Building Relationships 101
with Nichole Mason

Encourage any group of parents to find out what the law is, i.e., doesn’t allow political dialog in the classroom (ensure parents are notifying other parents in the classroom of this law)
 
Attend School Board Meetings: Ask to be on public comments section
Call ahead and ask to be on the public comments portion. 
They will give you 2-3 minutes and introduce yourself:
  • Introduce yourself by name, potentially a title or number of kids in school (develop relevancy)
  • Get right to root of what it is you want to provide – including a solution
  • Additional thoughts and comments:
    • TYPE UP and HAND OUT to the board members who are there.
    • It will become part of the public notes when people go back to look at it.
    • Highlight the difference between real culture and political movements – other political movements going on that are NOT cultural (there may be people concerned if this organization came in (NRA? Others…? 
      • Perfect example: Let’s put the NRA in our culture bag!   
      • Provide about 4 organizations along with the NRA and provide the school board with the number of these groups in our community. 
      • If we’re opening up to anything – like BLM – CRT – then we should be open to EVERYTHING, even the conservative viewpoints
    • Create an imperative
    • Have each of the parents who are united on this issue talk about it
    • This creates like a mini-slide show
 
Offer Solutions! (e.g., Dismiss or Reinvent this Giraffe Club – have parental support on the Culture Bags being shown, etc.) OTHER, like CRT
 
If you’re not getting a response, call the hotline (audit hotline at state office of education: call or provide written form) USDE Audit Hotline  https://www.schools.utah.gov/internalaudit?mid=892&tid=3
Reporting a Concern:  If you would like to request an audit or review of a program, function, account, internal control, compliance requirement, report, etc., or if you would like to report misuse of assets, funds or resources, non-compliance with regulations, policies or rules, fraud, waste, abuse or unethical behavior, please contact the Internal Audit Department in one of the following ways:
1. Fill out the Report a Concern Form.
2. E-mail  audit@schools.utah.gov(External Web Content)
3. Call our dedicated hotline at (801) 538-7813, or
4. Mail a concern to:
Utah State Board of Education
Internal Audit Department
Attention: Debbie Davis
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200
 
The most effective are articulated well and are careful not to make belittling accusations. You’ve been elected, we expect you – but don’t throw emotion in it. Most effective ways are calm, cool, and collected – yet exacting. 
 

Slideshow Presentation on Working with School Boards

This is a slideshow presentation that can be copied and used in school districts across Utah to help parents work with their school boards, to advocate for their children and to protect parental rights.