| How hard is it to go to the bank! There is simply no excuse for this; it demon- strates a callous disregard for the public's money. . . . People, especially in government run entities, tend to get sloppy and reckless with the handling of other people's money when they know they won't be held personally accountable for its waste, loss or misuse. . . . Who had access to that money? Or did they simply leave it laying around all day so a friend could take it? Why is TPD not investigating? |
| 04.03.09 UPDATE: Tucson USD's Disney-trained CFO Beatriz Rendon quit 2 weeks ago; no response from Disney. Despite sending execs to Disney Inst., TUSD is losing students, firing teachers, mishandling cash. |
This happens so often: a
public school superinten-
dent will hear about a new
idea at an edu-conference,
etc. and bring it home to
the troops. In Tucson, new
supe Elizabeth Celania-
Fagen from Des Moines
decided to introduce the
Disney management
model to her staff.
Trouble is, they apparently
only got Disney-lite. Form-
er Disney CEO Mike Eisner
is a tough boss, one who
earned his Screamer
nickname during his stay at
Paramount as a guy who
never would have put up for
a moment with a $30,000
"oops" cash disappear-
ance as at TUSD, let alone
audit reports finding lax
internal controls including
cash that stayed at schools
for weeks in violation of
district daily deposit
policies. It's clear that
TUSD citizens see through
this charade; look at local
blog entries:
public school superinten-
dent will hear about a new
idea at an edu-conference,
etc. and bring it home to
the troops. In Tucson, new
supe Elizabeth Celania-
Fagen from Des Moines
decided to introduce the
Disney management
model to her staff.
Trouble is, they apparently
only got Disney-lite. Form-
er Disney CEO Mike Eisner
is a tough boss, one who
earned his Screamer
nickname during his stay at
Paramount as a guy who
never would have put up for
a moment with a $30,000
"oops" cash disappear-
ance as at TUSD, let alone
audit reports finding lax
internal controls including
cash that stayed at schools
for weeks in violation of
district daily deposit
policies. It's clear that
TUSD citizens see through
this charade; look at local
blog entries:
Does your boss get to keep his
$320,000 or does he in a
belated but welcome fit of
conscience give it away to
charity and if so to which one?
INSTRUCTIONS: Weigh current
news reports against the
mood of the nation. Write and
perform a likelihood ratio test
incorporating the following:
Taxpayer unrest vs. voter
apathy, obfuscation factors
such as Treasury's latest
corporate power grab and
your boss' boss' new
BrownShirt Youth Army
directive. Graph these using
colored pens.
FOR BONUS POINTS:
Determine how many Kenyan
villagers could be protected
from cholera for $320,000 for
one year.
MONKEY WRENCH: According
to The Chicago Tribune,
during your boss's time as
a"passive" director, Freddie
Mac "was the focus of a major
accounting scandal that led to
a management shake-up, huge
fines and scalding
condemnation of passive
directors by a top federal
regulator. The LA Times says,
"the Freddie Mac money was a
small piece of the $16 million
[Emanuel] made in a three-
year interlude as an invest-
ment banker a decade ago.
Emanuel's Freddie Mac
involvement has been a
prominent point on his political
résumé, and his healthy
payday from the firm has been
no secret either. What is less
known, however, is how little
he apparently did for his
money and how he benefited
from the kind of cozy ties
between Washington and Wall
Street that have fueled the
nation's current economic
mess."
EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS TO
YOU: Ride on Air Force One
with your boss when he goes
to Africa to present his
$320,000 check.
$320,000 or does he in a
belated but welcome fit of
conscience give it away to
charity and if so to which one?
INSTRUCTIONS: Weigh current
news reports against the
mood of the nation. Write and
perform a likelihood ratio test
incorporating the following:
Taxpayer unrest vs. voter
apathy, obfuscation factors
such as Treasury's latest
corporate power grab and
your boss' boss' new
BrownShirt Youth Army
directive. Graph these using
colored pens.
FOR BONUS POINTS:
Determine how many Kenyan
villagers could be protected
from cholera for $320,000 for
one year.
MONKEY WRENCH: According
to The Chicago Tribune,
during your boss's time as
a"passive" director, Freddie
Mac "was the focus of a major
accounting scandal that led to
a management shake-up, huge
fines and scalding
condemnation of passive
directors by a top federal
regulator. The LA Times says,
"the Freddie Mac money was a
small piece of the $16 million
[Emanuel] made in a three-
year interlude as an invest-
ment banker a decade ago.
Emanuel's Freddie Mac
involvement has been a
prominent point on his political
résumé, and his healthy
payday from the firm has been
no secret either. What is less
known, however, is how little
he apparently did for his
money and how he benefited
from the kind of cozy ties
between Washington and Wall
Street that have fueled the
nation's current economic
mess."
EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS TO
YOU: Ride on Air Force One
with your boss when he goes
to Africa to present his
$320,000 check.
At the cost of one penny
($0.01 USD) for a family of
five per day, per the Center
for Disease Control in Atlanta,
how many Kenyans can the
president protect from cholera
for one year? Real-world
funding source for solving this
problem: the $500,000 Mr.
Obama was paid for his new
book by Crown/Random
House.
INSTRUCTIONS: These are
real-world villagers and
real-world dollars. Count
carefully. Work together with
students at your table to
determine how best to pitch
your idea to the White House.
Your poster should include
how your team arrived at its
answer along with art of any
kind illustrating the sodium
hypochlorite containers (1).
FOR BONUS POINTS: "Get Well"
card for Malik signed by all
team members.
EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS TO
YOU: Ride on Air Force One
with the President when he
goes to Africa to present his
$500,000 check.
($0.01 USD) for a family of
five per day, per the Center
for Disease Control in Atlanta,
how many Kenyans can the
president protect from cholera
for one year? Real-world
funding source for solving this
problem: the $500,000 Mr.
Obama was paid for his new
book by Crown/Random
House.
INSTRUCTIONS: These are
real-world villagers and
real-world dollars. Count
carefully. Work together with
students at your table to
determine how best to pitch
your idea to the White House.
Your poster should include
how your team arrived at its
answer along with art of any
kind illustrating the sodium
hypochlorite containers (1).
FOR BONUS POINTS: "Get Well"
card for Malik signed by all
team members.
EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS TO
YOU: Ride on Air Force One
with the President when he
goes to Africa to present his
$500,000 check.
| What's so alarming about incidents such as the ones described above is that the schools they're occurring in look so normal -- like our own schools in our own local communities. |
Monday night's firing
Capistrano Insider has posted an audio of Woody's farewell speech, curious for its
similarity to others by superintendents finding themselves also out of favor with their
communities; including his admonition to "you bloggers" to "get a life." Is this in the AASA
playbook, the old public education leadership model? If we'd only leave our brilliant and
noble leaders alone to work their magic all would be sunny and bright?
But why, you might ask, was such a brilliant and noble leader fired? Read OC Weekly
reporter Daffodil Alton's March 3, 2009 report, Woodrow Carter in your Facial:
Capistrano Insider has posted an audio of Woody's farewell speech, curious for its
similarity to others by superintendents finding themselves also out of favor with their
communities; including his admonition to "you bloggers" to "get a life." Is this in the AASA
playbook, the old public education leadership model? If we'd only leave our brilliant and
noble leaders alone to work their magic all would be sunny and bright?
But why, you might ask, was such a brilliant and noble leader fired? Read OC Weekly
reporter Daffodil Alton's March 3, 2009 report, Woodrow Carter in your Facial:
As our economy continues to worsen, more and more
school districts are going to experience scenes like this at
right.
A more pressing challenge is lagging property tax collec-
tions, taxes on people's homes being the sourcespring for
the dollars running most American public schools. Here in
Texas collections are typically running about 3% behind
schedule.
Those 800 Ohio applicants first have to find work before
school districts are going to experience scenes like this at
right.
A more pressing challenge is lagging property tax collec-
tions, taxes on people's homes being the sourcespring for
the dollars running most American public schools. Here in
Texas collections are typically running about 3% behind
schedule.
Those 800 Ohio applicants first have to find work before
| dollars coming from property taxes paid by Katy residents on their homes, it is hoped that he will be sensitive to the correct payment of his own property taxes. It's not as though Texas taxpayers have been unwilling to pay for Alton's professional development which presumably would have at least touched on this issue; for example, according to Texas Education Agency statistics DeSoto ISD taxpayers footed the bill for $20,160 of Alton's professional development during the 2006-07 school year alone. How much are taxpayers spending on Alton's participation in the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools (TAS/MUS) as its director? Connected to the Texas Associa- tion of School Administrators (TASA), TAS/MUS holds twice- yearly golf tournaments where fellow superintendents play golf with vendors at resorts on school days. I note that Alton has also declined to respond to prior queries about TAS/MUS golf outings also such as this one below right last April here in Horseshoe Bay, a quick golf cart ride from my front door. Perhaps he's been busy in one of his two homesteads preparing his property taxes. We'll try again. |
| Following the money in our vendor-driven schools 15 vendors & other special money interest groups at school meetings? |
| The nation's 1st & only daily conservative public education commentary - Solutions, not Fear |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| 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. |
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| Copyright 1999-2009 Peyton Wolcott |
"Walk softly and carry a big stick." -- Teddy Roosevelt "Trust but verify." -- Ronald Reagan |
| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
| 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. |
| Check Registers US TX Flyer Ask your district Set goals/organize Ask questions Board Ethics Pledges Watchdog? AngryActivist Alert PR |
C o m m e n t a r i e s - M a r c h 2 0 0 9
| ERDI supe Alton Frailey (Katy ISD / Texas) versus public freedoms |
| First They Came First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak out for me. -- Pastor Martin Niemoeller |
| Gloria from Luling on sidewalk outside Walsh Anderson party at Austin's Iron Cactus with unnamed man who was shy about revealing his name (TASA Mid Winter, 2007 ) |
| Soghra Najafpour (L) was sentenced to death at age 13 for the first time in Iran; she's now 31 -- more here. Did principal Robin E. Lowe (L) mention Soghra during her 'Islam 101' day May 22 at Friendswood JH? Will she mention Soghra at her new gig running Houston ISD's Pershing MS? Wouldn't that be a step towards "raising [her students'] awareness of the culture" -- of the true culture -- in Iran? That perhaps Robin's invited speakers from CAIR might have forgotten to mention? Oops? UPDATE: As of today no response yet from Robin to telephone and email queries. |
IRAN: Execution
Danger Alert
Danger Alert
| The American Superintendent (Leonard Merrell) as Allan Ramsay's King George III (Mixed-media collage by Peyton Wolcott, Copyright 2008) |
Wolcott
Peyton
| Feb.2009 commentaries here |
| 1. End discretionary spending. Set an example for your staff; let them know you mean business about running a tighter ship: No trips, no conferences, no meals, no credit cards. If you want to learn more about something, use Google. Do a webinar. Read a newsletter. No golf games with vendors, ever. No chauffeurs, no rental cars. Stay home, do your work and keep your nose clean. 2. Reduce administrative costs. Go through your administrative staff roster and cut every other job, starting with getting rid of all PR and marketing. No advisors, no consultants. Learn how to really read a budget. Put your check register and all wire transfers online. 3. Ethics. No nepotism. Let your wife and kids earn a living in a field other than education. No board members' spouses working in the district. Conduct all discussions with vendors and potential vendors in the open; invite your public to watch and ask questions. Throw away your contract and work year by year. Move your chair off the dais at board meetings. You're not a team member with your elected trustees. You're not equal to them. They're your boss. 4. No construction. If you're the rare district truly experiencing sufficient growth to justify building new schools, splinter off that population and let them start their own new school district or charter school. They might be able to take over an abandoned church or office building for much less than the Taj Mahal you had in mind. 5. Back-to-basics curriculum. Math table (1st grade: add, 2nd grade: subtract, 3rd grade multiply, 4th grade divide) daily drill. You made sure your own kids learned the basics at home or with tutors; why shouldn't all children have that same opportunity? Ditto for phonics. Classical literature. History, not social studies. No more block scheduling. Daily P.E. for all. Emphasize individual effort and accomplishment. 6. Attitude. You're a public servant, not a Third World dictator. Practice humility and gratitude. Remember when your employees laugh at your jokes or tell you you're cool or vendors marvel at your every utterance that they're all sucking up to you. Remember why you got into education to begin with. Sell your house in the gated community and buy one in the middle of a real subdivision like your average parents and taxpayers can afford. Let yourself be driven not by the latest platitude you picked up at the latest education conference but by the same wonderful noble desire to educate kids that got you into this field. |
b e s t
p r a c t i c e s
p r a c t i c e s
s c h o o l n e w s
q u i c k l i n k s
q u i c k l i n k s
| More "Best Practices" here. |
| U.S. FEDERAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISD 2000-2007 2000-2001 $ 121,951,145 2001-2002 $ 137,745,786 2002-2003 $ 169,103,740 2003-2004 $ 188,618,903 2004-2005 $ 188,838,330 2005-2006 $ 215,068,567 2006-2007 $ 217,970,686 TOTAL $1,239,297,157 |
| TEXAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DISD 2000-2007 2000-2001 $ 204,116,731 2001-2002 $ 180,097,229 2002-2003 $ 254,465,426 2003-2004 $ 199,905,502 2004-2005 $ 199,940,243 2005-2006 $ 198,907,113 2006-2007 $ 305,839,277 TOTAL $1,543,271,521 |
| Sunday, April 5, 2009 |
Texas and U.S. taxpayers have sent
almost $3 billion
to Dallas ISD since 2000
almost $3 billion
to Dallas ISD since 2000
| Best Practices Ethics pledges Transparency Lax oversight San Antonio Triple Crown Team of 8 Pass the trash |
FAQ ARCHIVES FOLLOW THE MONEY CHECK REGISTER INFO STATE & LOCAL GOVERNANCE VENDOR LOBBY
| When I first saw the headline yesterday morning that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich had just been arrested along with his chief of staff, John F. Harris, on charges of among other things trying to sell Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, my first reaction was probably not that different from yours, "Oh. Illinois." You know, as in the 3 R's: prior governor George Ryan, former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, and long-time Obama supporter Tony Rezko. As in, to quote Matt Drudge, "Crook County." As in, "Chicago, |
| Arne Duncan (L) and Rod "Even My Hair's For Sale" Blagojevich (R) (GRAPHIC IMAGE--Peyton Wolcott) |
| What's Arne Duncan's track record on financial transparency? Given that getting rid of corruption in public education must be job one for the next US DOE secretary, and given that Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan has deep ties to Chi-Land (he's from there), and given also that he's a front runner for the post, a good question to ask is, "How transparent has Arne been during his tenure as supe of Chicago schools?" Meaning, how much has he opened up specific-dollar CPS actual financials to the public in the cheapest, easiest and fastest way possible, by putting checks online? No pie charts, no percentages, no aggregates, but real checks-to? When I went looking on Chicago Schools' website and couldn't find their checks, I called the CPS PR department and asked whether Arne had made any plans to put their check register online. After explaining to the fellow with whom I spoke what a check register was, he said he'd look into it and get back to me. Shouldn't be that hard; even though Florida's Miami-Dade County Public Schools has fewer students, if we can believe Chicago Public Schools accounting over Miami's M-DCPS spent a lot more money last year, $6.7 billion for all expenditures, all funds as opposed to the $4.6 bilion CPS will admit to. I sent the PR guy a helpful link to Miami's check register so Arne could see for himself. Oh, wait! Miami-Dade's check register is online because Marta Perez, an elected trustee, pushed for it last year -- but all seven Chicago Public Schools trustees are appointed by Mayor Daley. D'ya think they'd risk losing their appointments by pushing for financial transparency with a Chicago mayor who controls all of Chicago public ed? No response yet from CPS Perhaps that was the famous "I'll get back to you when Hell freezes over" time frame. Or, maybe what the CPS PR guy really meant was, "It's a long way to Tipperary which is where we hid the check register |
| Corruption Capital" and the "Chicago Machine." As in, apparently anything goes in Chi-Land and surrounds that's not nailed down. Graft, graft everywhere and not a drop to drink Chicago's suburbs have not been immune from graft and corruption. It was just over three years ago -- a year after Gov. Blagojevich appointed Thomas Ryan, then-supe of Community Consolidated School District 168 in Sauk Village (a half-hour south of Chicago) to a task force of school administrators to help shape Blagojevich's new Department of Education -- that investigators raided Ryan's home and hauled off a |
| Left: Thomas Ryan (center) in his garage. Right: Investigator carrying laundry basket filled with cash. (PHOTOS--Southtown Star) |
| laundry basket filled with cash, ten years of financial records, computers and a collapsible metal billy club. Ryan was eventually indicted, tried and sent to a minimal-security prison where, presumably without the asp, he served only a few years of his eight-year sentence. |
| SAUK VILLAGE SCHOOLS: Role played by investigative journalists A shout out to the Daily Southtown: The Illinois State Attorney only began looking into Sauk Village schools' finances after The Daily Southtown published stories by reporters Linda Lutton and Kati Phillip regarding questionable payments made to Thomas Ryan, his family and school district vendors. _________________________________________ |
| And earlier this year it was reported that "former Hoover-Schrum Elementary District 157 administrator Rosemary Hendricks was paid as superintendent for the Calumet City school system and another suburban Cook County school district." Two months ago, the suburban Cook County district, Bellwood SD 88, accepted Hendricks' resignation and appointed an interim supe. (SOURCES--Joan Carreon/ Northwestern Indiana Times; David Pollard/Proviso Herald; and Proviso Insider Blogspot) |
| While a former Chicago Public School manager remained jailed on felony theft charges Tuesday, the high school that entrusted her with its finances is struggling to recover from a loss of nearly half a million dollars. Marilyn Jenkins-Evans, 47, was ordered held on $200,000 bail by Criminal Court Judge Thomas Hennelly, a day after |
| Closer to home, Tracy Dell'Angela and Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune reported on something that occurred on Arne Duncan's watch as CEO at Chicago Public Schools: |
| Marilyn Jenkins-Evans 2006 mug shot |
| she was arrested on allegations that she stole $457,000 from Simeon Career Academy High School, where she once worked as business manager. Investigators alleged that she wrote herself 319 checks, forged the former principal's signature and deposited them in her personal accounts over more than five years at the school. "How is this school going to recoup that money?" asked the interim principal of the South Side school, Leonard Kenebrew. "That's $90,000 a year for five years. That could have been novels. Or microscopes. Or training for the teachers. Or field trips for the students. It's so depressing." |
| and when we get it cleaned up I'll get back to you." In any event, at press time there was still no response from Chi-Land Schools about Arne's intention (or not) to put their check register online. Here's hoping Mayor Daley will let Arne put CPS checks online whether or not Arne makes US DOE secretary; specific-dollar transparency in the form of online check registers is a terrific way for honest Illinois administrators and politicians to separate themselves from the Blagojevich / 3R's crowd. |
| Hats off to David L. Cockerham Espanola #55 (NM) Online Calendar |
It's frustrating for moms
and dads and taxpayers to
call their superintendent's
office only to be told by the
secretary that he/she is not
available. Period. With no
explanations offered or
given, even when pressed.
Not so in Espanola Public
School District #55 in New
Mexico, located just north of
Santa Fe and Nambe
Pueblo. Superin-
tendent David L. Cocker-
ham's calendar is included
as part of his report to the
board; better yet for the
public, a link to the PDF'd
calendar is included in the
district's BoardBook
paperless Agenda Packet--
along with their checks.
Way to go, David & board!
(Posted 01.03.09)
and dads and taxpayers to
call their superintendent's
office only to be told by the
secretary that he/she is not
available. Period. With no
explanations offered or
given, even when pressed.
Not so in Espanola Public
School District #55 in New
Mexico, located just north of
Santa Fe and Nambe
Pueblo. Superin-
tendent David L. Cocker-
ham's calendar is included
as part of his report to the
board; better yet for the
public, a link to the PDF'd
calendar is included in the
district's BoardBook
paperless Agenda Packet--
along with their checks.
Way to go, David & board!
(Posted 01.03.09)
| Above, Espanola students greet bikers on their "Run for the Wall" 2008 trek from California to the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C. |
| Terms & Conditions Sorry to have to include this; some groups--God bless them--have copied my research and published it as their own. |
| Robin Hood & 22 'equity' failures: MALDEF's 22 Edgewood districts cost Texans billions in failed academics & extravagance. |
| How to persuade your district: The friendly approach--take the Golden Rule with you when asking your schools to post their check registers. Testimo- nials (issues & concerns). |
| Are there enough degrees of separation between Arne and Blagojevich for Arne to be the next US DOE secretary? By Peyton Wolcott Wednesday, December 10, 2008 / 12:02 a.m. - Updated Wednesday, December 10, 2008 / 9:59 a.m. |
| Transparency history Llano ISD FOIA conviction Edgewood ISD PD Progress by March 2007 1st year ann'y: Oct. 2007 Gov.Perry & Comm.Scott |
| 01.20 News story & 01.22.09 editorial - Dothan Eagle (AL) |
| Austin American-Statesman |
| CHECK REGISTERS |
| Raise Your Hand Texas 816 Congress Ave Suite 990 Austin, TX 78701 Ratliff, William R. (00020737) P.O. Box 1218 Mt. Pleasant, TX 75456 $25,000 - $49.999.99 Raise Your Hand 327 Congress Suite 450 Austin, TX 78701 Erben, Randall H. (00013689) 807 Brazos Suite 402 Austin, TX 78701 50,000 - $99,999.99 Wakefield, Kakhi H. (00062269) 807 Brazos Street Suite 402 Austin, TX 78701 Less Than $10,000.00 Yarbrough, Brian G. (00037475) 807 Brazos Suite 402 Austin, TX 78701 Less Than $10,000.00 |
| Ratliff II, Shannon H. (00050870) (512)494-3656 - Bracewell & Giuliani LLP 111 Congress Avenue Suite 2300 Austin, TX 78701 Long-time school law attorneys: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP 111 Congress Avenue Suite 2300 Austin, TX 78701-4304 Less Than $10,000.00 Active school tech vendors: Cisco Systems Inc. 12515 Research Blvd. Building 2 Austin, TX 78759 $50,000 - $99,999.99 City of Carrollton 1945 E. Jackson Road Carrollton, TX 75006 $50,000 - $99,999.99 Invenergy Wind Development LLC 1400 S. Congress Avenue Suite B-330 Austin, TX 78704 $50,000 - $99,999.99 Not in good standing as of Jan. 28, 2009 with Texas Comptroller: The Corporation for Texas Regionalism 1305 San Antonio Street Austin, TX 78701 $50,000 - $99,999.99 Heaven forbid that the Ratliff's wouldn't get some of the taxpayer bank bailout money: Wachovia Corporation 150 Fayetteville Street Mall Suite 600 Raleigh, NC 27601 $50,000 - $99,999.99 |
| RATLIFF LOBBYISTS |
| Raise Your Hand for Public Schools/Raise Your Hand Texas 816 Congress Suite 990 Austin, TX 78701 Anderson, David D. (00053708) 823 Congress Suite 900 Austin, TX 78701 $25,000 - $49.999.99 Jones, Neal T. Jr. (00013745) 823 Congress Suite 900 Austin, TX 78701 Less Than $10,000.00 Raise Your Hand for Public Schools PO Box 302183 Austin, TX 78730 All "less than $10,000": Eschberger, Brenda (00029854) 919 Congress Avenue Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 Girard, Charles H. (00058717) 504 West 14th Street Austin, TX 78701 Johnson, Michael J. (00055885) 919 Congress Avenue Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 Kelley, Russell T. (00013737) 919 Congress Avenue Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 Kemptner, Sara (00057952) 919 Congress Avenue Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 McGarah, Carol (00051437) 919 Congress Avenue Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 McGarry, Mignon (00012905) 504 West 14th Street Austin, TX 78701 Sabo, Jason T. (00052402) 1122 Colorado Street Suite 102 Austin, TX 78701 Waldon, Barbara (00057030) 919 Congress Avenue Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 |
| Ratliff, William R. (00020737) (903)572-1846 P.O. Box 1218 Mt. Pleasant, TX 75456 Such a sweet deal! Found "Raise Your Hand Texas" then make more than the average Texan's salary from this alone: Raise Your Hand Texas 816 Congress Ave Suite 990 Austin, TX 78701 $25,000 - $49.999.99 |
| RAISE YOUR HAND ENTITIES/LOBBYISTS |
| [Raise Your Hand director] Bull, Blaine H. (00012158) (512)744-0044 327 Congress Ave. Suite 450 Austin, TX 78701 CHRISTUS Health 4109 Carmel Mountain McKinney, TX 75070 $25,000 - $49.999.99 Texas Border Coalition 901 Business Park Dr. Suite 200 Mission, TX 78572 $10,000 - $24,999.99 Texas Employers for Immigration 1209 Nueces Street Austin, TX 78701 $10,000 - $24,999.99 |
| Yolanda Larkin of Brownsboro ISD (left, standing) facilitated this table's group consensus statement regarding their Harvard experience at the "Raise Your Hand" January 28, 2009 conference at the Austin Hilton. |
| NEW: Link: 2009 Texas Ethics Commission Edu-Lobbyists |
| A teacher among teachers: Rafe Esquith of The Hobart Shakespeareans (LAUSD / CA) |
| Rafe Esquith (L) with |
Recently when I attended a
Charles Butt-hosted "Raise
Your Hand" event in Austin
several principals voiced
concerns about the issues
and problems many
students bring to school
with them; they asked
about additional funding
available for dealing with
such students.
Why do educators
automatically seek more
dollars for dealing with
challenged students when
the richness they seek lies
within their own hearts?
Rafe Esquith, a 5th-grade
teacher in Los Angeles
USD, is daily confronted
with all of these same
issues then some.
Hobart Elementary's Room
56, home to Rafe's "Hobart
Shakespeareans," is
situated in one of the
poorest parts of LA.; all of
his students qualify for free
breakfast and lunches, and
few speak English as a
first language. Many are
from poor or troubled
families. The school is on
frequent lockdown
because of drug traffickers.
Charles Butt-hosted "Raise
Your Hand" event in Austin
several principals voiced
concerns about the issues
and problems many
students bring to school
with them; they asked
about additional funding
available for dealing with
such students.
Why do educators
automatically seek more
dollars for dealing with
challenged students when
the richness they seek lies
within their own hearts?
Rafe Esquith, a 5th-grade
teacher in Los Angeles
USD, is daily confronted
with all of these same
issues then some.
Hobart Elementary's Room
56, home to Rafe's "Hobart
Shakespeareans," is
situated in one of the
poorest parts of LA.; all of
his students qualify for free
breakfast and lunches, and
few speak English as a
first language. Many are
from poor or troubled
families. The school is on
frequent lockdown
because of drug traffickers.
| The Hobart Shakesperareans believe "There Are No Shortcuts." These 5th grade children begin to arrive in class at 6:30 a.m. and by 7:00 a.m. are solving complex math problems a full hour before traditional school begins. They stay until 5:00 p.m. or even later, and voluntarily come to school during their vacation periods. They read high school level literature and devour United States History, learning how to be good Americans. Most important of all, these children are recog- nized around the world for their outstanding character. In addition to scoring extra- ordinarily high on standard- ized tests, these students feed the homeless, raise money for the Red Cross, and give performances to support AIDS research. These students receive over $1 million each year in scholarships to attend first- rate schools. Oustanding prep schools know these students are a sure thing. |
| The Hobart Shakespearans performing in Texas (Summer 2008) |
Because Rafe succeeds
where others fail -- rather
than producing high school
dropouts as do many of his
peers at urban schools, his
students attend an
impressive array of colleges
-- let's listen to Rafe:
where others fail -- rather
than producing high school
dropouts as do many of his
peers at urban schools, his
students attend an
impressive array of colleges
-- let's listen to Rafe:
I'm hoping that this August
rather than hiring outside
convocation speakers at
$5,000 a pop our adminis-
trators will save $4,970 and
instead show their staff Mel
Stuart's video about Rafe
and his kids. It will inspire
and encourage even the
most tired and jaded of our
wonderful educators.
rather than hiring outside
convocation speakers at
$5,000 a pop our adminis-
trators will save $4,970 and
instead show their staff Mel
Stuart's video about Rafe
and his kids. It will inspire
and encourage even the
most tired and jaded of our
wonderful educators.
Specific immediate steps
educators and trustees
can take to lower costs:
educators and trustees
can take to lower costs:
| Edu-Monopoly Education,Inc Technology ERDI "Financial Exigency" Credit cards TX supes travel/meals Edu-Conferences TASA MidWinter Supes/Golf/Vendors 1 2 3 |
PROPERTY TAXES
Paying for U.S. public schools
By Peyton Wolcott
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 / 3:07 a.m.
In most of America, our local public schools have enough money to open their front doors
and operate day in and day out for one reason and one reason only: Enough of us have
sufficient good will towards our schools such that we send them thousands of dollars
each year and do so on time.
Paying for U.S. public schools
By Peyton Wolcott
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 / 3:07 a.m.
In most of America, our local public schools have enough money to open their front doors
and operate day in and day out for one reason and one reason only: Enough of us have
sufficient good will towards our schools such that we send them thousands of dollars
each year and do so on time.
Let's extrapolate this out. What happens if average folks start emulating the examples of
those on top and cut corners or "forget" or are "misinformed" or "make honest mistakes"
or, like White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, incorporate as a non-profit and avoid
paying property taxes, or do any one of a number of other things possible, with the result
that the same average folks whose tax dollars keep our schools running decide to
significantly delay and/or simply stop paying their property taxes?
those on top and cut corners or "forget" or are "misinformed" or "make honest mistakes"
or, like White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, incorporate as a non-profit and avoid
paying property taxes, or do any one of a number of other things possible, with the result
that the same average folks whose tax dollars keep our schools running decide to
significantly delay and/or simply stop paying their property taxes?
| Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas) |
But what happens if the system starts breaking down?
Suppose the underlying good will disappears because of
widespread evidence of waste and fraud and self-serving
behavior by our schools' elected and appointed leadership?
Suppose our local school leaders stop remembering they
are public servants and start instead behaving like royalty to
whom the usual rules of law and decency do not apply?
Suppose the underlying good will disappears because of
widespread evidence of waste and fraud and self-serving
behavior by our schools' elected and appointed leadership?
Suppose our local school leaders stop remembering they
are public servants and start instead behaving like royalty to
whom the usual rules of law and decency do not apply?
According to sources in
both Dallas and Fort Bend
Central Appraisal Districts,
Katy ISD superintendent
Alton Frailey has declared
-- in violation of Texas law
-- not one but two houses
at the same time as his
homestead, one in Dallas
County and one in Fort
Bend County.
Further, Alton has declared
the two homesteads for
not just one year but for
both 2007 and 2008 tax
years.
both Dallas and Fort Bend
Central Appraisal Districts,
Katy ISD superintendent
Alton Frailey has declared
-- in violation of Texas law
-- not one but two houses
at the same time as his
homestead, one in Dallas
County and one in Fort
Bend County.
Further, Alton has declared
the two homesteads for
not just one year but for
both 2007 and 2008 tax
years.
| General Homestead Exemption. To qualify for this exemp- tion, you must own and reside in your home on January 1 of the tax year application is made. A homestead may include acreage that you use as part of your residence. If you temporarily move away from your home, you still can qualify for this exemption, if you do not establish another principal residence and you intend to return within two years, or if you are a resident of a health facility or in the military. You may receive only one Homestead Exemption. (SOURCE--Dallas County Central Appraisal District) [Emphasis added] |
| Texas law clearly defines who can and cannot declare a homestead exemption, and how many, and under exactly what circumstances: |
| TEXAS LAW : HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS |
| Alton Frailey's 1st Texas homestead: DeSoto, Texas |
Alton's 1st homestead
DeSoto, Texas (Dallas County)
Alton Frailey was employed as DeSoto ISD's superinten-
dent before taking the Katy ISD job in 2007; his 2008
property taxes were:
DeSoto, Texas (Dallas County)
Alton Frailey was employed as DeSoto ISD's superinten-
dent before taking the Katy ISD job in 2007; his 2008
property taxes were:
| Alton Frailey - DeSoto ISD taxes Dallas County CAD - 2008, paid HOMESTEAD DECLARED FOR: 1121 Angie Ln., DeSoto TX 75115 Without homestead exemption declared (all Dallas County taxes) $9,920.95 With homestead exemption declared (all Dallas County taxes) $9,283.94 NOTE: $9,9283.94, the lower of the two amounts by $637.01, is the total amount of taxes Alton paid. Verification -- Dallas CAD: www.dallascad.org/AcctDetailRes.aspx?ID=201115200B022000 |
Alton's 2nd homestead
Katy, Texas (Ft. Bend County)
Alton Frailey resigned from DeSoto ISD when he was hired
in 2007 by Katy ISD to be their superintendent, replacing
the retiring Leonard Merrell; Alton's 2008 property taxes
were:
Katy, Texas (Ft. Bend County)
Alton Frailey resigned from DeSoto ISD when he was hired
in 2007 by Katy ISD to be their superintendent, replacing
the retiring Leonard Merrell; Alton's 2008 property taxes
were:
| Alton Frailey - Katy ISD taxes Ft.Bend County CAD - 2008, paid HOMESTEAD DECLARED FOR: 29 Hollingers Is., Katy, TX 77450 Without homestead exemption declared (all Ft. Bend County taxes) $16,571.55 With homestead exemption declared (all Ft.Bend County taxes) $15,716.16 NOTE: $15,716.16, the lower of the two amounts by $855.39, is the total amount of taxes Alton paid. Verification -- Fort Bend CAD: www.fbcad.org/Appraisal/PublicAccess/PropertyDetail.aspx? PropertyID=116754&dbKeyAuth=Appraisal&TaxYear=2008&N odeID=11&PropertyOwnerID=11165176 |
| Leonard Merrell Center Katy ISD, Texas (PHOTO--Peyton Wolcott) |
| (SOURCES--Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) and Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD) |
| Alton Frailey (L); Realtor Kenzie Moore, III features the following photographs of 1121 Angie Lane; note the two media centers, spacious back yard, acres of granite countertops in the kitchen, billiards table, corner spa tub with window, master bedroom large enough for full-size sofa and TV viewing |
| Reader comments 03.08.09 UPDATE: "You'd think a guy making his living off of other people's property taxes would be more careful with his own," quipped one reader. Others weren't so generous; most pointed out: "It's illegal." |
Although Alton has not yet responded to emails and telephone
calls seeking a statement from him explaining how he could be
in apparent violation of the law, it is my hope and anticipation
that he will do so as quickly as possible. Were he
calls seeking a statement from him explaining how he could be
in apparent violation of the law, it is my hope and anticipation
that he will do so as quickly as possible. Were he
| L to R: Tom Daschle, Hilda Solis, Tim Geithner |
selling shoes in Katy
or cleaning pools
there, it might be
plausible that he
could seek the
TurboTax defense
which has worked so
or cleaning pools
there, it might be
plausible that he
could seek the
TurboTax defense
which has worked so
effectively recently for others such as new Treasury Secretary
Tim Geithner. There's also the "I didn't know" defense used
recently by Tom Daschle and Hilda Solis.
However, as the fellow in charge of overseeing the spending of
Tim Geithner. There's also the "I didn't know" defense used
recently by Tom Daschle and Hilda Solis.
However, as the fellow in charge of overseeing the spending of
as much as $800,000,000 per year as Katy ISD's superintendent, with many of those
| Compare and contrast Alton Frailey's house in DeSoto with this DeSoto residence above, priced near DeSoto's median housing cost of $108,900. (PHOTO--Ebby Halliday) So much for the "we're a team" and "we're all one big happy family" phitosophy espoused at many public schools by their leadership. Does the "Team of Eight" stop at supes' front doors? |
| TAS/MUS: School executives playing golf with vendors at remote resorts on school days; that this is often at taxpayer expense for the hotel and work time is the least of it. TAS/MUS has refused to allow the press at its "conferences," which means supes are hobnobbing with vendors and potential vendors far, far away from public scrutiny. |
| PHOTO: Michelle Malkin. |
| 03.09.09 UPDATE: As Alton and Katy ISD have not yet responded to queries, including requests for corrections should the two counties have been in error, I have contacted both to see if the double homestead has been resolved, and will post their reports when received. |
they can pay their 700 property tax bills. Will the 699 rejects consider starting a business?
Memo to our great republic's 15,000 public school superintendents: Save yourselves,
your schools, your communities, be smart. Be prudent. Look for ways to
Memo to our great republic's 15,000 public school superintendents: Save yourselves,
your schools, your communities, be smart. Be prudent. Look for ways to
PERRY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (OH)
800 applicants,1 janitor job
By Peyton Wolcott
Mon., Mar. 9, 2009 / 1:45 a p.m. - Updated Tuesday, March 10, 2009/1 a.m.
800 applicants,1 janitor job
By Peyton Wolcott
Mon., Mar. 9, 2009 / 1:45 a p.m. - Updated Tuesday, March 10, 2009/1 a.m.
What safer and more attractive refuge for the newly
unemployed than their own local public schools? Just ask
Perry Public Schools supe John Richard; as of yesterday
he'd received 800 applications from area residents for their
one $15-16/hour janitorial position.
unemployed than their own local public schools? Just ask
Perry Public Schools supe John Richard; as of yesterday
he'd received 800 applications from area residents for their
one $15-16/hour janitorial position.
| Barry Mason, business director at Perry Schools, with stack of over 500 applica tions for a janitorial position. (SOURCE--JulieVennitti/CantonRep) |
| Perry Public Schools supe John Richard |
But this wasn't John's first clue his local Perry Township economy was in trouble. Just
three weeks ago his home was broken into; jewelry and electronics including a 35-inch
television, a Fender guitar, an amplifier and an Xbox 360 were stolen. John shared his
sense of violation with reporter Doug Staley, saying, "I think the thing that bothers me is the
fact that people were going through every drawer in our bedroom. It’s not so much the stuff
that’s missing but it’s a violation of property. It kind of ticks you off.”
three weeks ago his home was broken into; jewelry and electronics including a 35-inch
television, a Fender guitar, an amplifier and an Xbox 360 were stolen. John shared his
sense of violation with reporter Doug Staley, saying, "I think the thing that bothers me is the
fact that people were going through every drawer in our bedroom. It’s not so much the stuff
that’s missing but it’s a violation of property. It kind of ticks you off.”
Here in our small rural (and prosperous) Texas town, far less impacted
by the national downturn than Ohio or about anywhere else, there were
400 applicants for one front desk job at a local hotel just a few months
ago.
With jobs disappearing, the fallacy of our public schools' preparing
students to find jobs in the "workforce" rather than teaching them to think
for themselves and start their own businesses -- rather than settle for a
life of serfdom working for someone else -- is another failed public
education chick coming home to roost.
by the national downturn than Ohio or about anywhere else, there were
400 applicants for one front desk job at a local hotel just a few months
ago.
With jobs disappearing, the fallacy of our public schools' preparing
students to find jobs in the "workforce" rather than teaching them to think
for themselves and start their own businesses -- rather than settle for a
life of serfdom working for someone else -- is another failed public
education chick coming home to roost.
How will John Richard and Perry's business director Barry Mason choose their new janitor
from 800 candidates? Will the job go to the most qualified or to somebody's friend or
brother or cousin?
from 800 candidates? Will the job go to the most qualified or to somebody's friend or
brother or cousin?
cut costs sooner rather than later. Eliminate all discretionary
spending including any non-critical construction.
'A walk in the park' or 'professional development'?
This includes travel and meals and education conferences. If
attending one on a school day is important to you, call it a
vacation day and pay for it yourself. This administrator's mid
spending including any non-critical construction.
'A walk in the park' or 'professional development'?
This includes travel and meals and education conferences. If
attending one on a school day is important to you, call it a
vacation day and pay for it yourself. This administrator's mid
| WEMJ radio podcast here |
| S-t-r-a-t-e-g-e-r-y Tom Harmon "Running the Rapids" |
We are entering serious
and dangerous times in
America in which we can,
must and will prevail. As
with other similar periods
throughout history it will
help to be agile of mind and
fleet of foot.
This account of University of
Michigan football great Tom
Harmon first describes his
use of his old UM "Shoot
the Rapids" strategy on the
gridiron which he handily
adapted first while in the air
as a World War II fighter
pilot then as a downed and
seriously injured soldier
escaping to safety from
behind enemy lines.
and dangerous times in
America in which we can,
must and will prevail. As
with other similar periods
throughout history it will
help to be agile of mind and
fleet of foot.
This account of University of
Michigan football great Tom
Harmon first describes his
use of his old UM "Shoot
the Rapids" strategy on the
gridiron which he handily
adapted first while in the air
as a World War II fighter
pilot then as a downed and
seriously injured soldier
escaping to safety from
behind enemy lines.
Tom's ingenuity and heart
are good to keep in mind
whether you're helping
school board candidates,
or persuading your district
to post its check register
online, or anything else in
our schools or your life.
(Posted 03.10.09)
are good to keep in mind
whether you're helping
school board candidates,
or persuading your district
to post its check register
online, or anything else in
our schools or your life.
(Posted 03.10.09)
| Tom Harmon (Photo courtesy U-M Bentley Historical Library) |
CAPISTRANO USD (CA)
New board fires supe for cause
By Peyton Wolcott
Wed., Mar. 11, 2009 / 12:02 a.m. - Updated Saturday., Mar. 16, 2009
New board fires supe for cause
By Peyton Wolcott
Wed., Mar. 11, 2009 / 12:02 a.m. - Updated Saturday., Mar. 16, 2009
| A. Woodrow Carter speaks to the Capistrano Unified school board last Monday, just before they voted unanimously to fire him as superintendent. (CAPTION/PHOTO--Paul Bersebach/Orange County Register) |
In a remarkable display of smarts, political acumen and
persistence, parents and taxpayers in Capistrano USD have in
just four years won control of their local school board; the firing
Monday night of superintendent Woody Carter (more about
Woody at far right) by the district's new leadership -- he was
someone they hadn't wanted the district to hire to begin with --
was the culmination of work other disgruntled parents and
taxpayers who want better schools and leadership can learn
much by studying. Capo Recalls' efforts include two recalls and
three consecutive elections.
persistence, parents and taxpayers in Capistrano USD have in
just four years won control of their local school board; the firing
Monday night of superintendent Woody Carter (more about
Woody at far right) by the district's new leadership -- he was
someone they hadn't wanted the district to hire to begin with --
was the culmination of work other disgruntled parents and
taxpayers who want better schools and leadership can learn
much by studying. Capo Recalls' efforts include two recalls and
three consecutive elections.
| [It detailed] numerous instances of serious misconduct committed by Woodrow Carter while he was acting as CUSD superintendent. The report confirms that at the same time Carter was telling the families of CUSD that he didn't know how he would fund our students' class- rooms, he accepted gifts from, and was wined and dined at lavish resorts by, consultants seeking lucrative contracts with CUSD, that Carter successfully funneled lucrative school district contracts to those same consultants, that Carter failed to inform the school board about the gifts he had received from these consultants, that Carter failed to disclose the gifts on the public disclosure forms in violation of the law, and that Carter submitted improper "double-dipping" expense reports to CUSD seeking reimbursement for expenses that had already been paid for by the consultants." (More at far right this page) |
As Capo goes, so goes the nation?
While those famous swallows returning each spring to the mission
may have first put San Juan Capistrano on the map, the firing of their
superintendent for at least in part treating himself to luxe-life trips with
vendors has brought renewed national attention. Parents and taxpay-
ers struggling to pay their own bills are no longer willing to put up with
the old self-serving leadership model many view as corrupt. The icing
on Capo's cake would be for the new trustees to sign voluntary ethics
pledges: No luxe life, no vendor contact save in public places, well-lit.
They will help protect the new board in the rocky days still ahead.
While those famous swallows returning each spring to the mission
may have first put San Juan Capistrano on the map, the firing of their
superintendent for at least in part treating himself to luxe-life trips with
vendors has brought renewed national attention. Parents and taxpay-
ers struggling to pay their own bills are no longer willing to put up with
the old self-serving leadership model many view as corrupt. The icing
on Capo's cake would be for the new trustees to sign voluntary ethics
pledges: No luxe life, no vendor contact save in public places, well-lit.
They will help protect the new board in the rocky days still ahead.
First, the trigger incident
In Capo what the community
came together about was
CUSD's new $52 million
administration building with an
ocean view at a time when too
many students were being taught
in substandard portables.
Then-Capo supe James Fleming
and his board were determined
to build it despite increasingly
vocal community opposition.
There were also questions about
then-CUSD leadership's ties to
vendors and nepotism issues.
Capo Recall organizer Tony Beall
and others were committed to
building broad-based community
support (greybar at right); along
the way the group has also
displayed remarkable endurance,
energy and persistence.
In Capo what the community
came together about was
CUSD's new $52 million
administration building with an
ocean view at a time when too
many students were being taught
in substandard portables.
Then-Capo supe James Fleming
and his board were determined
to build it despite increasingly
vocal community opposition.
There were also questions about
then-CUSD leadership's ties to
vendors and nepotism issues.
Capo Recall organizer Tony Beall
and others were committed to
building broad-based community
support (greybar at right); along
the way the group has also
displayed remarkable endurance,
energy and persistence.
| Top, portables at San Juan HS; below, Capistrano USD's new $52 mil administration building |
| Why is broad- based community support crucial? None of us are dictators living in ivory castles able to wave our magic wands at our districts' problems and have everyone hut-two at our command. Our local public schools are govern- mental bodies. Capo Recall has understood that all school changes are political, which means learning to work with others, to unite with those with shared ideas despite our smaller differences in pursuit of a larger goal and good. While those aligned with Capo's old leadership might assert that the recall group doesn't work with them, the fact remains that the recall group did attempt to work within the system and it was only when they were rebuffed that they organized themselves and worked to bring about improvements. |
-day stroll at left on a school day at a resort in Bastrop during a TAS/MUS conference really
does not justify tax funding of any kind, does it? While it may have been restorative, are
district residents required to fund every aspect of supes' lives, given their six-figure
salaries?
does not justify tax funding of any kind, does it? While it may have been restorative, are
district residents required to fund every aspect of supes' lives, given their six-figure
salaries?
| UPDATE: Orange County Weekly has expanded its earlier blog entry re Capistrano USD superintendent Woody Carter & CUSD, HERE (see cartoon at right). |
BREAKING NEWS - EXCLUSIVE
Katy ISD supe Frailey's 2 declared homesteads
By Peyton Wolcott
Tues., Mar. 3, 2009 / 9:59 a.m. - Updated Sun., March 8, 2009 / 8:47 a.m. (see links to CADs in red)
Katy ISD supe Frailey's 2 declared homesteads
By Peyton Wolcott
Tues., Mar. 3, 2009 / 9:59 a.m. - Updated Sun., March 8, 2009 / 8:47 a.m. (see links to CADs in red)
It's a scenario guaranteed to bring fear to many
superintendent's heart: a new school board majority
committed to a new accountability model. So often the
new majority is vilified by the supe and his leadership; so
often as we learn later they had much to lose from the
community's taking taking a closer look at them and
their activities. For more about one group's successfull
takeover of their local school board --= a takeover which
includes indictments of the prior district leadership,
takeover of the school board, and firing of the sitting
supe, visit CUSD Recall's website.
superintendent's heart: a new school board majority
committed to a new accountability model. So often the
new majority is vilified by the supe and his leadership; so
often as we learn later they had much to lose from the
community's taking taking a closer look at them and
their activities. For more about one group's successfull
takeover of their local school board --= a takeover which
includes indictments of the prior district leadership,
takeover of the school board, and firing of the sitting
supe, visit CUSD Recall's website.
PIKE COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION SYSTEM (IN)
Superintendent and high school principal indicted for failing to
report alleged coach/teacher student sex (battery, texting)
By Peyton Wolcott
Monday, March 16, 2009 / 1:40 a.m.
Superintendent and high school principal indicted for failing to
report alleged coach/teacher student sex (battery, texting)
By Peyton Wolcott
Monday, March 16, 2009 / 1:40 a.m.
| L to R: Pike County School Corporation employees: supe D. John Thomas, Pike HS principal LeAnne Kelley, (the late) Pike Central HS head football coach Marty Joe Deputy, (former) Pike Central HS ass't football coach/teacher Luke Musselwhite. |
Pike County supe John Thomas and high school principal LeAnne Kelley were indicted
last Thursday by a grand jury on misdemeanor charges of failing to report child abuse or
neglect.
last Thursday by a grand jury on misdemeanor charges of failing to report child abuse or
neglect.
| According to Indiana State Police, the charges stem from two separate cases involving Luke Musselwhite, 26, a former Pike Central teacher and assistant football coach. Police in August began investigating allegations Musselwhite had sent hundreds of text messages, including several that were sexual in nature, to a female student a few months earlier. Musselwhite was arrested Sept. 2 on charges of dissemination of harmful material to a minor, a class D felony, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a class A misdemeanor. On that same day, Pike Central teacher and head football coach Marty Deputy committed suicide amid rumors he also was being investigated for alleged phone-related misconduct. Deputy never was arrested. (SOURCE--Evansville Courier Press) |
Friends, the fanciest most swell-elegant new schools cannot protect students from
predatory teachers. Only administrators can; that's their job.
Administrators need to work in their district offices rather than traveling about here and
there; would be helpful if they'll learn their district's and community's rules -- and enforce
them.
predatory teachers. Only administrators can; that's their job.
Administrators need to work in their district offices rather than traveling about here and
there; would be helpful if they'll learn their district's and community's rules -- and enforce
them.
If I have pressed for school districts to use tighter internal controls, it's not just been to help
them avoid wasteful spending but also to prevent 100% preventable tragedies from
occurring in families, the kind of blight on a family's reputation that occurs when Mom the
bookkeeper or Dad the CFO gets caught stealing from the district and there's a trial then
jail. We watched this occur to a bright and promising young family in a nearby town when
Mom the school secretary began pocketing the elementary's book fair money to pay
household bills with. Tighter internal controls are so easy.
Similarly, folks in Indiana are asking whether football coach Marty Deputy might still be
alive today had the adults in charge -- Pike County School Corporation administrators --
acted like adults and taken immediate action. It's tempting to wonder whether this was on
the grand jury's minds when they chose to indict last week.
them avoid wasteful spending but also to prevent 100% preventable tragedies from
occurring in families, the kind of blight on a family's reputation that occurs when Mom the
bookkeeper or Dad the CFO gets caught stealing from the district and there's a trial then
jail. We watched this occur to a bright and promising young family in a nearby town when
Mom the school secretary began pocketing the elementary's book fair money to pay
household bills with. Tighter internal controls are so easy.
Similarly, folks in Indiana are asking whether football coach Marty Deputy might still be
alive today had the adults in charge -- Pike County School Corporation administrators --
acted like adults and taken immediate action. It's tempting to wonder whether this was on
the grand jury's minds when they chose to indict last week.
| Community comments sampling: Posted by Noah on March 12, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. This story is shocking. How could educators who have reached such high positions of authority (repsonsibility) be so ignorant of the right thing to do when a child is threatened? How could someone so sick end up being allowed to teach children? My thoughts and prayers go out to the students and parents in Pike County who were involved in or who had to worry about this situation. Posted by Twiggy on March 12, 2009 at 8:24 p.m. We have found out in recent weeks people are going to be held responsible not only for their actions but for protecting those who need to be held accountable for acts of violence against our youth. This is a wake up call for everyone. Posted by readcp on March 12, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. This is a situation in Pike County that the needs to be fully investigated (which seems to be happening) and the facts pursued according to the evidence. Pike County doesn't need teachers that would be tempted to cross the line of acceptable behavior. Nor does it need administrators that would allow it to happen the second time. These people involved will have their day in court as the American justice system demands. I for one am glad that the investigators and prosecutor did not choose to look the other way as it seems some responsible people may have. Posted by skydance on March 13, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. How many children, do you suppose, are going through emotional harm NOW??? I am not saying that the teacher was right..he was wrong...but Miss Kelley has done no harm to our children. I don't understand why McDonald did this to our communities. Posted by red_museum on March 13, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. skydance. [Prosecutor] McDonald did not do this to our communities. The leaders of the school corp are doing it to themselves. right is right and wrong is wrong. Posted by The_Punisher on March 13, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. The age of consent in Indiana is 16. However there are laws pertaining to relationships between persons in authority and the people over whom they have that authority. The student/teacher realtionship is one such example. The girl could have been the same age as this perv, and it wouldn't have mattered, because she was a student. Same as if a corrections officer has relations with an inmate; consensual or not, it is against the law. Posted by sarge on Mar. 13, 2009 at 1:21 p.m. Two school officials in Pike County, Ind., are facing misdemeanor charges of failing to report child abuse or neglect. They failed to report child abuse and that's why they are being charged. In Indiana it is against the law to witness or have knowledge of child abuse and not report it. If we are going to uphold the laws for some then we have to uphold the laws for all. So, whether the child was 2 years old or 16 years old, it is against the law. If we are |
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY
Detroit News endorses online check registers; Ft. Wayne editorializes
re supe, principal arrested for failing to report child abuse/neglect
By Peyton Wolcott - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 / 7:03 a.m.
Detroit News endorses online check registers; Ft. Wayne editorializes
re supe, principal arrested for failing to report child abuse/neglect
By Peyton Wolcott - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 / 7:03 a.m.
| No silence, please, if you suspect abuse or neglect State offers civil and criminal immunity if you report them. Perhaps the shocking arrest of an Indiana school superintendent and a high school principal will be a wakeup call for those who don’t think child abuse or neglect is any of their business. The two – Pike County School Corp. Superintendent D. John Thomas and Pike Central Principal LeAnne Kelley – were not charged with abuse or neglect, but failing to report abuse or neglect. They knew or suspected something, it is alleged, and were silent. A teacher and assistant coach at the high school, Luke Musselwhite, was charged over accusations that he sent hundreds of text messages to one female minor, including several that were sexual in nature, and struck another on the back of her leg with a yardstick. During the investigation, police were told that Thomas and Kelley knew about the alleged misconduct but “failed to notify police or protective services.” (More here.) |
| Hats off to superintendent Mark Kleinhans for officially kicking off Michigan's public school transparency by putting Montrose Schools' check register online in 2007; he paved the way for others to follow. The Detroit News editorial board likes the idea: |
| going to protect our children then we have to protect all of our children not just the ones who are under 5 years old. I don't know anything about the politics of the case but I have read articles in the past where the new sheriff was trying to clean up the town. Break The Silence in all child abuse cases. No more secrets. |
Hats off to that courageous Indiana grand jury for being willing to indict a local school
superintendent and principal for failing to report suspected or known child abuse or
neglect. Hats off also to The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel for supporting the indictments
with this editorial published in yesterday's newspaper:
superintendent and principal for failing to report suspected or known child abuse or
neglect. Hats off also to The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel for supporting the indictments
with this editorial published in yesterday's newspaper:
| We were happy to hear Detroit schools' emergency financial manager Robert Bobb's announcement recently that he will make the district's finances transparent. If Michigan's largest school district posted its check register online, smaller districts would have no logical explanation -- or political cover -- for failing to do so. |
THE NEW ACCOUNTABILITY
Will America's school superintendents now voluntarily reign themselves in &
either curtail their travel or pay for it themselves?
By Peyton Wolcott - Thursday, March 19, 2009 / 4:06 a.m.
Will America's school superintendents now voluntarily reign themselves in &
either curtail their travel or pay for it themselves?
By Peyton Wolcott - Thursday, March 19, 2009 / 4:06 a.m.
Which American superintendents will be politically astute enough to take the lead and just
say "No" to taxpayer-funded travel to swell-elegant hotels beyond the reach of most of their
taxpayers, weekends masquerading as professional development, at a time when our
economy is tanking?
Dallas, Texas City Council member Angela Hunt has taken a smart and commendable
step in this direction with a decision to no longer charge taxpayers for her travel. More,here.
It's hard to defend scenes such as these below of a superintendent and spouse and
vendors playing golf together at a distant-from-local-eyes resort on a school day afternoon.
Likewise, it's difficult to understand how chasing a golf ball around an exquisite park-like
setting enhances schoolchildren's or teachers' classroom experiences.
say "No" to taxpayer-funded travel to swell-elegant hotels beyond the reach of most of their
taxpayers, weekends masquerading as professional development, at a time when our
economy is tanking?
Dallas, Texas City Council member Angela Hunt has taken a smart and commendable
step in this direction with a decision to no longer charge taxpayers for her travel. More,here.
It's hard to defend scenes such as these below of a superintendent and spouse and
vendors playing golf together at a distant-from-local-eyes resort on a school day afternoon.
Likewise, it's difficult to understand how chasing a golf ball around an exquisite park-like
setting enhances schoolchildren's or teachers' classroom experiences.
| On April 20, 2007, Weatherford ISD supe Deborah Cron played golf with her husband and vendors at a resort in Boerne, on Friday (social studies testing day) of TAKS testing week. (SOURCE--Weatherford ISD calendar) |
internal controls, embarrassing-to-school-leadership incidents
such as what's just occurred in Plano ISD could be avoided for
superintendents like PISD's Doug Otto. Had for example Doug
learned at TAS/MUS the importance of posting PISD's check
register online, including all activity accounts for schools, booster
and PTA, more eyes could have focused on PISD's expenditures
and perhaps a jury wouldn't have found elementary PTA treasurer
Elizabeth Payne guilty last week of embezzling $80,000 during
2004-05, a third-degree felony. What a setback in morale for the
school. Poor Doug, for this to occur on his watch. To end
such as what's just occurred in Plano ISD could be avoided for
superintendents like PISD's Doug Otto. Had for example Doug
learned at TAS/MUS the importance of posting PISD's check
register online, including all activity accounts for schools, booster
and PTA, more eyes could have focused on PISD's expenditures
and perhaps a jury wouldn't have found elementary PTA treasurer
Elizabeth Payne guilty last week of embezzling $80,000 during
2004-05, a third-degree felony. What a setback in morale for the
school. Poor Doug, for this to occur on his watch. To end
| Doug Otto (R) with wife Bobbi, also a PISD employee. |
Speaking of education conferences, perhaps if hosting groups such as AASA and
TAS/MUS focused less on golf with vendors and more on how administrators can tighten
TAS/MUS focused less on golf with vendors and more on how administrators can tighten
this on a sunnier note, according to the Dallas News court records indicate that Elizabeth's
moved to Leander; at least their checks are online.
moved to Leander; at least their checks are online.
DALLAS ISD (TX)
Cagefighting students at Dallas ISD under then-supe Mike
Moses' watch? Can it be true?
By Peyton Wolcott - Friday, March 20, 2009 / 5:59 a.m.
Cagefighting students at Dallas ISD under then-supe Mike
Moses' watch? Can it be true?
By Peyton Wolcott - Friday, March 20, 2009 / 5:59 a.m.
| 'It was gladiator-style entertainment for the staff.' --Whistleblower former DISD counselor |
If so, this appears to give new meaning to Mike's current "Raise
Your Hand" education campaign for Texas grocer Charles Butt.
Your Hand" education campaign for Texas grocer Charles Butt.
| Mike Moses & Larry Groppel |
There was the grade-changing scandal, P-card spending, reports of gambling at HS
events, more. Although Moten has denied the cagefighting charges, Hinojosa has
confirmed that there were "some things that happened inside of a cage." More from DMN re
its cagefighting reports, Moten's background.
events, more. Although Moten has denied the cagefighting charges, Hinojosa has
confirmed that there were "some things that happened inside of a cage." More from DMN re
its cagefighting reports, Moten's background.
| Fox TV coverage . . . NY Times . . . Australia . . . Europe . . . |
(Mike Moses was DISD supe January 2001 to July 2004; Larry Groppel was interim until
Mike Hinojosa took over in April 2005.)
According to reports published in today's Dallas Morning News, when then-DISD principal
Donald Moten allegedly sent troubled high schoolers into a steel utility cage to fight during
2003-05, those weren't "the first blemishes on his résumé."
Mike Hinojosa took over in April 2005.)
According to reports published in today's Dallas Morning News, when then-DISD principal
Donald Moten allegedly sent troubled high schoolers into a steel utility cage to fight during
2003-05, those weren't "the first blemishes on his résumé."
PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT (AR)
In this economy, is it time to put limits on
supe exit packages fit for kings & queens?
By Peyton Wolcott
Tue., Mar. 24, 2009/2:17 am - Updated Wed., Mar. 25, 3009/3:16 am
In this economy, is it time to put limits on
supe exit packages fit for kings & queens?
By Peyton Wolcott
Tue., Mar. 24, 2009/2:17 am - Updated Wed., Mar. 25, 3009/3:16 am
With so many families struggling to stay
together despite increasing
unemployment and unstable home loans
-- not to mention the divorce rate -- the five-
and six-figure exit packages guaranteed by
many current superintendent contracts
seem unseemly, if not greedy and
insensitive.
Barbara Trzeszkowski's $740,000
departure package -- $184,586 for 235.5
unused sick days and 20 vacation days,
plus $556,290 in severance pay calculated
by multiplying her monthly salary by the 38
years she has worked in Keansburg, this
in addition to her $120,000 annual
pension-for-life -- when she retired last
year was not her first financial overstep;
she garnered national attention a few
years previous for hiring a stretch limo to
together despite increasing
unemployment and unstable home loans
-- not to mention the divorce rate -- the five-
and six-figure exit packages guaranteed by
many current superintendent contracts
seem unseemly, if not greedy and
insensitive.
Barbara Trzeszkowski's $740,000
departure package -- $184,586 for 235.5
unused sick days and 20 vacation days,
plus $556,290 in severance pay calculated
by multiplying her monthly salary by the 38
years she has worked in Keansburg, this
in addition to her $120,000 annual
pension-for-life -- when she retired last
year was not her first financial overstep;
she garnered national attention a few
years previous for hiring a stretch limo to
| Arkansas supe James R. Sharpe (IMAGE by Peyton Wolcott, after Pilo's portrait of Frederick V) |
Smart school administrators
will read the tea leaves in their
cups and voluntarily rein
themselves in. Things are
changing in this great nation
very quickly, friends.
will read the tea leaves in their
cups and voluntarily rein
themselves in. Things are
changing in this great nation
very quickly, friends.
Start small, start local, start simple.
The best place for school trustees, parents and taxpayers to turn
this around is with your own local superintendent's employment
contract. Regardless of what your superintendent may say, it's a
legally binding document. Had, for example, the Pulaski County
school board in Arkansas paid more attention in 2006 when they
hired James R. Sharpe as their permanent superintendent, they'd
be richer by six figures -- and still have their long-time CFO, who
The best place for school trustees, parents and taxpayers to turn
this around is with your own local superintendent's employment
contract. Regardless of what your superintendent may say, it's a
legally binding document. Had, for example, the Pulaski County
school board in Arkansas paid more attention in 2006 when they
hired James R. Sharpe as their permanent superintendent, they'd
be richer by six figures -- and still have their long-time CFO, who
| Keansburg, New Jersey superintendent Barbara Trzeszkowski's $740,000 exit package from her Abbott (state funded) district led to new state rules limiting the value of unused time to $15,000, which the New Jersey Ass'n of School Administrators has appealed. (IMAGE by Peyton Wolcott, with thanks to BBC) |
| FROM SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE'S 2009 SALARY REPORT: Moral Compass: Salary is one thing. Perks are something else entirely. “Everyone is aware of the economic situation we’re in,” says [American Ass'n of School Adminis- trators executive director Daniel] Domenech. "Superintendents have to be very careful not to accept exorbitant packages.” To pad contracts with too many fringe benefits just results in a bad public relations move, he says. {NASB's Anne] Bryant concurs, “It’s not time to go for the gold.” |
take her and her school board to a meeting to plead for more funding. As an Abbott district
half of her schools' funding comes from the state. While it was the half-mil severance
half of her schools' funding comes from the state. While it was the half-mil severance
board think twice about hiring a disgruntled employee who sued
her previous employer (University City School District in Missouri)
in 1992 for $200,000 then settled then refused her old job when it
was offered back, even after having won the concessions for which
she sued? (Source for $200,000 figure: Jay Mathews/Washington Post.)
her previous employer (University City School District in Missouri)
in 1992 for $200,000 then settled then refused her old job when it
was offered back, even after having won the concessions for which
she sued? (Source for $200,000 figure: Jay Mathews/Washington Post.)
resigned when it became public
knowledge that the $185,000 the school
board thought they were authorizing for
Sharpe's buyout ballooned to an exit check
to Sharpe totaling $264,884.20.
knowledge that the $185,000 the school
board thought they were authorizing for
Sharpe's buyout ballooned to an exit check
to Sharpe totaling $264,884.20.
| Arlene Ackerman (IMAGE by Peyton Wolcott) |
| Leonard Merrell as King George III (IMAGE by Peyton Wolcott) |
Hard to correlate Arlene's insistence that "it's all about the kids"
with her insistence on walking away with the big check rather than
leave the funds in the district to pay for more teachers or to help
disadvantaged students. Wasn't her salary with the living
allowance and the $45,000 Diners Club tab for one year enough?
with her insistence on walking away with the big check rather than
leave the funds in the district to pay for more teachers or to help
disadvantaged students. Wasn't her salary with the living
allowance and the $45,000 Diners Club tab for one year enough?
Then there's Leonard Merrell, who retired from Katy ISD in the Houston
suburbs with the usual retirement sick-and-vacation pay buyout -- plus
a $16,000 tractor, purchased for him by employees and parents and
district vendors, for use in the subdivision he's developing in another
county. Wouldn't the fine and noble thing have been for Leonard to give
it to his students?
Isn't that the bottom line with all of these examples, doing the right
thing versus the greedy thing?
a $16,000 tractor, purchased for him by employees and parents and
district vendors, for use in the subdivision he's developing in another
county. Wouldn't the fine and noble thing have been for Leonard to give
it to his students?
Isn't that the bottom line with all of these examples, doing the right
thing versus the greedy thing?
| GOOD QUESTION: How are you celebrating National Poetry Month? A visit to Poetry Daily is a good place to start; on today's emailed menu, Shakespeare, from The Tempest: "Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises. Sounds and sweet airs...." |
SPECIAL TO MY READERS
Sneak peek: sample math
problems from 'Real World
Math' by OneBraveNew-
World Baccalaureate
By Peyton Wolcott
Thu., Mar. 26, 2009/6:31 pm
Sneak peek: sample math
problems from 'Real World
Math' by OneBraveNew-
World Baccalaureate
By Peyton Wolcott
Thu., Mar. 26, 2009/6:31 pm
One of the challenges
faced by OneBraveNewWorld
Baccalaureate ("OBNWB")
has been the charge by many
parents that they were teach-
ing students "fuzzy" or "Rain-
forest" math, with too few
pertinent examples from real
life problems everyday people
face in their ordinary lives.
faced by OneBraveNewWorld
Baccalaureate ("OBNWB")
has been the charge by many
parents that they were teach-
ing students "fuzzy" or "Rain-
forest" math, with too few
pertinent examples from real
life problems everyday people
face in their ordinary lives.
After years of research
OBNWB appears to have
achieved a breakthrough;
although unfortunately its
research has not yet been
peer reviewed, "Real World
Math (for Everyday Dumbies)"
is already on its way to
schools. Here are two
sample problems:
OBNWB appears to have
achieved a breakthrough;
although unfortunately its
research has not yet been
peer reviewed, "Real World
Math (for Everyday Dumbies)"
is already on its way to
schools. Here are two
sample problems:
| Real life people, real-life problems for real-life students to help solve: President Barack Obama (L); White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (R). |
| REAL WORLD MATH PROBLEM #44: President Obama's brother Malik in Kenya has come down with cholera. |
| REAL WORLD MATH PROBLEM #320: You are press secretary to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; news is out that your boss earned $320,000 during a 14-month stay at Freddie Mac. |
| PHOTO CREDITS: Problem 44, Boniface Mwangi/Bloomberg |
| Orange County Weekly: Capistrano USD supe Woody Carter at edu-conference spa |
Arlene Ackerman's $375,000
departure from San Francisco USD,
$375,000 being the price she stipulated if
she could not get along with her school
board, is all the more notable because of
Arlene's prior lawsuit; didn't SFUSD's
departure from San Francisco USD,
$375,000 being the price she stipulated if
she could not get along with her school
board, is all the more notable because of
Arlene's prior lawsuit; didn't SFUSD's
| Leonard Merrell with tractor (PHOTO-- Houston Chronicle) |
As a practical matter, such public examples of
elitist profligacy by public servants who too often have
been tempted to act as though they believe they are
royalty or CEO's are attracting negative attention,
something neither our public schools nor the
profession of the school superintendent can afford.
elitist profligacy by public servants who too often have
been tempted to act as though they believe they are
royalty or CEO's are attracting negative attention,
something neither our public schools nor the
profession of the school superintendent can afford.
payment that Governor Jon Corzine wants to put a stop
to, a strong case can also be made for limiting the
amount departing supes can be paid for their unused
sick and vacation days; Corzine says $15,000.
to, a strong case can also be made for limiting the
amount departing supes can be paid for their unused
sick and vacation days; Corzine says $15,000.
Feeling angry & powerless about the radical
changes occurring in our great nation?
Five easy things you can do to make a difference.
By Peyton Wolcott
Monday, March 30, 2009 / 12:52 am - Updated Tuesday, March 31, 2009/10:00 am
Want to be effective? Forget tea bag labels in envelopes
unless the ones you're sending to Congress and the White House
came from that boat loaded with tea in Boston's harbor in 1773.
Our forefathers understood meaningful activism. They didn't settle
for standing around grousing on street corners or goofy gestures.
'Politics is local, school politics is localer' *
Because the most local form of of government available to us, the
one place the average person has any real chance of making a
real difference, is our own school district, start there.
Here are five easy things you can do that will make a difference:
changes occurring in our great nation?
Five easy things you can do to make a difference.
By Peyton Wolcott
Monday, March 30, 2009 / 12:52 am - Updated Tuesday, March 31, 2009/10:00 am
Want to be effective? Forget tea bag labels in envelopes
unless the ones you're sending to Congress and the White House
came from that boat loaded with tea in Boston's harbor in 1773.
Our forefathers understood meaningful activism. They didn't settle
for standing around grousing on street corners or goofy gestures.
'Politics is local, school politics is localer' *
Because the most local form of of government available to us, the
one place the average person has any real chance of making a
real difference, is our own school district, start there.
Here are five easy things you can do that will make a difference:
Pike Central High School
SAN FRANCISCO USD (CA)
'Teachers urged to
emulate Jimi Hendrix'
By Peyton Wolcott
Mon., Mar. 30, 2009/11.35 am
'Teachers urged to
emulate Jimi Hendrix'
By Peyton Wolcott
Mon., Mar. 30, 2009/11.35 am
It's apparently
not enough
that public
school super-
intendents
want to act
like rock stars.
not enough
that public
school super-
intendents
want to act
like rock stars.
O
| Steve Waddell (center) (IMAGE--Fort Worth Star-Telegram) |
had himself lowered from the
ceiling to the floor of the local
coliseum (above) last fall then
with his band played the
blues--for his employees.
(Who among them would have
been foolish enough to boo the
boss?) Steve's not the only
educator with a band and a
captive audience; in our local
high school two teachers who
fancied themselves cool MC'd
the talent show for years,
spotlighting themselves rather
than students.
ceiling to the floor of the local
coliseum (above) last fall then
with his band played the
blues--for his employees.
(Who among them would have
been foolish enough to boo the
boss?) Steve's not the only
educator with a band and a
captive audience; in our local
high school two teachers who
fancied themselves cool MC'd
the talent show for years,
spotlighting themselves rather
than students.
Remember Birdville ISD
supe Steve Waddell who
supe Steve Waddell who
Now comes ERDI consultant
and former McGraw-Hill exec
Carlos Garcia, now San
Francisco USD supe, who
wants his SFUSD teachers to
emulate acid-using drug-
overdose-fatality rocker Jimi
Hendrix. More here.
and former McGraw-Hill exec
Carlos Garcia, now San
Francisco USD supe, who
wants his SFUSD teachers to
emulate acid-using drug-
overdose-fatality rocker Jimi
Hendrix. More here.
| Carlos Garcia on AASA party boat in San Antonio during convention (PHOTO--Peyton Wolcott) |
Because our public schools are about money and power, look at their financials. Persuade your district to put its check register online. Ask to see your district's credit card expenditures. 3. Track your board member's financial ties of any kind to your district and its vendors; this includes spouses and other family members working there along with their trips to conferences and trainings. Find out when they're treated to meals and other gifts.
4. Track the nepotism in your school district. Ask to view your administrators' doctoral dissertations.
5. Take a look at your district's textbooks. Are there lies in the history books? Are middle schools being exposed to steamy literature rather than Shakespeare? Let your community know, with specific examples.
4. Track the nepotism in your school district. Ask to view your administrators' doctoral dissertations.
5. Take a look at your district's textbooks. Are there lies in the history books? Are middle schools being exposed to steamy literature rather than Shakespeare? Let your community know, with specific examples.
1. Ask questions -- lots of them.
| * This quote is from former Texas Speaker Gib Lewis. Many thanks to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Dave Lieber for his "Ask Lots of Questions" campaign. |
| More beiow re Dave Lieber's campaign. |
3. Track school construction costs & vendors.
| Ask to view your superintendent's most recent tax return. (I keep hearing one here in Texas used to show his to his board.) If he/she won't show it to you, ask in a jovial way what he's hiding; point out that you already know his salary. Ask what side consulting he's doing: where, how much, when. Ask your school board what business they are doing with your district, in any capacity (as vendors, subcontractors, sales, consultants, etc.). Ask your supe |
| There are 15,000 U.S. school districts; each one is truly the front line in our nation's future. A generation of our kids have had social studies rather than history -- Sheryl Crow in 3rd grade rather than our nation's founders. Our public schools are where the dumbing down of our populace began which resulted in young voters last fall opting for a presidential campaign based on charisma and hope rather than specifics. |
| and board if they have any family members working at the district and/or doing business with the district in any role. Does your district have any credit or procurement cards and if so who is authorized to use them? Ask to see the most recent three months' receipts they have on hand. If your district's check register isn't online yet, persuade them to do so. Follow the money. Share your findings with your community in a nice way. |
| Ask to view your district's payments to contractors and subs on the most recent construction project(s). Visit your local tax office and central appraisal district (CAD) to track the land purchase -- who owned it and when, three transactions (or 10 years) back, and what it changed hands for, at what price, via which realtors. Compare your list with the list of donors to your district's most recent school bond election, millage, etc. Follow the money. Share your findings with your community in a nice way. |
4. Track your district's nepotism.
| Start with your superintendent, school board and top-paid administrators. So often their spouses get the easier jobs -- running a classroom is a lot of work compared to being a reading specialist. Then move to the next level -- coaches, athletic directors, principals -- and their spouses. Follow the money trail. Using a flow chart or graph or even a bare-bones list, share your findings with your community in a nice way. |
5. Look at textbooks & lesson plans.
| Are the history books accurate or do they present history with a liberal or pro-special interest group bias? What is your students' exposure to literature -- is it drecky contemporary lowest-common-denominator drivel or is it uplifting and positive? Are they studying the classics? Great literature? Are students actually reading an entire book or are they doing it in teams, a chapter per student? Are students drilled in the math tables 15-20 minutes each day (1st grade/addition; 2nd grade/ subtraction; 3rd grade/multiplication; 4th grade/division). If your supe considers this a waste of time, ask him/her what 8 times 9 is -- can they tell you without a calculator? What about their own kids -- did they work with them at home or send them to tutors? Why would they deny this opportunity to poor kids? Share your findings with your community in a nice way. |
2. Taxes, homesteads, kids, citizenship.
| Are your supe's and board members' property taxes current? Are they declaring (illegal) double homesteads in 2 districts? Verify for yourself that they actually live in your school district. Are their kids and grandkids enrolled in your school district? If not, why are they on the board -- if not for self-serving self-promoting business-orented reasons. Do they hold dual citizenships with other countries? Follow the money. Share your findings with your community in a nice way. |
Take a page from our liberal friends' effective use of PR.
Be nice. Be friendly. Couch your questions and statements in the gentlest way possible --
don't be strident, don't make demands.
First the footmen, then the horses. Start small, start local, start simple. Ask.
Persuade. If you can't make any changes in your own local district, how on Earth can you
expect to make changes at the state or national level? From Jo-El: If you cannot keep up
with the footmen, how can you expect to run with the horses?
If you're game for bigger challenges, take over your local school board like we did -- as
they've done in California's Capistrano USD -- but get your candidates to sign public ethics
and accountability pledges first to help them remain strong against the inroads vendors
and administrators will try to make on their integrity. Imagine how differently things might
have turned out if even one of us had thought to ask George H.W. Bush to put his promise
"No new taxes" in writing, in a publicly signed pledge. (You see the importance of the public
signing.) Make it a big event to help them remain true to your ideals and theirs.
If you get stuck please email me and I'll help you as much as I can. May God bless America.
Be nice. Be friendly. Couch your questions and statements in the gentlest way possible --
don't be strident, don't make demands.
First the footmen, then the horses. Start small, start local, start simple. Ask.
Persuade. If you can't make any changes in your own local district, how on Earth can you
expect to make changes at the state or national level? From Jo-El: If you cannot keep up
with the footmen, how can you expect to run with the horses?
If you're game for bigger challenges, take over your local school board like we did -- as
they've done in California's Capistrano USD -- but get your candidates to sign public ethics
and accountability pledges first to help them remain strong against the inroads vendors
and administrators will try to make on their integrity. Imagine how differently things might
have turned out if even one of us had thought to ask George H.W. Bush to put his promise
"No new taxes" in writing, in a publicly signed pledge. (You see the importance of the public
signing.) Make it a big event to help them remain true to your ideals and theirs.
If you get stuck please email me and I'll help you as much as I can. May God bless America.
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
Former TEA science director
Chris Comer's lawsuit
dismissed
By Peyton Wolcott
Wed., Apr. 1, 2009/1:09 am
Former TEA science director
Chris Comer's lawsuit
dismissed
By Peyton Wolcott
Wed., Apr. 1, 2009/1:09 am
Comer was allowed to resign
from TEA (in lieu of being
fired) for misconduct and
insubordination. Veteran
educator Donna Garner writes
that federal judge Lee Yeakel's
ruling "indicates that if the TEA
asks its employees not to take
a position on a particularly
controversial curriculum issue,
then it behooves the employee
to follow the directive."
This ruling represents a
wonderful opportunity for
Chris to start her own
business where she can say
what, when and how she
wants. Please take a few
minutes to read the court
transcript posted at the Austin
American-Statesman's blogged
report published yesterday.
from TEA (in lieu of being
fired) for misconduct and
insubordination. Veteran
educator Donna Garner writes
that federal judge Lee Yeakel's
ruling "indicates that if the TEA
asks its employees not to take
a position on a particularly
controversial curriculum issue,
then it behooves the employee
to follow the directive."
This ruling represents a
wonderful opportunity for
Chris to start her own
business where she can say
what, when and how she
wants. Please take a few
minutes to read the court
transcript posted at the Austin
American-Statesman's blogged
report published yesterday.
Gee, sure wish fellow
journalists at The New York
Times and newspapers here in
Texas had looked at Comer's
TEA personnel file containing
stepped warning letters from
her supervisors over a period
of time before assuming
Comer's lawsuit asserting that
she had been fired because of
her belief in Charles Darwin's
theory of evolution was an
accurate depiction of events.
journalists at The New York
Times and newspapers here in
Texas had looked at Comer's
TEA personnel file containing
stepped warning letters from
her supervisors over a period
of time before assuming
Comer's lawsuit asserting that
she had been fired because of
her belief in Charles Darwin's
theory of evolution was an
accurate depiction of events.
| Chris Comer at 2005 "Leadership Symposium" edu-conference |
TUCSON USD (AZ)
Memo to Tucson USD
supe: Eisner kept his
hands on Disney's till
By Peyton Wolcott
Thu., Apr. 2, 2009/12:15 am
Memo to Tucson USD
supe: Eisner kept his
hands on Disney's till
By Peyton Wolcott
Thu., Apr. 2, 2009/12:15 am
| Michael Eisner (L); Elizabeth Celania-Fagen |
HILLSBOROUGH CPS (FL)
$23 million savings to
FL residents by decen-
tralizing county schools
By Peyton Wolcott
Sat., Apr. 4, 2009/9:10 am
Updated Sun.,Apr.5, 2009/1 am
$23 million savings to
FL residents by decen-
tralizing county schools
By Peyton Wolcott
Sat., Apr. 4, 2009/9:10 am
Updated Sun.,Apr.5, 2009/1 am
| At a recent budget workshop, county commissioner Kevin Beckner called for a minimum 10% pay cut for all commis- sioners. He said he wants everyone in county govern- ment to “feel the pain” of the current budget crisis.... I’m wondering if his buddy and political ally, April Griffin, will follow suit on the Hillsborough school board. A school board member’s salary is about $40,000, so a 10% cut sounds less severe. I doubt, though, that Griffin would ever propose such a thing. Same thinking for her echo, Susan Valdes. Their current salaries are more than each ever made in the private sector. Plus, Valdes is still paying off the little red Mercedes she bought immediately after her first election, and Griffin just bought a new home in Temple Terrace. I doubt either can afford to cut a nickel from the best job they ever had. (SOURCE--Hillsboard.com) |
| Hillsborough County Public Schools' Susan Valdes |
Balderdash.
Look at Florida where
public ed is centralized at
the county level; 65 coun-
ties pay at least 5 elected
officials $40,000 each.
How to cure this painlessly
--except perhaps for Hills-
borough trustee Susan
Valdes: decentralize
Florida's county public
schools,allow money to
flow directly to a set of two
or three K-12 schools
where it could be easily
overseen by elected
volunteer trustees. Savings
to Floridians: $14 mil in
trustee salaries, another
$9 for staffs and offices.
Look at Tampa:
Look at Florida where
public ed is centralized at
the county level; 65 coun-
ties pay at least 5 elected
officials $40,000 each.
How to cure this painlessly
--except perhaps for Hills-
borough trustee Susan
Valdes: decentralize
Florida's county public
schools,allow money to
flow directly to a set of two
or three K-12 schools
where it could be easily
overseen by elected
volunteer trustees. Savings
to Floridians: $14 mil in
trustee salaries, another
$9 for staffs and offices.
Look at Tampa:
People like
former IBM
CEO/corporate
plunderer Louis
Gerstner keep
trying to tell us
that we can gain
economies of
scale by
centralizing
public ed.
former IBM
CEO/corporate
plunderer Louis
Gerstner keep
trying to tell us
that we can gain
economies of
scale by
centralizing
public ed.