[tasla] FW: Texline 249: CALL TO ACTION on HB 3 -- Conferees Named

Mon May 25 12:31:30 EDT 2009

Dear School Library Colleagues,

I hope you are enjoying a much needed day off before the final crunch to the end of school.  While most of us are off today, please be aware that the Texas Legislature is not.  Today would be a great time to follow up on Gloria's Call to Action from Thursday, which I am including below.

You NEVER know when your one email or phone call will be the difference in finally getting school librarians on every campus in Texas.  In fact, it was just one brief, but well-written email from a 9th grade HS librarian in Brazosport ISD, Antonia Menzel, to her representative that moved this effort forward this year, when it appeared to be dying a quick death!  Antonia's representative, Dennis Bonnen, along with Representative Patrick Rose, from the Austin area, crafted the amendment to Eissler's HB3, which is currently in need of our support in order to survive.  While it doesn't require a school librarian on every campus, which was not feasible in this year's climate of school finance in crises, it does open the door for school librarians to be considered in accountability measures.

Remember, a succinct message has the most impact.  Remind your legislator that you are both a voter and taxpayer, and use the language from the TEA/TSLAC study on school libraries that Gloria highlights below.

We especially need those of you who live or work in the districts of Senators Shapiro, Ogden, Patrick, Van de Putte, or Williams to help with this effort.   The role of these Conference Committee Member is critical in maintaining the language that Representatives Bonnen and Rose worked to add to this bill in the house.  While it isn't yet getting a school librarian on every campus, it is a foot in the door for us, and one I hope you will take the time to rally behind.  Any step forward is huge for us, and the more they hear from us, the stronger our case will be the next time around!

Thanks again for your hard work during this session!

Jennifer LaBoon
Legislative and Advocacy Committee Chair
Texas Association of School Librarians  
________________________________________
From: Gloria Meraz [gloriam at txla.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:08 PM
To: Gloria Meraz
Subject: Texline 249: CALL TO ACTION on HB 3 -- Conferees Named

TLA TEXLINE NO. 249 - TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
In this issue: CALL TO ACTION on HB 3 -- Conferees Named
Posted: May 21, 2009

In this issue
I. CALL TO ACTION on HB 3 -- Conferees Named

I. CALL TO ACTION on HB 3 -- Conferees Named
HB 3 relates to accountability and promotion requirements for public schools. During the House floor passage of the bill, Reps. Rose and Bonnen added an amendment to allow TEA to study the option of including school library services as a factor for campus distinction designation. The Senate version does not include this language. The Texas House has named its representatives for the HB 3 Conference Committee, which will negotiate differences with the Senate version of the bill. The Senate is expected to name its conferees shortly.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION:
If your senator or representative serves on the HB 3 Conference Committee, please contact their office as soon as possible with the following message.

The message:
Please accept the House language for HB 3 on Sec. 39.203 (a) that would allow TEA to conduct a feasibility study on the potential inclusion of library services for campus distinction designation. In a TEA and State Library study completed last fall on school library programs, the agencies found that TEA should engage in a discussion with the education community on school library standards and using those standards as a basis to “document progress in providing quality library programs.”

According to this TEA/TSLAC study: “Public school library programs increase student ability to learn and provide a more successful learning environment. School libraries support core curriculum areas, enabling students to achieve their potential and fully participate now and in the future in the social, economic, and educational opportunities of our state, nation, and world.”

By including House Section 39.203 (a), the Legislature gives TEA the opportunity to study the role of school libraries in supporting the highest standards of education.

Sec.i39.203.iiSTUDY REGARDING ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES FOR
DISTINCTION DESIGNATION. (a) The agency shall conduct a study on the
feasibility and appropriateness of including additional categories of performance
for a distinction designation under Section 39.201(d), including library services
and the campus learning environment.

The Senate Conferees
Ø      Senator Florence Shapiro; ph: 512-463-0108; fax: 512-463-7579; http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist8/dist8.htm#Form
Ø      Senator Steve Ogden; ph: 512-463-0105; fax: 463-5713; http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist5/dist5.htm#form
Ø      Senator Dan Patrick; ph: 512-463-0107; fax: 512-463-8810; http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist7/dist7.htm#Form
Ø      Senator Leticia Van de Putte; ph: 512-463-0126; fax: 512-463-2114; http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist26/dist26.htm#form
Ø      Senator Tommy Williams; ph: 512-463-0104; fax: 512-463-6373
Ø      http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist4/dist4.htm#form

The House Conferees
Ø      Representative Rob Eissler; ph: 512-463-0797; fax: 512-463-0898; http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=15&rep=rob.eissler
Ø      Representative Harold Dutton; ph: 512-463-0510; fax: 512-463-8333; http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=142&rep=harold.dutton
Ø      Representative Scott Hochberg; ph: 512-463-0492; fax: 512-463-5896; http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=137&rep=scott.hochberg
Ø      Representative Jim Keffer; ph: 512-463-0656; fax: 512-478-8805; http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=60&rep=jim.keffer
Ø      Representative Michael Villarreal; ph: 512-463-0532; fax: 512-463-7675; http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=123&rep=michael.villarreal

*******************************************************
TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries.  To subscribe, contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association, gloriam at txla.org.