| Cy-Fair's David Anthony (C) at resort with bar cart girl (L), AIG vendor Ken Coffey (R) at 2:30 pm on Friday, Apr. 20 of TAKS testing week |
| Some folks leave office more graciously than others. Hard to imagine Texas edu-missioner Shirley Neeley's release this week of her inspector general's findings linking her friend Jimmy Wynn's grant-writing activities to TEA chief deputy commissioner Robert Scott as falling into the "kinder, gentler" tone she invoked when joining the agency in 2004. Here's an excerpt from TEA's org chart : |
| 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 . |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| Governor Perry: In light of recent arrests in Pharr-San Juan- Alamo ISD, and the 16 indictments against |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
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| 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 |
| TEA's check register: |
| C o n s e r v a t i v e C o m m e n t a r y |
| "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." |
KEY POINT: "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." --Peyton Wolcott |
| http://www.ednews.org /articles/8244/1/An-Inte rview-with-Peyton-Wol cott-quotIs-the-Check-i n-the-Mail-or-On-Line- quot/Page1.html |
| Education News Interview (Michael Shaughnessy) February 19, 2007 www.EdNews.org |
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! |
| Fort Bend Now - Editorial Feb. 2, 2007 www.fortbendnow.co m/opinion |
| Dallas Blog Feb. 19, 2007 www.dallasblog.com |
| Houston Chronicle Feb. 13, 2007 http://blogs.chron.c om/insidekaty |
| Looking for articles re online check registers? |
| Education News www.EdNews.org Dallas ISD's check register online! Houston's soon! Feb. 16, 2007 |
| SEEING IS BELIEVING Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell's self-named "Leonard E. Merrell Center" (above) at Katy ISD bears his name not once but twice, the only such edifice in the U.S. which a working supe has named for himself. |
| Easiest way to find articles: "Peyton Wolcott" & "check registers" Almost 200 online as of Apr. 4, 23, 2007 |
| Not a PR pro? How to talk to your local school board & supe about putting your district's checks online By Peyton Wolcott Copyright 2007 Updated Mar. 28, 2007 Friends, a light bulb went off recently when an astute friend remarked, "You know, most grassroots parents and taxpayers aren't good at PR." This comment took me off guard, but do you know what? He was right. Many of our best volunteers are rational people, engineers and accountants and the like, who are used to an environment in which facts reign. |
| It takes us a very long while to understand that our public schools are essentially socialist models and their engine and currency is the realm of emotions and people skills. Further, our superintendents attend confer- ences and meetings where they learn how to develop their PR skills, and they hire well-paid PR guys and gals who are skilled in the art of public relations. This is the arena into which we step. Also, by the time most of us get to the point that we are interested in seeing how our district spends its money, there have been precipitating incidents. As another friend put it, "I just wanted to slug someone at that board meeting." This man is a genuinely decent human being and the comment surprised me-- but it's not the first time I've heard this from a parent. It wasn't always that way. Generally we start out assuming our dealings with our school districts will be a rational exercise. Most of us are volunteers and in addition to our taxes give generously to our children's schools. Then when we spend a lot of time there, we notice things. Years ago I myself felt sure that if I showed my local supe and board where money was being wasted in some areas and not adequately safeguarded in others that they would welcome this information with open arms and changes would be made on the spot. Hah! Imagine my surprise when they reacted as though to a personal attack when I was just trying to help. At this point we often start gathering hard data on our schools because we assume--also incorrectly, as it turns out-- that "someone" higher up is watching out. But the "someone" turns out to be us. We learn that our local schools have next to no real oversight; as just one example witness the two dozen state, federal and local governmental bodies and elected officials two moms in Texas contacted in their effort to bring their local superintendent to justice. Besides, to focus on spread sheets and flow charts to take to "someone in charge" is to focus on the wake of the wave and not the boat and the pilot. This is why I have come to the conclusion after years in the grassroot trenches that the best and most effective single step we can take to help our districts reign in costs and improve our vendor-driven curriculums in order to better educate our kids is to persuade our schools to post their check registers online. When we approach our districts, we have found there are some things we can do which are more effective than others. Like I tell my kids, go and make new mistakes--don't replicate mine. To make it easier for you to successfully ask your local district to put its check register online, I've just posted two new pages; the first walks you through the process, and the second is a flyer you can print as is, or you can copy and paste* the report sec- tion in the grey box on the left. I've done this successful- ly, and wouldn't recommend that you undertake something I haven't already done myself. If I can do it, you can, too-- and probably much better! |
| Our public schools are essentially socialist models and their engine and currency is the realm of emotions and people skills. |
| Oct. 1, 2006 was the start date of the National School District Honor Roll with four small school districts in Texas who'd posted their check registers online. We now have 56 districts either online or committed-- or where parents and taxpayers have begun asking. Districts are almost all saying "yes" immediately. Why? Superintendents and board members understand it's better to be on the beginning of this wave than in its wake. |
Looking for previous COMMENTARIES ? Click on "Archives" button up on the tool bar. CHECK REGISTER COMMENTARIES ? Wondering who came online and when? Previous check register commentaries have moved to: |
| * Please attribute and include copyright. |
| National School District Honor Roll FIRST & MOST COMPLETE U.S. LIST ++++++++++++++++ Updated weekly ++++++++++++++++++ 47 districts online $28.3 billion! |
| Dallas Morning News March 8, 2007 |
| UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE |
| Austin American- Statesman March 23, 2007 |
| Former Bremond ISD supe |
| THE BIG PICTURE |
| Public Records |
| Sentencing |
| Bremond ISD |
| Home of the National School District Honor Roll 47 districts 4 states $28.3 billion How to ask your school district to post its checks online Flyer History |
| Practical steps: How to Organize 95 Questions How to ask for public records |
| Origin of the National School District Honor Roll |
| Another day in paradise: Texas' hardworking supes golfing with vendors during TAKS testing week By Peyton Wolcott Tue., Apr. 24, 2007/1:04 am |
_______________
| Open letter to Governor Rick Perry: Please veto HB 2564 Updated Thursday, June 14, 2007/11 a.m. |
| a former Dallas ISD associate superin- tendent and tech executives, and given that in many of our school dist- ricts recent corrup- tion unearthed originated not with questions from board members or governmental officials but with public records requests by parents and taxpayers, we the undersigned ask you to veto HB 2564. This bill with its exemptions for certain classes of requestors has been written with the result that all requestors of public records will not be treated uniformly as required by the Texas Public Information Act.* |
| (Signed) David Escamilla Nancy & Robert Gadbois Donna Garner Allen Gwinn Mary McGarr Peyton Wolcott ++++++++++++++++ * 552.223. UNIFORM TREATMENT OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION. The officer for public information or the officer's agent shall treat all requests for information uniformly without regard to the position or occupa- tion of the requestor, the person on whose behalf the request is made, or the status of the individual as a member of the media. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1035, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. +++++++++++++++ About us: David Escamilla is Travis County Attorney. Nancy and Robert Gadbois' public records requests at Bremond ISD were used by the special prosecutor in superintendent Kenny Johnson's trial; Robert was elected to the BISD school board where he served as president. |
| Questions |
| Former Bremond ISD supe Kenny Johnson (Sheriff Dep't/mug shot) |
| Former Llano ISD supe/Texas' first Public Information Act conviction Jack Patton negotiating settlement with board after trial, after surrendering certificate |
| $38,00 missing and another PTA mom in trouble-- preventable? How? By Peyton Wolcott Mon., June 4, 2007/1 am |
| The headlines tell a too-familiar story: |
| Julie Ann Carr Shawnee Mission, Kansas Elementary PTA fund raiser chair |
| o Woman charged with stealing $17,000 from PTA o Woman who stole over $20,000 from PTA "forgets" check to pay it back o Woman Leaves Court To Cash Check, Never Returns o PTA mom turns herself in |
| The first amount mentioned was in the $17,000 range; by week's end it was $38,000; in many situations such as this, record keeping is such that it takes a while for those responsible for oversight to determine the exact amount. The solution It's simple and not at all glamorous: tighter internal controls, starting with at least two people counting cash at all fund raisers and at least two people both of whom are awake signing all checks--unlike too-trusting officers in Flushing, New York who signed blank checks for PTA president Laura AlQaisi, charged two years ago with mishandling $40,000-- $23,000 of it from candy sales. Similarly, PTA officers in League City, Texas signed blank checks over to Walter Hall Elementary PTA president and treasurer Monica Tidwell, eventually charged with taking $52,000. Often those involved are trusted members of the community; Tidwell's husband was a local city councilman. But what of Julie Ann Carr, the PTA mom/ fund raiser in Shawnee Mission, Kansas? |
| Marjorie P. Kaplan, Shawnee supe |
| When Julie Ann Carr finally returned to court Friday with her cashiers check, the judge sent her to jail, "saying that she tried to 'scam the court' and that her apology for stealing from the organization fell short....Carr, 40, will spend the next 30 days behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from Shawnee’s Bluejacket-Flint Elementary PTA. After that, she will be on probation for 11 months and will face six months in prison if she violates terms of the probation." (SOURCE--Laura Bauer/Kansas City Star) When an apology isn't About the apology to the community which the judge had found wanting, judge for yourself: |
| Dear BJF [sic] community: I want to apologize that through all of my efforts, energy, and excitement to make our students, teachers, staff and school a greater place, and extend programs to the children, my inability to keep accurate records was not acceptable. I want all of you to know our children were, and will always be, the first priority in anything I was asked to do or to help with. I have learned through this situation that being a volunteer is an important responsibility. I believe that not only have I learned as a person what to do or not to do, but our organiza- tion has created some finer guidelines for those of us who want to help our children and our school. Please accept my apology for my inaccuracies while trying to help. Sincerely, Julie Ann Carr |
| "Inaccuracies"? "Inability to keep accurate records"? Julie Ann Carr appears to not be the only party in denial. As almost always occurs, Shawnee Mis- sion School District appears to have also put its head in the sand; it's not mentioned among the 20 "Top Shawnee Mis- sion Stories" nor does the loss appear in Bluejacket- Flint Elementary's web news. And as so often also happens, the supe's name is not mentioned at all. |
| $306,000 missing in Arizona When Scottsdale USD (AZ) employee Janet Rice, who worked as an assistant to the district's attorney and had been employed in SUSD's risk management office office for the past three years, was arrested Friday for allegedly embezzling $306,000 from the district's school insurance trust fund to cover gambling debts, SUSD supe John Baracy was available for comment: "From November 15 to this last check, we found an elaborate scheme where she was forging signatures, doctoring financial records and copies of checks and intercepting bank statements." (SOURCE --Carol Sowers/Arizona Republic)Corrective actions by Baracy include "setting up a bank account that requires two signatures and a monthly audit by two different district officials." (Ibid.) |
| Janet Winkler Rice |
| Remember Dallas ISD's tech guy Ruben Bohuchot's use of vendor's"Sir Veza"? It's been-- forgive us -- "Rehabbed." |
| Groups asking Gov. Perry to veto HB 2564: Access Cleburne ISD Access Comal ISD ACLU-Texas (NEW) Americans for Prosperity - Texas Community Activists of The Woodlands Cy-Fair Citizens Dallas.org Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Houston Property Rights Association Katy Citizen Watchdogs Keller City Limits Leander Kids First Lovejoy Parents MetroCityBeat Montgomery County Taxpayer Awareness Group Pegasus Pharr-San Juan- Alamo ISD/Grupo PODER ("We Listen & Respond for Others") Red Ink Texas Save Our Springs Alliance Southlake-Carroll ISD Concerned Citizens Texas Eagle Forum (The above represents a representative sampling.) |
| One of the signatures being forged was Baracy's own. As Ser- geant Mark Clark with the Scottsdale police department explains it, Rice wrote "fake checks on a school insurance trust fund, then depositing them into her personal bank account. She had forged her boss's signature, which was circumventing their internal controls." (SOURCE--KTAR-TV) Baracy grabbed headlines a few years ago for renaming his employees' job titles. His receptionist became the district's "Director of First Impressions." Possible monikers for Rice: "Forger of Checks"? "Betrayer of the Public Trust?" |
| If you haven't already: Please call Gov. Perry--Sunday is the last day for Gov. Perry to veto HB 2564 at (800) 252-9600; Chelsea Thornton (512) 463-2000 Ask Gov. Perry to stay the course on behalf of parents and taxpayers and veto HB 2564. Email Chelsea: chelsea.thornton@gov ernor.state.tx.us |
| "Team of Eight" or "Gang of Eight"? Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD board with supe Arturo Guajardo (front right) |
| SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THEIR CHECK REGISTERS ONLINE: ILLINOIS: Carpentersville SD 300* Elgin U-46* Huntley CUSD 158* Naperville CUSD MINNESOTA Milaca ISD TEXAS: Arlington ISD Bellville ISD Big Spring ISD Blackwell CISD Bremond ISD Center Pt. ISD Chester ISD Comal ISD Conroe ISD* Cy-Fair ISD* Dallas ISD Denison ISD Ector Co. ISD Electra ISD Grandfalls-Royalty ISD Hempstead ISD Holliday ISD Houston ISD* Hunt ISD Katy ISD Keller ISD* Kerrvile ISD Leander ISD Leonard ISD Malakoff ISD Marble Falls ISD Meadow ISD McKinney ISD Nederland ISD New Caney ISD Nordheim ISD No.Forest ISD Pasadena ISD Quinlan ISD Round Rock ISD* Royce City ISD San Angelo ISD Spring Branch ISD * Tomball ISD Van Alstyne ISD Wharton ISD Wimberley ISD COMMITTED/SOON El Paso ISD (TX) Galena Park ISD (TX) Miami-Dade CPS(FL) Richardson ISD (TX) Sundown ISD (TX) Temple ISD (TX) Ysleta ISD (TX) STATE DOE ONLINE Texas Education Agency MIDDLE EDU-LAYER St. Clair County RESA (MI) PARENTS,TAXPAYERS TRUSTEES ASKING: Cedar Rapids PS (IA) ChippewaVall.SD(MI) Cleburne ISD (TX) Eanes ISD (TX) Lake Travis ISD (TX) Lancaster ISD (TX) Midway-Waco ISD (TX) New York CPS (NY) Omaha PS (NB) Santa Cruz CPS (AZ) *No check numbers (Source for 6 districts- Houston Chronicle) |
| "Prostitutes, guns, cash all parts of Valley case" --San Antonio Express- News headline By Peyton Wolcott Wed., June 6, 2007/11 pm |
| and is also president of the Donna ISD school board, and Harlingen insurance agency owner Arnulfo Olivarez. Mr. Hernandez was arrested Tuesday; Mr. Olivarez was expected to turn himself in, officials said. "Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Olivarez are accused in the 22-count federal indictment of offering bribes that included payments of up to $210,000, Las Vegas trips, guns, prostitutes and $14,000 worth of tickets to the NCAA Final Four. " 'In a nutshell, we had millions of dollars at the disposal of trustees,' U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said. 'The allegations in this indictment say that these people who are entrusted with this obligation failed miserably.' " But they were a "Team of Eight," right? Wonder if they went fishing much. |
| Who is this Rep. Kelly Hancock who has attempted HB 2564 on Texas parents and taxpayers and why is he against us--and where does he work? By Peyton Wolcott Thu., June 7, 2007/1 am Updated Sun., June 10, 2007, 2:08 am |
| Kelly Hancock |
| Kelly lists four companies on his official House of Representatives biography: |
| "Hancock’s extensive business enterprises with Advanced Chemical Logistics, Agvantage Farm and Ranch, HancockF Industries and CKC Trinity Investment has provided him with a prolific understand- ing of issues deal- ing with agriculture, real estate, environ- mental quality and regulated industry." |
| UPDATE: The listing for "Hancock Indus- tries, Inc." in Decatur, Texas with taxpayer ID #17515935488 is Kelly Hancock's family business. Although a search for "ACL" yields 61 results, none of them appear to be Kelly's company as I was unable to find his name listed under officers and directors for any of the 61; it's possible I made a mistake. When I contacted Kelly's office at the Lege this afternoon to learn more, including the name of Kelly's current company--and under what name might it be found at the Comptroller and Secretary of State--an aide responded that they "do not maintain those records." Huh? Where might they be maintained? Disappointing given that Rep. Hancock is the fellow who has attempted to curtail parents' and taxpayers' ability to access public records at their school districts with the writing of HB 2564. |
| Business Name Advanced Chemical Logistics was not found. Business Name Agvantage Farm and Ranch was not found. Business Name CKC Industries was not found. |
| Curious about the companies that could give a person a "prolific" understanding of any issues, I searched the Comptroller's online information bank and found the following information for the businesses listed above: |
| The headlines on the front page of my local paper this morning more closely resembled a supermarket tabloid than an account of recent events in a Rio Grande Valley public school district in which officials were exhibiting displays of fiduciary duty of care. Here's an excerpt: |
| PHARR-SAN JUAN- ALAMO ISD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS (ABOVE LEFT) Mr. Ben Garza Jr., President Mr. Pete Garcia, Vice-President Mr. Raul "Roy" Navarro, Secretary-Treasurer Mr. J. Fernando Lopez, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. Vangie Garcia-De Leon, Member Mr. Reymundo Gonzalez, Member Mr. Roy Rodriguez, Member |
| IN A LIGHTER VEIN |
| Kindergarten teacher survives the attacks of the Momzillas! By Peyton Wolcott Fri., June 8, 2007/10 am |
| Scenario: Presentation of year- end gift to teacher, Mrs. O. Locale: Upscale suburban Texas school district Date: Last week |
| It was the third email forwarded from a "Concerned Parent" over the presentation of a sterling silver charm bracelet, one from each child in the class, to their kindergarten teacher that grabbed my eye. Here's the series of escalating emails between Momzillas Room Chair JulieLee and Room Vice Chair Shea: |
| Hats off to Mrs. O. and all other teachers for surviving such end- of-year storms as this one, and here's hoping they enjoy their long summer vacations. And here's hoping they all enjoy their end-of-year gifts. |
| From: JulieLee To: Mrs. O. cc: All Kinder Parents Thurs., 5:09 pm Mrs. O., If you could please assist in this awkward situation tomorrow......by refraining from making any pronouncement about Jason Gould's party....or having the kids...talking about it....same for all the kinder parents.....wehave not told Little BillLee ......that his own kindergarten graduation party and teacher gift presentation have been deliberately taken over by people who have taken this whole thing holy out of all due portion....despite all the work we've done on this as a family.....my mom gave us a discount.....so it's three generations of our family in on this.... giving Mrs. O. her gift at a pool party is not the same thing as giving it to her at graduation....where ALL of the children can participate. Thank you. JulieLee & Family |
| From: Shea To: JulieLee Cc: Party Committee Wed 07:34 PM Subject: End of school gift Heads up, y'all! JulieLee's out of town -- what a shame she had to be gone during this all-important week in our kids' lives -- which is why she hasn't participated in our dialogue this past week regarding the presentation of Mrs. O's gift at our pool party for the entire class here at our house in Gated Entry Estates on Friday afternoon right after the graduation ceremony at school. Our committee made the right decision. Thanks, Shea |
| From: Superintendent BillLee Fitzmorton, Ed.D. cc: Mrs. O., all K parents Friday, 8:36 AM Dear Parents and Students, You are all cordially invited to attend our kindergarten graduation this afternoon at 2:00 pm in the Cafetorium. This will be the only school- sanctioned event. All kindergarten-related activities should be conducted at this event. I personally will attend to see some of my wife's handiwork. Many thanks to my daughter, JulieLee, for coordinating all of this in such a fine manner of which I am sure we can all be proud indeed....and to watch my grandson walk across the stage in cap and gown. For our children, Dr. Bill Lee |
| From JulieLee To: Party Committee cc: Shea Thurs 11:13 AM Hiya, everybody.....we just picked up Mrs. O's gift from my mom's store and little BillLee and I are bringing it to graduation tomorow.....so all our kiddoes can be part of the presentation to Mrs. O..... please know that we 100% respect the fact that this is a present from the children to Mrs. O........and they ALL should be able to celebrate.... I will take a picture of her with our gift......so you can all see how great it turned out..... My mom's store did such an awesome job......Shea, sorry, we will not be able to attend your pool party.... we have a previous engagement. JulieLee |
| From: Shea To: Party Committee cc: Mrs. O. Thurs. 1:19 pm JulieLee, we've already planned the pool party and Mrs. O. has agreed to come even though it's "after school". The whole class is invited as per ISD rules. Joe Montana* will be here to talk ball with the boys and we have a manicurist lined up for the girls plus Michael Buble* for the parents in the gazebo with wine spritzers. Please wait and bring the *SURPRISE* to the pool party. Repeat, do not bring the *SURPRISE* to school to the graduation party. Thks a bunch! Shea and Michael Gould |
| More about Kelly Hancock, HB 2564 author By Peyton Wolcott Mon., June 11, 2007/1am |
| "I am Vice President of Advanced Chemical Logis- tics, a wholesale chemical distribution compay [sic] as you were told....The other companies you located are owned by my family and I maintain a percentage of the companies but recieve [sic] no compensation from any of the other companies." |
| From Kelly himself comes this account of his business activities: |
| A closer look at Kelly Hancock's busi- ness relationships according to public records on file at the Secretary of State: |
| Advanced Chemical Logistics; as a Texas limited partnership they are not required to pay franchise tax. Formed April 7, 2004. Has one one general partner: Trinitity Logistics LLC. |
| Trinity Logistics, LLC, also formed on April 7, 2004, has two managing members: Kelly Hancock and Cary Hancock (Kelly's brother). Registered Agent is Kelly Hancock. |
| Kelly Hancock is involved in several other companies: |
| CKC Trinity Investments, LLC was formed in 2005 and is still in existence. There are three members: Kelly Hancock (also the registered agent), Cary Hancock and Cory Priest of Moody, Texas. |
| Curious about Kelly Hancock's business partner Cory Priest? Me, too. As it turns out, the same year Kelly and Cory joined forces in creating CKC Trinity Investments, Cory also made a $750 donation to Kelly's campaign; according to records at the Texas Ethics Commission, Cory's occupation in Moody was listed as "rancher" and his employer as "Self." Another contributor just above Cory's entry catches my eye, L.C. Tubb, Jr., who made a $500 donation to Kelly; his occupation at MICA Corp. is "Executive/Self." According to Tarrant Central Appraisal District, L.C. also lives in North Richland Hills and his home is valued in the $800,000+ range. But what about MICA Corp.? |
| According to MICA's website, the corporation is "the premier Texas specialty contractor in highway signing, lighting and ITS (Intelligent Traffic Systems). MICA also installs cellular telephone tower sites and performs much of the related work of these sites." |
| Gee, that seems mighty handy, for someone whose business is highway signs to contribute to a politician. And what about MICA's coporate structure? What does the Comptroller have to say? According to Susan Combs, MICA Corp. "is not in good standing as it has not satisfied all state tax requirements." Oops. You'd think with an $800,000+ house . . . . |
| MICA's registered agent is L.C. Tubb, Jr.; the corporate charter is dated 1962. |
| And isn't this handy: Kelly's brother Cary founded Carriage Communications, Ltd., Limited Liability Company, on Jan. 31, 2006. "Carriage communications" is the formal name for the service your land-line phone company provides. Golly, wonder what kind of governmental regulations an outfit like that might encounter. |
| Cary Hancock has reserved another business name, "Hancock Securities & Investment, LLC," as of just last week, on June 7, 2007. The LLC paperwork has not been filed yet. |
| Trinity Logistics, LLC has two managing members: Kelly Hancock (also registered agent) and Cary Hancock. |
| CKC Trinity Investments, LLC is not to be confused with the brothers' other company, Trinity Logistcs, LLC: |
| UPDATE/June 10, 2007: According to an email from Kelly Hancock, he was reimbursed about $100 per year for the 13 years he served on Birdville's board. |
| "A superintendent for a Rio Grande Valley school district, several board members and others have been charged in connection with a scheme to steer lucrative contracts to certain firms in exchange for more than $600,000 worth of bribes, federal officials said Tuesday. "Charged with extortion and conspiracy were Arturo Guajardo, superintendent of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District, and school board members Raul Navarro, Evangelina De Leon and Rogelio Rodriguez. "Ricardo De Leon, Mrs. De Leon's husband, was charged with conspiracy as were two businessmen: George Hernandez, who owns a contracting business |
| Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD supe indicted with his board members By Peyton Wolcott Mon., June 11, 2007/2:26 am |
| INDICTED: Rogelio "Roy" Rodriguez, Raul "Roy" Navarro, Arturo Guajardo, Evangelina "Vangie" de Leon; Richard de Leon, George Alonzo Bernandez, and Arnulfo "Arnie" Olivarez." |
| Parole denied 05/31/07; courts used parents' public records |
| Pharr-San Juan- Alamo ISD supe Arturo Guajardo indicted May 22, 2007; whistleblower group did public records searches then talked to FBI, indictments |
| Parents' and taxpayers' public records searches led to these 3 supes being brought to justice |
| For a quick tour of conditions in PSJA ISD, local newspaper The Monitor has prepared a graphic display: http://multimedia.themonitor.com/m ultimedia/media/060607poster.pdf |
| ERDI CONSULTANTS/ SUPES IN THE NEWS |
| Carlos Garcia, Joe Wise, Arlene Ackerman By Peyton Wolcott Wed., June 13, 2007/1 am |
| Those ERDI consultants can't seem to stay out of the news. First it was Arlene "the |
| Joe Wise |
| children come first" Ackerman suing her former employer (second time she's done so) San Francisco USD for $172,000; seems the $45,000 Diners Club tab and $375,000 golden parachute weren't enough--on top of her salary and living allowance. |
| Joe Wise gets a demerit in Florida Based on Tia Mitchell's report that Duval County Schools supe Joseph Wise has missed over 70 days of school in the 18 months he has been superintendent, the Florida Times-Union awards Wise a demerit, noting that, "We arrest parents whose kids miss over a certain number of days." Wondering if those 70 days missed were actual vacation days. |
| Carlos Garcia (far right) on AASA party boat 2005 |
| Now comes word from San Francis- co that Carlos Garcia is their lone finalist to replace Arlene Ackerman. Gee, last time I saw Carlos he was running away from my microphone at the ERDI conference at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort in San Antonio two years ago--and the questions I was trying to ask him about his consulting for ERDI; this was the same week he hopped on a party boat (photo above) to tour the San Antonio River. Interesting, Carlos' consulting for ERDI. McGraw-Hill is an ERDI vendor, and shortly after the AASA/ ERDI conference Carlos left his post at the helm of Las Vegas schools (Clark County, Nevada) to take a job with McGraw-Hill. |
| San Francisco edu-bloggers are busy fielding comments from Las Vegas parents such as this: |
| "You need to be very aware of the poor performance of Mr Garcia during his tenure. He left the district on shambles, really I’m not exaggerating. He hired many of hes cronies to high positions on the district and now we have many problems because they are like mr. garcia, very incompe- tents and with no care about education…why the people from san francisco didn’t met with the parents of las vegas ....I can’t afford to travel to san francisco to show proofs of what I’m talking about, but I know there may be somebody who really care and make the parents of clark county be heard…!!! I’m really sorry about my english…" |
| Llano ISD's Jack Patton (above) became Texas' 1st Public Information conviction |
| Regarding how then- Llano ISD superinten- dent Andrew Jackson "Jack" Patton was brought to justice, parents and tapayers filed 150+ public records requests in their effort to bring Jack Patton to justice, as verified by the Comptroller in the TSPR audit findings; since TSPR has been moved to the LBB, TSPR audits appear to have disappeared. Perhaps you can find Llano's: www.lbb.state.tx.us |
| (Left) Bruceville-Eddy ISD's "Danny the Peeper" Doyen; Bryan Neal (Como-Picton ISD) |
| 5 Texas supes "in the news" |
| Did Texas state representatives really vote for HB 2564? How do we know for sure? By Peyton Wolcott - Thursday., June 14, 2007/4:33 p.m. |
| Section 47. Voting for Another Member—Any member found guilty by the house of knowingly voting for another member on the voting machine shall be subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house. EXPLANATORY NOTES: A possible serious consequence of permitting this practice would be a vote recorded for or against some important question contrary to the intent of the absent member. Such a vote might not be detected until after the permanent journal is published, when it would be too late to make correction. |
| Hats off to alert- eyed KEYE-TV in Austin for airing this footage at right (click on photo to view footage) of Texas representa- tives violating their own rule (below right in greybar) against voting for another member. In this captured image one of the representa- tives is Kelly Hancock, author of HB 2564 --which gives rise to myriad questions, including which representatives really voted for his anti- sunshine legislation? As you will recall this bill was apparently targeted at the parents and taxpayers whose public records requests helped bring at least three of the five public school superintendents above right to justice. |
| Kelly Hancock (left) voting for Tommy Merritt (inset) |
| In fact, how do we really know who voted for any other bills? More below (see bluebar below). |
| The following questions were asked of Rep. Hancock today (June 14, 2007): Could you please verify whether you did or did not vote to approve the "Rules and Precedents of the Texas House, 80th Legislature - 2007"? Could you please explain why a CBS affiliate broadcast visual footage of your not complying with Rule 47 which states: "Section 47. Voting for Another Member - Any member found guilty by the house of knowingly voting for another member on the voting machine shall be subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house...." |
| Donna Garner was presidential appointee to the National Commission on Migrant Education, and writer, Texas Alternative Document. Allen Gwinn founded www.dallas.org on which he posted a year's worth of Dallas ISD credit card receipts leading to the district's eventual abandonment of the cards after $71.5 million, largely unsurpervised, was spent in three years. Mary McGarr, longtime Katy ISD volunteer, served on the KISD school board 1991-96. Peyton Wolcott founded PEAK$ in two school districts, Texans for Education Accountability and the National School District Honor Roll. |
| Happy Father's Day Dear Dads, Here's wishing you a special day today. I am so grateful for the wonderful men I've been blessed to get to know through this grassroots school reform movement. Here's wishing you a few minutes this afternoon in the backyard hammock to rest and watch the sky and listen to the birds and enjoy the spring greenery; I don't know how most of you keep the schedules you do. Here's wishing you continued strength and courage and laughter. Here's expressing gratitude for my own dad, a remarkable man who taught me that curves were safer if you took them fast, who showed me how big this wonderful world is, and who had a work ethic second to none. And gratitude for my husband and son-in-law, both remarkable and unique and who serve as inspirations to all. Go find that hammock, guys! Blessings -- Peyton |
| Typo in HB 2564 summary as it appears on Perry's signed bill list By Peyton Wolcott Sunday, June 17, 2007/9:37 pm |
| This anti-sunshine legislation, targeted at grassroots moms and dads and taxpayers seeking to hold their local school districts accountable, has shown up on the governor's signed list, but there appears to be a typographical error. See if you can spot it: |
| Relating to the authority of a governmental body to require the payment of a charge before complying with certain requests for the production of public information or for copies of public information. |
| Did you find the typo? "Payment of a charge" should have read, "payment of astronomical and discriminatory charges which school districts will now be able to use in order to attempt to deter parents and taxpayers from asking too many questions they don't want to answer." Maybe the truth was too long. But then isn't the truth often inconvenient for school districts when we start asking questions they don't want to answer? |
| Two words for DA's tempted to allow politics to cloud prosecutions: M-I-K-E N-I-F-O-N-G By Peyton Wolcott - Monday, June 18, 2007/12:44 am |
| Parents and taxpayers have experi- enced a familiar problem when approaching their district attorneys with their school district findings: DA's have too often passed in favor of easier and more politically viable prosecutions of meth kitchens and the like. |
| Mike Nifong |
| Meaning political considerations have too often played too great a role in DAs' decisions regarding what to prosecute. Among the charges against Nifong in his disbarment proceeding last week: "systematic abuse of prosecutorial discretion." |
| RANDOM NOTES By Peyton Wolcott Monday, June 18, 2007/2:03 am |
| Regarding Nifong's political motives: At the time he was facing a primary, and yes, he was politically naive. But we can draw no other conclusion that those initial statements he made were to further his political ambitions. --F. Lane Williamson, disciplinary committee chairman |
| As KC Johnson of Durham-in-Wonderland puts it, "Failure by public officials and the bar association to hold Nifong accountable for his improper legal and ethical conduct has enabled him to subvert groups that citizens count on to advocate for fairness and justice." |
| Exonerated Duke lacrosse player Reade Seligmann (PHOTO--AP) |
| Christine Scarlett (top, with student Steven Bradigan, below in court) (PHOTO--AP) |
| "Win a date with me at DQ" special education teacher Christine Scarlett, who pleaded guilty last month to five felony charges and was sentenced to three days' probation, no longer teaches; Strongsville, Ohio supe James Gray, who pled ignorance of the situation involving Scarlett and student Steven Bradigan, still lives in Akron, almost |
| an hour away. Question: If you don't even live in the same community as your schools, how are you going to hear anything? |
| Was Rudy Crew ever really, seriously, in the running for the DC top post? Mayor Adrian Fenty said he "was seeking someone who had not already been a |
| superintendent with a long history inside a district. Too many 'career superinten- dents' move from job to job, staying only a few years at each stop." (SOURCE-- Washington Post) Another factor? Michelle Rhee, Fenty's pick to replace Clifford Janey, was happy with $250,000 per year; Crew reportedly wanted $1 mil. |
| Rudy Crew (PHOTO-- Scholastic) |
| Going, going--almost gone! By Peyton Wolcott - Tuesday, June 19, 2007/1:08 pm |
| Six words for DA's and other elected officials who allow politics to cloud their decisions involving schools or who disobey rules: "Here's your hat--what's your hurry?" And speaking of hats, hats off to Judge Hudson. |
| Mike Nifong will apparently not be allowed to go gently into any sweet nights available to him. |
| private lawyer to push ahead with a removal petition claiming Nifong brings disrepute to his office." (SOURCE--Anne Blythe and Joseph Neff/The News-Observer) |
| Durham County DA Mike Nifong |
| Cleburne ISD trustee resigns two days after swearing-in By Peyton Wolcott - Updated Wed., June 20, 2007/7:30 am |
| (L) Robert Damron; Brad Allen |
| Last time we talked about Cleburne ISD, they were in the news because school board members and supe Robert Damron had spent $908.61 of taxpayers' money on a steak dinner while at the TASB Summer Leadership Institute in San Antonio; more here: |
| In a surprise move, "the county's top judge plans to suspend Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong today after learning that the prosecutor, soon to be stripped of his law license, intended to hang around until July 13. Judge Orlando Hudson said Monday night that he will appoint a |
| Food for thought By Peyton Wolcott Tues., June 19, 2007/8:11 pm |
| From Colorado comes an idea for FOIA requests: Take a closer look at, as is Denver District Attorney Mitchell Morrissey, your edu-executives' travel expenses. Make sure they really went where you paid for them to go. |
| Donald Stevens asked his school to pay for him to go to a five-day conference; turns out, he only attended one day and traveled the other four. More here. (SOURCE--Howard Pankratz/The Denver Post) |
| Developing . . . . |
| The May 22 indict- ments cite district- funded interstate travel for board mem- bers and administra- tors, federal funding for transportation, education and nutri- tion, and construction bonds. NOTE: Arturo Guajardo's most recently reported base salary was $188,977 and his FTE salary for the same period was $324,201. |
| Former San Diego schools chief administrative officer pleads guiltyto stealing--from elderly cancer patient By Peyton Wolcott Wednesday, June 20, 2007/3:07 am |
| Henry Hurley in 2001 (PHOTO/NBC) |
| decades for assistance with her affairs, even giving him power of attorney. Hurley pleaded guilty Monday--after initially denying all charges--of grand theft and willful cruelty to a dependant adult. He also agreed to make restitution of $10,441 to Mildred Catlin. "In exchange for the plea and restitu- tion, the charge is to be reduced at sentencing to a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. If he fails to follow through with restitution, the felony charge would be reinstated." (SOURCE--Helen Gao/San Diego Union-Tribune) Credit cards, travel, missing jewelry "According to police, Hurley allegedly used his power of attorney privileges to use Catlin's credit cards, write checks to himself, travel and even talked her into moving $70,000 into an account he had access to. Police also said more than $12,000 in jewelry that Catlin gave to Hurley to put into a safe deposit box is missing." (SOURCE--NBC) Video here |
Developing . . . . |
| Somehow, that Mildred Catlin had been Henry Hurley's secretary when they worked together at San Diego City Schools--he was a 30-year employee when he retired in 2002-- makes the implausible even more so. It would make sense that when she was faced with another bout with cancer--the San Diego Union-Tribune described her condition as "gravely ill" --she would turn to her trusted colleague and boss for the better part of three |
| Houston's KTRK- ABC questions House Public Ed chair Rob Eissler re anti-sunshine legislation By Peyton Wolcott Sat.,June 23, 2007/9 am |
| Rob Eissler (PHOTO/KTRK) |
| Turns out HB 2564 wasn't Rob's only anti-parent and only anti-sunshine legislation passed this last Lege. |
| In apparent response to KTRK's posting public records last month regarding Houston- area teachers' and administrators' often- embarrassing attempts to pass certification tests, Eissler succeeded in passing legislation this last session removing parents' and taxpayers' ability to look at certification test scores. His rationale? Doctors' and lawyers' test scores aren't public. Where his rationale fails: Where lawyers only get five tries and doctors three, edu- cators apparently can try unlimited times. As with HB 2564, which he took to Kelly Hancock, Rob admitted on camera that he had not talked with any parents or taxpayers, but instead with the special interest groups that wanted it. Oops. |
| Texas edu-missioner quits (finally) By Peyton Wolcott Sun., June 24, 2007/11 pm |
| Shirley Neeley (PHOTO/Susan Bushart) |
| How (bad) are things in Texas public education? Come, let us count the FBI and DOJ investigations: Dallas. The El Paso area. The Rio Grande Valley. All public public school-related entities (remember ESC 4's "Stilton at the Hilton") in the Houston area; just last week Terry Abbott at HISD confirmed: |
| Let's face it, Shirley got off to a bad start with parents and tapayers. First it was this quote to a group of supes in Kilgore three years ago: |
| "Governance violations in school districts by micromanaging school board members are a runaway train that needs to be braked." |
| About the same time, quite by acci- dent, I discovered that Shirley Jane Williamson Roberts Neeley (names suggested by staff) |
| Caving in on Caveon Then, two years ago, when Caveon, the firm hired to find cheats on TAKS tests, found cheats on TAKS tests in 700 schools, our girl Shirl decided we couldn't possibly have TAKS cheating in our schools--and promptly invited the suspect schools to self-investigate. |
| Neeley with most often named replacement, deputy commissioner Robert Scott |
| You're Gov. Perry for a day: Your pick for Texas' next edu- missioner is ____? By Peyton Wolcott Monday, June 25/1:08 am You've got one basic decision; on it every- thing else hinges: |
| North Carolina high school coach marries student By Peyton Wolcott Sun., June 25, 2007/9 pm |
| Are you really ready to do something about the mess our current vendor-driven public school system has become, or are you going to appoint someone from the same old tarnished Education, Inc. gene pool we've been culling from for the past dozen years? As guv-for-a-day, the person you hire will either continue to plunge Texas public education deeper into the subjective touchy-feely fuzzy math whole-language abyss in which it's become mired -- the one which has already produced a generation of young adults who can't tell you what six times nine is without a calculator and who don't know where Alsace-Lorraine is and why knowing that's important to the future of our Southern border with Mexico -- or you'll find a way to appease business interests and still put someone in charge who is smart and savvy enough to make the changes that are necessary. The nominees The names most frequently presented this past week: Robert Scott, Sandy Kress, Bill Hammond, Ric Williamson, Kent Grusendorf, Talmadge Heflin, John Folks, David Anthony, Leonard Merrell and Mike Hinojosa. |
| Meet Mr. and Mrs. Brent Wuchea, folks. They just got married. He'll probably be her date at her junior prom next year--the only 40-year old there other than the chaperones. He was her coach until he resigned when they married; she was a track star. |
| for many diverse reasons--including being a paid education lobbyist--one of the biggest practical if not political strikes against Kress is the fact that his son does not attend Austin ISD public schools but instead attends a private preparatory school in Austin. Somehow it doesn't seem quite cricket that a fellow who's made a fortune from public education would be sending his child to a private school--especially if he really believes, as again and again he says does. Is Kress tied to growing New Orleans PS scandal? Former NOPS board president Ellenese Brooks-Simms pleaded guilty to bribery charges earlier this week and "has agreed to cooperate fully with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office.... The plea by Brooks-Simms marks the zenith thus far of a five-year federal probe into Orleans Parish schools that has netted 28 additional indictments of employees and contractors on various bribery, fraud and theft charges....Records show the company has paid lucrative fees to lobbying juggernauts including...Akin Gump." (SOURCE--New Orleans Times-Picayune) Sandy Kress is a partner in Akin Gump. For those of you just back from ten years Zimbabwe, Kress is also a former Dallas ISD school board trustee and was the education advisor to President Bush credited as being the primary architect of No Child Left Behind. Among the groups with which he's been associated: Texas Business & Education Coalition on whose board he serves with the likes of Mike Moses, Bracewell partner David Thompson and TASA's Kay Waggoner. According to Texas Ethics Commission records, for just one activity--as paid lobbyist for Texans for Excellence in the Classroom-- Kress expects his annual compensation to be in the neighborhood of $100,000 to $149,999.99. |
| Sandy Kress (2nd from left) |
| Education, Inc. candidates Business sector Although Sandy Kress epitomizes for many parents and taxpayers what's wrong with our public schools today |
| The blogospher on Kress I still consider it one of life's great mysteries as to how anyone who listens to Kress for as long as it takes to spell c-o-r-r-u-p-t-i-o-n could be impressed by anything he has to say about any legitimate conception of education. (SOURCE-- School Matters) Kress has used his knowledge and connections to earn millions as a high-powered lobbyist for test publishers...He’s made about $4 million in lobbying contracts, in large part from companies that profit from provisions of the law he helped to design. (SOURCE--Emily Pyle/Texas Observer) [Regarding NCLB/Reading First] Surely from the beginning, from the crafty engineering and writing of the law to its implementation, cronyism and conflicts of intereset have abounded. Who has benefited from this regressive and oppressive law? The financial benefit to Sandy Kress alone is probably staggering. (SOURCE-- Educator Roundtable) Thanks to Sandy Kress, several brand-new spigots had begun to pump billions in federal dollars out of public schools and into the private sector, where corporate interests had only to hold out their buckets and fill ‘em up. (SOURCE-- Daily Kos) |
| Bill Hammond is another business lobbyist--he's president of the Texas Association of Business-- and someone else many parents and taxpayers would like to see kept as far away from public education as legally possible. |
| Bill Hammond |
| To make this easier for you, guv-for-a-day, assuming you're short on time, here's the short-form EZ graphics version; the longer form with factual supporting data follows: |
| Sandy Kress, Bill Hammond, Ric Williamson and Kent "Pushing Laptops Is My Middle Name" Grusendorf are profiled at right. Austin insiders say Cy-Fair's David Anthony has never really been in the running and that his and San Antonio's John Folk's and Dallas' Hinojosa candidacies may be more a function of contract negotiations with their boards; you see the idea. Does Texas really need an education commissioner who would leave his teachers and students behind back in his hometown to play golf at a resort on Friday of TAKS testing week with an insurance vendor (below)? Or a paid lobbyist with deep and rich connections to education vendors? That's what we'd get with David Anthony or Sandy Kress. |
| Sandy Kress, Bill Hammond, Ric Williamson, John Folks, David Anthony, Leonard Merrell and Mike Hinojosa. |
x
| The blogosphere on Hammond BRIEF: The head of one of Texas' largest business lobbies was taken into custody Monday after refusing to turn over documents concerning the organization's secretly-funded advertising campaign during the 2002 legislative races. Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond also decided not to pay his $500 fine for contempt and was ordered held in the Austin jury room until 5 p.m. when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals set bail at $1,500 and he was released. (SOURCE--KPFT) Leave it to Shirley Neeley and her ventriloquists in the governor's office to appoint a "task force" of political insiders to investigate cheating on the TAKS test. All five of the appointees are connected to the Texas Public Education Establishment....The five are Dr. Carole Francois, education consultant; Bill Hammond, chief of the Texas Association of Business; Sylvia Hatton, former executive director of the TEA's regional education service center in Edinburg; George McShan, former president of the state and national associations of school boards; and A.J. Rodriguez, head of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Some might remember Dr. Francois from days when she was former Dallas ISD Supt. Mike Moses' chief of staff. She also worked for Moses at TEA. (SOURCE--Scott Parks/Dallas Morning News Blog) |
| Kent Grusendorf The former House Public Education chair was defeated for a variety of reasons last year including his relentless pushing of taxpayer- funded laptops for all students. Putting someone so out of touch with the populace, including teachers, in charge of TEA seems not wise. Further, he was unseated by Diane Patrick, a former teacher and considered a friend of public schools. |
| Texas Senate Education chair Florence Shapiro on Sandy Kress: "When it comes to public schools and the betterment of children, I don't know of anyone who cares more about that than Sandy Kress. Ms. Shapiro said she sees Mr. Kress as a friend, not one of the estimated 300 Austin lawyer- lobbyists who represent clients interested in public education law. ' I have no idea who his clients are,' she said." Comment: Apparently Mr. Kress' interest in public schools and the betterment of children does not extend to his own son, given that his son attends a private prep school. |
| Other areas coming to the fore Regarding rampant spending inefficiencies in our schools, Gov. Perry tried to do something really good two years ago with Executive Order RP47 which would have forced schools to spend 65% of their money in the classroom--except that Shirley, true to her supe roots, diluted the formula. There a general perception that corruption of all kinds--money and curriculum both--is occurring at all levels in our schools; you've read newspaper reports and commentaries on this site and others. We have children who cannot multiply and divide without calculators and worse if there's a worse we have too many kids who cannot read. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, years/ decades of state-abetted fudging on dropout rates is beyond the place where it can any longer be ignored. In fact, all of the problems created by our allowing education to be vendor-driven can no longer be ignored. As with requiring TEA to post its check register online, Gov. Perry has already proven himself capable of making timely, courageous and bold moves. |
| Several HISD employees have voluntarily met with Justice Department officials to provide information in relation to documents that were subpoenaed months ago in connection with the Dallas ISD investigation. |
| The word from palace insiders is that Shirley's problem boiled down to her not knowing her place. How she could have missed knowing is a puzzle; all you had to do was look at TEA's organization chart to figure out that all Texas eduroads led to deputy commissioner Robert Scott; besides, he earned more money. Her job was to placate the supes, not to really run things. |
| hadn't yet gotten around to changing her name on her paperwork at the State Board for Educator Certification, awkward given that Shirley oversees this division--raising questions of "Do as I say, not as I do." |
| High school in Brunswick where the happy couple met |
| Bride Shirley Neeley, groom Bill |
| CLEARING UP A MYSTERY: In her June 20 resignation letter Shirley refers to her new husband only as "Bill," a school architect. Bill M. Richardson is head of the public education division of BLGY Architects in Austin. |
| QUESTIONS FOR SHIRLEY WILLIAMSON ROBERTS NEELEY RICHARDSON: 1. It appears that your financial gifts to public school education foundations are tied to your husband's work, as with the examples of Manor ISD and Leander ISD. Can you please name at least ten other public school education foundations to which you have contributed within the past four years to which BLGY has no ties including submitted RFP's and other bid proposals? 2. Similarly, it appears that you have been especially active at school districts in which your husband has a work history such as attending the Eanes ISD foundation "Gala" above. |
| COMMENTARY Call some of us populists, call us egalitarian, but seems to many folks that anyone wanting to head up Texas' public schools should at the very least have his son enrolled in one. It is troubling that the man who has been a part of selling so much stuff to our public schools finds our public schools sufficiently lacking that he has enrolled his son in a private school. A nagging question: If Sandy finds our public schools sufficiently lacking that he will not send his son to one, does this mean the stuff we are buying from his clients the school peddlers is not working? If so, we are we buying it? |
| Developing . . . . |
| Shirley Neeley |
| Robert Scott |
| 2 boxes: Internal Audit Insp. General |
| 51 boxes: (all other TEA employees including legal, standards, charters, audits, assessment, finance, governance, certification, budget) |
| Shirley Neeley with Jimmy Wynn at Gates edu- conference, 2005 |
| TEA INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT Much ado--but about what? (And why now?) By Peyton Wolcott Monday, July 2, 2007/11:07 p.m. |
| Is the report's timing accidental? o Jan. 2007 - Gov. Perry doesn't reappoint Shirley Neeley as Texas education commissioner. o Feb. 4 - Anonymous TEA tipster approaches Shirley with "concerns" about TEA's grant process; Shirley asks TEA inspector general to investigate. o Mar.-Apr. - Inspector general's report goes to Shirley. o June 15 - Date of inspector general's final report. o June 27 - TEA releases inspector general's report to the press while Gov. Perry is in the Holy Land for a week. o June 29 - Shirley's last day at TEA. |
| QUESTION FOR TEA'S INSPECTOR GENERAL: Should Texas' edu-missioner be giving money to education foundations in public school districts where her fiance/husband the school architect has projects? By Peyton Wolcott Friday, June 29, 2007/ 1:08 pm |
| Shirley Neeley (L) with Eanes ISD supe Nola Wellman at Eanes foundation gala, Feb. 24, 2007 |
| Mobile Satellite Ventures L.P. 10802 Parkridge Boulevard Reston, VA 20191-4334 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 Pearson Education 1 Lake Street Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 Texans for Excellence in the Classroom 515 Congress Avenue Suite 1780 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: $100,000 - $149,999.99 |
| The Shirley Neeley- Jimmy Wynn connection, according to all available sources: Their mothers were childhood friends. Shirley became Galena Park ISD supe; he, an education PR guy, including Harris County DOE and most recently consultant for the Gates Foundation. He suggested her name to Gov. Perry as Texas Education Commissioner. They have participated together in multiple events including a Committee for Economic Development event in Austin (photo above). |
| Texas supes golfing on Friday, April 20, 2007 during TAKS testing week |
| More about Jimmy Wynn, featured in the June 15 TEA Inspector General report |
| Should this man be Texas' next education commissioner? By Peyton Wolcott Monday, July 2, 2007/11:17 pm |
| Education lobbyist and lawyer Sandy Kress discussing NCLB on PBS |
| One of the tests of growing up is learning that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Austin lobbyist/lawyer Sandy Kress has certainly paid his dues--in some cases literally perhaps--towards the cause of his being named Texas' next edumissioner. He is after all most commonly called "the architect of No Child Left Behind." Where the dilemma lies is that for some people this is a good thing and for many others, it is not. As regards his ties to a seemingly endless stream of public school vendors, it is very difficult to imagine that with a few signed papers Sandy could sufficiently divest himself of all holdings for the period of his service as Texas edu-missioner. Look at this sampling, judge for yourself: |
| TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP 300 West 6th Street Suite 2100 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 D.H. Texas Development L.P. c/o Darryl Hammond 326 Calhoun Plaza Port Lavaca, TX 77979 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 Early Care and Education Consortium 805 15th Street NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: $10,000 - $24,999.99 Edvance Research Inc. 9901 IH-10 West Suite 700 San Antonio, TX 78257 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 Governor's Business Council 515 Congress Avenue Suite 1780 Austin, TX 78701 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 MGT of America Inc. 2123 Centre Point Boulevard Tallahassee, FL 32308 Type of Compensation: Prospective Amount: Less Than $10,000.00 |