Watch this and then call your Missouri representatives and ask them to vote NO on SB 727. A bill that started out 12 pages is now 167 pages and includes extremely problematic language for home educators. It's possible that parents who teach their children at home will be in danger of having their Second Amendment rights taken away if they have a gun in their home school.
Additionally, the bill has been blown up out of all proportion to its original intent. WATCH:
By Gretchen Garrity
At the March 26, 2024 Christian County Library Board of Trustees meeting, the board voted, as a matter of course, to renew the Conflict of Interest policy required by the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC). (See March agenda under New Business.)
The policy states in part:
"Any employee who holds a voting interest in the Board or governing body of any other organization, association, non-for-profit, union, corporation, or government entity that conducts any business, financial or otherwise, with Christian County Library (including Recognized Library Support Organizations such as the Christian County Library Foundation and Friends of the Christian County Library) must disclose that relationship to their Supervisor and shall be disqualified from voting on or participating in any decision making, contract negotiation, or purchasing for or on behalf of Christian County Library related to that organization or entity. "
In a striking coincidence, a citizen, Aileena Keen, stood up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. In it, she exposes a possible conflict of interest on the part of the library's executive director, Renee Brumett, who is a current board member of MOBIUS, a library consortium that provides access to digital library materials, inter-library loans, and other resources. Watch the short video:
From Keen's question, it appears few, if any, members of the board were aware that Brumett is a member of the board of directors of MOBIUS. Library consortiums engage in resource sharing, thereby giving local library members a wider degree of access to materials like books and digital resources. Why would this be a conflict of interest? See the above library policy. MOBIUS is a library consortium of mainly academic libraries that the Missouri State Library is associated with.
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| From: MOBIUS Consortium |
Currently, only four Missouri public libraries, including the Christian County Library, are members of MOBIUS. The other libraries are St. Charles City-County Library, St. Louis County Library, and the Springfield-Green County Library. Additionally, Robin Westphal, the State Librarian, is an ex officio board member of MOBIUS.
In contrast, the Missouri Evergreen Consortium is "an independent association of Missouri Public Libraries. The Consortium is an outgrowth of efforts to improve resource sharing between Missouri’s public libraries." Evergreen is primarily concerned with public libraries. There are currently about 66 member libraries in Evergreen, with 11 applicant libraries pending.
From: Christian County Library
The question has to be asked, "Does the Christian County Library's membership in MOBIUS, versus Evergreen, have anything to do with Brumett's board membership?" It may not, but the library board should have had knowledge of any potential conflicts.
Additionally, the Christian County Library received a grant from MOBIUS for $1,159.00 to send a staff member to the American Library Association's YALSA Symposium in 2023.
Looking deeper into MOBIUS, other connections surface, such as with Overdrive. What is Overdrive? You can read about Overdrive HERE in a previous article. From that article, "As a company OverDrive is typically Woke, aligned with the ALA, and prominently promotes social justice issues on its blog and for book recommendations. The ALA’s “Right to Read” statement is promoted here and here; while Social Emotional Learning is promoted here."
Overdrive originated the Libby App which public libraries and their patrons can download to access digital materials. You can also read about it at the link, and not only can it be expensive for public libraries, but Libby allows children access to thousands of inappropriate digital materials and books.
If a parent desires only age-appropriate materials for their children on Libby, there is the eReading Room which curates materials designed for children and teens. However, it is not the parent who is able to make the final determination, but something Overdrive and libraries developed. Their understanding of age-appropriate may not be what parents feel is right for their child.
The connections with MOBIUS--including the ALA, the MLA (as an Institutional Member) and Overdrive--all point to the continued association with organizations that have progressive socialist agendas separate from our local community. Local control is not just for government schools. It's also for taxpayer-funded public libraries.
Why would our public library hold membership in a consortium of academic libraries and not one geared to public libraries? What are the respective costs associated with membership, as opposed to membership in Evergreen? When did our library join MOBIUS? What are the advantages, if any?
By Retha Holland
From: MOsenate.gov
SB 727 affects home education choice, with increasing amendments and language that puts home education in danger and under the thumb of DESE. Just a few changes under the laws of “equal application” will put ALL home educators, whether or not they are in the State program, under DESE control.
Not to mention the increased unconstitutionality of this bill. See below:
· Article III, Section 36 of the Missouri Constitution, because it has the effect of “divert[ing]” money from the treasury independent of the appropriation process.
· Article III, Section 38(a) of the Missouri Constitution, which states that “The general assembly shall have no power to grant public money or property, or lend or authorize the lending of public credit, to any private person, association or corporation…”
· Article III, Section 39(5) of the Missouri Constitution because it has the effect of “releas[ing] or extinguish[ing]... without consideration... the indebtedness, liability or obligation of... [a] corporation or individual”.
· Article III, Sections 21 and 23 because the purpose of the bill was changed through amendments, and the final title violates the clear title requirement.
The State Board of Education shall assist the State Treasurer with data collection, as well as collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), to make recommendations to the State Treasurer regarding the promulgation of rules concerning the program.
Those that have called IN FAVOR of this bill have not read it, many of which may be private schools. They are not aware of the increase in control and the “new currency” of data collecting on their students that is prominent in this bill, along with teacher choice restrictions for private schools. They do not realize how the behemoth thumb of DESE will be upon them.
This was supposed to be SIMPLE, where those that educated their children at home or chose a private school option, and pay property taxes for public school education would be allocated to the said choices. Primary involvement was at the county level. This bill started out as 12 pages and has now has evolved to a 167-page legal document with holes for control by simple changes.
How much does this ever-increasing overreach of DESE already cost out of the quarter of the budget allocated for education from the State? DESE, with an astounding 1,700 employees, will be the winners in the bill.
This was never supposed to be about the state increasing involvement, only the legal ability for a parent to “choose” their child’s education with their property taxes, instead of also continuing to pay for services they don’t use and/or fails to meet their expectations.
About 27 grassroots organizations have made their position well known on this bill to kill it in the Senate. We have seen many state representatives up for re-election flip their vote in favor of this bill.
Americans for Prosperity along with other organizations are pushing for this bill with big money behind them. So you have to ask the real question, “Who is behind the curtain” with their own agenda?
With this Christmas tree bill public schools, private schools and home educators ALL LOSE both freedom and money. The leftover pennies in the end are not worth all the trouble.
Paragraph below is just one of many expectations for those that wish to enroll in the program.
Page 92:
“5. The production by a parent of a daily log showing 102 that a home school has a course of instruction which 103 satisfies the requirements of this section or, in the case 104 of a pupil over the age of sixteen years who attended a 105 metropolitan school district the previous year, a written 106 statement that the pupil is attending home school in 107 compliance with this section shall be a defense to any 108 prosecution under this section and to any charge or action 109 for educational neglect brought pursuant to chapter 210.”
What also has been overlooked in this trap of a bill is all it takes are small language changes or amendments that can and will put home educators and private schools under DESE control, as well as ruling that home-educator parents’ homes may be considered “gun free zones,” infringing on Second Amendment rights.
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| From: JodieGrace.com |
Jodie Grace of the Arise and Build Podcast recently interviewed Patrick Holland from the Missouri Freedom Initiative. The subject was "Gold and Silver Currency in Missouri."
Link HERE.
From the show notes: "If you are interested in learning more about having a private, safe form of currency I hope you'll take time to listen even if you have to break it up into smaller sessions. It's worth your time!
The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. Citizens for Sound Money, with Daniel Diaz at the helm as Executive Director, has been an important ally in our quest to pass sound money legislation in Missouri. Daniel joins us tonight to dissect the precariousness of our current financial system, underscoring the necessity for a viable alternative.
The looming shadow of a potential economic downturn, particularly in the realm of commercial real estate, has sparked concerns of a crisis that could dwarf the turmoil of 2008. These discussions, largely absent from mainstream media, have found a home on alternative platforms, highlighting a brewing storm that could have profound impacts on us all.
This narrative of fiscal distress extends to the education sector, where schools, rather than tightening belts, have leveraged recent bond approvals to secure funding, amplifying the tax burden on local communities. This trend, echoing the fiscal challenges of states like Illinois, serves as a stark reminder of government priorities, often at odds with the well-being of its citizens."
From: WLA, an alternative to the ALA
By Gretchen Garrity
Taxpayers--citizens of Christian County--are unknowingly funding the American Library Association's advocacy for overthrowing our nation. Our local library, the Christian County Library, has sent Executive Director Renee Brumett, to an Ohio ALA conference this week that...well, let them speak for themselves.
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| From: MSBA |
By Gretchen Garrity
There were several very important outcomes to yesterday's (April 2, 2024) municipal races in Christian County. First, the Christian County Health Board has three new members who are dedicated to individual freedom. It is a huge win for citizens.
Second, the President-Elect of the Missouri School Boards Association, Ozark School Board Member Patty Quessenberry, was defeated. After 27 years as a school board member, the voters decided change was needed.
Now for the sticky part. According to the MSBA by-laws, the President of the MSBA must also be a current school board member:
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| From: Christian County Website |
WATCH: The Globalist Plan to Destroy Education Freedom | Explained in Under Two Minutes pic.twitter.com/pZBmVHyR43
— That Other Tim (@ThatOtherTim) April 1, 2024
The Missouri Freedom Initiative goes live at 7:30 p.m. tonight. School bonds, the Silver and Gold bill in the Missouri Legislature and perhaps a little about the Education Bill SB727. Also, Patrick Holland of the MFI talks about more deceptive school bond language below.
@right2winozarks The more you know!
♬ original sound - Right2WinOzarks
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| From: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery on X |
By Gretchen Garrity
At last Tuesday's candidate forum in Ozark, a woman named Amy Cooper asked the candidates their opinion of Rep. Jamie Gragg's bill (HB 2885) that would make it a crime for a teacher to assist a child in their desire to transition from one sex to the other. An impossibility, of course. The term "social transitioning" is not what is happening. This is what is happening, and that's not the worst of it.School Board member and president-elect of the Missouri School Boards Association, Patty Quessenberry, answered out of her "Christian" sensibilities. It's a doozy. Her pastor needs to help exorcise the progressive tendencies she expressed in her answer.
To suggest, as Quessenberry did, that a Christian is not supposed to make a judgment regarding the emotional and physical mutilation of troubled children, but to make sure they feel safe in their delusion, is depraved. She does say the right words at one point--that it's not for teachers to help a child to "transition," but her overall answer was anti-christian in its intent.
Quessenberry then defends teachers and says she wants teacher retention in Ozark. Okaaaay. What does Ozark teacher retention have to do with Rep. Gragg's bill? What is she saying?
God will ultimately hold her accountable for her "non-judgment" of the diabolical and profit-driven gender movement that is deeply harming the psyches and bodies of children. Is this the type of individual who should get another term on the Ozark School Board? For more on Quessenberry go here.
UPDATE: Example A of why our local school board elections are vital: Joe Biden has declared March 31, 2024 as Transgender Visibility Day. Gender ideology is a top-down imposition on our local communities. Resist.@right2winozarks ♬ original sound - Right2WinOzarks
