P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| h o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n -- o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| State Board of Education -Texas July 6-7, 2006 |
| N E W |
| ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT, HERE'S A NOMINEE FOR YOUR NEXT OPEN MEETINGS TRAINING: SBOE CHAIR GERALDINE 'TINCY' MILLER Peyton Wolcott - July 7, 2006/11:30 p.m. |
| SBOE Photo Gallery |
| Hard to imagine that Tincy* Miller (right), arguably one of the most powerful and influential people in Texas public education, and who serves as chair of the State Board of Education as Governor Rick Perry's appointee to that position, is apparently so unfamiliar with the Texas Open Meetings Act that an ordinary citizen taking photos was singled out at half past noon today for taking photos of the SBOE. Some of Mrs. Miller's concerns seemed to focus on the photographer's lack of visible press credentials. Was this worth interrupting the board's discussion of the state's $22 billion Permanent School Fund? Especially given that the Open Meetings Act allows |
| What the average citizen visiting SBOE board meetings sees: several improbably large leather wing chairs grouped in a circle; Debbie Ratcliffe (right), TEA info officer, at press table |
| SBOE chair Geraldine 'Tincy' Miller (PHOTO/Susan Bushart) |
| photographs, especially without flash, at open meetings? All comers would benefit from Mrs. Miller's finding the time--and soon--to study up on the Texas Open Meetings Act, get clear on the concept of transparency. |
| ELAR/TEKS and the Permanent School Fund Although the new four years each of math and science requirements for high school graduates is seen by many as an encouraging sign of more stringent graduation requirements, not everyone is sold that this is a good idea or necessary. As regards the SBOE's engagement of an external manager for asset allocation decisions, let's hope the process remains as transparent as anticipated as $22 billion is a lot of money. For most parents and taxpayers the best thing to occur during the two days the SBOE met yesterday and today in Austin is the beginning of a return to sanity in the writing of the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills in the form of more clear and concise standards. (More here tomorrow.) |
| Joe Bernal of San Antonio (SBOE #3); chair-instruction committee (PHOTO/Susan Bushart) |
| Texas edu-missioner Neeley MIA afternoon of day 2 And where, by the way, was Texas edu-missioner Shirley Neeley during the afternoon portion of today's meeting? |
| Mary Helen Berlanga (SBOE #2) of Corpus Christi; member, instruction committee |
| Dan Montgomery (SBOE #5) of Fredericksburg lost his seat in May to SBOE newcomer Ken Mercer |
| Texas edu-missioner Shirley Neeley (above center) on way out of the TEA building at noon today en route to another meeting elsewhere; while Neeley attended Thursday's SBOE meeting and Friday morning's SBOE session, both her chair (below right) and parking space (below left) remained visibly vacant for the remainder of the afternoon. |
| Renee Jackson (SBOE support); TEA employee, reports to Debbie Ratcliffe who reports to TEA associate commissioner Robert Scott who reports to edu-missioner Shirley Neeley (PHOTO/Susan Bushart) |
| * Pronounced TIN-see. |
| In the process of asking questions--more coming regarding the SBOE and its July meeting. |
| Dave Thompson (right) with Kimberley Reeves (PHOTO/Susan Bushart) |
| Tincy Miller (right) with TEA general counsel David Anderson |
| Shirley Neeley during Thursday's SBOE meeting (PHOTO/Susan Bushart) |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
AASA - American Association of School Administrators ASA - Association of School Administrators CSD - Consolidated School District DOE - Department of Education ES - Elementary School HS - High School ISD - Independent School District JHS - Junior High School MS - Middle School MSM - Mainstream media NSBA - National School Boards Association NSPRA - National School Public Relations Association PS - Public School(s) SBEC - State Board for Educator Certification SD - School District Sup't - Superintendent TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills TASA - Texas Association of School Administrators TASB - Texas Association of School Boards TASBO - Texas Association of School Business Officials TEA - Texas Education Agency TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills USD - UnifiedUnited School District |
| GUIDE |
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| QUOTES |
Separatists in India's north-eastern state of Manipur have shot six male teachers in the leg for allegedly helping students cheat in exams. Two women teachers were beaten with sticks for the same offence, the rebels of the Kanglei Yana Kan Lup group said. The teachers were abducted from their homes after an exam on Thursday. The rebels said the teachers took up to 5,000 rupees ($110) for helping students cheat and warned of further punishment if the cheating continued. The Kanglei Yana Kan Lup (KYKL) is one of many separatist groups fighting Indian administration in Manipur. It said it abducted the eight teachers from their homes in and around the state capital, Imphal, because of reports they had taken bribes. --By Subir Bhaumik - BBC |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott - All rights reserved |
| POP QUIZ: How do you yourself know for a fact that your state or local supe is actually using the funds entrusted to them for the correct purposes? |
David v. Goliath: How America's Moms & Dads are taking on Education, Inc. PEYTON WOLCOTT |
The question is not how to measure excellence at public schools and education agencies. The question is how to measure competence. -- Dianna Pharr |
| CONTACT: Peyton Wolcott P.O. Box 9068 Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 peyton@peytonwolcott.com |
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