| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n -- o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| Conservative Commentary - Llano ISD & Jack Patton (Texas) |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
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| Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| Britain's King George III once ruled our country; despotism by those with power does not last. Public school superintendents would do well to remember this lesson from history. |
| Questions? Jack Patton: You can contact Jack at his place of business: "Doc's Country Store & BBQ" which according to the local phone book features BBQ, Bar-B-Que Meats and Brisket, Gasoline, Convenience Doc's." The business is located in Crockett, Texas. (NOVEMBER 2007 UPDATE: Doc's Country Store received a "Business of the Month" award from the Houston County Chamber of Commerce; Andy Lawrence accepted the award for Jack Patton.) Mark Chapman: Former Llano ISD board president Mark Chapman's business is Chapman Construction in Kingsland, Texas. Billy Ratliff: Former Llano ISD trustee Billy Ratliff listed his official contact as Charlie's Store, Inc., in Llano, Texas. Alan Geistman: Llano ISD trustee Alan Geistman, who listed his official occupation as "Investor," has moved from Llano to Horseshoe Bay, Texas; his contact information on LISD's website is: P.O. Box 8003, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657. |
| The story in never-before released photos of a supe's fall from grace By Peyton Wolcott Revised Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 7 pm |
| First, there was Llano High School (left), a facility in such terrible shape, Jack told taxpayers, that a new bond issue was imperative--even though the district's enrollment is declining. Students were enlisted to campaign the community on behalf of a new high school; remodeling was not an issue as the old high school was in such terrible shape. So Llano ISD's voters approved a bond, and Jack got his new high school (next), which taxpayers nicknamed "The Taj Mahal." Controversy erupted |
| Next came an ill-fated trip to the TASA/TASB convention in Dallas (left at TASB logo), in September 2001, where Jack treated himself and three board members and spouses to $617.37 meal at Del Frisco's (below). The tab included approximately $80 for alcohol, an illegal expense under the Texas Education Code; board members claimed later that they'd left $80 on the table in cash to cover the alcohol charge which they said the waiter apparently mistook for a tip. Rebecca and Bill Jennings and Pat and Jim Donahy, having heard rumors, began asking questions, eventually resorting to filing public records requests. Jack produced the Del Frisco's receipt in response to the Jennings' request for his credit card statements, but when then-local publisher Eric Bishop asked for his own copy from the district, Patton claimed no such receipt existed, apparently not realizing he'd already produced it to the Jennings. |
| The fall of former Llano ISD supe Jack Patton--at right hurrying to find out how much cash LISD trustees were going to award him the month after he became Texas' first Public Information Act conviction--from superintendent of one of Texas' richest school districts and former superintendent of the year to selling BBQ from a convenience store/gas station in East Texas can be traced to one specific action on his part: His refusal to produce a steak dinner receipt in response to a public records request, thus becoming Texas' first Public Information Act conviction, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. These photographs are being published now as (1) a cautionary tale for those superintendents who appear to their parents and taxpayers to think and act as though they are above the law, and (2) as an encouragement to parents and taxpayers stuck with superintendents who appear to think and act as though they are above the law. History teaches us that tyrants fall and justice and truth eventually prevail. |
| Jack at truck with attorney, Jack with second attorney objecting to having his photo taken on a city street. |
| After Patton's conviction by a Johnson City jury, next came his discussion regarding his settlement with Llano ISD's board of trustees in September 2003. While Jack and trustees Alan Geistman, Mark Chapman, Billy Ratliff and Bill Kirkman discussed terms (left below) in air conditioned comfort in the huge empty board room, the public funding the settlement and the press were locked outside literally, and figuratively left to cool their heels in the sweltering heat in the un-air conditioned hallway. At one point Jack handed the board some papers (at right, see arrow) which trustee Billy Ratliff (orange shirt) returned to Jack; despite this photo, the board denied having seen, received or reviewed any paper records from Patton during these negotiations. Next, while the board deliberated in private, Jack waited in privacy on a porch (below) on the other side of the boardroom, away from the prying eyes and questions of the public and press waiting in the hallway, talking eventually with two people who'd found his hiding place. |
| After a lengthy wait, suddenly then-Llano ISD board president Mark Chapman opened the locked side door, signaled Jack to come back inside (below left). |
| (Left) Patton's re-entry to boardroom; Patton's final exit from the boardroom. At far right, to paraphrase a song, "Llano ISD Texas in his rear-view mirror." |
| As it turns out, the old high school could be salvaged after all--thanks to a costly remodeling program. Locals noted that Jack was also undertaking an extensive remodeling throughout this process of his own home, located on a ranch outside of town; locals also noted that Jack's personal architect for his extensive home remodeling was the same architect that the district was using for the high school; taxpayers attempting attempting to track the increase in valuation of Patton's home as the remodeling continued experienced difficulties finding it on the county's appraisals as there appeared to be some confusion as to the exact reported street address. |
| Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott decided to prosecute this as Texas' first conviction for a violation of the Public Information Act, saying, "We cannot allow public officials to make a mockery of our open government laws." Andrew Jackson "Jack" Patton (as his name appears on his SBEC certificate) was arrested in February 2003 then tried by a jury in the courthouse in neighboring Blanco County, in Johnson City, Texas in August 2003. |
| Then-Llano ISD board president Mark Chapman opening special locked side door for Patton, who was allowed to wait away from prying questions of TV and press reporters, parents and taxpayers, while the board discussed Patton's settlement. |
| Former Llano High School, now Llano Junior High after remodeling |
| (L to R) New Llano High School and the large sign which sparked controversy as to cost and location -- on the "Road to Nowhere," a long drive situated away from the town of Llano which no one uses -- and the contractor's use of non-area subcontractors. |
| Dallas Convention Center; Del Frisco's Restaurant |
| (Left) Jack and attorney in Johnson City courtroom; afterwards, leaving courthouse with exhibits. |
| Patton (far left) discussing terms of his cash settlement with LISD trustees; at right, Ratliff returning papers (see arrow) to Jack which trustees later denied existing. |
| Jack Patton cooling his heels while LISD trustees deliberate, then hasty re-entry |
| Moments later, trustee Alan Geistman escorted Jack back to the side door (right)--and freedom, again allowing him to avoid any questions from the press or his taxpayers. This photo (below right) of Jack's truck exiting the street in front of the school district's administrative offices was the last known sighting of Jack Patton on Llano city streets. |
| Jack's next court appearance (below) was the following month (October 2003) in the Burnet County Courthouse; that's Jack at far left, again in khaki pants and dark blazer; the occasion was a hearing for then-Llano ISD CFO Carol Voit (far right, in witness box, in grey). District Attorney Sam Oatman stands in the middle, hands in pockets, looking down; Patton had been Oatman's Sunday School student. |
| Andrew Jackson "Jack" Patton |
| NOTE: Throughout the proceedings, from Patton's arrest through the trial and conviction, until in fact his eventual settlement with the Llano ISD board, Jack Pattoncontinued to collect his salary at the rate of $327.92 per day, for a total of more than $70,000.00. Was it really "All about the kids" or was it really "all about Jack Patton's salary and TRS retirement amounts"? The way the laws are currently on the books in Texas, despite Patton's conviction, he draws his TRS retirement checks each month and will for the duration of his lifetime. |
| DA Sam Oatman (left) with ass't DA at hearing for then- LISD CFO Carol Voit in October 2003 |
| when locals learned how much was being spent on the large "Sign to Nowhere" (middle), located on a seldom-used side driveway farther away from town than the main entrance. Locals also objected to the general contractor's hiring of outside subs to do work locals claim they were not given the opportunity to bid on. |
| Home & Office: (830) 589-6760. (JANUARY 2008 UPDATE: Alan Geistman has resigned from the Llano ISD school board and vacated the house he was renting in Horseshoe Bay; I have been unable to locate a forwarding address for Alan other than his wife's executive search firm business in Austin. Bill Kirkman: Former Llano ISD Bill Kirkman operates a travel agency out of a local bank and lives in Kingsland, Texas. Sam Oatman: District Attorney Sam Oatman's office is in Llano, Texas; his site states: "I have been privileged to serve the citizens of the 33rd Judicial District as their district attorney since 1984. My career in prosecution began with the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney's Office as Chief Prosecutor of the 72nd District Court in 1976. I moved back to my hometown of Llano and became First Assistant District Attorney under the Honorable Louis Crump in 1981. Mr. Crump resigned in September, 1984 and I was then appointed by Governor Mark White to the position of District Attorney. I was elected to my first full term as District Attorney and began that term January 1, 1985. I presently hold this position and will be elected uncontested for the beginning of my fifth term on January 1, 2005. I am a Professional Prosecutor by choice and by law which disallows any private practice of law or receiving referral compensation from other attorneys. This also applies to all of my Assistant District Attorneys. As District Attorney, my primary responsibility is to represent the State of Texas in all felony cases that arise in Blanco, Burnet, Llano and San Saba Counties. Some of the duties of my office include seeing that justice is achieved in each case we prosecute, assist police agencies on the legal aspects of investigations, provide legal assistance to each Grand Jury in their decision as to which cases to prosecute in District Court and which to reject. My office is also responsible for assisting victims throughout the criminal justice process. This office also represents the State through the appellate process when cases are appealed. |