Date of Meeting: Wed Nov 19th, 2008

Subject: Support for science standards without controversial anti-evolution language

Author: Eric Hennenhoefer eric@hennenhoefer.org Austin, TX

SBOE Members,

I’m a computer engineer by training and moved to Austin 14 years ago from Vermont. At the time of my relocation, I was considering jobs in other locations, but decided upon Austin due to a combination of livability, technology, and education in the region. In 1997, two of my coworkers and I left AMD and founded Obsidian Software of which I’m the President & CEO. Obsidian employs 15 people in Texas and sells software to semiconductor companies worldwide. Our ability to grow in Texas depends on a robust education system and a technology friendly climate.

I don’t know much about serving on the SBOE, but I do understand it is a non-paying position that takes a lot of time. I’m very involved in the same type of ecosystem in the Texas business community where I volunteer a considerable amount of time to promote business and entrepreneurship in Texas. Some of my activities include:

• Central Texas RCIC Selection Committee Member
  Part of the Greater Austin Chamber screening committee that supports the $200 million dollar Texas Enterprise Fund to identify and fund commercialization and innovation in Texas.

• Entrepreneur’s Organization
  Past Austin President and currently the Regional Director for all of Texas. Our membership includes the founders of nearly 500 Texas businesses with 22,000 employees.

• Austin Technology Council
  Active member of the CEO Roundtable.

• Central Texas Angel Network
  We provide funding for early stage companies and promote angel investing state wide.

• TexChange Austin
  Past advisory board member. TexChange promotes technology entrepreneurship and has chapters in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

• All-Boards
  Main organizer of yearly event that pulls over 100 volunteer board members from non-profit business groups in Austin.

These are all groups run by volunteer leaders of the business community who are deeply invested in promoting Texas business. I suspect serving on the SBOE is similar to the desire these people have to give back to the community.

A key part of the success of Texas business is having a 21st century science curriculum so we can train and recruit future employees. The very appearance that Texas science education is not up to modern standards or is deficient or hostile to well established scientific ideas is a very serious concern to Texas employers.

Frankly, this is a public relations concern to business. Every media piece that runs about how Texas might dilute or weaken the science curriculum with “Weakness”, “Limitations”, “Supernatural”, “Intelligent Design” or similar controversial terms makes it harder to attract industry, employees, and undermines the massive investment that taxpayers and local business are making to promote Texas as a place where scientific businesses can flourish and prosper. Industries directly affected include all growing business, technology businesses, green energy companies, biotech, or any business that requires employees who use science or value a quality science education for their children.

Given that Texas educators and scientists overwhelming support science standards without these terms, I think we can be honest and say the only reason to ignore their advice is to provoke another test case in Creationism similar to those in Kansas or Dover, PA. This course of action would directly hurt my business and the vast majority to Texas companies for many years to come.

In conclusion, I’ll offer that any changes to the science TEKs that are not supported by the Texas science and education community or could be perceived as opening this door should not be approved.

Sincerely,

Eric Hennenhoefer

President, business leader, and father