September 9, 2011 Mr.

Mike Phillips President, Pascagoula School Board 1006 Communy Avenue Pascagoula, MS 39568
2403 King Avenue, Pascagoula, MS 39567 (228) 623.1236 * frank@frankcorder.com

Dear Mr. Phillips, I trust this correspondence finds you and your fellow members of the Pascagoula School Board well. I write to you today as a concerned parent and taxpayer in the Pascagoula School District. As you well know, I hold elected office on the Pascagoula City Council, but the matter to which I write here has no bearing on my duties nor do I write in that capacity. The comments to follow are strictly my thoughts and should not be construed in any manner as speaking on behalf of any of my colleagues on the City Council or for the City of Pascagoula. I continue to be disturbed by recent events that remain in question regarding the use of materials taken from The Parents Campaign and presented in the back-to-school teacher/staff meeting the day prior to the August primary elections. I believe the matter is to be discussed this coming Monday evening, at which time I will regrettably be unable to attend due to a prior commitment. At the August School Board meeting, this matter was referred to Mr. Kelly Sessoms, school district attorney, to review and make a legal recommendation to you and your colleagues on the Pascagoula School Board if indeed the use of the material from The Parents Campaign was against school board policy or not. I must admit that I found the referral to legal counsel disconcerting in that board policies are in question thus the matter is subject to the discretion and interpretation of the board. While Mr. Sessoms may advise you as to legal precedents on similar matters, he is not a board member and it is not his policy. You and your colleagues must make the determination of appropriateness and application of such board policies, and I trust you will. Since first learning of this matter and having attended the August meeting, I am concerned that you and your colleagues may not fully appreciate the concerns I and many others in the community share regarding this subject. To help you identify with my concerns, I have provided commentary below that I hope you will consider as you make the final determination of whether the actions of that day violated board policy or not. The Parents Campaign states its mission is to ensure a brighter future for Mississippi children by promoting better public schools through parent advocacy. We inform parents of legislation that affects our schools, help them identify and contact their own legislators, and report to them about how their legislators vote on bills that determine the level of education offered their children. By giving parents a means by which their voices can be heard, we are working together to change our state for the better.

I trust you can see that The Parents Campaign does not speak of itself as an advocate for educating or informing teachers and public employees on legislative voting records, nor does it state that their information is meant for anyone other than the parents of Mississippi children. They function by their own admission as a parent advocacy group. Their mission does, however, point to the inherent political nature of their work. The Parents Campaign parades itself as a non-partisan coalition of parents. Some during the August school board meeting used the term non-partisan as a means by which the original action should be justified, as if were apolitical. To the contrary, the very term non-partisan is political in nature; thus The Parents Campaign is a political organization by their own admission and outlined in their mission statement. As a reference, Websters Dictionary defines political as of or relating to government, a government, or the conduct of government; of, relating to, or concerned with the making as distinguished from the administration of governmental policy; of, relating to, involving, or involved in politics and especially party politics; organized in governmental terms; and involving or charged or concerned with acts against a government or a political system. While some non-partisan groups are truly such, most, in fact, are by and large identifiable with a political party when you research their activities. This is indeed the case with The Parents Campaign. Most astute political observers around the state could argue this groups non-partisan claim with ease, what with their paid lobbyist and obvious political affiliations routinely shown during legislative talks. According to the Mississippi Secretary of States website, The Parents Campaign is not only a non-profit advocacy group, but it focuses its attention on lobbying. The Parents Campaign has had three registered lobbyists under its umbrella Executive Director Nancy Loome, Deborah Meador and Cynthia White. As a general thought, a lobbyist is someone, or a group, that represents their interests before a political body in an attempt to influence the will of that political body and direct a specific outcome to benefit said lobbyist. Any information developed by lobbyists then would be political in nature and would be intended to address political issues. The information may be perceived as non-partisan, but it is definitely not apolitical. Political organizations produce political materials. Another interesting point is that Dick Molpus is listed as the Vice President of The Parents Campaign. You may remember Molpus as the Democratic Secretary of State back in the 1980s as well as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1995. However, Molpus is just one politically active member of this groups inner circle; I could gladly name others. While affiliation with former political leaders may not be an indictment that The Parents Campaign is non-partisan, any logical person could make the correlation to a specific political affiliation whether such influence is practiced above or below the table. Whats more, I would be remiss in highlighting the political nature of The Parents Campaign if I did not also point out the groups mass emails, routinely laced with quotes from legislators who sit squarely on the proverbial left side of the aisle at the Capitol, legislators such as Democratic Rep. Cecil Brown.

The Parents Campaign is solely focused on one issue education. While such focus can be appreciated, especially between you and your colleagues, not welcoming explanation or reasoning behind legislative votes from those the group characterizes as not being pro-education is troublesome. The Parents Campaign has their political agenda set in stone and has not welcomed conversation about the other parts of the state budget which in turn effects education. Education funding is important, but so is healthcare, public safety and other state budget lines; it is one element amongst many. Simply taking one element out of the mix without considering the other parts is shortsighted and, yes, politically expedient for partisan political gain. Further, varying fiscal political ideologies play into how these legislators vote. Some preach fiscal restraint and living within our means, while others hold fast to a spend now, pray later fiscal ideology, while all seemingly hold education in high regard. Discernment in these matters then is only gained through conversation and true want of understanding, which The Parents Campaign has traditionally lacked. The Pascagoula School District's board policy as posted online states: Section G, Number GAHBB: Public funds cannot be used for political activity of any kind by any person or organization involved in the administration of public school assisted programs. The Board of Trustees of the School District recognizes the right of every employee to vote as he/she chooses and to express his/her opinions on political subjects and candidates. Given the information above and the understanding that indeed The Parents Campaign is a political organization in every sense of the word, it seems evident that public funds were used for political activity by and for school employees. It also seems apparent that public funds were expended to create the presentation in question, whether through technical resources in the use of public equipment as well as by use of an employees time to compile the information. Further, public funds were expended by allowing/requiring public employees to view the material while on the taxpayers clock. There is no doubt in my mind that the presentation in question violated Pascagoula School District board policy Section G, Number GAHBB. Additionally, Board policy also states: Section G, Number GAHB: The board recognizes the right of its employees and encourages them as citizens to engage in activities which exemplify good citizenship. However, school property and school time shall not be used for political purposes. Again, knowing full well that The Parents Campaign is a political organization, this policy was also violated as the presentation in question was likely compiled and definitely presented on school property on school time. Please note that there is no reference in either of these board policies to the term non-partisan, only to political activity, political purposes, and political subjects. When you add in the timing of the presentation in question one day before the August primary elections - the intent becomes clearer still. The presentation was for all intensive purposes meant to

foster some sort of political sentiment within its viewers, blatantly violating board policy. While no official candidate endorsements were made, to say that such activity was not intended to sway these educators' votes on the eve of an election on public property while on the taxpayers clock would be disingenuous. The Parents Campaign is meant for parents of Mississippi children; registered political lobbyists promote the group thus making the group inherently political; there is an obvious slant to one political party over another whether actual or implied; and they are shortsighted in their rating of legislators which again points to one political ideology over another. As a parent, taxpayer, and concerned citizen, I urge you to determine that board policy was violated and that such political activity not be allowed in our public schools and while on the taxpayers clock. Ruling otherwise would not be consistent with the established board policies nor would it be setting a good example for the many educators and staff members under your purview. This school board and the current administration have historically dealt swiftly and authoritatively with those who violate adopted policies, whether in dealing with students or employees. Not acknowledging this error and taking corrective actions to prevent a similar breach of board policy would be a dereliction of duty. I also wish to make it known that I hold no ill will toward you, any of your fellow board members, or the superintendent and his staff. It is solely up to you and your colleagues to determine a remedy for this unfortunate matter, however, anything short of a public acknowledgement of the violations and a public release stating the corrective measures to be implemented will only serve to continue to allow this matter to fester both within your ranks and in the community. The Pascagoula School District is diligently working to educate our children and you should be very proud to be associated with the organization. I am proud of our school district and only want to see it grow and remain an institution of excellence for every child in this community. I send my child to school every day with pride and appreciation. I urge you to thoughtfully consider this letter and the content herein. You and your colleagues have the ability to put this matter behind us all when you deliberate this Monday evening. I encourage you to act in the best interest of the public you represent. As I once heard said, Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Please feel free to contact me anytime. Sincerely, Frank Corder
CC: Mr. Dan Marks, Board Member Mr. Sonny Backs, Board Member Mr. Mike Concannon, Board Member Mrs. Jennifer Colmer, Board Member