WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. GOVERNOR tAl 4' el '76 OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATE CAPITOL AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 TO: Doug Brown FROM: Karl RoveVY'll RE: Follow-up on Curriculum Bill DATE: May 6, 1981 MAY 6 1981 - There's been talk about appointing a blue ribbon task force to monitor the State Board's efforts to fashion a back-to-basics curriculum as it is required to do under the curriculum bill. I believe this would be a mistake right now. 1) If there's no representation on the task force from the right wing, they'll immediately describe their exclusion as further evidence the Governor has sold out to TEA. 2) If members of the right wing are included on a task force, they'll make the process more divisive and argumentative than necessary at the start of the State Education Board's work. 3) Appointing a task force takes the spotlight off the Governor. Between the bill's passage and the board's first draft of the new curriculum, the Governor needs to be the star. The Governor does need someone to monitor the Board's work, however. This person should be (a) conversant on curriculum issues; (b) totally loyal to the Governor; and (c) credible with the back-to-basics movement. This person must also be sensitive to these issues 1982 political impact. Billie Pickard would do an excellent job in this area. She's a conservative, totally commited to Clements, gutsy, strong, and knowledgeable (she's a former president of the Raymondville School Board). I suspect she'd commit the time necessary to monitor this, assisted by a staff member or two. It may be useful to appoint a task force in 1982 to review the State Board's wo that decision can be made later.
