kitchen workers, and even the teachers’ association reps., (the Union). Remember that you are one of the bosses. They should know you by sight. They should respect/fear you. You have been elected to run a very complex business. Remember, without teachers we would not have medicine, science, the justice system, or any of the organizations of civilization. Everything depends upon teachers.
- Visit all schools. Schedule yourself to visit a different school each week. You may have to announce yourself, but it is better to go unannounced. Often the teacher or administrator will prepare a show for you, and you may NOT see what is typical if they know that you are coming. Vary classes, subjects and grade levels. Ask to see the curriculums, tests and sample answers of academic work. Sample questions that you might want to ask the teachers: Where did you go to school? What was your major? What do you like most about teaching? What do you like most about this subject and/or grade level? Are your students performing at grade level as determined by standardized tests? What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses?
- Learn Robert’s Rules of Order or Mason’s Rules…whichever rules the board employs. It is important to know the rules of procedure, so you aren’t confused or intimidated by them.
- Make a list of things to present at a school board meeting to improve, change, fix, eliminate or add. Keep in mind that often people will take a suggestion for improvement or change as criticism! You may need to explain that you are trying to improve things.
- Get to know PTA presidents, leaders and members. LISTEN to their concerns. Very important: take notes. You will thank yourself for doing this. Notes guarantee accuracy. They are a kind of proof. Not only will your recollections be far more accurate, but also the people with whom you are speaking will take you far more seriously.
- Never apologize for having an opinion or your own beliefs. Many people will offer their opinions. Often, they think that no one is listening to them. LISTEN to them and then state that whenever possible you will have their concerns placed on the agenda for discussion or consideration at the next school board meeting.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery – don’t sleep with the enemy – beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Learn to identify, handle and reject ideas that are not education but are in fact propaganda and activism. Often these ideas and suggestions are cloaked as social justice when in fact they are racist and exclusionary rather than inclusionary. CRT and SEL are examples of this.
- Recognize what is really going in all grade levels: “There is no medical reason for Gender Dysphoria to have increased 20,000% in the last few years.” Reference: Prof. Wilfred Riley, author of TABOO. A recent conversation with a pediatrician included this startling statement: “100% of my female patients have expressed feeling gender dysphoria —- I think they are crazy.” These patients are unable to differentiate between the world of reality and the world of fantasy. Many people will question these statements. Use your eyes. Do the research – find the TRUTH!
- Every person leaves a wake behind them, will it disappear in minutes as it would in water, or will there be substance that endures? What will the memory of your efforts be?
- True values are earned. It is essential to require and encourage courses and teachers that demand excellence. Otherwise, the result is mediocre at best. Copyright 7-8-2022 Robert S. Wilkinson
School Boards for Academic Excellence’s new Helpdesk program is designed to support our partner organizations by providing one-on-one consultations to school board members in your network. If your organization already provides such support, the SBAE Helpdesk can be used as a supplementary resource, and if it does not, you can offer this service as a benefit to school board members in your network.
Consultations are led by SBAE Director of Network Engagement Jon Russell, drawing on his experience as a former Chief of Staff in one of Virginia’s largest and innovative school divisions, Senior Advisor to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Department of Education, and a longtime Town Councilman.
Jon is available to advise your school board members on any emergent needs, as well as the programs listed below.
To use the SBAE Helpdesk, simply email Jon at JON@SBAENETWORK.ORG and introduce him to your school board member in need of our help. He will take it from there!
