SBOE candidates split on future of education

AUSTIN — Two years since a conservative sweep of the State Board of Education, November's election carries high stakes, with all 15 seats on the ballot and the instructional direction of 5 million Texas school children in the balance.

The divide between two camps on the issues of history and science, political and religious ideology is deep. For one, the fight for control of the SBOE is nothing less than a cultural clash. The other views the November contests as critical choices to protect conservative values.

The board determines curriculum standards and textbooks for the state's K-12 public school system and also controls the $26 billion Permanent School Fund, which benefits public education.

The next board will select new science and social studies/history textbooks to reflect updated science curriculum standards.

“That's where all these culture war battles will come to a head over what students learn about evolution, about civil rights, about church and state separation,” said Dan Quinn, spokesman for the Texas Freedom Network, an Austin-based group that monitors the SBOE from a more liberal perspective. “All those battles will come in 2013 and 2014, and the textbooks will be in the classrooms for a generation.”

Will the new textbooks “teach science or pseudo science?” Quinn asks. “Will we have history textbooks that teach facts based on real scholars or opinions based on the political beliefs of whoever controls the board?”

Conservatives control the debate and will likely prevail in the general election. Republican members hold a commanding 11-4 advantage, and few expect big changes — either in the partisan or ideological makeup of the board.

SBOE elections gained new attention from voters following passionate debates on science standards and social studies in 2010, said Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, formerly known as the Liberty Institute, which monitors the board from a more conservative perspective. “More people want to see the values of Texas reflected in their elected officials, and that's no different with the State Board of Education,” Saenz said. “You will continue to see more conservatives who feel very strongly about their conservative beliefs get involved in the election process.”

Conservatives and liberals see the El Paso-based border region (District 1) as the seat with the most potential to change partisan hands among the 15 seats. Long-time Democrat incumbent Rene Nuñez of El Paso lost the seat in the 2010 GOP wave to Carlos “Charlie” Garza of El Paso

Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio, said Republicans have not given up hope of keeping Garza, who Mercer describes as “a champion campaigner.”

Six incumbents are retiring or lost their primary elections. About half of the new board could consist of new members. Mercer faces a rematch with Texas State University English and film Professor Rebecca Bell-Metereau. Libertarian Mark Loewe of Austin and Green Party candidate Irene Meyer Scharf of Helotes also are running for the District 5 seat.

Mercer defeated Bell-Metereau by 16 points in the 2010 election. He anticipates a much closer outcome this year as more Democrats are expected to vote and new political boundaries include Democratic-leaning portions of Travis County. Mercer's district includes northern San Antonio, Seguin, Llano, San Saba, Kerrville and Wimberley.

“I live in the heart of Texas,” Mercer said. “It's very conservative.”

Mercer was one of the leaders in the fight over new social studies curriculum standards, pushing free enterprise principles and patriotic themes. It was important, Mercer said, for new history curriculum standards to be “on the conservative side.”

Mercer ensured that school children would learn about San Antonio native Wallace Jefferson, the first African American to serve on the Texas Supreme Court. Jefferson is now chief justice of the court.

“I'm big on local control. I oppose national tests and national standards,” Mercer said.

Bell-Metereau said she plans to keep running for the state board until she wins.

“I've got a really simple message for people — we need teachers who understand education on the board,” she said. “The board has made so many unforced errors that it's ridiculous. This should not be a controversial or political board.”

Texas now educates 10 percent of the entire K-12 public student enrollment in the United States, Bell-Metereau noted. It's imperative for Texas to base its curriculum standards on experts and accuracy and not on political ideology, she said.

Voters in the district “cherish conservative values and that is not wasting money on high stakes testing and test preparation materials,” Bell-Metereau said.

gscharrer@express-news.net