December 9, 2005
NEW Membership Service Announcement
The Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE)
along with the legal firm of Doster, Mickes, James, Ullom, Benson & Guest, LLC
(firm) announce a new Legal Telephone Consultation Service.
This optional service provided at no additional cost to MARE member school
districts pays for itself in a matter of a few phone calls requesting advice
on minor legal issues.
The new
Legal Telephone Consultation
Service allows for unlimited telephone consultation with a school
attorney of your choice at either the St. Louis office or the Kansas City
office. Phone Numbers are:
St. Louis Office -- (636) 532-0042
Kansas City Office -- (816) 531-1888
This service is available for a period of one year
under certain conditions as set forth below:
---- Annual MARE membership must be
current
---- MARE will provide the firm with a
current list of school district members
---- All calls for legal consultation
should be funneled through the Superintendent of Schools.
---- The caller will identify that they
are a MARE member school district
---- This legal service covers telephone
consulations with a designated or non-designated attorney with the firm
---- The Legal Consultation Service
DOES NOT:
-- Cover in-depth research
-- Preparation of documents
-- Written opinions
-- Telephone consultations
in conjunction with the firm's current representation of the district on a
descrete matter.
(Ex:
employee/student hearings, current lawsuit, contract negotiations, or similar
in-depth representation)
-- The review of documents
mailed or faxed to the firm's office in conjunction with a request for legal
consultation.
---- It is expected that more
substantive legal issues will be referred to the firm of Doster, Mickes,
James, Ullom, Benson, & Guest, LLC to represent the school
district. The firm would then bill the school district for all work and
consultation relative to the case.
---- Should the firm not be able to take the
case, the school district will receive assistance in securing competent
counsel for the case.
Even, if your school district already subscribes to
another legal service, in today's climate, it is important to consider the
value of having access to a "second opinion." Particularly from a group of
attorneys with extensive experience on school law issues.
Should you have questions about this new service
or need confirmation of your membership status, please contact the MARE
Executive Director at (660) 747-8050 or email:
rpatrick@moare.com
Annual MARE Conference:
The annual MARE Conference is scheduled for Friday and
Saturday - February 24 & 25, 2006, at The Resort at Port Arrowhead, Lake,
Ozark, Missouri. You may now register by going on to the MARE website -
moare.com and clicking on Conference on the left side of the screen. You may
register using the online registration or downing the registration form and
faxing or mailing to the MARE office. Please note there is a change in the
beginning time of the conference. For those districts wishing to submit
nominations for the Outstanding Rural Education Awards, they may also be
completed on the MARE website or downloading the PDF file. Should you have
any questions, please contact the MARE Executive Director at (660) 747-8050 or
email: rpatrick@moare.com. Hotel
Reservations must be made directly with the Hotel at 1-800-532-3575.
New MARE Endorsements:
The MARE Executive Board recently met and have now
endorsed the following companies services/products. The companies endorsed
are:
Staples (office/school supplies/equipment)
Additional information on the products available and savings through Staples
will be forth-coming.
SOCS - Simplified Online Communications
Systems. This organization provides website support for districts that may
not have a website or that may have one but is in need of a change or update.
Additional information on this service also will be forth-coming.
Rural Summit Followup:
A followup of the Rural School Improvement Summit held
in Norman, OK on September 11-13, was held on Wednesday, December 7th at the
MASA/MCSA building in Jefferson City. There were approximately 50 school
administrators, board members and education association representatives in
attendance. Members of the legislature that were able to attend included:
Representative Joe Aull, Representative Danie Moore, Representative David
Pearce, Senator Frank Branitz and Senator Gary Nodler (by phone). Rex
Shackleford gave an overview of the plan that the Missouri delegation had
prepared at the Summit. There was some very good dialogue on topics dealing
with the School Formula, Transportation, 65% Solution, Scholarship Programs
(Vouchers), Virtual High School Program, only to name a few.
I want to express appreciation to those that attended
the Summit in September, worked to put this meeting to together, the
Legislators that took time from their busy schedules to attend, as well as the
school districts representatives, some traveling long distances, that were
able to get away to attend. I know there were several that had planned to
attend but because of scheduling conflicts and weather related issues could
not make it. I believe it was beneficial for both sides and hope that such a
meeting may again be held, at a future time, to address Rural Education
issues.
As a response to the September Summit, the National
Rural Education Association is developing a National Rural Summit that has
identified a theme of how to "stabilize and grow rural communities." As
this project develops, I will keep you informed.
NCLB Insights:
I recently was made aware of the "NCLB Insights." This publication addresses
issues related to NCLB and its reauthorization exclusively. This publication
is available to you FREE.
NCLB Insights, published monthly by
Washington Partners, LLC, a government affairs and public relations firm
specializing in education policy, provides news and commentary on the
implementation and reauthorization of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT. If you
would like to subscribe go the website:
www.wpllc.net and click on the invitation to subscribe.
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act:
Our Students First - 65% Rule:
What Others are Saying:
Public Pulse Research, LLC, conducted a survey of 600 registered voters in
Missouri for the Missouri Republican Party on November 30 and December 1,
2005. The survey tested several issues related to Governor Blunt's proposal
to require at least 65% of all public school expenditures be spent on
classroom-related items. The results were not unexpected.
77% of those surveyed either strongly favored or somewhat favored a plan that
would require public school districts to spend at least 65% of their budget
directly on classroom instruction.
76% of those surveyed either strongly favored or somewhat favored, would vote
for this requirement if such a proposal were placed on the ballot.
State of the State Address:
Governor Blunt's office announced on December 8th that the State of the State
address will occur on the evening of January 11th, 2006. These addresses
usually occur between January 20th and 30th each year. Speculation is that
because of the negative publicity the proposed 65% Solution has received
state wide, that there is a need to prevent further opposition of this
proposal by returning legislators.
Dr. Darrell "Jack" Holly/Music Scholarship:
The Missouri United School Insurance Council has announced that applications
for the Dr. Darrell "Jack" Holly/MUSIC Scholarship is now available. Six
$2,000.00 scholarships (nonrenewable) will be awarded to students who graduate
in 2006 from high schools in MUSIC member districts. The funding of the
scholarships are provided by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., proceeds from the golf
tournament and other corporate donations.
For additional information on this scholarship, contact Dr. Gary VanMeter
(MUSIC Executive Director) at (636) 916-3433.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!