| 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 . |
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. |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2007 Peyton Wolcott |
| Conservative Commentary |
| TAS/MUS SCRAPBOOK - PAGE 2 |
| THE BIG PICTURE |
| STORE 'EM IN ANOTHER BUILDING: Lengths to which one district will go to avoid producing documents (North East ISD - San Antonio, Texas) |
| Public Records |
| Sentencing |
| Bremond ISD |
| National School District Honor Roll How to ask your school district to post its checks online here Flyer here NEW! History here |
| Practical steps: How to Organize/Tips 95 Questions How to ask for public records |
| Request: Same-year expense reports for supe Rich. Middleton |
| TAS/MUS Scrapbook - Page 2 [deleted] ISD supes playing golf Friday of TAKS testing week By Peyton Wolcott Updated Wednesday, April 25, 2007/10:00 am |
Caption deleted at request of superintendent's lawyer |
| Golfing in 'a hidden world' Friday afternoon Texas superintendents and vendors played golf together, often riding in the same carts, at the April conference for the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools held at a resort so exclusive that the World Golfer publication calls it "a hidden world." The questions presented in yesterday's commentary here also apply to [deleted] presence at this conference on the last day of the TAKS testing week, arguably one of the most important of the Texas public school academic year. As with Cy-Fair supe David Anthony and Mineral Wells supe Ray Crass, I will be contacting [deleted] tomorrow to give [deleted] an opportunity to respond; his/her response will be posted as soon as possible upon receipt. Lots to wave about Evita Sawyer (below, waving) is the wife of former LaPorte ISD supe John E. Sawyer, currently employed as Harris County DOE supe. (continued below photo) |
| Texas Association of Suburban/Mid- Urban Schools The Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools (TAS/MUS) is an organization that serves as a net- work for superin- tendents of subur- ban and mid-urban school districts. TAS/MUS hosts a Fall and Spring Conference each year, held in November and April respectively, that feature prominent speakers. Authentic conversation regarding actual problems Participants find a valuable aspect of these conferences is the time for superin- tendents to engage in authentic conversation regarding actual problems and challenges on topics of importance to superintendents. TASA provides administrative and operational support to TAS/MUS. For additional information on conference registration or membership, please contact Paul Whitton, 800-725-8272. The officers and directors of TAS/ MUS believe it is mutually beneficial to develop corpor- ate partnerships. TAS/MUS members want and need to keep abreast of the current education marketplace. TAS/MUS values corporate sponsor- ships as they enhance the quality of our programs and provide important information. (SOURCE--TASA) |
| Curious about TAS/MUS? By Peyton Wolcott Sat., Apr. 21, 2007 So was I. As TAS/MUS does not appear to have its own dedicated web-site, here's a description of this weekend's "Spring Conference" appearing on the Texas Ass'n of School Admini- strators (TASA) website: |
| FOURSOME ON THE GREEN: Evita Sawyer (above left) takes a swing, with Ron Reeves walking towards her; watching are Aggies Jerry Maze (Hillsboro ISD supe) and Woodrow "Woody" Menn, member of the 2006-07 Texas Association of Assessing Officers Golf Committee. |
| NOTE: The question will arise from the superintendents, administrators, spouses and vendors depicted, "Should these photos be published?" Yes, for several reasons. Were this a private activity funded entirely by the superintendents out of their own pockets and occurring only on a Saturday/Sunday weekend, I would not have been anywhere near the Tapatio Springs golf course yesterday, a Friday. However, this three-day, Friday/Saturday/Sunday golf tournament is funded by Texas taxpayers in multiple ways, not the least of which is the superintendents' Friday salaries, plus there are fees and other costs such as travel associated with their attendance. Further, the Friday in question was the final day of Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) testing week, one of the most important weeks during all of the Texas academic year. More thoughts regarding the ramifications of superintendents' attending vendor-driven events here. NOTE: One superintendent [name and all images deleted at supe's attorney's request] has asserted that he paid his own way completely; I am asking for documentation regarding not only this TAS/MUS conference but also for all conferences during 2005 and 2006. It appears that I may have to pay for a public records search in order to obtain such documentation supporting the superintendent's lawyer's assertion(s). I will also be asking for other information, which I will share with you as I have other public records requests over the years. |
| Wondering ...Why TASA is being so coy about TAS/MUS? ... Why are no officers with their contact inform- ation listed any- where on TASA's website? ...Why on the weekend of the TAS/MUS confer ence is it not listed along with these other "Active Confer ences/Seminars": o UT/TASA Summer Conference on Education o TCWSE Summer Conference Budget Boot Camp for Superintendents o 2007 Texas Assessment Conference Program Application |
| (continued from above) John Sawyer's side deal with law firm Last year the Houston Chronicle's Rick Casey, addressing the issue of side consulting by supes, wrote, "Then there is the moonlighting. Not a few superintendents consult with other districts or even with companies that sell services to school districts. Yvonne Katz was fired from Spring Branch ISD when it was disclosed that she was getting payments from a company that she had persuaded her board to hire. "More often, boards are aware. One of the big ones, reported here, was former LaPorte Superintendent John Sawyer's deal in which he helped sell services by [accountants] Deloitte & Touche, earning $2.7 million for the district over eight years and nearly $1 million for himself. For several years, his income from this deal was more than his base pay. Yet if you read the school board agenda or minutes on the deal, you'd have no idea." Evita Sawyer was employed by Goose Creek ISD as a counselor at Sterling High School. |
| Evita Sawyer's husband John E. Sawyer above right with ESC 4 executive director Bill McKinney at 2005 'Friends of Texas Public Schools' event in Houston. |
| [deleted] ISD TAKS Testing Schedule for Friday, April 20, 2007: TAKS Social Studies - Grades 8, 10, 11 Exit; TAKS-I Social Studies – Grades 8, 10, 11 Exit; TAKS Exit Retest Social Studies |
Images deleted |
Image deleted at request of superintendent's lawyer |