“The most effective demands are the ones that can be answered in a single word: yes or no.”

What’s strong already

• You kept this to one demand, which helps focus.
• Your targets are the correct decision-making body (the Board of Education), and you already listed all members by name.

Improve the demand (make it measurable and vote-ready)

Your current demand is close, but it will be stronger if it becomes one clean sentence that is:

• Measurable (what changes, by when).
• Binary (the board can vote yes or no).
• Specific about scope (which high schools, what grade/class requirement, and what “offer” means).

Suggested rewrite (one-sentence version)

• Strong Voices, Strong Futures demands that the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education vote by \[date\] to require every Tuscaloosa County high school to offer a one-semester Public Speaking course each semester, and to make completion of that course a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of \[year\].

Details to fill in so the demand can’t be dodged

Add 2 to 4 specifics so implementation is clear:

• Start date and cohort: When does the requirement begin, and for which graduating class?
• Course format: One semester, one quarter, or a full-year course.
• Staffing and cost: How many sections and instructors are needed, and the estimated total cost (even a range).
• Implementation definition: “Offer” can be vague. Specify “offered every semester” or “minimum X sections per year per school.”

Optional: keep it winnable with a phased approach

If districtwide adoption feels too big for a first win:

• Strong Voices, Strong Futures demands that the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education approve and fund a 2026–2027 pilot public speaking graduation requirement at three named high schools, with a vote to expand districtwide after the pilot.

Improve the target strategy (lowest level + majority path)

Because there are 7 board members, the campaign should name:

• Primary targets: the 4 members most persuadable (your path to a majority).
• Secondary targets: any agenda setters who control what comes up for a vote.

What to add to your Targets section

1. Board President (name + role) if one exists, since that person often shapes the agenda.
2. Superintendent (name) if they influence curriculum, staffing, and implementation.
3. Committee path (curriculum or policy committee) if the board routes decisions through committees.
4. First “yes” target: the member most likely to sponsor the motion.

Quick authority check (to make sure the demand is aimed correctly)

Before locking it in, confirm that the Board has authority to:

• Set or change graduation requirements.
• Require course offerings across all county high schools.
• Approve staffing or funding to run the course.

If any of those sit elsewhere (state policy, a separate curriculum authority, etc.), adjust the target accordingly.