| J. David Thompson III at 2004 Robin Hood trial |
| Chattanooga trustee (Hamilton County DOE) Rhonda Thurman |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| h o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n -- o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . Copyright 1999-2007 Peyton Wolcott |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
Friends, because there's now so much on this site--reports, commentaries, book excerpts, all designed to help you bring improvements to your local schools--I'm in the process of preparing a site map. Underlining indicates active links. Please check back. SITE MAP NEW COMMENTARIES: RANDOM ROUND-UPS ACCOUNTABILITY & OPEN RECORDS ISSUES: School District Checks/Check Registers Online Connecting the Dots Pass the Trash Reader Q & A's SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) Transparency Report ____ GOVERNANCE ISSUES: The American Superintendency Team of Eight ____ Arizona Nogales USD Pima County Ofc. of Ed. Santa Cruz County OE California Glenn County Ofc. of Ed. San Francisco USD Florida Citrus County PS Miami-Dade County PS Michigan Ann Arbor New York New York PS Roslyn Ohio Strongsville PS Texas Bremond ISD Cleburne ISD Dallas ISD Eanes ISD Edgewood ISD Everman ISD Houston ISD Katy ISD La Joya ISD Lake Travis ISD Llano ISD State Board of Education ____ Edu-Conferences ____ BOOK EXCERPTS: Education, Inc. How To File a Public Records Request How To Organize Lax Oversight ____ WHAT OTHER FOLKS ARE DOING: MODERN MINUTEMEN SUCCESS STORIES, KINDRED SPIRITS ____ COMMENTARY ARCHIVES ___ SPECIAL REPORTS: TEXAS LEGE: TEA POWER GRAB PAYING FOR TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION: A PRIMER ____ About/In the News 2006 - Year in Review |
AASA - American Association of School Administrators ASA - Association of School Administrators CSD - Consolidated School District DOE - Department of Education ES - Elementary School HS - High School ISD - Independent School District JHS - Junior High School MS - Middle School MSM - Mainstream media NSBA - National School Boards Association NSPRA - National School Public Relations Association PS - Public School(s) SBEC - State Board for Educator Certification SD - School District Sup't - Superintendent TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills TASA - Texas Association of School Administrators TASB - Texas Association of School Boards TASBO - Texas Association of School Business Officials TEA - Texas Education Agency TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills USD - UnifiedUnited School District |
| GUIDE |
| FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of education issues vital to a republic. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Section 107 which states: the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright," the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use" you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
| QUOTES |
Separatists in India's north-eastern state of Manipur have shot six male teachers in the leg for allegedly helping students cheat in exams. Two women teachers were beaten with sticks for the same offence, the rebels of the Kanglei Yana Kan Lup group said. The teachers were abducted from their homes after an exam on Thursday. The rebels said the teachers took up to 5,000 rupees ($110) for helping students cheat and warned of further punishment if the cheating continued. The Kanglei Yana Kan Lup (KYKL) is one of many separatist groups fighting Indian administration in Manipur. It said it abducted the eight teachers from their homes in and around the state capital, Imphal, because of reports they had taken bribes. --By Subir Bhaumik - BBC |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2007 Peyton Wolcott |
My New Book PEYTON WOLCOTT |
| QUERY THE SUPE & THE PR GUY |
DATE FIRST
SENT: FEB. 14,
2006
RE-SENT 03/26/06
Dear
Strongsville
Superintendent
James Gray:
I'm hoping you can
clear something
up for me for my
book and website
regarding your
standards for
administrative
practices in
Strongsville as
there have been
not one but two
situations this past
year warranting
scrutiny....
Regarding
special ed
teacher
Christine
Scarlett's
offering a date
with herself as
a grades
incentive
1. What rules/
guidelines do
you now have in
place to assure
that nothing like
this happens
again? Would
these be
administrative
changes or has
your board set
specific policies in
place for you to
follow in future?
2. Rumors of
an affair between
Scarlett and
Bradigan
persisted for
several months.
You have stated
that you have no
idea such an
affair was going
on. Do you feel
the fact that you
are commuting
from your home
in Akron (if this
has changed,
please let me
know) has
adversely
impacted your
ability to monitor
what's going on
with your
employees in the
Strongsville
community in an
important and
sensitive area
such as this? Has
your board since
made a condition
of your
employment that
you move to
Strongsville and
become an
integral part of
their community?
Regarding the
sex education
booklet placed
last fall in young
children's
lockers
4. What
guidelines did
you follow from
your established
board's policies
for such?
5. There
appears to be a
growing number
of parents who
want to be
consulted before
such materials are
given to their
students. As one
mom put it,
"What's wrong
with so many
people in the
educational fields
that they don't
even think twice
about providing
children with
inappropriate
materials and not
even consider the
parents
wishes....Their
tactics mirror
those used in
Communist China
and Cuba where
children are
considered not
children of
parents, but
wards of the
State." While this
is clearly the
statement of an
upset parent, it
does raise an
interesting issue
regarding public
school
administrators in
the U.S. Do you
consider the
students in
your schools
yours to
educate as you
deem best or
the offspring of
parents to be
consulted
before
disseminating
such materials?
Regarding
trainings and
conferences
6. Of which
education-relate
d associations
are you and
Strongsville City
Schools a
member? What
are these
organizations'
guidelines for
disseminating
such materials?
7. In which
education-relate
d conferences
have your and
your staff
participated this
past year?
Where were
they and what
were the costs
for each? Have
you attended any
other seminars,
workshops or the
like offering
guidance in this
area, and what
were those costs?
It may well be that
there are perfectly
reasonable
explanations for
your approving
the placing
sex-education
pamphlets in
young students'
lockers without
notifying parents
first, and it may
also well be that
there is a
perfectly
reasonable
explanation for
your allowing a
teacher to offer a
date at the Dairy
Queen with
herself to a young
student; if so, I am
eager to learn
such reason or
reasons.
===============
She said the
booklet, which
also provides
information on the
need for parental
consent for
abortion and a
Web address for
the Lesbian/Gay
Community
Service Center of
Greater
Cleveland, is
inappropriate for
11-year-olds. I
believe some sex
education needs
to be given, but
when subjects are
discussed or
material is given
to kids of this
nature, a notice
should be sent
home to the
parent and they
should be allowed
to opt out of the
program if they
wish, Fleming
said. School
Superintendent
James Gray said
he gave an OK for
the pocket-sized
directories, which
were provided to
the district by
United Way
Services in
conjunction with
the county health
department and
county
commissioners,
to be given to
students at the
high school,
middle schools
and to sixth
graders. Gray
said he received
two calls from
parents who took
exception to the
booklet's content.
I understand that
and probably, in
retrospect, I
should have
considered
sending a letter
along with it as far
as an explanation,
he said, adding,
this is a
developing
situation. I don't
know what we are
going to do at this
point. Colleen
Grady, a city
resident and a
member of the
state school
board, said she
got calls from four
parents
concerned about
their children
getting the
directory. Grady,
who is also a
former city school
board member,
said she has not
personally seen
the publication,
but they (parents)
read me sections
over the
telephone. She
said the state
board of
education may
wish to make a
legislative
recommendation
to the Ohio
general
assembly, and the
board could also
consider
discussion about
adoption of a
model policy for
the distribution of
such materials.
Gray said there
will be continued
discussion, in the
district's
curriculum and
pupil services
departments on
whether to curtail
distribution of
materials which
are considered to
be sensitive,
particularly for the
younger kids.
SENT: FEB. 14,
2006
RE-SENT 03/26/06
Dear
Strongsville
Superintendent
James Gray:
I'm hoping you can
clear something
up for me for my
book and website
regarding your
standards for
administrative
practices in
Strongsville as
there have been
not one but two
situations this past
year warranting
scrutiny....
Regarding
special ed
teacher
Christine
Scarlett's
offering a date
with herself as
a grades
incentive
1. What rules/
guidelines do
you now have in
place to assure
that nothing like
this happens
again? Would
these be
administrative
changes or has
your board set
specific policies in
place for you to
follow in future?
2. Rumors of
an affair between
Scarlett and
Bradigan
persisted for
several months.
You have stated
that you have no
idea such an
affair was going
on. Do you feel
the fact that you
are commuting
from your home
in Akron (if this
has changed,
please let me
know) has
adversely
impacted your
ability to monitor
what's going on
with your
employees in the
Strongsville
community in an
important and
sensitive area
such as this? Has
your board since
made a condition
of your
employment that
you move to
Strongsville and
become an
integral part of
their community?
Regarding the
sex education
booklet placed
last fall in young
children's
lockers
4. What
guidelines did
you follow from
your established
board's policies
for such?
5. There
appears to be a
growing number
of parents who
want to be
consulted before
such materials are
given to their
students. As one
mom put it,
"What's wrong
with so many
people in the
educational fields
that they don't
even think twice
about providing
children with
inappropriate
materials and not
even consider the
parents
wishes....Their
tactics mirror
those used in
Communist China
and Cuba where
children are
considered not
children of
parents, but
wards of the
State." While this
is clearly the
statement of an
upset parent, it
does raise an
interesting issue
regarding public
school
administrators in
the U.S. Do you
consider the
students in
your schools
yours to
educate as you
deem best or
the offspring of
parents to be
consulted
before
disseminating
such materials?
Regarding
trainings and
conferences
6. Of which
education-relate
d associations
are you and
Strongsville City
Schools a
member? What
are these
organizations'
guidelines for
disseminating
such materials?
7. In which
education-relate
d conferences
have your and
your staff
participated this
past year?
Where were
they and what
were the costs
for each? Have
you attended any
other seminars,
workshops or the
like offering
guidance in this
area, and what
were those costs?
It may well be that
there are perfectly
reasonable
explanations for
your approving
the placing
sex-education
pamphlets in
young students'
lockers without
notifying parents
first, and it may
also well be that
there is a
perfectly
reasonable
explanation for
your allowing a
teacher to offer a
date at the Dairy
Queen with
herself to a young
student; if so, I am
eager to learn
such reason or
reasons.
===============
She said the
booklet, which
also provides
information on the
need for parental
consent for
abortion and a
Web address for
the Lesbian/Gay
Community
Service Center of
Greater
Cleveland, is
inappropriate for
11-year-olds. I
believe some sex
education needs
to be given, but
when subjects are
discussed or
material is given
to kids of this
nature, a notice
should be sent
home to the
parent and they
should be allowed
to opt out of the
program if they
wish, Fleming
said. School
Superintendent
James Gray said
he gave an OK for
the pocket-sized
directories, which
were provided to
the district by
United Way
Services in
conjunction with
the county health
department and
county
commissioners,
to be given to
students at the
high school,
middle schools
and to sixth
graders. Gray
said he received
two calls from
parents who took
exception to the
booklet's content.
I understand that
and probably, in
retrospect, I
should have
considered
sending a letter
along with it as far
as an explanation,
he said, adding,
this is a
developing
situation. I don't
know what we are
going to do at this
point. Colleen
Grady, a city
resident and a
member of the
state school
board, said she
got calls from four
parents
concerned about
their children
getting the
directory. Grady,
who is also a
former city school
board member,
said she has not
personally seen
the publication,
but they (parents)
read me sections
over the
telephone. She
said the state
board of
education may
wish to make a
legislative
recommendation
to the Ohio
general
assembly, and the
board could also
consider
discussion about
adoption of a
model policy for
the distribution of
such materials.
Gray said there
will be continued
discussion, in the
district's
curriculum and
pupil services
departments on
whether to curtail
distribution of
materials which
are considered to
be sensitive,
particularly for the
younger kids.
TO:
KATHY
COX-GEORGIA
SUP'T OF
SCHOOLS &
CEO-GEORGIA
DOE
CC:
DANA TOFIG-
GEORGIA DOE
PUBLIC INFO.
OFCR.
DATE: JAN. 22,
2006
Can you please
send me the
annual dollar
amount for each
school year (the
five annual fiscal
cycles 2000-2005)
that the Georgia
Public Schools
DOE has spent
with vendor
Computer
Consulting
Services Corp.,
described as a
consultant to
Georgia's DOE.
KATHY
COX-GEORGIA
SUP'T OF
SCHOOLS &
CEO-GEORGIA
DOE
CC:
DANA TOFIG-
GEORGIA DOE
PUBLIC INFO.
OFCR.
DATE: JAN. 22,
2006
Can you please
send me the
annual dollar
amount for each
school year (the
five annual fiscal
cycles 2000-2005)
that the Georgia
Public Schools
DOE has spent
with vendor
Computer
Consulting
Services Corp.,
described as a
consultant to
Georgia's DOE.
| STATUS: One year later, no response rec'd from Sup't Gray |
| QUERY THE SUPE (& CC THE BOARD) |
| CONTACT: Peyton Wolcott P.O. Box 9068 Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 peyton@peytonwolcott.com Want to subscribe to my newsletter? Send me an email marked "Subscribe." |
| F o c u s i n g o n accountability f i r s t |
Online School District Check Registers Here here here Modern Edu- Monopoly (mike moses) here Random Round-Ups Here 2006 - Year in Review here Nov.-Dec. 2006 commen- taries here Pass the Trash here SLAPP reports here and here Reader Q&As Edgewood ISD 95 Questions |
| Conservative Commentary |
| LOCATION: Texas Association of School Boards/Texas Association of School Administrators - Annual Convention (Houston, Texas) DATE: Oct. 6, 2006 EVENT: UBS Financial Services, Inc. reception FACTS: There were four chairs at this table and a total of five alcoholic beverages (green arrows), according to waitstaff. There's more than one way to skin a cat--or to sell financial services. UBS was not listed on either the 2005 or 2006 TASB/TASA official paid and registered exhibitor list; instead, it appears to have bypassed the vendor hall in favor of doing its selling at receptions such as the one above. This is nothing against UBS; they're no doubt a fine company, plus I'm a pro-business and free enterprise kind of girl. But is this the type of environment in which we want our school superintendents and trustees to be making important financial considerations involving taxpayer dollars? |
| Friends, can you help me identify the man and two women in this picture from TASB/TASA 2006? Enlarged, with more information, here |
| No, these folks above are not New Year's Eve revelers--this photo was taken Friday, October 6, 2006 at a party hosted by UBS Financial Services. Educated guess: These folks are most likely public school administrators or elected school board members. |
| Many recent roads involving Texas public education and money appear to lead back to former Texas Education Commissioner (and former Dallas ISD supe), ERDI consultant Mike Moses. Let's get out the game board and connect some dots . . . . |
| Modern Edu-Monopoly Connecting the Dots, "Guys with Ties" Round By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007First published Mon., Jan. 1, 2007; updated Tues., Jan. 9, 2007 |
| Remember those rainy-Saturday games of Monopoly when you were a kid, the ones that seemed to last forever? That same game is being played out again and again in our modern-day public school districts but now the stakes are real and they are serious, high and important stakes involving our kids and our dollars. Today's "Guys with Ties" don't wear Depression-era suits or monocles, but they're still trading favors--and favoritism and self-dealing appear to be among the first order of business. (Rest of report here) |
| CONTACT |
| Time for another "Random Round-Up" By Peyton Wolcott First published Tuesday, January 16, 2006 - 10 pm Updated Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 3 am |
| About the foregoing cross-section of edu- miscreants caught in the act of misbehaving with either our money or our kids, in many cases, a simple tightening of internal controls over the flow of money and criminal background checks would have prevented a large number of these alleged crimes. What you can do right now about protecting the kids in your own local school district: Pick up the phone and call your supe, ask him to confirm in writing by close of business this Friday that he has personally verified that (1) all portions of all employees' applications were filled out completely and (2) criminal background checks including fingerprints have been done on every worker who sets foot in your school district. Why I mention "all portions" of employment applications: Believe it or not, one supe pled apparent ignorance when it was pointed out that one of his educators had been employed by the district even though he'd not filled out the "criminal background" portion of the application. |
| Hear the one about the sore school board race loser who"nailed" his opponent? France Adams had served his small community in far northwest Georgia for four decades as a teacher and administrator in the local schools, also as a city council member and most |
| Our nominee for spin-meister of the year After two of his high school teachers were arrested earlier this month on charges relating to their alleged sex crimes against students, some occurring in their classrooms, Maryland's Howard County School System supe Sydney L. Cousin told parents, "I can say positively that students are safe in our schools and in our classrooms." (SOURCE--John- John Williams IV/The Baltimore Sun) |
| Scenic northwest Georgia, where losing trustees apparently believe in really "nailing" their opponents |
| recently a term as elected school board member. By all accounts, an upstanding member of the community--until losing his Murray County Schools trustee re-election bid last July to Liz Gould, who started finding nails in her driveway afterwards, on at least thirty (30) separate occasions. Gould and her husband finally mounted a surveillance camera and showed their findings to local police; Adams, who was arrested in November, resigned last month and is due in court on January 29. |
| Sydney L. Cousin |
| Our question to Williams: Did Cousin deliver this remark with a straight face? And on what factual information does he base this statement? A week later, Williams has still not responded. |
| Nailing your opposition, Georgia-style "Murray County Board of Education member France Adams was arrested and charged with criminal trespass for allegedly putting nails at least 30 times in the driveway of a political opponent. This is the first term on the board for Adams, a retired |
| Random Round-Ups are presented as a public service and a wake up call to strengthen matters both moral and monetary in our local schools--because too often our schools aren't doing so themselves. |
| Hear the one about the rural Kentucky supe who ran over a woman's foot in the parking lot of a beauty shop/tanning salon/coin- operated laundry? And is now working as an elemen- tary principal in Louisville? REPORT CONTINUES HERE |
| Fredericka Hargis at Rutherford Elementary |
| Curious as to what had changed in the week since the latest arrest, I contacted Howard County schools to ascertain the factual basis for this assertion. Why were students safer now than they were a month ago? Certainly several were not previously safe from sexual predators in Cousin's Howard County Schools classrooms. Nothing had changed, I was told, although the spokesman was quick to point out that "one of our strategic goals is that each of our schools will provide a safe and nurturing environment in which our kids can learn--although you can't in any way legislate personal behavior." Or, as Lao-Tzu put it, "You can't legislate love." |
| Joe Ellis |
| Popular Howard County, Maryland teacher--or a hunka hunka burnin' love? Glenelg High history teacher Joseph Samuel Ellis (left) was arrested January 5 for "several sex crimes in which he is accused of exposing himself to one student in a classroom, sending suggestive computer messages to another and persuading a third to meet him at a park with the promise of alcohol." (SOURCE--John-John Williams IV/The Baltimore Sun) The following week, Alan Meade Beier, a 52-year-old River Hills HS science teacher and soccer coach--and would-be |
| Alan Beier |
| photographer--was arrested on charges that he "undressed and photographed a 16-year-old male student...in his classroom. Police also say he fondled a 17-year-old female student on two occasions, most recently in the fall." Beier was named River Hill's 2001 Teacher of the Year. (Ibid.) |
| Murray County Public Schools |
| educator who worked in the Murray County school system for 40 years, including as a teacher and administrator." UPDATE: Adams resigned from the Murray County BOE last month. (SOURCE--Misty Watson/Dalton Daily Citizen) |
| What about the Maryland supe with the misfortune of having not one but two teachers arrested earlier this month for alleged sex crimes against students? Or the Georgia trustee who lost his bid for re-election then put nails in his opponent's driveway? |
| Why is this school board member not able to find out who's getting $13 mil in sick and vacation pay? By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 First published Sun., Jan. 21, 2007 |
| Taking a gander at Michigander edumacation By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007; First published Sun., Jan. 21, 2007; updated Sat., Jan. 27, 2007 |
| Former Montrose Schools bookkeeper (now Starbucks manager) Dana Bacon in court (PHOTO/ MeganSpelman/ FlintJournal) |
| DEVELOPING . . . . |
| All Rhonda wanted to know--as part of her fiduciary duty of care as an elected official--at last Thursday's board meeting was this: Who were the recipients of the $13 million Hamilton County schools will be paying out for sick and vacation pay this year? |
| Unfortunately, Hamlton County schools are now run by supe Jim Scales, who appears to have brought Dallas ISD's climate of secrecy (see former DISD supe Mike Moses at right) with him to Chattanooga; he will not release the list Thurman seeks. |
| Jim Scales |
| Everett Fairchild |
| Thurman was not the only one asking; trustee Everett Fairchild also |
| wanted to know, seconding Thurman's motion. Thurman and Fairchild are apparently the only two HCBOE trustees who understand that the school district is a governmental entity operating on taxpayer funds. |
| How difficult is it to get your local school district to post its checks online each month? JUST ASK! By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 - Published Mon., Jan. 22, 2007 - Updated Jan. 22, 2007/10am |
| EPISD dad Gary Gonzalez |
| El Paso truck driver Gary Gonzalez, whose two children attend El Paso ISD, has asked his trustees twice now at board meetings to post the district's check registers online in the interest of increasing transparency. The second time, local TV reporters noticed and reported his request. |
| appointment with Gonzalez--for this Wednesday at the district's administration building. |
| Lorenzo Garcia |
| Timing is everything in this life Garcia inherited a difficult situation in El Paso; within months of his joining the district last February, the FBI began an investigation of district vendors Access Administrators and its affiliate Advantage Care Network (ACCESS), EPISD's third-party administrator and network provider. While the district has announced to the community that "the FBI has assured EPISD leadership that the district as an entity is not the target of the investigation," this is not the sort of attention any school administrator welcomes. As with Houston-area Spring Branch ISD, where supe Duncan Klussmann inherited a PR black eye from his predecessor Yvonne Katz--you recall Katz, who had moonlighted as an Energy Education Inc. consultant then brought the vendor to the district for a business deal without disclosing the relationship to her trustees--for Garcia, posting El Paso ISD's check registers online could represent a meaningful and welcome big first step towards transparency. |
| Remember: anyone in any state can ask their school board to post their check registers online. In fact, I asked my own local district, Marble Falls ISD, the one where I began volunteering seven years ago, if I could be put on the agenda--better than what I call "open-mic night," where you show up unannounced for the public comment portion of the meeting (the trustees can discuss your presentation with you if you're on the agenda)--and was, last |
| Marble Falls ISD trustees discuss posting their district's checks online at Dec. 18, 2006 board meeting |
| The power of a question whose time has come I mention the process so that you can see the importance of one person asking. Gary has asked, I have asked, and you, too, can ask. Posting check registers online is a good idea, and with the growing movement towards transparency in our public schools, superin- tendents and school boards would have to be willing to be perceived as being anti-open government and anti-transparency to turn down your request they their post the district's check registers online. |
| Is it a difficult and time-consuming process for districts to post their check registers online? Hardly. As Big Spring ISD superintendent Michael Downes said, the first time they posted, it took all of maybe four or five minutes. |
| SPRING BRANCH ISD Duncan Klussmann, superintendent "Posting our check registers online has been something that's worked for us with very minimal effort to get it up and running; I believe school districts are running moving in this direction. We try to be a very transparent district. We have a strong and supportive community, and we feel that being transparent supports that." Klussmann added that when he first came into education it was common for all checks to be included with the board packets and an approval item at board meetings. Obstacles and stumbling blocks: "Our financial software is older and DOS-based, not designed to generate reports, but once we got our first report as a model it went quickly." Special kudos: "We have a wonderful finance person, Karen Wilson, who took this on." Additional comments: "Anything we can do to take raw data as we're required to report it by the state and make it more accessible to our community is a benefit." Extra expense: None. Fallout? No increase in public records requests. "The only thing you do worry about is someone looking at something and not understanding; you'd sit down with the person and explain it to them." Goals for the future: Make the link more accessible, in fewer clicks. BIG SPRING ISD Michael Downes, superintendent "We don't consider posting our check registers online a big deal as it's a public record; we were already publishing our check registers each month." Along the same lines of making the district's finances more intelligible to the public, "We're also one of the few districts in the state that are recognized by GFOA for the Distinguished Budget Presentation award. Sandra Waggoner, chief financial officer "Posting our check register online really isn't any extra work; it's the same check register we give our board each month, then we just PDF it to our webmaster." Sandra is BSISD's public information officer; the district only receives 3-4 ORR's per year. "Most are not people trying to stir up something, just, 'I'm curious.' " Logistics: BSISD's bookkeeper sends a PDF file to Downe's secretary for TASB BoardBook, and sends a duplicate copy of the PDF file to the webmaster who uploads and creates a link so it's available for the public. Special kudos: BSISD's CFO, Sandra Waggoner. Extra expense: None. Fallout? No increase in public records requests. Goals for the future: Keep each month's check registers online for one year. NEW CANEY ISD Cindy Reynolds, secretary to superintendent/media relations "We've posted our check register online for at least the past year and a half; here at New Caney ISD we have a very open-door policy with the public and the media. Posting our check registers online saves us some time on generating information that people might request otherwise. This is the best way to approach it. It never occurred to us to not post this public information. When you form partnerships with your community, you have to be above reproach. We're all partners, we're all taxpayers. We have to be accountable in all areas." Fallout? "Parents and support organizations question us from time to time regarding expenditures--not that we've been questioned on how but where--and they're certainly entitled to that information." Logistics: NCISD uses TASB's BoardBook. Extra expense: None; check registers are a free feature of TASB's BoardBook. NEDERLAND ISD Gail Krohn, superintendent "I think it's important for a district to share pertinent financial information with the community and the taxpayers; that's what's important. I'm very proud of our business manager that she tries her very best to make things simple and understandable for the taxpayers of Nederland ISD." . |
| SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Having more transparency in your district by being able to view your district's checks online might be as soon and as close as your asking at your district's next board meeting that the checks be posted. Remember, you're entitled to ask. It's your money and your school district. |
MORE COMING |
| December Superintendent Ryder Warren thought it a timely and appropriate idea, a natural continuation of the transparency he'd already worked to bring to the district, and recommended posting the district's check registers online to the board, which concurred. |
| "Superintendents and school boards would have to be willing to be perceived as being anti-open government and anti-transparency to turn down your request that they post their check registers online." |
| Here's the report I presented to Marble Falls ISD trustees at their December 18, 2006 board meeting; it addresses typical concerns administrators and trustees might have: |
KEY POINT: "Superin- tendents and school boards would have to be willing to be perceived as being anti-open government and anti- transparency to turn down your request that they post their check registers online." --Peyton Wolcott |
| Bad as all the booze- sex-cheerleader edu- stories are, even worse ones go underreported By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 Published Tues., Jan. 30, 2007 |
| Compare and contrast the high school cheerleaders from McKinney, Texas above, and their lengthy media exposure --the girls are cute and young--with this guy: |
| UPDATE: El Paso ISD resets meeting with dad Gary Gonzalez By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 Published Tues., Jan. 30, 2007 |
| Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1:00 p.m. at the district's administrative offices, reportedly to enable the attendance at the meeting of two EPISD executives. |
| National School District Honor Roll in Hou. Chronicle By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 Published Tues., Jan. 30, 2007 |
| and openness?" Many thanks to reporter Helen Eriksen for asking this important question and more in the Houston Chronicle, and for a favorable NSDHR report here. |
| Helen Eriksen |
| "Would posting [Katy ISD's] check regi- sters improve accountability |
Questions for the American Ass'n of School Administrators re the state of the American superin- tendency Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 |
| Regarding the other seven board members, "board chairman Joe Conner said he was 'offended' by the request and boardmember Janice Boydston said, 'Why would I want to put all these people in every department on the front page of the paper and make the employees feel bad?' " (SOURCE-- Chattanoogan.com) Well, for starters, salaries including sick and vacation pay for "all these people" are being paid by taxpayers, and taxpayers are |
| Gary went before the EPISD school board on four separate occasions-- twice in December and twice in January--and asked that they post as an agenda item on the next school board meeting the idea of the district posting its check registers online. The first three times he asked, there was no response from the board. "The fourth time I asked," he said, then I read a statement, then I gave them my agenda." At the top of Gary's six-point agenda? Posting check registers online. |
| Statement of Gary Gonzalez to El Paso ISD trustees January 23, 2007 Open government is a benefit for students, parents, employees and the public. One way to participate in open government is for the board of trustees to post its check register online. Online posting of your check register improves accountability and gives citizens confidence that taxpayers’ dollars are properly spent. Other school districts including Spring Branch have done this and it is a success. I encourage the board to be a leader and call for posting of its check register online. |
| Meet educator Fred/ Frederick Deussing. He may have taught your children in Pennsylvania, or New York, or Vermont, or Colorado, or, most recently, Alaska. According to police, he's allegedly also got thou- sands of child porn pix and movies. His arrest last week made the news in Alaska for a few days but media coverage has already come to an end. Click here to learn about pre-arrest Fred and post-arrest Frederick. (PHOTO--KTUU-TV) |
| While it's entirely possible that SBISD would have posted their check registers online eventually anyway, it happened this past fall rather than at some unknown date in the future because I took the time to ask one of their board members to discuss the idea at their upcoming board meeting; he agreed to do so, and the result is that SBISD checks are online now, sooner rather than later. |
| Since starting the National School District Honor Roll comprising districts posting their check registers online last October, $745.2 million annually is now more transparent in U.S. public education. The addition of El Paso ISD would bring this amount to $1.3 billion. |
| In progress: PROBLEMS WITH YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT? HOW TO SOLVE THEM |
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. --President Ronald Reagan |
| Texas-sized news! Showing the way for the rest of our great republic, the Texas Education Agency announced last week its check register is now online! |
| By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Published Wed., Jan. 31, 2007 |
HERE'S HOPING THAT IF OUR LEGE PASSES A PRO-VOUCHERS BILL . . . They'll also at the same time completely rewrite our gibberish-laden, vendor-driven TEKS and give our Texas schoolchildren standards which are: Knowledge-based - Academic - Measurable - Explicit Grade-level specific - Objectively tested.* Otherwise, if children attending voucher-paid private school are forced to take the TAKS test as it is now written, nothing will be gained--and much will be lost. The only place parents will then have left is to homeschool. We must be wary that the Lege is not hornswoggled again as occurred when the TEKS were chosen over the TAD--and common sense. The FBI appears to be on the trail of clearing up this earlier debacle--let's not drop our guard again. _____________ * Thank you, Donna Garner, for this language. |
| "Waking up at 2 a.m., and taking three- to four-hour naps throughout the day, [Jimmy Kilpatrick] sorts through local, regional, national and international news to compile a list of the day’s top education articles in an easy-to- read format. This routine has become a labor of love as Kilpatrick operates EdNews.org with virtually no outside funding." (SOURCE--Davidson Inst.) |
| HATS OFF to Jimmy Kilpatrick at EdNews.Org! |
| entitled to know the amounts and names. As Thurman so often points out, "I work for the taxpayers." |
| Still SBOE chair? WHY? |
| Geraldine "Tincy" Miller - Chair, Texas State Board of Education (PHOTO--Susan Bushart) |
| See, the trouble is, our fifteen State Board of Education members aren't able to elect their own chair; here in Texas the SBOE chair is appointed by the governor. And even though SBOE chair Tincy Miller's second and last term as chair (see "What the Law Says" below) has expired, the governor hasn't yet appointed a |
| WHAT THE LAW SAYS: § 7.107. OFFICERS. (a) The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the chair from among the membership of the board. The chair serves a term of two years. (b) At the board's first regular meeting after the election and qualification of new members, the board shall organize, adopt rules of procedure, and elect by separate votes a vice chair and a secretary. (c) A person who serves two consecutive terms as chair is ineligible to again serve as chair until four years have elapsed since the expiration of the second term. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. |
| By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 - Published Tues., Feb. 6, 2007 |
| Thrills, chills! A malfunctioning vote tabulating machine! All at the SBOE! By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Published Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007 |
| John Stossel came to Austin, and so did a lot of other people, but will all this help Texans get vouchers--and should we? Which single factor could make vouchers worse for Texan kids rather than better? Here. |
| STOSSEL PIX HERE RALLYING THE TX VOUCHER TROOPS By Peyton Wolcott Copyright 2007 (Updated Fri., Feb. 9, 2007/12:16 pm) |
| That pesky vote tabulating machine at the SBOE; it didn't work for SBOE |
| SBOE chair Geraldine "Tincy" Miller |
| chair Geraldine "Tincy" Miller not once but twice yesterday. This on top of the fact that her second and last term as chair has expired without the governor having appointed a replacement. Fortunately, her problem with the vote counter was easily fixable as an aide was able to come to her aid both times and assist with recording the members' votes. More here, including photos. |
| replacement. And there are apparent signs of her not wanting to step down. If the SBOE members were able to elect their own chair themselves, that would be one thing; for an appointee to not go gracefully into the sweet night is quite another. Tomorrow I'm heading in to Austin to drop in on the SBOE meeting, see what happens; will let you know. |
| U.S. vouchers including big news from UTAH here |
| HEADS UP |
| Governor Rick Perry's recent announcement (below) that the Texas Education Agency's check register had just gone online certainly gave this transparency movement a jump start towards legitimacy--and healthy encouragement to supes and their boards. Late yesterday learned from Houston Chronicle reporter Helen Eriksen that Houston ISD is in the process of posting its check register online. And today from spokesman Celso Martinez that Dallas ISD had begun posting its checks online three months ago. Said HISD spokes- man Terry Abbot, "It seems to us a good thing to do." This from Eriksen's blog: "Houston ISD, which has more than 200,000 pupils, is in the process of putting its check register online. On the other hand, Katy [ISD in suburban Houston] is not considering doing so at this time." More here |
| Houston ISD posting check register online! By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007-Feb. 13, 2007 - 7:48 pm- Updated Feb. 18, 2007/2 am When smaller Texas school districts began posting their check registers online recently, consensus was that it would take one of the state's two largest districts --Houston ISD or Dallas ISD--to make this a real movement. |
| Houston ISD headquarters |
| More on Alaska's Frederick/Fred Deussing By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Feb. 13, 2007 - 9:10 p.m. Updated Feb. 14, 2007 - 8 a.m. |
| Remember Deussing, the former Alaska principal arrested for possesion of child pornography--or, more accurately (ugh)--baby porn? |
| Deussing and his wife were also licensed foster parents through the state of Alaska Office of Children's Services, however their foster care license applications and home studies were destroyed in 2005 in accordance with the division of finance records retention schedule, which keeps records only five years. (SOURCE -Layton Ehmke/Homer Tribune) |
| Turns out in addition to being a teacher and administrator he was also a foster parent: |
| Deussing in court last month (PHOTO--Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News) |
| DEUSSING'S NEXT DAY IN COURT: When: Thurs., Feb. 22, 2007 What: Pre-indictment hearing Where: Anchorage |
| RESPONSE: Over a year later now, and no response |
| Lorenzo Garcia, superintendent of El Paso ISD, has reset his meeting with dad Gary Gonzalez to |
| Has Gary's approach worked? You bet. EPISD superintende nt Lorenzo Garcia has already set an |
| Reactions around Alaska to the news about Deussing: |
| "Heritage Christian School administrator Patrick Hadley is quoted as saying, 'My goodness, I need to pray for him.' I find that remark shocking coming from a school administrator. Shouldn't Mr. Hadley be praying instead for the children, the innocent victims of these horrific crimes? The police described the level of violence in the images found on Mr. Deussing's computer as the worst they've seen.... Honestly, I don't think prayer for Mr. Deussing is what he needs. The only thing he deserves is a last meal." -- Yannick Hodgin, Anchorage (Ibid.) |
| "My goodness, I need to pray for him," he said. "It's an awful thing to be in the middle of, regardless of whether he's guilty or not guilty." --Patrick Hadley, former boss (Anchorage Daily News) |
| “We’re all trying to make some sense of it. He was supportive of the staff, was a straight shooter, very interested in the well-being of students and staff. He got along good in the community. [The charges are] completely out of character. I don’t want to be completely in denial, but still I’m having trouble believing it – that there was a person inside that was invisible to us.” --Steve Werle, Noatak (The Arctic Sounder) |
| Dallas ISD's check register online! By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 - Feb. 15, 2007/8:19 a.m. Updated re DISD link 021907 Here's what happened. When I heard about Houston public schools' check register going online late Tuesday, my first call was to Dallas, its friendly rival-in-all-things, to see if Houston's move might spur Dallas to action. Turns out, Dallas ISD's check register has been online-- since November 2, 2006. Who knew? How would anyone know? There were no press releases; perhaps they were busy with other matters up there. Regardless, Dallas ISD has taken a huge step towards transparency, and superintendent Mike Hinojosa is to be heartily commended, and then some. |
| Lovejoy ISD online! By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 - Feb. 14, 2007/10 am Updated Feb. 15, 2007/Noon |
| Lovejoy's check register went online last Friday--good news for Lovejoy's schoolchildren, |
| What's Bob Thompson teaching at his Lamar U. Supe's Academy? By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Feb. 15, 2006 - 2:03 a.m. |
| Bob Thompson (L), Bryan Neal |
| Thompson's pupil, Como-Pickton supe Bryan Neal, was arrested last month for "allegedly giving false statements...to purchase a $19,134.60 Kubota tractor as well as a $11,806.56 all-terrain vehicle on behalf of the school district, which he kept for himself. He reportedly had been having an amount in excess of $500 taken out of his check monthly to pay the cost. He did not advertise for bids and received the school discount and benefit of no tax on the equipment, District Attorney Martin Braddy said." (SOURCE--Bobby McDonald/Front Porch News) |
| Next, Neal's "Team of Eight" school board voted unanimously that he be "charged back with funds that resulted from him taking a 'non-administrator' to a fall retreat in Arkansas. The total expenditures to be charged back were $324.26. Several other financial items were tabled pending some needed explanations." (Ibid.) |
| And now we learn the 'non-administrator' Neal took to Arkansas with him at taxpayers' expense was the district's soccer coach, Antonio Martinez, age 28, who has since been charged with "An Improper Relationship With A Child," based on incidents that occurred during the spring 2005 semester. (Ibid.) |
| Como-Pickton residents wait in hallway while board deliberates (PHOTO--McDonald/Front Porch News) |
| executive order in 2005 to improve transparency in school budgets, I did so based on the belief that the taxpayers who pick up the tab should be able to look at the receipt. "Online financial disclosure in the state’ s two largest districts is great news for local taxpayers and an important step for open government.” |
| Celso Martinez |
| including putting the district's check register online, gives us the opportunity to present to the public information that would otherwise not be available," said Dallas ISD spokesman Celso Martinez, associate superintendent for communication. "This also gives us an opportunity to conduct our activities in a transparent manner." To access Dallas ISD's January 2007 check register, the direct link doesn't work; you must go through several steps--as detailed above right, in pink box. |
| Local: $ 4.86 billion State: $49.47 billion |
| www.boardbook. org/apps/bbv2/te mp/C6F34186-E7FF -035D-1D23A8C711 7093E3.pdf |
| Kudos from DC, Arizona "Congratulations on this huge victory for parents and taxpayers," said Tim Mooney, director of First Class Education. "The ability to see how money is being spent (and misspent) is the first step towards fiscal sanity and placing the focus back on children and the learning experience." Mooney's group proposes that public schools spend at least 65 cents of every education dollar in the classroom; Perry's 65% executive order, signed in 2005, was the first in the nation. |
| Regarding Houston and Dallas, Governor Rick Perry said earlier today from Austin, "When I issued an |
| Gov. Rick Perry |
| man, "The Lovejoy ISD board of trustees have affirmed their commitment to transparent district operations by adopting Resolution 11607 which will allow our patrons to see each accounts payable check that is drafted by LISD." More here www.lovejoyisd.net |
| Ted Moore |
| parents and taxpayers, and hats off to superintendent Ted Moore. According to a district spokes- |
| Perry, on signing the 65% executive order "Perry said improving classroom performance is too important to set aside until lawmakers overcome their differences. ' While I hope to one day reach a legislative consensus on school finance, we can no longer delay taking action that will benefit schoolchildren, parents, and taxpayers,' Perry said in an August 22 news release. 'They deserve better than unfulfilled promises and continued delays. They deserve immediate action.' ” --Connie Sadowski -Texas editor, The Heartland Institute |
| Rob Eissler |
| State rep- resentative Rob Eissler, chair of the Public Education Committee, said by |
| phone this afternoon from Austin, "This is a great start to a dialogue about school spending. It's the ultimate in checks and balances." |
| More from Dallas ISD "Instituting paperless agendas for the board, |
| Moses & Thompson: losing their luster? By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007/3:30 am |
| of Lamar University's Bob Thompson (see photo above right, next to his student Bryan Neal's mug shot). Long- time KISD supe Leonard Merrell has resigned. |
| From Katy ISD comes word that last night their trustees rejected the Mike Moses/Dave Thompson (Bracewell & Giuliani) superin- tendent search team in favor of |
| Mike Moses and David Thompson, you will recall, have a rich history-- literally. After Moses left his position as Texas edu-czar and stayed briefly at Texas Tech he landed at Dallas ISD in 2001 as their supe. |
| Mike Moses (center), also at 2004 Robin Hood trial |
| $341,775 per year: Not enough for Moses? Apparently Moses' $341,775 annual salary was not enough to live on--even though the Dallas Morning News reported it as being the highest in the nation for a public school superintendent--because Moses began moonlighting shortly after joining DISD, doing superintendent sear- ches with Dave Thompson. |
| are longtime friends. The men said they became business associates in 2000, the year before Dr. Moses came to the Dallas Independent School District....Under the law firm's banner, Mr. Thompson used Dr. Moses as a paid consultant to help him find new superintendents for Texas school districts. According to records, Dr. Moses formally recommended that the school board add Houston- based... Bracewell & Patterson to DISD's stable of outside legal talent.... Before 2001, the law firm had done a little work on a spot basis for DISD - about $7,500 worth in the late 1990s. But since February 2001, DISD has paid the firm more than $718,000." (SOURCE--Scott Parks/Dallas Morning News) |
| "Dr. Moses acknowledges that the law firm has paid him tens of thousands of dollars during the three-plus years he has been in DISD. Public records aren't available to determine exactly how much. Texas' financial disclosure laws don't apply to superintendents." (Ibid.) |
| Cosy "A Houston law firm has paid DISD Superintendent Mike Moses tens of thousands of dollars in consulting fees while simultaneously billing the district for more than $700,000 in legal fees, The Dallas Morning News has learned. David Thompson, a partner in the firm Bracewell & Patterson, and [Mike] Moses |
| Abe Saavedra & wife |
| Did California's Capistrano USD recall really accomplish anything? By Peyton Wolcott-Copyright 2007 Sunday, February 18, 2007/4 am |
| Capistrano residents were upset with their supe James Fleming and his school board, and with good reason. Secrecy appeared to be the modus operandi of a district many felt was out of control. Among the chief points of contention was an administration building Fleming built whose costs ballooned some said to as much as $52 million while at the same time a dispropor- tionate number of school children were attending classes in portable buildings. |
| New Capistrano USD HQ |
| Seema Mehta reported last summer in the Los Angeles Times that the then-CUSD board had approved "hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts with a construction consultant" that employed then-CUSD board president Marlene Draper's daughter. Also, "the district's director of construction failed to disclose his wife's income from the district's sole plumbing contractor, an apparent violation of the state's Political Reform Act." And, "there also were revelations that the district's sole plumbing contractor, Montano Plumbing Co., employed Fleming's son, Sean, and the wife of the district's director of construction, Mark Bauer. Sherry Bauer has worked for Montano Plumbing for nearly a decade, yet according to documents released by the district on Friday, her husband has never disclosed his wife's employment or income, as is required on his annual statements of economic interests." |
| Formers: CUSD supe James Fleming, board president Marlene Draper |
| This led to an historic recall which failed thanks to CUSD's, um, dealings with the Orange County registrar. Then the recall supporters succeeded in getting all three of their trustee candidates elected to the CUSD board. Except they're apparently being outsmarted--the district is still paying for Fleming's attorney, and now comes news CUSD trustees still aren't taping even the public portions of board meetings-- that should have been the pro-transparency candidates' first move after their election. Disappointing. We'll continue watching-- hope things get on track. |
| Just who are these people telling us to "Raise Your Hand"? By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Monday, February 19, 2007/3:11 am |
| Veteran educator and two- time presidential appointee to the National Commission on Migrant Education Donna Garner has looked into things for us; here |
| Bill Ratliff (L) (Austin Chronicle) Mike Moses (R) in Dallas |
| http://www.ednews.org/articles/824 4/1/An-Interview-with-Peyton-Wolco tt-quotIs-the-Check-in-the-Mail-or-O n-Line-quot/Page1.html |
| Donna's Modern Minutemen page updated here |
| Education News Interview (Michael Shaughnessy) February 19, 2007 www.EdnNews.org |
| Education News Interview (Michael Shaughnessy) Peyton Wolcott Posted February 19, 2007 - 2:53 pm For some insights into why school districts' putting their checkbooks (check registers) online, you'll find several specific examples in this interview. Examples: o Difficulties experienced by public school trustees in Tennessee and Lousiana getting basic financial information from their own districts. o Examples of expenditures parents and taxpayers should see. o Thoughts on the legislative history which created the present anti-transparency culture in many of our school districts. |
ONLY 9 EASY STEPS TO ACCESS DALLAS ISD'S CHECK REGISTER ONLINE: STEP 1 START HERE: www.dallasisd.org STEP 2 ON THE LEFT (GREY BOX 'QUICKLINKS') CHOOSE: Board of Trustees STEP 3 YOU'LL SEE 2 GREY LINES OF TYPE; FROM 2nd LINE CHOOSE: Meeting Agendas STEP 4 SCROLL DOWN; FOR THE MOST RECENT CHECK REGISTER CHOOSE THE MOST RECENT "BOARD BRIEFINGS" ------ STEP 5 CHOOSE: FEB. 8, 2007 STEP 6 FIND "Briefing Meeting - February 8, 2007 11:30AM STEP 7 CLICK ON: "AGENDA PACKET" STEP 8 SCROLL DOWN TO 4. FINANCIAL SERVICES (Business Services Division) b. Ratification of List of Bills, Claims and Accounts for Demember 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 ($74,044,519.08) STEP 9 CLICK ON "BillsClaims_ Attachment" VOILA! YOU'VE JUST ACCESSED DALLAS ISD'S CHECK REGISTER IN ONLY 9 --COUNT 'EM, 9-- EASY STEPS! |
| ALERT! Dallas ISD's online check register link doesn't work. You must follow the 9 steps below right in the pink box. |
| Fort Bend Now - Editorial Feb. 2, 2007 www.fortbendnow.com/opinion |
| Dallas Blog - Feb. 19, 2007 www.dallasblog.com |
| Houston Chronicle Feb. 13, 2007 http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty |
| Looking for articles re online check registers? |
| Donna Garner |
| Education News www.EdNews.org Dallas ISD's check register online! Houston's soon! Feb. 16, 2007 |
| $583,000 of school's $2.1 mil budget: T-r-a-v-e-l By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 February 20, 2007/11:08 pm If Twin Buttes' check register had been posted online, likely folks would have noticed sooner that over a half-million had been spent on travel, $307,000 of it for trustees, between June 2003 and July 2004, with school board president Melissa Starr reportedly spending $106,000 herself. |
| "Twin Buttes' elementary school, with the highest per-pupil cost in the state, spent more than a quarter of its budget on travel, the majority of it for school board members.... "Some Twin Buttes residents say the children who go to school there could have a first-class education if more money was spent for education instead.... "School records show that in April 2004, Starr was compensated for travel to Minneapolis, Denver, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, N.M., and Aberdeen, S.D., and Rapid City, S.D., as well as New Town, Dickinson and Minot. In March last year, vouchers show she was compensated for travel to Minneapolis, Dickinson, New Town, Chicago, Denver and Aberdeen." Trial is set for May 1. |
| North Dakota's Twin Butte school board; president Melissa Starr at right rear |
| Fraud, indictments for 7 Last November, Associated Press reported: "Seven current and former Twin Buttes school board members and employees are accused of conspiring to defraud the school of more than $665,000 over the past three years. A grand jury indicted the seven after an 18-month federal investigation. The Twin Buttes elementary school is on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The seven are accused of defrauding the school through false travel vouchers, payroll advances and bonuses. "The indictment names school board president Melissa Starr, board vice president Darcy Lone Bear, and board member Hank Star, who is Melissa Starr's brother. "Also charged are former board member Tammy Grady-Jacobs, former principal Elaine Incognito, school finance officer Lillian Holen and school head custodian Paul Fredericks. "The grand jury indictment charges all seven with conspiracy, embezzlement and fraud. |
| "A big mistake" That's how former Indiana's Martinsville High School English teacher Cynthia Marie Rynard (above) defines her having traded sex for better grades with a student. (SOURCE --Martinsville-Reporter-Times) |
| Check registers online -- WHY? |
| The stars are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas . . . witness the growing number of school districts with their check registers online! |
| ONLINE NOW TEXAS: Big Spring ISD Blackwell CISD Bremond ISD Dallas ISD Lovejoy ISD Malakoff ISD Marble Falls ISD Nederland ISD New Caney ISD San Angelo ISD Spring Branch ISD SOON: Houston ISD STATE DOE Texas Education Agency WHERE PARENTS & TAXPAYERS ARE ASKING: Cleburne ISD (TX) El Paso ISD (TX) Katy ISD (TX) Lake Travis ISD (TX) Leander ISD (TX) Santa Cruz CPS (AZ) |
| Cleburne ISD |
| El Paso ISD |
| Katy ISD |
| When parents and taxpayers come calling at Texas and Arizona board meetings this next month and next proposing that their districts' check registers be posted online, trustees have the following to consider: Do they want to be perceived as being anti-transparency and anti-open government? Further, the following districts have special considerations: o Cleburne ISD is being investigated by the Texas Education Agency. o El Paso ISD is under multiple investigations on multiple fronts including the FBI. o Katy ISD appears to have a long-standing track record of lack of transparency with its community. Let's take a closer look: |
| Why school districts need to post their checks online--NOW By Peyton Wolcott -Copyright 2007 Wednesay, Feb. 21, 2007 - 11:53 pm Updated Friday, Feb. 23, 2007 - 11:04 pm |
| Regarding CISD's investigation by the Texas Education Agency, Don Rice, managing editor of theCleburne Eagle News, said by telephone last night, "This has been a two-year process of asking questions and seeking answers and accountability. It appears..." More here |
| Katy ISD's problems in the transparency department appear to have surfaced about the time Leonard Merrell was hired as their supe in 1995; as former trustee Mary McGarr recalls, "They would only give..." More here |
| CLEBURNE ISD |
| EL PASO ISD |
| Don Rice (R) with Teresa Blackwell |
| Tuesday's El Paso ISD board meeting promises to be lively. At the very least, it's all, um, promising. Stay tuned. |
| Gary Gonzalez |
| KATY ISD |
| Leonard Merrell's self-named center |
| Posted by Peyton Wolcott Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007 |
| QUESTION O' THE DAY How has Twin Buttes supe/ principal Chad Dahlen (above) managed to be in the middle of this mess and still keep his name out of it? |
| "Two other board members, Hank Starr and Darcy Lone Bear, still are under investigation, and complaints are likely to be filed against them shortly, Stenehjem said. The Starrs are brother and sister, and Lone Bear is their brother-in-law." "The Twin Buttes school has 47 students in grades kindergarten through eight, and an instructional budget of about $1.2 million, said Chad Dahlen, its superintendent and principal. It is under both state and federal jurisdiction and receives aid from both sources, Dahlen said. A federal grand jury indicted the Starrs, Lone Bear and four others last October on charges of fraud and conspiracy to steal money from the school district. 'The defendants attempted unlawfully to disguise and conceal these funds through claims and proclamation of bonuses, loans, payroll advances, compensation to others, and as travel expenses,' the indictment says." (Ibid.) |
| More below, including details of $583,000 spent on travel |
| North Dakota's AG wants Twin Buttes board prez removed By Peyton Wolcott - Copyright 2007 Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007/2:35 am All in the family "The president of the Twin Buttes school board should be thrown out of office for stealing $19,000 in school money, [North Dakota] Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says. Melissa Starr will be suspended from the board while she awaits a formal hearing." (SOURCE--Associated Press) |
| Rally in Austin, Texas at state capitol |
| Leander ISD |
| First outside of Texas! AZ dad has committed to approaching Santa Cruz County USD school board |
| Santa Cruz County USD |
| Lake Travis ISD |
| ONLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT CHECK REGISTERS |
| TRANSAPARENCY TALLY |
| ABC's John Stossel (L) in Austin at vouchers rally |