Letter Writing Campaign: Ready, Get Set, WRITE

At the PTA extended meeting board meeting last night it was discussed that one of the ways that our voices may be most effectively heard is via an old fashioned, snail mail letter writing campaign. While email is quick, easy, and efficient, often times a letter in the mail box has a greater impact.

Please keep in mind, that while we are all personally committed to keeping Brockett Elementary open, closing any of the elementary schools in Tucker will be detrimental to our students, teachers and our community at large. This is not a competition between the 3 elementary schools but rather an opportunity for us to join together and let the BOE know that we are committed to our Tucker schools and the unique qualities that each one possesses.

Below are the suggestions the PTA created as "talking points" that you may want to include in the letter. It was also suggested at the Tucker Parent Council that the letters be respectful, factual and to the point.

3/4/10

Dear Brockett Parents,

Thanks to all of the parents who attended the meeting last night in support of Brockett staying open for the 2009-2010 school year (last night’s presentation will be on Brockett’s PTA website by Friday). You can help by:

1. Attending the next Citizen’s Planning Task Force meeting, March 9, 2010 at 6:00 PM at the William Bradley Bryant Center (cafeteria) located at 2652 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur, Georgia 30033. Wear your Brockett T-shirt or sweatshirt!

2. Write a letter to the school board members who represent our district, Mr. Paul Womack and Dr. Pam Speaks. Parents have generously volunteered to provide the labels, envelopes, and stamps to mail the letters. All you have to do is write the letter and send it to the school. Please write your letter about why Brockett should stay open and submit it to the front office by Monday, March 8, 2010.

Please address the letter to Mr. Womack or Dr. Pam Speaks and use the following talking points to help you write the letter:

· Brockett represents stability and consistency and is committed to student achievement. We are a Title I Distinguished school and should remain open.

· 67% of Brockett’s staff has worked at the school for 3 years or more. This does not include teaching experience and represents the school’s ability to retain good teachers.

· According to the Elementary School Screening Analyses Chart given to the CPTF, our school enrollment/school capacity and student population/home school capacity is at 93%.

· Our students regularly attend school. The percentage of students absent 5 days or less has been 62%-67% over the last three years (see chart below).

· We have a diverse population and our students stay at Brockett. Over the last three years our FTE count shows stability in enrollment and diversity between the October and March FTE counts (see chart below).

· Our teachers are effective and students are learning. According to DeKalb County requirement, students must have at least an 820 on the CRCT to be considered a high achiever in Brockett. For the last 3 years on the CRCT, the mean scale score of ALL students in grades 3-5 in English Language Arts, read AND math has been 818 or higher. The mean scale score for 3^rd grade students in 2008 was 218 (new GPS) prior to that the mean scale score of ALL students in grades 3-5 was 823 or higher on the CRCT.

· Our facility has received several upgrades since 2002 and we are scheduled for more in 2010. Our current requests for repairs are focus on one area, plumbing.

· Discuss your personal commitment and connection to Brockett.

Area	2008 - 2009	2007-2008	2006-2007
ATTENDANCE % OF STUDENTS ABSENT 5 OR FEWER DAYS	67	63	62
Student Enrollment (FTE Count) in MARCH	481	442	428
Student Enrollment (FTE Count) in FTE OCT	463	438	431
Student Enrollment (FTE Count) in FTE OCT 2009	459
DIVERSITY (Other - Hispanic, multicultural, Asian)	AA - 44%, WHITE - 26% OTHER - 30%	AA - 42%, WHITE - 25% OTHER - 33%	AA - 45%, WHITE - 25% OTHER - 30%

You can either mail your letter directly to Paul Womack and/or Dr. Pam Speaks or you can bring it to the school for an envelope and stamp and they will mail it for you.

Below is the contact information for the SB members that represent District 4.

DISTRICT 4
H. PAUL WOMACK, JR.
h_paul_womack@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
2809 Woodland Park Drive Atlanta, GA 30345
Hm# 404.325.5821
Fax# 404.325.9233

SUPER DISTRICT 8
Dr. PAMELA SPEAKS
pam_speaks@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
5700 Bahia Mar Circle Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Hm# 770.493.4805
Fax# 770.939.2667

Thank you very much for all your efforts to KEEP BROCKETT OPEN.