Opinion ID: 24815
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Haggard Middle School Math Night

Text: 7 In order to inform parents about the Connected Math pilot program, the PISD held a series of Parent's Math Nights (Math Nights) at its middle schools. These meetings were scheduled in the evening after school hours and were announced in a local paper and through flyers sent home with students. The agenda of each Math Night included an introduction by the faculty about the curriculum's goals and objectives, a question-and-answer session, and an informal meeting period to allow parents and teachers to discuss the progress of individual students. 8 On August 25, 1998, Kirke attended a Math Night at Haggard Middle School where his daughter was a student. He had received a flyer sent home through his daughter inviting interested parents to meet with school officials about Connected Math. Kirke brought with him written materials he wished to distribute to other parents, including two articles that criticized new methods of teaching math that were similar to Connected Math. Kirke also brought a petition for parents to sign that requested the PISD to halt the implementation of Connected Math until an independent evaluation of the curriculum was undertaken. This petition included a request that parents be given more input into the decision-making process concerning whether to choose Connected Math over more traditional math. 9 Kirke alleges that on the morning of August 25, he discussed with Burleson, the Principal of Haggard Middle School, his plan to distribute the materials at the Math Night meeting. Burleson disputes that this discussion occurred. Kirke arrived early to the Math Night meeting and again allegedly discussed his plan to distribute the materials with Burleson and Wohlgehagen, the PISD's Coordinator for Secondary Mathematics. Kirke claims that neither of these Defendants objected to his distribution of literature to the parents that were present at the meeting. Kirke then placed his written materials on the same table that held a PISD handout concerning the implementation of Connected Math. The PISD handout contained a brief description of Connected Math, an outline of research that had been conducted on Connected Math, an explanation of the PISD implementation plan, and charts illustrating the performance gains of children in the Connected Math pilot program. 10 After several minutes, Kirke alleges that Burleson and Wohlgehagen asked him to remove his materials from the table of PISD materials. They requested that he move the literature critical of Connected Math to avoid the suggestion that the materials were endorsed by the PISD. Kirke complied with the request. Kirke explains that prior to the official start of the meeting, he would greet parents as they arrived and inform them of the materials he had brought. Kirke states that he was once again approached by Burleson and Wohlgehagen and asked to gather his materials and leave the meeting. In response, Kirke asked if he would be forced to leave the meeting if he refused to comply with their request to cease distributing the materials. Wohlgehagen told him that he would not be forced to leave. 11 Several minutes later, Kirke claims that Davis, the Assistant Superintendent in charge of the PISD's Central Cluster Area, told him that he would not be allowed to circulate the petition on school property. Kirke proceeded to put away his petition. Kirke alleges that Davis approached him two other times and requested that he cease distributing his materials to the parents in attendance. After Davis's final request, Kirke ceased distributing the materials. 12 Kirke also states that Burleson assured him that he would have an opportunity to present his concerns regarding Connected Math following the PISD presentation. Defendants have admitted that Kirke was never given this opportunity. With the exception of distributing his materials and his personal communications with parents, Kirke did not otherwise voice his opposition to Connected Math at the Math Night meeting. 13 The following day, on August 26, 1998, Plaintiffs claim that Davis sent an email memorandum to all Central Cluster principals stating: 14 I want to alert all of you of our district legal position regarding people coming on to your campus with petitions and material associated with the Connected Math Program. You are not to allow anyone to come on to your campus, inside or out, to circulate a petition or pass out material related to the Connected Math Program. The recent flap over the Connected Math Program has prompted some people to conduct personal campaigns supporting one side or the other. I think they will seek support wherever they can find it, including schools not using the program. Don't get caught napping on this one. 15 However, Davis denies authoring the email memorandum. 2