Goodbye Minimally Adequate Campaign

League of Women Voters^®
of the Charleston Area

LWVCA joins the "Goodbye Minimally Adequate" Campaign for SC Schools

The LWVCA has joined the statewide effort to collect 1,000,000 signatures on a petition to say goodbye to "Minimally Adequate" public schools in SC.

About the Campaign. How you can help..

What is the Goodbye Minimally Adequate Campaign?

The South Carolina Constitution requires State support of free public schools open to all children but does not set any educational standards. In 1999, during a years-long lawsuit by more than 30 poor, rural school districts, the S.C. Supreme Court interpreted the requirement to mean a "minimally adequate" education. A new statewide campaign seeks 1,000,000 signatures on a petition asking for a Constitutional amendment that would require the state to provide a high quality education.
In a column that appeared in the Post and Courier on February 22, 2009, Kathleen Parker describes her visit to schools along the I-95 corridor. "When Bud Ferillo told me to dress warmly, it didn't occur to me he was concerned that I might be cold inside the classroom," she writes. "I did not remove my jacket or scarf during a three hour tour because some schools had temperatures "as low as 50 degrees." Read Spend Now, or Pay Later.

We're Asking For Your Help!

GOODBYE MINIMALLY ADEQUATE PETITION LWVCA BOARD CHALLENGE:
Join the campaign to get 5000 signers by our Annual Meeting on May 21, 2009. There will be prizes for those who collect the most signatures.

Goodbye Minimally Adequate. Hello High Quality. Would you choose a "minimally adequate" education for your children? Of course not! No parent would! Here's something you can do now.

Participate in the LWVCA campaign to collect 5000 signatures on the petition to amend South Carolina's constitution and set a higher standard for South Carolina's public schools. You will find more information at www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com.
Signers should be South Carolina residents. They do not have to be registered to vote. School-age children and up can sign.

Collecting signatures is easy. Here are some ideas. You will come up with others.

If you have not already signed the petition, sign online at www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com. E-mail the link to your on-line pals. Ask them to sign on line and let you know when they do.
Print copies of the petition and carry them with you. Ask neighbors, family, friends, co-workers to sign.
Circulate the petition at gatherings and meetings: your book club, your bridge group, the parents at your child's sports events and after school activities.
Ask at your regular stopping places if you can leave copies of the petition in a prominent place. You can pick up completed petitions and replenish periodically. This will work best if someone on site will collect and hold completed petitions for you and will put out fresh ones as needed. Some places to consider: school and church offices, coffee shop, gym, hairdresser, dry cleaner, deli.
Put an announcement into work, church or school newsletter with a link to http://www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com.

Everything you need to participate is available for you to download and copy.
Petition - Each petition holds 10 signatures; print several to distribute!
Informational flyer - Hand out with petition so people know about the campaign. Two flyers are included on each page so that they can be cut in half.
Joint Resolution to Amend the Constitution

When you have full petitions, contact one of the members listed below. You can arrange to drop them off or someone will pick them up from you.

Peggy Huchet - James Island - 762-2828
Jean Norman - Johns Island- 559-4486
Mary Horres - Mt. Pleasant - 849-5469
Barbara Zia - Mt. Pleasant - 216-3550
Joanna Harper - Isle of Palms - 886-4125

HOW MANY SIGNATURES CAN YOU COLLECT? START TODAY. MEET THE CHALLENGE. WIN THE PRIZE. REMEMBER: THE REAL WINNERS ARE OUR CHILDREN!

Access more information on public school finance issues in South Carolina on our Citizen Resources page.

GOT QUESTIONS? SUGGESTIONS? NEED ASSISTANCE? Contact Peggy Huchet, 762-2828, mhuchet@comcast.net

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: November 16, 2009 17:34 PST.