| Commentary |
| THE TRUTH ABOUT GOV. PERRY'S PUBLIC EDUCATION NON-FIX: A $6.1 BILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL & A $23 BILLION 'HOT CHECK' By Peyton Wolcott - June 8, 2006 - 11:30 p.m. At the same time Texas Governor Rick Perry is circulating ads promoting property tax cuts ("Homeowners and businesses will save $15.7 billion on school property taxes") achieved during the 79th Legislature's third special session, called specifically to solve problems with constitutionality and funding in paying for Texas public schools, just emerging is that the special session actually created a $6.1 billion shortfall* for which there is no solution save an unrealistic forecast of an unprecedented ten-year cycle of boom--or the more realistic and plebian fixes of trimming government spending and increasing the state sales tax, at $.0625 already among the highest in the U.S. |
| Gov. Rick Perry's school fix claims: All saddle and no horse? |
| Because Texas has no state income tax, schools are funded far less by the state (the Texas Permanent School Fund's disbursements are currently at $765 million) and much more by local property taxes ($18.6 billion). Under 1993's Robin Hood, many districts are approaching the $1.50 M&O and $0.50 I&S cap per $100 valuation, which scheme the Texas Supremes found unconstitutional as it amounted to an illegal state property tax, and gave the Legislature a June 1, 2006 deadline to find a cure; hence this last special session. |
| So the Lege has just passed a series of bills which will lower the maximum property tax to $1.00 in two years for districts already at $1.50 M&O, and make up the difference with a revised business franchise tax meant to close the business-friendly Delaware Sub loophole, with an additional $1.00 cigarette tax along with a new used car tax, all projected to yield a $4.2 billion* revenue stream by fiscal year 2009. But at the same time, Lege appropriations are projected at $10.3 billion* by FY 2009 and include a $2.4 billion across-the-board teacher pay increase over the next three years, $600 million in teacher awards, and $275 per high schooler for reducing dropout rates and college prep. |
| Texas Lege |
| Robbing Peter to pay the piper When questioned about the $6.1 billion shortfall, the governor's spokesman Kathy Walt said yesterday, "The revenue sources you cite [above] represent only those bills passed during the special session. They do not reflect the surplus, nor do they take into account new revenue estimates that will be generated prior to the start of the 2007 regular session. The tax measures passed by the legislature will go into a property tax reduction fund to pay for future reductions of property taxes. Should additional revenues be needed beyond what these taxes generate and is available from surplus, general revenue (GR) funds could be used. The new tax measures represent only a small portion of revenue that flows into GR." |
| Huh? Public education to be funded by a $23 billion 'hot check'? Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who is running as an independent against Perry in this November's gubernatorial election, said in certifying HB 1, the largest single piece of legislation this session, "Perry's entire plan is a massive increase in business taxes that will increase the state's budget by $6 billion a year [and] leave a $23 billion hot check." Another state official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday, "All of this money, this surplus the governor's talking about, is already dedicated. And a $6.1 billion income spike is unrealistic, unless it comes from a combination of further cutting state government expenses and increasing the sales tax. The problem there is that you only get $2 billion per penny of tax, and our sales tax is already one of the highest in the nation. So the 10% budget cut the governor announced yesterday afternoon represents the first element of what we knew had to come in order to fund this boondoggle, and the next will be an increased sales tax. Even though right now we're awash in fuels tax money, how long will this continue? The governor's saying we've got to boom like this for the next ten years." |
| Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (PHOTO/Dallas News) |
| War of the Worlds Put simply, while a major conservative premise is that cutting taxes will boost the economy, the corresponding liberal premise is that more money needs to be spent on governmental services. Perry's 79th Legislature's third special called session delivered both a tax cut and increased spending, and appears to not pass the mandated constitutionality threshold. While according to Governor Perry's press release "this is one of the most significant legislative accomplishments for Texas in a generation, because it is one of the most significant steps we have ever taken to improve opportunity for the next generation" and "because of House Bill 1, school finance is now out of the courthouse, and back on constitutional footing,” constitutional law experts such as Charles Rhodes of South Texas College of Law are expressing their reservations. Says Rhodes, "I have questions as to how long the new financing scheme is going to be considered to be constitutional. I think it's another short-term fix." * SOURCE: House Research Organization/Legislative Budget Board |
| Charles Rhodes |
The 79th/3rd's legacy: You do the math Appropriations by FY 2009 $ 10.3 billion Revenues by FY 2009 $ 4.2 billion Shortfall $ 6.1 billion* |
| Want to learn more about how public schools are financed in Texas? How things got to this state in this state? Go here or to link above left PAYING FOR TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION: A PRIMER |
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| BREMOND EX-SUPE'S LAWYER A NO-SHOW By Peyton Wolcott - June 8, 2006 - 10:00 p.m. District judge Robert Stem waited without success for former Bremond ISD supe Kenneth Johnson and son Jason Johnson's lawyer to appear at their pre-trial hearing Monday morning at the county courthouse in Franklin. Finally at 11:00 a.m., Stem reminded Johnson of his upcoming court dates--June 26 (plea bargain deadline) and July 18 (trial)--after which both father and son left. Recap Johnson, who resigned his BISD post in 2003, was indicted last fall by a grand jury on two counts of felony theft. Among the charges against him: Lavish trips including Cancun, Las Vegas and Hawaii, plus diamond rings, meals, more--all on school credit cards. He has reportedly repaid the district over $130,000 of the $191,000 it has thus far been proven that he owes. Jason was indicted on lesser theft charges. Judge Stem's no-camera rule The judge through his bailiff gave an interesting reason for barring cameras from the courtroom while court was in session; in fact, after taking the middle photo at right while the judge was still in chambers I was ordered to remove my camera from the courtroom or face contempt charges. According to the bailiff, were this were a happy occasion such as an adoption the judge would have allowed the press to use cameras. Perhaps because Johnson is from Franklin and living back home now Stem was feeling protective of a native son. But Monday was a very positive occasion for all parents and taxpayers everywhere as justice was finally being served in this case. It's a shame Stem didn't see fit to let the non-present public see the process. |
| Former Bremond ISD supe James Kenneth Johnson leaving pre-trial hearing at Robertson County courthouse in Franklin, Texas |
| Johnson (above) in courtroom with son Jason; leaving courtroom (below) |
M E M O T O F B I : Why haven't you investigated the missing $800,00 yet? Auditors and others have only been able to account for approximately $200,000 of the total $1,000,000 missing from Bremond ISD during Johnson's last ten years as supe, this from a district with an annual budget in the $5 million range. The math's pretty simple: $1,000,000 total, and only $200,000 accounted for as missing leaves $800,000 outstanding. You've got the wherewithal to investigate long-standing local rumors that the years of missing business records were buried on someone's farmland. Why have you not taken action yet? What are you waiting for? Isn't it time to get out your backhoe, see what you can turn up? Those missing business files and computers have to be somewhere. |
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| OFF TO ROBERTSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE THIS MORNING By Peyton Wolcott - June 5, 2006 - 12:38 a.m. Just got word that prosecutor Jim James may be offering former Bremond ISD supe James Kennth Johnson a plea bargain at the pre-trial this morning at 9:30 a.m. Off to Franklin, about a three-hour drive, to take photos, see what develops. |
| Robertson County Courthouse - Franklin, TX |
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| CONTINUING OUR VEHICULAR THEME By Peyton Wolcott - June 4, 2006 - 11:53 p.m. We've just discussed then-Olympic Elementary principal Dion Labadie who was discovered early one morning in his truck with the 15-year old girl he'd been molesting. Until Larry Gegelman apparently got lost after allegedly drinking in a bar very late one the first Saturday night in February and accidentally tripped the alarm at the district's bus barn while in the company of a woman not his wife the biggest news at Central Cass school board meetings the previous year had been working out attendance rules everyone could live with and the fact that kids at the high school all had seemed to have cell phones. |
| Former Central Cass schools supe Larry Gegelman |
| Speaking of cell phones, it appears the two entered the bus barn so that the woman could call Cass County authorities. But as local blogger Kevin of No Free Lunch asks, "Why did Superintendent Larry Gegelman need to let her use the school phone if she had a cell phone which she used to call Cass County Sgt. DeWayne Nitschke?" Until the bus barn incident, Casselton, twenty minutes outside of Fargo, appears to have been best known for being the locale of The World's Tallest Can Pile (at left). It is also remarkable for possessing "the most modern and technologically advanced school in North Dakota. With 400 computers, including a computer on every teacher's desk, there is a ratio of one computer for each three students." The combined Central Cass School housing all grades cost $7.9 million in 1996. (SOURCE--CCPS) Because Gegelman appeared to some school board members to have involved himself in conduct unbecoming to a superintendent, board president Michele Weber was appointed to prepare a report, which she did, seven pages worth. But some refused to be swayed by a presentation of the facts. |
| World's Largest Tower of Oil Cans? (PHOTO/ReadND.com) |
| All not well with Gegelman prior to bus barn incident Gegelman, who had served as CCPS supe for a decade prior to the incident, reportedly "has surrounded himself with a good number of friends including certain board members, teachers and other staff. He is somewhat charismatic and very socially-minded. These friends seem to stand by Larry no matter what he does. I assume they are emotionally attached and have lost their objectivity. There are others who very much disapprove of many of Larry's actions and behaviors. There have been many 'bumps in the road' since Larry came to Casselton. One board member who supports him said something to the effect that 'we have split the community, the teachers, the board, etc.' (by our acceptance of Larry's resignation.) The truth is that the teachers were split by Larry a number of years ago when an impasse over negotiations took place. The present board has not been able to work together effectively because of a similar split. The community and the students are the real stake-holders here. They should be able to look up to school leaders as good role models. This superintendent has been known to demonstrate poor behavior in the past, but because he is proficient at lying, manipulating, blaming and even taking revenge, he 'gets by with it' without appropriate reprimand. This last incident has proven to be too much for Larry to beat although he gave it his best try. He resigned and the resignation was accepted by four (of the seven) board members who felt he crossed the line." (SOURCE--The Forum) "Meanwhile I'm told by others that there is an active effort to reverse the decision of the board to accept this resignation. Gegelman is telling others 'I want my job back,' " comments Scott Hennen of Fargo. |
| Historic Casselton Can Pile Max Taubert started throwing his empty oil cans out back behind his truck stop in the thirties and didn't stop until he'd built a 50-foot tall pyramid, believed by locals to be the tallest such structure in the world. The pile, which holds a now-unused storage room in its base, is held together by wire. (SOURCE--Key to the City) |
| What of the woman? "She said she jumped out of Gegelman’s car, hid behind a Dumpster near the school and called Cass County Sgt. DeWayne Nitschke to pick her up. He was already on his way to the school because the alarms were triggered, according to the investigation findings. (SOURCE--The Forum) Again Hennen comments, "In finally admitting the fact they had indeed entered the building, [Gegelman] explained that he wanted to give this woman 'a tour of the building.' However, note above he now says she 'needed to make a phone call.' But how was she able to call the Cass County Deputy, while hiding behind a dumpster, if she didn't have a phone on her? All of this proves nothing good comes from mixing alcohol and being out late. What a fiasco." Despite it all, school board, community support for Gegelman "For some School Board members, whatever happened that night is personal and not the community’s business. 'Nothing that happened that night harmed our school,' said board member Pat Knudson. 'But now we’ve hurt our school. We’ve divided the School Board, the teachers and the community.' About 20 people, mostly teachers and school staff, crammed into the room where Thursday’s meeting was held. Board members were handed a letter signed by more than two dozen staff members praising Gegelman’s work and efforts.'" Weber, herself a school counselor in a nearby district, asked by telephone from Casselton earlier today, "Where does conduct unbecoming begin and where does it end? Doctors have to take the Hippocratic oath, and teachers and administrators take on a huge responsibility. You become a role model for students. You have to hold up what's right and true." Gegelman chose to resign from the district in April rather than face an investigation into the incident. |
| New supe from Flasher already hired CCSD named a new supe yesterday by unanimous vote, Flasher PS supe and secondary principal Michael Severson. (SOURCE--Joe Whetham/The Forum) Severson goes from a 211-student district to CCPS's 859 students, and is expected to earn approximately the same base pay as Gegelman, in the $80,000-85,000 range. While this may seem low, you have to consider that the most expensive house for sale in Casselton right now is a builder newbie listed at $258,900; if you're willing to go older, $252,900 buys you a 4-3 two-story with 2,628 square feet. Either one represents one big pile of cans. |
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| UNPRINCIPLED PRINCIPAL By Peyton Wolcott - June 1, 2006 - 11:53 p.m. Say you're the 35-year old married father of four with a great job as principal of Olympic Elementary ("Home of the Cougars!") in the small town of Chehalis in the woodsy southwest corner of Washington State whose motto is "A Community Working Together to Maintain a High Quality of Life." Say you're a little bored. What's your next logical step to being part of this Community Working Together? What are you going to do towards Maintaining a High Quality of Life--join the local softball league, volunteer at the local retirement home, take up golf? If you're Dion Labadie, you enter a Yahoo! chatroom and start chatting with a fifteen-year old girl in nearby Napavine. Then you arrange to meet her last August and then you tell her she is beautiful and give her alcohol and have sex with her. She gets the idea you're going to leave your wife and children for her over the course of the three months this is occurring. You continue emailing her explicit messages. You even bring her to your house when your wife and kids are out of town. Finally police officers find you in your pickup with the girl one morning at 3 a.m. at a gas station in Napavine and that part of it is over. The girl will live with what you did to her the rest of her life as will your wife and children. You resign your position as principal and when you get out of prison in three years you will have to register as a sex offender. Greg Kirsch, your supe, tells the press that he'd received positive recommendations about you from your prior school districts and a standard criminal background check was clean. (SOURCE--KGW.com) |
| Dion A. Labadie in court in jail oranges after arrest (above) and at his guilty plea (PHOTOS/KIRO TV) |
| The details "In December, 36-year-old Dion A. Labadie was arrested and was originally charged with seven counts of third-degree child rape, two counts of third-degree child molestation, tampering with a witness and furnishing alcohol to a minor. [Last week] Labadie appeared in the Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis and changed his plea to guilty on two counts of rape of a child in the third degree and one count of tampering with a witness. He was immediately taken into custody." (SOURCE--KING5.com) "A guardian for the girl became suspicious when he found more than 500 text messages from Labadie and found the two together at a restaurant early one morning. The girl told detectives she loved Labadie." (SOURCE--Associated Press) Sentencing is July 14. Memo to reporter: You got it very wrong Deborah Horne of KIRO-TV began her report last December by announcing that Labadie was "in big legal trouble because of a relationship that allegedly started on the Internet." A relationship is something two consenting adults on equal footing have with each other. What Labadie did to that young girl was what the courts called it, "molestation" and "child rape." |
Olympic Elementary School's Welcome Welcome to Olympic Elementary! We are proud of the role we play in the Chehalis School District and the community of Chehalis. Our parents, staff, and students work cooperatively to create a school climate where each student may develop his or her potential. Our students experience a strong core curriculum including opportunities to explore areas of special interest and strengths. We appreciate the many parents and community members who regularly participate in the successes of our students by volunteering in classrooms, on field trips, and on committees and special projects. We are glad you chose to visit our site today, and we hope to see you soon at . . . Olympic Elementary - A Great Place to Learn and A Great Place to Be! |
Chehalis School District Mission Statement In partnership with the community, the mission of the Chehalis School District is to meet individual learning needs of students by providing a comprehensive educational program that inspires our students to become responsible, contributing citizens. |
| FROM SCOTT STEINER'S BIO - I have been active in the Bellaire School Board, Forest Home Township Trustees, Bellaire Community United Methodist Church, and youth baseball and football, which has given me the opportunity to meet some friendly, caring, and intelligent people. I've been able to help some of them with their insurance needs. |
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| BEING BABE-ALICIOUS IN PRIVATE LIFE IS ONE THING--BUT AS OUR CHILDREN'S TEACHERS? WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? OR ARE THEY? By Peyton Wolcott - May 23, 2006 - 2:03 a.m. It's a good thing we're not having to rate either of these two teachers at the right in a hierarchical pantheon of Teachers Behaving Badly. Let's start with the special ed teacher who supposedly wanted to encourage her students' grades by hosting a "Win a Date With Me at DQ" contest--and conveniently enough the captain of the football team won. |
| Christine Scarlett with Steve Bradigan (left) (PHOTO/WKYCTV); former college homecoming queen Pamela Rogers |
| Special Ed teacher Christine Scarlett Strongsville High School (Ohio) Above right is a newly released photo of then-Strongsville, Ohio special ed teacher Christine Scarlett with her student, Steve Bradigan; the custody battle over their two-year old ended Thursday in judge Joseph Russo's Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court with a split decision: the two will share custody. Mrs. Scarlett's dalliance for whatever reason she initiated it has already had a permanent imprint on Steve's family; as his mom told me, "Christine will be my grandson's mother for the rest of his life." At last report Mrs. Bradigan is watching her grandson during most of the week while Scarlett works--although no longer as a teacher. Ten lives are forever altered among the two families. |
| Pamela Rogers Action Figure Did you get a chance to bid? I hope not. This one-of-a-kind model of Tennessee's Centertown Elementary School coach Pamela Rogers was offered at auction last week on eBay. "The auction listing says the 6-inch-tall polymer clay doll is 'sculpted in her cell phone video tease outfit that landed her back in the joint.' Rogers, 27, who served time for having sex with a 13-year-old boy, is being held in jail until a July hearing on charges she violated her probation by contacting the victim and sending him a sexually explicit video of herself by cell phone. She could be sent to prison for seven years if found guilty of the probation violation charge." (SOURCE--AP/Knox News) |
| 'Pamela Rogers Action Figure' on eBay last week |
| Daughter of one basketball coach, married to another "Pamela Rogers Turner worked as girls basketball coach at Centertown Elementary School, where she also taught physical education. Pamela's father, Lamar Rogers, has been the girls basketball coach at Clarkrange High School for 29 years, winning his first state championship in 1983, and coached his daughter Pamela's team to the state title in 1995." And her husband was Christopher Turner, head varsity boys basketball coach at Warren County High School. (SOURCE--Jake Easton/Radok News) |
| What's so disarming is that time and again these schools look so ordinary--there are no flashing warning lights alerting parents and students to the dangers within |
| Whoa! Watch for heavy irony in roadway According to the school's website, "It is the mission of Centertown Elementary School to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which students can reach their full potential, enabling them to become responsible, productive, moral, and literate citizens." Define "safe." Define "nurturing." What about Centertown's athletic program? "Centertown School believes strongly that the purpose of athletics at the elementary level is to be a part of the total educational program. A major part of this purpose is to stress to coaches, players, and fans the vital importance of sportsmanship. Centertown School encourages good sportsmanship and working as a team." Define "working as a team." |
| Rogers with husband in happier times |
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| WHAT SCOTT MORGAN TOLD BELLAIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MICHIGAN) IN HIS JOB INTERVIEW LAST YEAR VERSUS WHAT HE ACTUALLY SHOULD HAVE SAID By Peyton Wolcott - May 23, 2006 - 1:00 a.m. What Scott said: I'd been an assistant principal for the last nine years and 'there were no secondary principal positions available within the West Ottawa School district. So my wife and I talked about whether we wanted to stay [there] or look for a principal position in a smaller community. We both have backgrounds in small towns, like Bellaire. We feel there's a lot of value in a small community.' " (SOURCE--Bellaire Record) What Scott probably should have said: I'm looking for a new job because I'm looking to get out of Dodge--I "resigned as assistant principal for the West Ottawa High School, near Holland, on May 26, 2005, shortly before the school year ended, and less than two weeks after Muskegon police arrested [me] on a drunken driving charge." (SOURCE--Traverse City Record Eagle) |
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE BELLAIRE REVIEW Resident gives his opinion on school bond issue To the Editor: You will probably get the last word about your expressed opinions on the Bellaire School Bond issue. But, I am compelled to reply. In your opinion, the district’s more common sense approach deserves community support. I agree that the approach has demonstrated a significantly more conservative plan. A $15,570,000 plan is a far cry from $27 million. And I think we are on the right track. I don’t think we are quite conservative enough, but we are getting much better. The ballot refers to erecting (new construction), partially remodeling, and site improvements (read parking lots). But, it also says: furnishing, equipping, refurnishing, re- equipping, and acquiring, installing and equipping technology (read: computers). That’s a lot of equipping and refurnishing. About $3 million dollars worth. Financed over 30 years. None of the desks, chairs, computers, carpet, phones, copiers, will last 30 years. But, we will be paying for them for 30 years. That is the part of the plan that I don’t like. In this day, if we need to equip or refurnish, we build new buildings, because that is about the only way a district can raise the funds to buy what (they) want. But, you can’t tear down a building that isn’t paid for when you need more furnishing and re-equipping. But, you also pointed out, this is more than just a money issue..this is about the children. (If I had a nickel for every time that card was played,...) You said that (the bond) impacts the “kind of education they are going to need to compete in the ever-changing world”. What do we know about the next 30 years? This bond is a mortgage for 30 years without options for revision. That is quite a crystal ball. I can make one projection: I don’t think I will live long enough to see this plan paid off. Computers have changed our lives beyond anything we would have dreamed of 10 years ago. What lies ahead in the next 10, 20, or 30 years? Don’t we want to have the flexibility to ‘change with the times’? We can’t with a 30-year bond. When is the next request ? The last bond was passed in 1988. The elementary was added-on and remodeled. Within two years, we needed the portables. Two years ago, the proposed bond included a plan to tear down part of the 1988 structure at the high school, but it wasn’t paid for, so (they) couldn’t do it. 1988 to 2006, that’s only 18 years. And, the ‘multipurpose’ room was planned to accommodate ‘senior’ lunches ( a community benefit) and the media center was to be a library access for the public. By the way: the ‘multipurpose’ room was slated to be our performing arts center, too. And our high school boilers were new in 1992. Speaking of community benefits; you mention the walking track in the proposed gym, “available all day to the public”. And the performing arts center , “for public use”. You may not realize that, since Sept. 11, 2001, the “public” has been restricted from entrance to (any) school and are directed to the office for permission to be in the building. Doors are locked, except at main entrances. And the term, “public use” should be noted to include a fee. Board policy implemented a fee structure for the public to use the facilities when Barb Atkins was superintendent. Not too much different than our having to pay to use the “Senior Center” for student dances, wedding receptions, or meetings, etc. “Public Use” isn’t for free. You also addressed the competitive nature (as designed) by the “schools- of-choice” option, that permits parents to select the school district that their children attend. And you noted, there is a transfer of ‘State funding’. That is the whole purpose of the choice competition. And, perhaps an underlying motivation for much of our construction, re-furnishing and re- equipping plans. Bellaire would like to be the school of choice. But, it already is. Our “second rate” school district takes-in more students from other districts than Bellaire students that go to neighboring or private schools. We lose students for a variety of reasons. Some we need to reach out and resolve issues. But, in no case, have we ever lost a student because we have less facility, less technology, or less furnishings. And, then you conclude, that (we) could protect our property values by supporting our schools. Do you really think that Shanty Creek golf course property, Torch Lake property, or any riparian properties, could possibly be affected by the quality of our school district facilities? I don’t think their values would change if there was no school at all. ( I only say that to make a point. That certainly is not my wish) The community of the school district is affected by the qualities of the school. But, that goes beyond the facilities. It is normal for the community to want the best (they) can obtain for our children. And, I believe the community will turn-out and support the bond and hope to build a wonderful new facility for generations to come. But, don’t think for a minute that the community is paying for it. Between the resort, resort properties and lake-shore property owners, the tax payers that (for the most part) lie outside of the “community” , pay 85 percent of the expense of the school district projects. Your taxes may go up a “relatively small increase”, but mine will be $850 the first year and increase by 3 percent plus per year, for a total of over $35,000---if I live that long. Most community members won’t see a $100 increase in their taxes. And, my property value goes down with increase in taxes. What you didn’t say in your editorial is just VOTE. No matter what each voter believes or how they believe the proposal affects them, I hope that many voters turn (ed) out and vote(d). The decision should be made by a majority of voters and either way, the minority needs to get behind the decision and make the best of it. We all love our kids. And we will take care of them the best we can. It is beyond money. Our community is made of people. Caring people. And that is what will guide our children’s lives into the future. And that is my opinion, Tom Comfort Bellaire Editor’s Note: Free use doesn’t mean unlimited, uncontrolled access. Track users will have to sign in at the office, but there is no charge. According to Superintendent Ron Nurnberger, the performing arts center will be free for use by community non- profits unless it’s necessary to provide staff for technical help at which time a minimal technical fee would be necessary. A fee would be required for private use. |
| Scott Morgan |
| BPS supe Nurnberger said, 'After the interviews, the committee agreed Scott Morgan was the perfect fit for Bellaire Schools." (SOURCE--The Bellaire Review) |
| WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? "The pending investigation has nothing to do with his past situation that Ron and I were aware of in Muskegon County," said Scott Steiner, president of Bellaire's board of education. Steiner said school officials are withholding details of Morgan's leave pending the outcome of an "investigation," which, he said, was being handled internally within the district. "To my knowledge, the police are not involved," Steiner said. (SOURCE--Traverse City Record Eagle) |
| The irony of it all Bellaire Public Schools board president Scott Steiner said "he became aware of the most recent situation involving Morgan on the afternoon of May 2, the same day Bellaire voters approved a $15 million bond issue for significant renovations and additions to the district's buildings" and that "school officials are withholding details of Morgan's leave pending the outcome of an 'investigation,' which, he said, was being handled internally within the district." (Ibid.) |
| Not so fast there, Scott-a-rooney What was that, Scott, did you say something about a bond election? And the news didn't get out to the community until the afternoon of the school bond election wherein the taxpayers voted in favor of 30 years of $15 mil worth of debt? So, let's see. Bellaire PS taxpayers are funding a major bond election for which their principal will apparently not hang around, plus Bellaire PS supe Ron Nurnbeger's only been in the district three years. Steiner, it might be noted, is an insurance agent; his bio's at left. |
| BPS' pre-bond vote dog-and-pony-- students making flyers, 'expressing their feelings' "When Bellaire School Superintendent Ron Nurnberger asked a lady who’d just taken a tour through the middle and high school buildings what she thought, 'Shocking' was her first word. On April 26, the Bellaire School held an ice cream social and various areas were set up for people to view the bond proposal information, which voters will consider when they vote today. Several people toured the building, some Bellaire School Board members were tour guides taking groups to see the basically shocking condition the schools are in. Water damage in the ceilings and floors was clearly evident in almost every room but electrical, plumbing and ventilation problems were as great a problem. There is a musty, moldish smell in the classrooms and in some cases teachers in adjoining rooms have to share electrical outlets. Bellaire High School students Chris Bailey and Sarah Schrader manned a booth showing a video of other high school students expressing their feelings about the conditions of the school. In fact, the Bellaire High School Student Council has prepared an informative flyer for students to give to their parents." (SOURCE--Melissa Zelenak/The Bellaire Review) |
| 'Gerald Hallen, a retired contractor who helped build the Holiday Inn in Traverse City and other notable buildings, gets up close to check out some of the problem areas in the Bellaire High School during a tour given of the facilities.' (PHOTO/The Bellaire Review) |
| Morgan's former post, West Ottawa High School in Holland, Michigan, where he was tenth grade assistant principal. |
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| KATY ISD: LESSONS LEARNED By Peyton Wolcott - May 17, 2006 - 5:00 a.m. We have much to learn from the historic, never-there-before defeat of Katy ISD's $261.5 million bond election last Saturday. Margaret Mead was right: “Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” The key elements as I see them of Saturday's historic bond election defeat--a victory for the forces of reason--are four. |
| Remember this image of Xpedient pres. Scott Wright's home paid for by Xpedient? It resonated with Katy ISD bond election voters Saturday. |
| An interview with George Scott, publisher of the New Katy News "My role was to raise questions about primarily the issue of technology," said Scott in commenting on his paper's pre-bond election coverage which has focused on Katy ISD technology vendor Xpediant, LLC along with Leonard Merrell's refusal to release a recent technology audit, plus some mysterious music files with disappearing ways in Katy ISD's technology department. Regarding the techn audit that Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell refused to release until after Saturday's election, George commented, "I would say from a management standpoint that it is reprehensible that Leonard Merrell would withhold an audit of the technology department," adding that it was in his view "one of the most reprehensibly legal acts that I've seen a superintendent try to do." Regarding the fact that the district did not offer a line-item veto to taxpayers on Saturday, he said, "The district's--which is common to all public education--having lumped all expenditures into one bond issue is a strategy that has become a sort of working mantra among public education: They do not trust rank and file citizens to make value judgments on how to spend money by putting schools and repairs and other legitimate expenses in with non-legitimate expenses. They hold children hostage to an education bureaucracy that is growing more arrogant by the day because time and time again they try to get by with this nonsense." Scott called the outcome of candidate Tom Law's trustee race on Saturday ironic in that "years ago we had a process whereby you had runoff elections of the top two vote-getters. Then under the hypocritical guise of saving taxpayers money by not having runoff elections, most school districts have gone to the 'top vote getter wins' form of election. This almost always works to the advantage of the administration's candidate because the administration has a fairly dependable block of voters called 'employees.' This base becomes disproportionately important. In this situation Saturday, the third candidate was very pro-administration and he drained votes from the administration's preferred choice, so the irony here is that in a system that was designed to perpetuate the control of the school administration, they got hoisted on their own petard." Tom Law and Fred Hink drew the same number of votes, he pointed out, but Law's race had a third candidate, which became a deciding factor. "Katy ISD's situation is that Katy ISD is one of the best school districts and one of the most efficiently run school districts in the history of human existence," said Scott. "And if you don't believe it, just ask them. Except that this time, a funny thing happened on the way to the voting booth. People saw behind the unmitigated arrogance of their all or nothing bond issue and they fell victim to their own higher order thinking skills on how best to protect incumbents or their chosen candidates." George Scott was president of the Tax Research Association, a nonprofit public policy research group in Houston, before becoming publisher of the New Katy News. |
| A good idea A line-item veto--rather than the district's historic all-or-nothing everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bond elections such as last Saturday's--would have been better, say the Katy ISD citizens who opposed Katy ISD's bond election; they have also stated that they do not reject the idea of bond elections in general but want to see the district put forth line-item veto options for voters so that voters can pick and choose which elements they want. Chris Cottrell, founder of the Katy Citizen Watchdogs, in referring to what he calls Katy ISD's $261.5 million "blank check," mentions nearby Spring ISD taxpayer's rejection last September of a $385 million bond issue which included $24 million for technology including laptop computers for all high school students. Tom Matthews, spokesman for the grassroots group Homeowners Against Spring ISD Bond Propositions Inc., said, "I think people turned out in large numbers against the propositions for two reasons. First was the hot-button issue--the propositions included things people just didn't think were right, including the natatorium, computers and new auditorium. The second was a pocketbook issue. The district is going to have to do things to control spending before voters will agree to a tax increase." (SOURCE--www.bloghouston.net) |
| A handful of committed and passionate citizens First came former Katy ISD board member Mary McGarr and A.D. Muller, many years ago. Then came Fred Hink who organized last year's opposition to Katy ISD's zero-tolerance policy. In August Chris Cottrell and Kevin Tatum organized the Katy Citizen Watchdogs. Tom Law agreed to run for a spot on the Katy ISD school board along with Hink. There were others, but this was the core group. These are all smart, hard-working people who care about Katy ISD's students, teachers and taxpayers, and unlike many members of Katy ISD's pro-bond committee, had no vested interest in the outcome of the bond election. What I think always surprises school districts about such groups is their relatively small size in terms of numbers--but their ideas have a big impact because groups such as this represent the silent majority. I believe that supes and their minions understand this instinctively. |
| A friendly press Jimmy Kilpatrick of EducationNews.org and George Scott of the New Katy News both took an interest--as did I--in this story. Together we represent what could be called The New Media. Jimmy and I only publish online, and George's newspaper publishes hard copies once a week. While none of us could be confused with the MSM, we all three welcomed the opportunity to shine the light of truth on situations dark and dank within Katy ISD which had never before seen the light of day. |
| George Scott |
| The Houston-area MSM had access to the same information we three had, yet didn't publish their reports until after we'd broken story after story, one example being Xpedient, LLC's business practices. See grey sidebar at right for Scott's comments on his role. |
| Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell's 'equine estate' in Waller ISD (above); Leonard Merrell Center at Katy ISD |
| An arrogant and out-of-touch administration Perhaps had Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell still lived in Katy ISD, where he succeeded in raising property taxes to $2.00 per valuation--the highest allowed by the state of Texas--before moving to his equine estate in nearby Waller ISD where the taxes are only $1.78, he might have been more in touch with the pulse of his district. Community comments regarding Katy ISD's administration crossing my desk range from "top-heavy," "autocratic" and "self-serving" to "secretive in the extreme." Along these lines, the Katy ISD bond committee deck was stacked with faces and forces friendly to the supe rather than taxpayers representing the actual wants of the community. And Merrell submitted what appeared to be a dream-day bond wish list to the community rather than the bare-bones must-haves it clearly wanted. Probably the best example of how out of touch this administration has become with its community is a symbol. When all is said and done, Leonard Merrell does not seem to grasp the degree of resentment Katy ISD parents and taxpayers hold against him for building the Leonard Merrell Center then naming it after himself. |
| Do these photos on Katy ISD's new Seven Lakes High School's website accurately reflect the district's priorities? The street entrance (above left) resembles a for-profit commercial office park, the hallways look like a tile company's financial windfall dream, the cheerleaders have uniforms--but the bookshelves in the library (center) are empty. Parent comments include "Do we really need all that fancy tile work?" and " Such a 'grand' entrance into a school....must have cost a pretty penny." |
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| DRAMA LAST NIGHT AT KATY ISD AFTER ADMIN. DECLARES BOND ELECTION VICTORY--THEN CITIZENS DISCOVER DISTRICT'S MATH ERROR By Peyton Wolcott - May 14, 2006 - 11:53 p.m. It started out just another ho-hum election night, with the mighty Katy ISD election machine's inevitable win announced by Steve Sanford, the district's assistant director of communications, who released the following bond election numbers just after 9:30 p.m. to the press: 5,820 votes for, and 5,590 votes against, 51.01% to 48.99%. The Houston Chronicle even published these four numbers in their online edition as final election results. Except something occurred that Katy ISD's administration hadn't counted on. Alert citizens noticed the numbers were wrong. Said A.D. Muller, "I could see it immediately. We'd been following voter numbers all day, every two hours, and the district was showing 3100 voters by 5:30 p.m. but that 4,000 more people had voted by 7:00. And I knew the early voting numbers. It was obvious what had happened." Persuading Katy ISD to acknowledge their error took some doing as the administration had already announced their win, celebrated, and everyone gone home. |
| Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell just prior to announcement of new final anti-bond vote tally; Cy-Fair ISD employee Mrs. Merrell at left and Katy ISD ass't supe Bonnie Holland at right. (PHOTOS/Mary McGarr) |
| Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell summoned back to Katy ISD admin. bldg. from his home in Waller ISD Retired schoolteacher and former Katy ISD board member Mary McGarr and her husband Gary reached the building first along with Katy News publisher George Scott, and it was at this point that the Katy ISD police arrived. "I got on the phone, said I want the building locked down right now," AD later said, adding that he called the sheriff's department to be a neutral party, then the Texas Rangers. Just before ten, Sanford issued a second press release asking that the results not be published, as "we have been notified that they are recounting some ballots." About this time, Katy ISD supe Leonard Merrell, who had just prior returned to the building, disappeared into a locked room with KISD elections administrator and early voting clerk Bill Haskett and election official Cathy Adams to recount the votes. |
| Katy ISD Police Dep't squad car (above) arriving at KISD admin. bldg.-- summoned when citizens reported vote tally error |
| At 11:30 the final tally released by Haskett on behalf of Katy ISD was 3,528 for and 3,990 against, 53.07% to 46.93%. "I am just amazed that this district that professes itself to be the number one district in the state could make a mistake like this," said Muller. |
| Citizen comments on successful defeat of bond Chris Cottrell, co-founder of the Katy Citizen Watchdogs, said, "This is a taxpayer revolt. We've got to get our superintendent and board members reined in. Unless they get themselves in line, they may find themselves replaced." Cottrell pointed out that their war chest was about a third the size of the pro-bond group's, the latter which included donations from vendors who have done and/or expect to do business with the district in the future, including PBK Architects and the law firm, Andrews Kurth, which employs Merrell's son Mark. The group had also campaigned on behalf of Tom Law and Fred Hink for school board with only Law winning his position 7 slot. Along with earlier having posted wrong election results regarding the bond election totals, the district had also prematurely announced that Law's opponent Neal Howard had won when in fact Law won 2,609 to 2,539. |
| New Katy ISD trustee Tom Law Law, a health care consultant, said his immediate goals are to restore accountability and fiscal responsibility to Katy ISD. "We've got to address the outstanding debt of $1.5 billion," he said. "We need to manage it. They've maxed out their debt and as a result if there are any downturns in the economy or a reduction in property valuations, we're in a very precarious situation to repay this debt. " Law said he also wants to focus on the academic perspective, "stop teaching to the TAKS and toward a more robust curriculum." Law plans to look at neighboring districts and borrow their strategies for building more economically. Law said that when he was campaigning door to door he was struck by the number of residents who told him they were selling their houses because they could not longer afford their property taxes. Katy ISD residents pay the highest amount allowed by law in the state, $2.00 per $100 valuation. The district's superintendent has recently moved out of the district as previously reported to an "equine estate" in nearby Waller ISD where the tax rate is only $1.78. "I will strongly suggest that he move back into the school district," said Law. Law said that he "absolutely will not do any business with Katy ISD" during his tenure on the board. |
| Questions on the table 1. Who from Katy ISD's administration called the Katy ISD police to come to the administration building last night--and why? 2. How can it be legal for Katy ISD's supe--the one person with the single greatest stake in the outcome--to be alone in a locked room with only two other officials to count the votes? 3. Has anyone double checked the last few Katy ISD bond election results to make sure there were no similar addition errors? |
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IT'S VOTING DAY IN MANY TEXAS DISTRICTS
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT A TRUSTEE RACE & A BOND ELECTION
By Peyton Wolcott - Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 8:00 a.m.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT A TRUSTEE RACE & A BOND ELECTION
By Peyton Wolcott - Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 8:00 a.m.
| Comal ISD's District 5 trustee race Area: Suburban San Antonio |
| Katy ISD's $261 million bond election Area: Suburban Houston |
| Regarding the bond, voters have a yes/no choice. We've posted questions re Merrell's administration of $13 million in technology money, with more coming regarding Merrell's personal expenses, plus news of a principal (Jennifer Silva's boss) who's being sued by a parent. |
| Of the 2 serious candidates, voters appear to have a choice of an education insider whose employer does business with Comal ISD (Carol Keller) or an outsider seeking accountability (Rose Cervin) |
| Candidates: Everett Dodson Maria Ross Carol Keller Rose Cervin (incumbent)_______ All four have children in district schools MARIA ROSS - Efforts to reach Ross proved unsuccessful. Also there is some confusion regarding her name as she has entered the race as "Maria Ross" but the name on her voter registration is "Maria Ross Barrera." She works as a nurse and has been a schoolteacher. EVERETT DODSON - "As a registered professional engineer, I'm a problem solver," said Dodson last night. "I know how to take on |
| Who is Katy ISD principal Elisa Farris and why does there appear to be so much trouble at her school? |
| Carol Keller (above) and Rose Cervin |
| First it was Alexander Elementary teacher Jennifer Silva, whom Katy ISD's attorney Bill Helfand hired in Farris's firing. "Silva's attorney believes many procedures were violated... so she's considering filing an appeal with the commissioner of education in Austin." (SOURCE--KTRK) Now here's news of a parent's lawsuit against Farris in another matter. it's #05-CV-142741, filed in Fort Bend County, Kelly Mallinger v. Elisa Farris. |
| large chunks of information and ask the right questions to come up with a solution." He works at Randolph AFB at HQ level which has responsibility for 13 bases, and feels his experience there in developing, implementing and interpreting policies will be an asset in serving on the board. "It is very similar to what I see the role of a trustee," he said. Everett said he has only put out about 10 signs--"they're expensive!"--and has received no contributions; his support he says comes from friends and church members. Re Rose Cervin's public records requests, Dodson commented, "I don't know that we were getting a lot out of that level of detail." Same question for all three candidates: "At the last Comal ISD regular board meeting the trustees came out of executive session with the announcement that they had awarded a raise to superintendent Marc Walker but board president Dan Krueger didn't announce the dollar amount. Did you think this was proper?" Everett Dodson's response: "Can they say what his salary is?" |
| It started two years ago with Farris sending home some student surveys for parents to fill out. The surveys were supposed to be anonymous and asked among other things, "parents' opinions" about Farris. According to papers filed by Mallinger with the court, Farris believed Mallinger completed a "negative" survey. So last spring when Mallinger sent a check to the school to pay for a PTA fee, Farris substituted her own money in payment, then forwarded the Mallinger check to the local sheriff for verification against the survey she'd already sent to the sheriff along with the child's complete school records, including Gifted & Talented questionnaires, teacher correspondence, and so on. Parents have privately charged Mrs. Farris with conducting a witch hunt but are afraid to come forward for fear of experiencing similar retaliation . |
| Parental reaction One mother said, "the principal has stated publicly that it will take more than a group of parents to run her off, because she sings in the choir with Dr. Merrell (the superintendent)." I am quoting parents anonymously to protect them from any further actions on behalf of any Katy ISD administrators. Says a parent, "Taking a child's personal records off of campus without parental permission is a big no-no. There are laws like FERPA to keep this kind of thing from happening." According to one source, Alexander has lost the highest teacher turnover rate in the district--70 teachers in 3 years, this in a school with increasing enrollment. Mrs. Farris, who has now hired Bill Helfand, the same attorney hired by Katy ISD in the Jennifer Silva matter, has not responded to queries regarding the foregoing. It should be noted that this is a lawsuit against Farris for her personal actions, not actions required in the course of her employment at Katy ISD. |
| CAROL KELLER - "I'm running because Rose Cervin hasn't done a good job of listening to the District 5 community," says Keller, adding that she'd been in the district for 20 years now and has watched people come on and off, and watched the district make "tough decisions" but because she felt Cervin didn't communicate adequately made it difficult for CISD to pass school bonds, which she considers important. Keller, a former teacher, is employed by Scholastic, Inc., "the largest publisher and distributor of children's books in the world," said she would not resign her position should she win the election, citing the example of board president Dan Krueger who sells his employer Hobart's equipment to the district but abstains from voting when that comes up. She saw no problem with conflicts of interest in either case. |
| Carol Keller's mailout (top) and Rose Cervin's (bottom) |
| RE Cervin's public records request: "It's not the fact that she's asked questions," said Keller. "It's her method--the information she's asking for is public. The process is to put it in writing. You're required to pay for the copies to get that information. She was asking to go back ten years for every superintendent contract and facilities report. It's not information vital to making decisions needed. She didn't pay for it, that's not right." RE Keller's campaign flyer (above right): It's bright and colorful--and doesn't mention either the district's schoolchildren or provide any contact information beyond a rented temporary mail box address. Keller offered two reasons for the latter: "There was enough room" and "I forgot." The mailer focuses on rebuilding "community trust," establishing "strong communication" and her ability to "provide experienced leadership." RE supe's unannounced raise: "I don't know. I'd have to think about that." |
| ROSE CERVIN - "After serving my first term I now know better what to look for," said Cervin, who has focused on the well being of the district's students, teachers, and parents along with focusing on holding the district's administrators accountable throughout her first term as CISD trustee. "I have saved the taxpayers' money by asking about expenses, questioning whether they are necessary." An examination of board votes is illustrative: Cervin is often the lone vote of opposition on what appears to be a rubber-stamp board. When district administrators came to the board asking for more money for a construction project, Cervin was the only trustee to mention their $1,000,000 "error" on a previous request. As a small example, where the board automatically showed up for the professional $200 portraiture the district had arranged for the district's webpage, Cervin went to WalMart and paid for her own $4.99 portrait out of her own pocket. "I've never asked to be reimbursed for anything," she says, pointing out that since her arrival on the board fellow trustees don't travel and run up the restaurant and other expenses they had prior to her arrival. "Those dollars should be for our children, in the classroom," she says. |
| RE Cervin's public records requests: "The requests were for technology in response to a patron's request," she said. "In any business realistically you always go ten years back. I questioned the technology department's spending because they didn't know what they'd done with the money they were given; I have this on tape. I asked in a public meeting last year and they finally told me, 'We don't know.' Also, how can trustees make informed decisions without sufficient information," she questions. "Many times our superintendents [three in three years] have not provided us with enough facts or background on a decision they present." Commenting on her fellow trustees, Cervin said, "They often seem to want to forget about the past, just move forward as the superintendents suggest. This was one of the reasons I ran for the school board to begin with--there has been no accountability at all here." RE: Cervin's campaign flyer: It's thrifty as her approach to all matters school board, and features information about her family and full contact information including residence address, telephone number and personal email. "I want people to be able to contact me," she says, citing broad-based communication with her district. RE supe's announced raise: "Taxpayers have the right to know the amount of his raise. The rest of the board disagreed. It's the taxpayer's money the board is spending, not out of their own pockets." |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| Roosevelt Alexander ES principal Elisa Farris |
| F o c u s i n g o n a c c o u n t a b i l i t y f i r s t : T h i s i s 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 |
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| Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| POP QUIZ: How easy is it to make contact with your supe? Is his/her email address on your district's website? If not, why not? After all, you're paying for his/her email. |
David v. Goliath: How America's Moms & Dads are taking on Education, Inc. PEYTON WOLCOTT |
Higher public ed is looking for FUN-LOVING and CUTE students "The Fall Orientation of 2004, [sic] was a lot of fun. Not only did we have a large turn out [sic] of new students, we had a large turnout of fun-loving, friendly and cute people. From the Civic women's dinner, to the luncheons, and even to the 'exciting' form filling sessions, we all had a blast." --Univ. of West Georgia |
| CONTACT: Peyton Wolcott P.O. Box 9068 Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 peyton@peytonwolcott.com |