Is it poor judgement or abuse of power when a school superintendent uses the school district law firm to prepare her divorce papers, at the same time she has recommended the school board increase the contract with the law firm.
The Galveston Daily News has come up with a shocking example of the good old boy system in their school district. It involves bad legal advise and poor judgment. That’s a dangerous combination for a law firm serving Galveston ISD – or more likely, serving the Superintendent. This is the same law firm which advised the District to sue an AFP member for comments posted on her blog about the District.
The attorney for the school district said, “We do these things for clients. We do things for people all the time through the different school communities. We’ve gotten board members out of dog-bite cases and represented people’s children who get in trouble and need assistance.”
WOW! So the District’s law firm is actually a go-to-firm for folks who hire them and determine the size of their contract. Is this what those expensive contracts with school district law firms are for?
Read the story here: http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f6468b8626ecb067 Is this what can be overheard outside the Superitendent's office when she is talking to the school distrcti law firm?: "Let's sue this parent, and BTW, how's my divorce proceeding?" "I'll ask the board to increase your contract. You're doing such great work for me."
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
MORE EDUCATION FOR OUR MONEY
More education for our dollars, not more dollars for education
$180,000 salary
$1,000 a month car allowance
$20,000 signing bonus
Perks for a CEO?
Try some Central Texas School Superintendents”
This is the promo for an investigative news report airing on CBS KEYE-TV. Award-winning investigative reporter Nanci Wilson contacted me and asked for my on-camera reaction to the research she had compiled on how Austin area school districts spend tax dollars.
The CBS News investigative report is slated to aire Monday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 27. The link for KEYE-TV’s investigative reports: http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/investigates/default.aspx
The promo quotes me several times, expressing my outrage that taxpayer dollars are being misspent and some expenditures hidden from taxpayers. The promo also provides a glimpse of an interview with a very defiant Austin Superintendent.
Background: AFP launched a campaign “More education for our dollars” to get more education dollars directed to the classroom, when three years ago we traveled the state with a ruler with “How Does Your School District Measure Up?” and a link to the Comptroller’s web site and the School District Watch List. The data reveals that most districts have one non-teaching staff for each teacher, only 50% of the education dollars are spent in the classroom and most school districts are rated as “acceptable” – this is not acceptable to most taxpayers.
Update: Comptroller Susan Combs changed the listing to be called “School District Listing” and has now taken the listing off her new website, though the information is still available. AFP has worked with the Texas Education Agency to get the information posted there – http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/snapshot/2006/district.srch.html and the information is still at: http://www3.cpa.state.tx.us/districts.nsf, though not visible on the Comptroller’s website. Comptroller Combs said that she no longer has the responsibility to do the school district audits. True, but the funding to do that project didn’t get withdrawn.
Stay tuned -- I'll keep you posted as the sparks fly when the powerful CBS-TV Affiliate reveals just how our education tax dollars are being spent.
According to the Houston Chronicle, in 2006, the HISD superintendent was making over $300,000 base salary, and HC cited information provided by education associations:
http://blogs.chron.com/schoolzone/2006/12/can_you_guess_the_average_sala.html
$180,000 salary
$1,000 a month car allowance
$20,000 signing bonus
Perks for a CEO?
Try some Central Texas School Superintendents”
This is the promo for an investigative news report airing on CBS KEYE-TV. Award-winning investigative reporter Nanci Wilson contacted me and asked for my on-camera reaction to the research she had compiled on how Austin area school districts spend tax dollars.
The CBS News investigative report is slated to aire Monday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 27. The link for KEYE-TV’s investigative reports: http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/investigates/default.aspx
The promo quotes me several times, expressing my outrage that taxpayer dollars are being misspent and some expenditures hidden from taxpayers. The promo also provides a glimpse of an interview with a very defiant Austin Superintendent.
Background: AFP launched a campaign “More education for our dollars” to get more education dollars directed to the classroom, when three years ago we traveled the state with a ruler with “How Does Your School District Measure Up?” and a link to the Comptroller’s web site and the School District Watch List. The data reveals that most districts have one non-teaching staff for each teacher, only 50% of the education dollars are spent in the classroom and most school districts are rated as “acceptable” – this is not acceptable to most taxpayers.
Update: Comptroller Susan Combs changed the listing to be called “School District Listing” and has now taken the listing off her new website, though the information is still available. AFP has worked with the Texas Education Agency to get the information posted there – http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/snapshot/2006/district.srch.html and the information is still at: http://www3.cpa.state.tx.us/districts.nsf, though not visible on the Comptroller’s website. Comptroller Combs said that she no longer has the responsibility to do the school district audits. True, but the funding to do that project didn’t get withdrawn.
Stay tuned -- I'll keep you posted as the sparks fly when the powerful CBS-TV Affiliate reveals just how our education tax dollars are being spent.
According to the Houston Chronicle, in 2006, the HISD superintendent was making over $300,000 base salary, and HC cited information provided by education associations:
http://blogs.chron.com/schoolzone/2006/12/can_you_guess_the_average_sala.html
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
School Superintendent John Trice electioneering
Alvord ISD Superintendent John Trice and Larry Wilson (Assistant Secretary of the School Board) appear to have lost their minds, and should soon lose their jobs. They are using their positions to electioneer.
These nitwits have sent a letter to “Fellow Educators and School Employees” which all but threatens school district employees to vote for State Rep Dist 61 candidate Joe Tison.
This letter begins with, “We assume your family, health and livelihood are most important to you.” (Duh!)
“With confidence, we endorse Joe (Tison) and do ask your support and vote. As career educators, public schools are our 1st priority and primary reason to support Joe.” (And here we thought the family and health were priorities!)
Even superintendents should do their homework. Several items in the letter are blatantly false, such as Rep. King’s support for elimination of the Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was a big loss to school districts.*
There was nothing subtle about the letter:
“…we can elect the candidate of our choice…….if we all vote!”
The letter goes on to say “We can win with Joe Tison in the primary and general election if….
1. Every school employee and their family members support and vote for Joe.
2. Every school employee tells other family members & friends why they should support/vote for Joe. Ask each of these to tell three others
3. Some employees participate in a campaign strategy meeting (inform Mr. Trice)
– This is the Superintendent!!!
4. Employees will display a yard sign supporting Joe Tison. You can contact Mr. Trice or Mr. Wilson at 427-8711 for a sign.
5. Go to the polls for early voting. Employees could group together and go vote.”
The letter ends with a basic civics lesson:
“Important to remember:
1. Please vote in the Republican Primary…
2. The candidate receiving the majority of votes wins the primary and their name will be listed on the General Election Ballot in November.
3. Registered voters can vote for any party’s candidate in the General Election.”
“You have our thanks and respect.
John Trice Larry Wilson”
(Letter is signed by each)
Tison was reported early in his campaign as “currently looking for a political consultant. In the meantime, he is relying on the Texas Parent PAC.” We don’t know who is advising him, but clearly no one with any sense is advising the Alvord school officials.
Friends, my bet is that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama won’t be any too happy that these school district employees are being encouraged to vote in the Republican primary.
And I anticipate that these school officials broke a myriad of laws, and most certainly abused his position of authority.
But it isn’t our job to prosecute them, but to call public attention to their shenanigans and to call for a public outcry against public school officials using their position to influence elections.
UPDATE: A call to Supt Trice at 5:07 pm today went into his voice mail. He was likely out campaigning for Joe Tison.
-- Bahamamamasmama
These nitwits have sent a letter to “Fellow Educators and School Employees” which all but threatens school district employees to vote for State Rep Dist 61 candidate Joe Tison.
This letter begins with, “We assume your family, health and livelihood are most important to you.” (Duh!)
“With confidence, we endorse Joe (Tison) and do ask your support and vote. As career educators, public schools are our 1st priority and primary reason to support Joe.” (And here we thought the family and health were priorities!)
Even superintendents should do their homework. Several items in the letter are blatantly false, such as Rep. King’s support for elimination of the Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was a big loss to school districts.*
There was nothing subtle about the letter:
“…we can elect the candidate of our choice…….if we all vote!”
The letter goes on to say “We can win with Joe Tison in the primary and general election if….
1. Every school employee and their family members support and vote for Joe.
2. Every school employee tells other family members & friends why they should support/vote for Joe. Ask each of these to tell three others
3. Some employees participate in a campaign strategy meeting (inform Mr. Trice)
– This is the Superintendent!!!
4. Employees will display a yard sign supporting Joe Tison. You can contact Mr. Trice or Mr. Wilson at 427-8711 for a sign.
5. Go to the polls for early voting. Employees could group together and go vote.”
The letter ends with a basic civics lesson:
“Important to remember:
1. Please vote in the Republican Primary…
2. The candidate receiving the majority of votes wins the primary and their name will be listed on the General Election Ballot in November.
3. Registered voters can vote for any party’s candidate in the General Election.”
“You have our thanks and respect.
John Trice Larry Wilson”
(Letter is signed by each)
Tison was reported early in his campaign as “currently looking for a political consultant. In the meantime, he is relying on the Texas Parent PAC.” We don’t know who is advising him, but clearly no one with any sense is advising the Alvord school officials.
Friends, my bet is that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama won’t be any too happy that these school district employees are being encouraged to vote in the Republican primary.
And I anticipate that these school officials broke a myriad of laws, and most certainly abused his position of authority.
But it isn’t our job to prosecute them, but to call public attention to their shenanigans and to call for a public outcry against public school officials using their position to influence elections.
UPDATE: A call to Supt Trice at 5:07 pm today went into his voice mail. He was likely out campaigning for Joe Tison.
-- Bahamamamasmama
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