1920
Celebrating
by Karen Cross
F
or several decades, TMEA asserted its priorities by passing resolutions during the annual convention. These resolutions served as platforms for communicating the direction of our association and for motivating education policy. This seemingly polite (perhaps passive) method became history in the 1980s and 1990s when TMEA emerged as an active policy influencer. With TMEA’s office move to Austin and the start of Bill Cormack’s time as Executive Secretary, our intervention with state policy makers dramatically increased. At the same time as this expanded role, internally we were realizing the need to get our house in order. With growth in membership and programs, the need for greater accountability and integrity escalated.
A Grim Forecast Begins the 1980s In 1979, Bill Cormack became TMEA’s fifth Executive Secretary (a title that members changed to Executive Director in 1987). Just months after taking on this role, Cormack ushered in the 1980s with this daunting observation: “Now as we open the ’80s, we see danger ahead as many wish to change the status of the state curriculum. Never before have TMEA and our associate groups been in such a serious position.” In that same issue, President Milton Pullen offered a similarly bleak report about our financial status that led the Executive Board to increase member dues. “Due to spiraling inflation, the cost to operate the association has risen by more than 100% during the last decade. For the past two years, our association has relied on its monetary reserves to absorb expenses above and beyond yearly income provided by the membership, exhibitors, magazine ads, etc. . . . No doubt, the rising cost to operate our association is a small price to pay when comparing it with its alternative—namely, educational recession.” }T' 'ĉÐīæÐĮ Į qďăðÆř AĊŦķÐĊÆÐī Rather than sit back and watch the predicted dangers materialize, the Executive Board charged Cormack and then President Robert Floyd to investigate the feasibility of authoring a fine arts bill for the 1981 legislative session. With the assistance of Robby 38 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
Collins, Deputy Superintendent and lobbyist for Dallas ISD (who traded his political expertise for piano lessons for himself and his daughter), House Concurrent Resolution 105 was adopted. This resolution addressed the value of music and arts education. In that same session, TMEA leaders testified for HB 246 and rallied members and parent groups (including booster clubs that became TMEA members) to push for its passage. The bill passed, wiping the curricular slate clean and ushering in a whole new curriculum that included fine arts. While HB 246 passed in 1981, TMEA’s leaders continued to work tirelessly to ensure the best possible implementation of law in the decisions made by the State Board of Education. Finally, in 1984, the board voted in some modifications that ultimately left fine arts in a better position than before. TMEA’s work in supporting passage and implementation of this April 1983 magazine cover bill set the tone for our future as an influencer of state policy. (After his legislative tenure ended, the author of HB 246, Representative Bill Haley, became TMEA’s lobbyist.) Just one year after Executive Secretary Cormack warned of the dangers looming over fine arts education, he was championing the efforts of TMEA members and booster clubs for making 1980–1981 “truly a year for music in the schools of Texas.” Elementary Representation at the Top TMEA members elected Charlene Watson as President-Elect in 1981. She would be TMEA’s first Elementary Division representative (of only two, to date) to serve in that capacity. She responded, “As the first member of the Elementary Division to serve in the office of President, I am aware of the awesome responsibility you have given me. I shall try to serve you with the same high stan-
