Word around town is that tomorrow, there will be indictments handed down from the Jefferson County District Attorney's office and the special grand jury that was impaneled to investigate BISD.
These indictments are said to be just the first in a line of indictments that are expected to be handed down by this grand jury. The ones tomorrow are said to be complicit in not only fraud and collusion, but they are said to have had a hand in creating and hiding monies that belongs to BISD. I have to say my curiosity is peaked.
Months ago, when the FBI first began its investigations and it came out that $4 million dollars had been embezzled, I heard a much larger number than that. The number I heard was closer to $16 million dollars, maybe even more. I also heard many other names than those who were eventually found to have taken the $4M...I can only think that some of those names may be indicted this week or indictments may be coming for them.
All I really know is that this will not be complete if the investigations and indictments do not touch the right people. If someone is left out because of connections, it will not bode well for the new DA. He has shown himself to be ethical so far, so we expect great things from him.
Word is also that there will be those in the Jefferson County Courthouse who will be affected by these indictments. We all know that things have been going on down there that are less than ethical, so we hope that those persons will feel the wrath as well.
I don't have any concrete knowledge about any of this....this is just little things I am hearing and reading and I always keep an ear out because I care about Beaumont and BISD. I just hope that now that the BOM is installed, things will soon be back on track. Getting to the bottom of the problems will be a tremendous help and part of that includes making sure those responsible for the gross mismanagement are held accountable.
Showing posts with label BISD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BISD. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Falling Down Around Me
I had a horrible day yesterday. By the time I got in bed, I couldn't breathe and felt like the world was falling in around me.
The day started off with me waking to find that the SCOTUS had ruled that a business can deny birth control as part of its insurance plan. I had a day long debate about this on facebook with a friend of a friend. I got into things about my personal life that he had no business knowing but that I felt were good examples of what he was arguing. He argued that women just want birth control so they can go out and get laid all they want and be loose and not have to worry about getting pregnant. (Can you say Rush Limbaugh influence?) I took great offense to this. He said he also didn't believe that insurance could pay for Viagra, yet he didn't answer me what his thoughts on that would be if someday he needed it. He just didn't get it.
He said that women should just go find another job if they work for say, Hobby Lobby, and disagree with the ruling. I told him that women making $10/hr can't just change jobs if the job they have provides them insurance. It just isn't that easy. He said they should just pay for the birth control themselves then because $40/month really isn't that much to pay if it something you think you really need. That's when I got to the point where I felt the world was falling down around me.
See, each month, my child support is $1500. My ex doesn't trust me to make the mortgage payment so he makes that payment out of my child support. After my mortgage payment is deducted, I am given $665 a month. That money has to pay my electricity, water, phone, cable, and internet bills. (No comments on my cable and internet. It's all the entertainment we get, and the internet helps with job searches.) Those bills usually total around $650/month. I don't even have money to feed my kids. Our cars have no insurance. Yesterday, my mom spent $240 on two tires for Nicholas' car....and since she has been buying our groceries, I don't know that I can ask her for more this week...and we only have one more night of food left in this house.
Now, since I have told you all of that, let's go back to the woman who is making $10/hour. Before taxes, that's $1600 over four weeks....before taxes. My mortgage is much lower than rent on just about every one bedroom apartment in Beaumont. If this woman is offered insurance at her job, and that insurance will allow her to get birth control for $10/month, that's $120/year as opposed to the $480 a year if she has to pay for it herself. What is she supposed to go without? With the math at my house, there's already no food unless the electricity bill isn't paid, and then that will only get one week's worth of food...but then there's no electricity in the house. So where does the cut need to be made? See. He just doesn't get it.
Then on top of all of this, I sat in front of my television last night and watched a room full of people cheer when the BISD board of trustees did not approve the RIF that would have laid off 110 teachers. This made me sick. The state appointed conservator was appalled at what was happening in that room. It's like no one understands that when the state comes in to take over that the cuts will be more broad and deeper than what the incompetent board members were suggesting. I know that the feeling is let the BOM do the job because the BOT is not doing the RIF fairly, but really people? This is not going to be pretty. It is not going to be nice and sweet and the ones who will suffer the most (yes, more than those who are laid off) will be the students. You all just cheered that the education of our students will be at much greater risk than if the RIF had been approved last night.
I can't handle days like this. Too much stress and too much ignorance. I need to get out of this town and I can't even escape for a day.
.....and we still have a kitten.
The day started off with me waking to find that the SCOTUS had ruled that a business can deny birth control as part of its insurance plan. I had a day long debate about this on facebook with a friend of a friend. I got into things about my personal life that he had no business knowing but that I felt were good examples of what he was arguing. He argued that women just want birth control so they can go out and get laid all they want and be loose and not have to worry about getting pregnant. (Can you say Rush Limbaugh influence?) I took great offense to this. He said he also didn't believe that insurance could pay for Viagra, yet he didn't answer me what his thoughts on that would be if someday he needed it. He just didn't get it.
He said that women should just go find another job if they work for say, Hobby Lobby, and disagree with the ruling. I told him that women making $10/hr can't just change jobs if the job they have provides them insurance. It just isn't that easy. He said they should just pay for the birth control themselves then because $40/month really isn't that much to pay if it something you think you really need. That's when I got to the point where I felt the world was falling down around me.
See, each month, my child support is $1500. My ex doesn't trust me to make the mortgage payment so he makes that payment out of my child support. After my mortgage payment is deducted, I am given $665 a month. That money has to pay my electricity, water, phone, cable, and internet bills. (No comments on my cable and internet. It's all the entertainment we get, and the internet helps with job searches.) Those bills usually total around $650/month. I don't even have money to feed my kids. Our cars have no insurance. Yesterday, my mom spent $240 on two tires for Nicholas' car....and since she has been buying our groceries, I don't know that I can ask her for more this week...and we only have one more night of food left in this house.
Now, since I have told you all of that, let's go back to the woman who is making $10/hour. Before taxes, that's $1600 over four weeks....before taxes. My mortgage is much lower than rent on just about every one bedroom apartment in Beaumont. If this woman is offered insurance at her job, and that insurance will allow her to get birth control for $10/month, that's $120/year as opposed to the $480 a year if she has to pay for it herself. What is she supposed to go without? With the math at my house, there's already no food unless the electricity bill isn't paid, and then that will only get one week's worth of food...but then there's no electricity in the house. So where does the cut need to be made? See. He just doesn't get it.
Then on top of all of this, I sat in front of my television last night and watched a room full of people cheer when the BISD board of trustees did not approve the RIF that would have laid off 110 teachers. This made me sick. The state appointed conservator was appalled at what was happening in that room. It's like no one understands that when the state comes in to take over that the cuts will be more broad and deeper than what the incompetent board members were suggesting. I know that the feeling is let the BOM do the job because the BOT is not doing the RIF fairly, but really people? This is not going to be pretty. It is not going to be nice and sweet and the ones who will suffer the most (yes, more than those who are laid off) will be the students. You all just cheered that the education of our students will be at much greater risk than if the RIF had been approved last night.
I can't handle days like this. Too much stress and too much ignorance. I need to get out of this town and I can't even escape for a day.
.....and we still have a kitten.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
You Do Not Speak For Me
I sat here at home last night watching the disgrace that happened in the administration board room at BISD. I clapped sometimes at comments made by the public...and then I wanted to vomit when the vote was taken to fire over 200 teachers.
I sat here yelling at my screen when Zenobia Bush, in all her ignorance, made the following statement:
This woman is so ignorant of what is going on around her it blows my mind. This is what I have to say to her:
I sat here yelling at my screen when Zenobia Bush, in all her ignorance, made the following statement:
"I try to be respectful and listen to what you have to say, but the reason I asked how many of my constituents are here is because there are some of you who are under the false assumption that you represent all of Beaumont, Texas, and I'm sick of hearing it," she said. "There is more than just one side to a story.
"You cannot make me go home," she replied to vociferous booing, "and until a board of managers comes here, I am going to be sitting right here. I'm going to make the decisions that I make, and I'm going to go home and sleep well."
This woman is so ignorant of what is going on around her it blows my mind. This is what I have to say to her:
Ms. Bush,
Respectfully, you don't speak for me. You speak for the people of your district who elected you to that seat. Those people are going to be the most affected by the decisions that you and the board made last night. Your agreement that over 200 teachers be fired and that students be bused across town to a school was a blow to your constituents.
You stated in one meeting something about "people who look like you" being disenfranchised by the 5-2 plan. Ma'am, with all due respect, the "people who look like you" disenfranchise themselves every time they do not go to the polls to cast a vote. I have a friend who is a black man who told me once that black people do not go out to vote because they feel they are not being afforded the equal rights when they try to vote as white people. Whose fault is that? If a person over the age of 18 is registered to vote and that person decides not to go because they feel they will be turned away or their vote won't be counted, that is not the problem of the people who do vote. Just because a plan was passed that you disagree with, you cannot blame it on us. Why not go out and talk to the "people who look like you" and encourage them to go out and vote if you want a different result? Why not get in your car and take the elderly in your district to the DPS office if they need an ID so they can vote? Why not be proactive instead of being reactive when things do not turn out the way you want them to? I get so tired of this argument from the black community. The only people holding the black community back are the black community. Fight for it if you think you are being disenfranchised. Fight for it at the polls, not with money that doesn't belong to you but instead belongs to the students of BISD.
I have been as respectful as I can be on this issue. I have not attacked individuals, but the entire system that has gotten completely out of control. It it time that the "people who look like you" start taking responsibility for what happens to them. Were they at the meeting last night, maybe...maybe not. If they truly supported you, why weren't they there to speak up for you? They had the same opportunity to speak that others had and the same means of asking to speak. No need to go to the admin building, applications were online; and, if they really wanted to speak and had no way to get there, I'm sure you would have helped them out....right?
Your asking during the public comment portion of the meeting was not only an ignorant thing to do, it was inappropriate. It doesn't matter in which district those in attendance live. What matters is that those are the people who truly care about every student in BISD. Not one of those people can say they are only fighting for the children of the district in which they live. They will tell you that they are fighting for every child, every teacher who will be unemployed, and even for you...for your vote last night hurt all of Beaumont. Those are the ones who have been out at admin every meeting making their voices heard...the problem is that you and the other four board members were not listening. You have not been listening for the last three years. You didn't listen last night. You will, however, be listening soon when the commissioner asks you to vacate that seat that you cherish so much.
What you do not seem to understand is that nothing matters in all of this except the students. You also do not understand that at some point, you need to do what is right, not what you believe the people in your district want. Have you asked them? Have you gone out to see how they are being affected by your decisions? If you haven't, you have failed them. You have failed the voters and you have failed their children. Your inability to see that is what truly disturbs me.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Fine Arts Matter
I have talked before about the problems in the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD). Recently, the school board voted to declare a financial exigency that will allow them to put forth a reduction in force (RIF) that is going to negatively impact not only the lives of the teachers and their families, but also the lives of the students in BISD.
In Beaumont, we have three high schools - Central, Ozen, and West Brook. During the school year, these three schools compete on the football field, the basketball court, and in numerous other athletic/academic areas. West Brook is a 6A school; Central and Ozen are 5A. The schools only compete to get bragging rights for the year. The competition is fierce and you know for an entire year who won the Beaumont Bowl trophy most recently. The students are separated by neighborhoods, but they share the same churches and out of school activities. They may be rivals, but they are also neighbors and friends.
Those students came together this week to make their voices heard by the school board. Students from all over the city came together as one to support their teachers and to let the school board know that what they are proposing is too drastic. Most drastic among those cuts is the proposal of cutting so many fine arts positions that in some cases entire programs at schools will be gutted. Fine arts consists of band, choir, orchestra, art, theater,dance. These programs enrich the lives of the students in ways academic classes can't. They allow the students to show their individual personalities and to use their talents to express themselves through music or art.
According to the MENC (Music Educators National Conference) in their Journal Of Music Education, "Students in high-quality school music programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, regardless of the socioeconomic level of the school or school district." Additionally, the College Board Profile of College Bound Seniors says that students enrolled in fine arts classes score between 11 to 13% higher on the SAT than students not enrolled in any Fine Arts classes. These aren't statistics that need to be ignored.
I was proud as I stood on the grounds of the BISD administration building as I watched the students come together for a common goal. The protest of the proposed RIF transcended the boundaries of race, religion, neighborhood, school, age.....it was a true representation of our city and one that showed the board that the city has not divided as they had hoped it would. Instead, their continued malfeasance brought the city together and their voices were loud and clear. FINE ARTS MATTER!
Is the fight over after yesterday? No. The fight continues as long as there are teachers whose jobs are on the line...as long as fine arts programs are in peril...as long as those who should be working for the best interest of the students continue to work for themselves instead.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Turning Over a New Leaf
I haven't posted much since December, with reason. A lot happened in December and the new year hasn't been much different. But here's my post to turn over a new leaf, yet again.
Beaumont and the BISD has been going through a lot of turmoil for several years. Led by board members who are more concerned with control and race than with working for the best interest of the students, the board spiraled down until, today, TEA Commissioner Michael Williams responded to reports by two different committees with the announcement that he will appoint a board of managers and a conservator to take over BISD. As was expected, our delusional board members responded with claims of political bias and racial bias. The following is my response to the comment made by Woodrow Reece. (His comment included.)
"I recommended a conservator but not the death penalty. We didn't do anything as bad as El Paso or other districts that were taken over. I know there are powerful people in Beaumont who wanted a takeover. And he (Commissioner Williams) is a Republican, bless his soul. The kids will be okay. But at the end of the day, you bring some folks in here, you'll further divide the community. This community is still split. When the TEA leaves, the community will be split again." ~ Woodrow Reece
I have a reply for Mr. Reece:
Not only was a conservator necessary, the "death penalty" for the board and superintendent was also necessary. When a majority on the board, backed by the superintendent and their attorney, consistently ignore the voices of the voters, it's time for action from higher authority. Yes, there are powerful people in Beaumont who wanted BISD to be taken over...they are called the voters who decided that a 5-2 board was what they wanted.
When the current board, you included Mr. Reece, decided that it didn't matter what the voters wanted, you showed your blatant disregard for the will of the voters. No matter that the majority of the votes came from one part of town, that is not the fault of the voters who took the time to cast their votes. If it was truly the will of the majority in Beaumont, a majority you say is black and in charge of the schools, they would have gotten out to vote and defeated the initiative. That did not happen. Since that vote, it has been shown that the Gof4 on the board had no intention of implementing the will of the voters.
But the problems go back farther than the vote. The problems go to the constant disregard for the entire city of Beaumont. You and your Gof4 put a name on the stadium that was only intended to create division...it was a "we can do what we want" moment for your little group and it only caused more pressure to be placed on the board to make changes that needed to be made. You and your friends feel like you have been wronged in the past so now that you have "control" you will use it to the detriment of the entire district. I have heard many times "the white people did it, so why can't we" so many times....but instead of just trying to "stick it to the man," why not be a bigger person and just do what is right for the students of BISD and not let your hurt feelings get in the way?
Your new allegation is that this take over is happening because Mr. Williams is a Republican...really? The people who have been calling for change for years are racists and Mr. Williams is a Republican and those are the only reasons for wanting things to be better in BISD? When will you and the rest of the Gof4 realize this is about you and your need to control, not any racial or political agenda on the part of the citizens and voters? You are afraid of people being brought in from outside of the area that you can't control. You are afraid that this Republican is going to appoint white people to tell you what to do.
This community is still split. On that one issue, I agree with you. The split is there because of people like you who make such divisive statements as the one you made today. You and Ms. Bush came out talking about what is happening to you. Mr. Neil came out and talked about how it could have been prevented and how, even though he will feel the brunt as well, he acknowledges it is for the best and will do whatever he can to help in the process. It's a shame that you and Ms. Bush, Ms. Ambres, and Mr. Williams cannot just acknowledge your roles in this debacle. Instead you whine and call names and show your true colors.
Maya Angelou stated "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." I believed who all of you were when not one of you chastised Ms. Bush when she talked at the board meeting of "people who look like" her. That was as racist of a statement as has ever been uttered in the BISD board room. That is who you are. That is who all of you are. I believed it then, I believe it now. It has been your mantra for over 20 years. It will be your mantra for the rest of eternity. Until people like you decide that it is time to do away with that attitude, this city, this state, this country will never move forward and there will never be true equality for everyone in this country.
If you don't want this community to be split when the TEA leave, it would behoove you to not try to be re-elected to the board. None of the board, including Mr. Neil and Mr. Neild, should try to become a board member again. Not only would that cause further division and more fighting and waste of funds in litigation, it would just be in poor taste. The time the TEA will be in charge is not a time-out. It is a game over for you. Your game is over, Mr. Reece and the rest of the Gof4. Pack up your things and vacate the board room. Your presence is no longer needed.
Beaumont and the BISD has been going through a lot of turmoil for several years. Led by board members who are more concerned with control and race than with working for the best interest of the students, the board spiraled down until, today, TEA Commissioner Michael Williams responded to reports by two different committees with the announcement that he will appoint a board of managers and a conservator to take over BISD. As was expected, our delusional board members responded with claims of political bias and racial bias. The following is my response to the comment made by Woodrow Reece. (His comment included.)
"I recommended a conservator but not the death penalty. We didn't do anything as bad as El Paso or other districts that were taken over. I know there are powerful people in Beaumont who wanted a takeover. And he (Commissioner Williams) is a Republican, bless his soul. The kids will be okay. But at the end of the day, you bring some folks in here, you'll further divide the community. This community is still split. When the TEA leaves, the community will be split again." ~ Woodrow Reece
I have a reply for Mr. Reece:
Not only was a conservator necessary, the "death penalty" for the board and superintendent was also necessary. When a majority on the board, backed by the superintendent and their attorney, consistently ignore the voices of the voters, it's time for action from higher authority. Yes, there are powerful people in Beaumont who wanted BISD to be taken over...they are called the voters who decided that a 5-2 board was what they wanted.
When the current board, you included Mr. Reece, decided that it didn't matter what the voters wanted, you showed your blatant disregard for the will of the voters. No matter that the majority of the votes came from one part of town, that is not the fault of the voters who took the time to cast their votes. If it was truly the will of the majority in Beaumont, a majority you say is black and in charge of the schools, they would have gotten out to vote and defeated the initiative. That did not happen. Since that vote, it has been shown that the Gof4 on the board had no intention of implementing the will of the voters.
But the problems go back farther than the vote. The problems go to the constant disregard for the entire city of Beaumont. You and your Gof4 put a name on the stadium that was only intended to create division...it was a "we can do what we want" moment for your little group and it only caused more pressure to be placed on the board to make changes that needed to be made. You and your friends feel like you have been wronged in the past so now that you have "control" you will use it to the detriment of the entire district. I have heard many times "the white people did it, so why can't we" so many times....but instead of just trying to "stick it to the man," why not be a bigger person and just do what is right for the students of BISD and not let your hurt feelings get in the way?
Your new allegation is that this take over is happening because Mr. Williams is a Republican...really? The people who have been calling for change for years are racists and Mr. Williams is a Republican and those are the only reasons for wanting things to be better in BISD? When will you and the rest of the Gof4 realize this is about you and your need to control, not any racial or political agenda on the part of the citizens and voters? You are afraid of people being brought in from outside of the area that you can't control. You are afraid that this Republican is going to appoint white people to tell you what to do.
This community is still split. On that one issue, I agree with you. The split is there because of people like you who make such divisive statements as the one you made today. You and Ms. Bush came out talking about what is happening to you. Mr. Neil came out and talked about how it could have been prevented and how, even though he will feel the brunt as well, he acknowledges it is for the best and will do whatever he can to help in the process. It's a shame that you and Ms. Bush, Ms. Ambres, and Mr. Williams cannot just acknowledge your roles in this debacle. Instead you whine and call names and show your true colors.
Maya Angelou stated "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." I believed who all of you were when not one of you chastised Ms. Bush when she talked at the board meeting of "people who look like" her. That was as racist of a statement as has ever been uttered in the BISD board room. That is who you are. That is who all of you are. I believed it then, I believe it now. It has been your mantra for over 20 years. It will be your mantra for the rest of eternity. Until people like you decide that it is time to do away with that attitude, this city, this state, this country will never move forward and there will never be true equality for everyone in this country.
If you don't want this community to be split when the TEA leave, it would behoove you to not try to be re-elected to the board. None of the board, including Mr. Neil and Mr. Neild, should try to become a board member again. Not only would that cause further division and more fighting and waste of funds in litigation, it would just be in poor taste. The time the TEA will be in charge is not a time-out. It is a game over for you. Your game is over, Mr. Reece and the rest of the Gof4. Pack up your things and vacate the board room. Your presence is no longer needed.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Arbitrariness
I went to West Brook earlier this week to pick up David because he felt bad. I felt bad, too, so I was in a lousy mood after texting with a teenager who was supposed to be in class but was instead giving me a hard time. By the time I got to the school I was just unhappy. I had to call my mom because I didn't have a way to get there so that was even more frustrating. But then I went in the office.
When you enter schools in BISD with the intention of walking through the campus to get to, say, the attendance office to check out your child you are asked for your license so they can scan it with the RAPTOR to make you a visitor badge. After scanning, they hand you your license back. This system does a quick background check as well. I have used it and I agree with the system. I don't have a problem with letting you scan my license so I can go through the school. Not one problem.
What I do have a problem with is West Brook and their arbitrary policies that no other school in the district follows. West Brook asks for your license every time you enter the campus; other campuses scan the license and keep it in the system so they can look you up when you come in and print you a visitor sticker. The system is set up to do this and it works. I know. I have used it. I'm not just throwing this shit out there. I have sat at the reception desk at several schools and have used the system. And this isn't all. They have gotten even more arbitrary.
This week when I went in the school I handed the receptionist my license as usual...only this time she didn't hand it back. I was told they needed to keep it now. But that's MY LICENSE. It is my identification and it is identification that if used improperly can cause me harm. I don't like that they kept my license. When I walked out of the office, in my lousy mood, I told them they were fucking crazy. Yeah, I know. Too far. But so what.
I sent the principal an email when I got home. It read:
I told him I would not reconsider. The basis of my thought process after his response....it is proven that when you have an active shooter in your building the police force will need to know immediately who is in you building...this sentence. The office having my license prevents me from being identified in case there's a shooter in the building and I get shot. A shooter isn't going to give the office his license. A shooter is going to walk in the office, shoot everyone in there, and then proceed to the rest of the building. How is taking my license helping that situation? See. Arbitrary.
I was then told that I would not be allowed to go past the office and that it would take longer to get my child. It better not take too long and you better go get him when I want him because he is mine, I gave birth to him and your keeping him from me is paramount to kidnapping. Period. Call your BISD cops...call whomever you think you need to. I will call the media. I will be at administration with a camera crew faster than you can say boo.
West Brook and their arbitrary rules are really pissing me off.
When you enter schools in BISD with the intention of walking through the campus to get to, say, the attendance office to check out your child you are asked for your license so they can scan it with the RAPTOR to make you a visitor badge. After scanning, they hand you your license back. This system does a quick background check as well. I have used it and I agree with the system. I don't have a problem with letting you scan my license so I can go through the school. Not one problem.
What I do have a problem with is West Brook and their arbitrary policies that no other school in the district follows. West Brook asks for your license every time you enter the campus; other campuses scan the license and keep it in the system so they can look you up when you come in and print you a visitor sticker. The system is set up to do this and it works. I know. I have used it. I'm not just throwing this shit out there. I have sat at the reception desk at several schools and have used the system. And this isn't all. They have gotten even more arbitrary.
This week when I went in the school I handed the receptionist my license as usual...only this time she didn't hand it back. I was told they needed to keep it now. But that's MY LICENSE. It is my identification and it is identification that if used improperly can cause me harm. I don't like that they kept my license. When I walked out of the office, in my lousy mood, I told them they were fucking crazy. Yeah, I know. Too far. But so what.
I sent the principal an email when I got home. It read:
His reply:I will not surrender my driver's license to anyone at West Brook in the future, so you have a choice to make. Allow people from the office to go get my child when I want him...because he is my child no matter how many hours he is at West Brook and if I want him, I will get him....or allow me and all other parents to proceed to the attendance office to check them out without surrendering our identification. You have it on file, you do not physically need it.Mr. Maxwell,Although I know that Ms. Broughton would not use my driver's license in a way that is illegal, I feel that keeping it while I went to the attendance office is out of line. No one has the right to hold my driver's license unless they are a member of the law enforcement community. This practice is ridiculous and just falls in line with all of the other stupid things that happen at West Brook. I mean, you have an entire driveway no one can use.....why? How stupid is that?
Based on the training that we have been given, it is proven that when you have an active shooter in your building the police force will need to know immediately who is in you building. Secondly it is a way to monitor how long a visitor has been in your building. Returning to get your license is a way for us to know the amount of time you have been in the building. Safety is a must when we have the possibility of school shootings. I respectfully hope you reconsider.
I told him I would not reconsider. The basis of my thought process after his response....it is proven that when you have an active shooter in your building the police force will need to know immediately who is in you building...this sentence. The office having my license prevents me from being identified in case there's a shooter in the building and I get shot. A shooter isn't going to give the office his license. A shooter is going to walk in the office, shoot everyone in there, and then proceed to the rest of the building. How is taking my license helping that situation? See. Arbitrary.
I was then told that I would not be allowed to go past the office and that it would take longer to get my child. It better not take too long and you better go get him when I want him because he is mine, I gave birth to him and your keeping him from me is paramount to kidnapping. Period. Call your BISD cops...call whomever you think you need to. I will call the media. I will be at administration with a camera crew faster than you can say boo.
West Brook and their arbitrary rules are really pissing me off.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Blame...Place it Where it Belongs
I know people are irritated with BISD...I am too. The antics of the board members and some of the staff leave much to be desired when it comes to the school district. But when something like this happens, stop and think before you make a fool of yourself by posting comments on facebook about things which you know nothing about. I am here to tell you the facts, as I promised. So here goes.
One brilliant person stated, "With all the money we spent on the building, you would think they put some security cameras in there." Well apparently she has never been to the stadium because if she had she would know that there are cameras everywhere. She also stated, " Where were our police officers that patrol all night... every night?" Well, the police officers make rounds...which means they drive AROUND the district throughout the night...which means that the police officers cannot be at the stadium all the time. As a result, there is a PSO at the stadium each night who drives around the parking lot at intervals...and again...HE CANNOT BE ALL AROUND THE STADIUM ALL THE TIME. He was there last night, but he couldn't see the license plate on the truck and he is not paid to give chase...but he did his job.
Why am I so concerned about this? Why talk about blame? Just look at what is happening in Congress this week. The Republicans are blaming the Democrats for this government shutdown when the Republicans are clearly the ones who caused this shutdown. It is ironic that they waited until the day that the ACA went into effect to shut down the government, isn't it? The Democrats are only abiding by the law that was put into place and affirmed by the SCOTUS last year...the Republicans are acting like babies throwing tantrums and they are letting a few dictate that that's the course of action to take.
Blame the person responsible...don't blame the school district for the vandalism of an individual. Blame the Republicans...don't blame the Democrats and the President. And by all means...think before you make a stupid comment that will be read by many people.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
It's Time to Create Change
I have to play devil's advocate here for just a minute. Indulge me.
I know there are many things wrong with BISD that need to be fixed. I know that it is going to take the entire city coming together to achieve the restoration of BISD to a solid school district. But where do we start? And really, I don't want to talk about ALL of BISD...I just want to talk about one thing that I think has been overlooked by some.
I live in a neighborhood that sits outside the city limits but is in the BISD boundaries. We are sometimes seen as what we call "the stepchildren of BISD." My neighborhood and a few other areas around us have the craziest track of schools in the district. Our elementary school is a very good school...one of the consistently high rating schools in the district. We are dual zoned to two of the three high schools...one is very far from us and is the school where our area has always been zoned to go...I think that's been lost by some. For middle school...well that's where the real problem lies.
The middle school is consistently low rated. Along with our area, the students come from the north side of town. I don't know when things got to the point they are now nor do I know how the middle school we are zoned to became to be so low rated. When I was in middle school, this was the better school to attend...or so we thought in the north end of Beaumont. Now, no one in my neighborhood wants to send their children there. Parents camp out at administration early in February to request a transfer to the west end schools. Other, like me, have their children test into the Pegasus program at another middle school...that program is incredibly successful and several of the kids that went with David will be graduating a year early because of it.
Why are we allowing that to happen? Aren't we, by choosing to send our students to other schools, only adding to the problem? Wouldn't our highly successful students help the lower ranking school with their attendance and test scores? Why have we become so fearful of sending our students to that school?
Someone needs to be brave enough to start enacting change. Sitting back waiting for a dysfunctional school board to make a change for a small segment of the district is getting us nowhere. So why not be proactive instead of reactive? Just voting in a different school board member will not change the situation. We have seen that one or two votes on that board make no difference. As long as we are not actively trying to make the school we are zoned to better we are part of the problem. It's time we become part of the solution.
I know there are many things wrong with BISD that need to be fixed. I know that it is going to take the entire city coming together to achieve the restoration of BISD to a solid school district. But where do we start? And really, I don't want to talk about ALL of BISD...I just want to talk about one thing that I think has been overlooked by some.
I live in a neighborhood that sits outside the city limits but is in the BISD boundaries. We are sometimes seen as what we call "the stepchildren of BISD." My neighborhood and a few other areas around us have the craziest track of schools in the district. Our elementary school is a very good school...one of the consistently high rating schools in the district. We are dual zoned to two of the three high schools...one is very far from us and is the school where our area has always been zoned to go...I think that's been lost by some. For middle school...well that's where the real problem lies.
The middle school is consistently low rated. Along with our area, the students come from the north side of town. I don't know when things got to the point they are now nor do I know how the middle school we are zoned to became to be so low rated. When I was in middle school, this was the better school to attend...or so we thought in the north end of Beaumont. Now, no one in my neighborhood wants to send their children there. Parents camp out at administration early in February to request a transfer to the west end schools. Other, like me, have their children test into the Pegasus program at another middle school...that program is incredibly successful and several of the kids that went with David will be graduating a year early because of it.
Why are we allowing that to happen? Aren't we, by choosing to send our students to other schools, only adding to the problem? Wouldn't our highly successful students help the lower ranking school with their attendance and test scores? Why have we become so fearful of sending our students to that school?
Someone needs to be brave enough to start enacting change. Sitting back waiting for a dysfunctional school board to make a change for a small segment of the district is getting us nowhere. So why not be proactive instead of reactive? Just voting in a different school board member will not change the situation. We have seen that one or two votes on that board make no difference. As long as we are not actively trying to make the school we are zoned to better we are part of the problem. It's time we become part of the solution.
Friday, September 20, 2013
We Need To Do Better Than This
I feel like I am about to go back to the origin of this blog...BISD. It amazes me the kind of crap that comes out of the school board meetings. It seems it never stops...never will stop.
Last night, the news stations reported that the school board meeting went on until midnight. This seemed to many to be an apparent attempt to keep the public from speaking by making them wait. The scheduled time for public comments was after all other business was finished. The picture below was taken sometime around 11:30 last night. As you can see, what was described as a packed house at the beginning of the meeting had become stragglers by the time the public comment portion of the meeting started. Board president Woodrow Reece has publicly stated that maybe the public should not be able to comment at the board meetings...it seems he is trying to get this achieved without making a policy change.
At last night's meeting the subject of the upcoming election was on the agenda. For those of you who may not know, the board was supposed to hold elections in May; but because of their resistance to the change from seven single member districts to five single member and two at large, the board was able to effectively put off the election until November. This is a problem though because Texas law states that school board elections must be held in the spring of odd number years in conjunction with municipal elections. There are no other elections being held this November. This makes this election illegal. (Texas Election Code Sections 11.053 and 11.0581) The Jefferson County Voter Registrar Shane Howard attempted to speak at last night's meeting about the election...he was denied the right to speak because he supposedly has no interest in this issue. Except that he does.
The voter registrar's office is charged with ensuring that voters have registration cards that prove they are eligible to vote and in which district they should vote. This office has to do this before each election. This is Mr. Howard's job. If the voter registrar's office aids in the illegal election, Mr. Howard has a problem. So as you can see, he is affected by this issue. He was not allowed to speak on the advice from the district attorney, Melody Chappell. When the board denied Mr. Howard the right to speak, another local attorney and City Council member, Mike Getz, again made a circus out of the board meeting.
Lest you think these antics are a one time thing, I assure you they are not. This happens at every board meeting and in buildings all across the district. One side argues with the other and it gets out of control. One person doesn't like what another is doing...let's sue them and cost the taxpayers money. A principal of a school has a disagreement with another principal...let's ruin the daughter's life because we can't get along. The circus atmosphere needs to stop. People need to grow up and maybe listen to what the Pope has had to say this week.
Tolerance and compassion. We need to work on our tolerance and compassion. We need to learn how to get along with people we may not see eye to eye with. Whether it is because of perceived wrongs because of race or because of what you see as someone trying to one up you...we all need to get along. The only way this city will ever heal is if we all decide to listen to each other. The board has decided they will not listen to the public or each other. This has caused conflict and anger. We need to be better than this.
Last night, the news stations reported that the school board meeting went on until midnight. This seemed to many to be an apparent attempt to keep the public from speaking by making them wait. The scheduled time for public comments was after all other business was finished. The picture below was taken sometime around 11:30 last night. As you can see, what was described as a packed house at the beginning of the meeting had become stragglers by the time the public comment portion of the meeting started. Board president Woodrow Reece has publicly stated that maybe the public should not be able to comment at the board meetings...it seems he is trying to get this achieved without making a policy change.
The voter registrar's office is charged with ensuring that voters have registration cards that prove they are eligible to vote and in which district they should vote. This office has to do this before each election. This is Mr. Howard's job. If the voter registrar's office aids in the illegal election, Mr. Howard has a problem. So as you can see, he is affected by this issue. He was not allowed to speak on the advice from the district attorney, Melody Chappell. When the board denied Mr. Howard the right to speak, another local attorney and City Council member, Mike Getz, again made a circus out of the board meeting.
Lest you think these antics are a one time thing, I assure you they are not. This happens at every board meeting and in buildings all across the district. One side argues with the other and it gets out of control. One person doesn't like what another is doing...let's sue them and cost the taxpayers money. A principal of a school has a disagreement with another principal...let's ruin the daughter's life because we can't get along. The circus atmosphere needs to stop. People need to grow up and maybe listen to what the Pope has had to say this week.
Tolerance and compassion. We need to work on our tolerance and compassion. We need to learn how to get along with people we may not see eye to eye with. Whether it is because of perceived wrongs because of race or because of what you see as someone trying to one up you...we all need to get along. The only way this city will ever heal is if we all decide to listen to each other. The board has decided they will not listen to the public or each other. This has caused conflict and anger. We need to be better than this.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Forgotten in Time
I was reading a piece on CNN.com this morning about plus-sized women who have blogs they use to help other plus-sized women understand that being themselves is ok. Their main point is that you do not have to be a size zero to be happy or to be stylish. It got me thinking. Do I have a point of view that I think people might want to read about? I have tried in the past without much success. But did I really try? Did I promote my blog with enough energy that brought people in to read it? No, I did not. Can I do it? Yes, I think I can. I just have to put my mind to it.
That is when I discovered this forgotten blog that I started almost a year ago in response to what was happening in BISD. What a difference a year makes, right? While BISD still has its' issues, I think it may finally be heading in the right direction. But that will be dependent on who the board chooses to replace Dr. Thomas as Superintendent. I am hoping that what has been said in the last week is true and that they have chosen Dr. Timothy Chargois to replace him. Dr. Chargois is well liked in the district and has been kept out of the fray of all the craziness that has been going on. I would be happy with that choice. Fingers crossed for a good result of the selection.
I am not sure exactly the direction I want this blog to go, but I would like it to be a place where opinions can be expressed in a way that is conducive to a dialog that is respectful to all. I know I have opinions and mine will be the ones expressed here. But will you read and will you share with your friends? I hope so.
That is when I discovered this forgotten blog that I started almost a year ago in response to what was happening in BISD. What a difference a year makes, right? While BISD still has its' issues, I think it may finally be heading in the right direction. But that will be dependent on who the board chooses to replace Dr. Thomas as Superintendent. I am hoping that what has been said in the last week is true and that they have chosen Dr. Timothy Chargois to replace him. Dr. Chargois is well liked in the district and has been kept out of the fray of all the craziness that has been going on. I would be happy with that choice. Fingers crossed for a good result of the selection.
I am not sure exactly the direction I want this blog to go, but I would like it to be a place where opinions can be expressed in a way that is conducive to a dialog that is respectful to all. I know I have opinions and mine will be the ones expressed here. But will you read and will you share with your friends? I hope so.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
And The Craziness Continues
Press club holds spirited BISD candidate forum
The previous link is another example of the craziness that is Jessie Haynes. How can she really say that she didn't make those comments when it was so clearly on tape on all of the local news casts? Is this what she is saying to the board President that has kept him from acknowledging that there is a problem.
Yesterday I tried to comment on a release made by Ms. Haynes about Central choir members advancing to state solo/ensemble competition. My comments were erased, I was taken off of the BISD fb page, and I can no longer comment or read comments on the fb page. Who did this? Ms. Haynes. She is the administrator of the fb page.
Craziness I tell you.
The previous link is another example of the craziness that is Jessie Haynes. How can she really say that she didn't make those comments when it was so clearly on tape on all of the local news casts? Is this what she is saying to the board President that has kept him from acknowledging that there is a problem.
Yesterday I tried to comment on a release made by Ms. Haynes about Central choir members advancing to state solo/ensemble competition. My comments were erased, I was taken off of the BISD fb page, and I can no longer comment or read comments on the fb page. Who did this? Ms. Haynes. She is the administrator of the fb page.
Craziness I tell you.
Friday, April 15, 2011
For those who insist that nothing good ever happens in BISD you will be disappointed to know that the WEST BROOK WIND ENSEMBLE BAND JUST GOT SWEEPSTAKES AT UIL CONCERT/SIGHT READING CONTEST!!!!!
This goes along with their SWEEPSTAKES at Marching Contest last fall, marking the first time in nine years that West Brook has achieved this in a single year.
Kinda blows the theory that nothing good ever happens in BISD, huh?
Congratulations West Brook Wind Ensemble! Next step....STATE on May 7th!
This goes along with their SWEEPSTAKES at Marching Contest last fall, marking the first time in nine years that West Brook has achieved this in a single year.
Kinda blows the theory that nothing good ever happens in BISD, huh?
Congratulations West Brook Wind Ensemble! Next step....STATE on May 7th!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tonight on Channel 12 news, school board president Woodrow Reece was interviewed after a candidates forum. He said he was out of town for last week's press conference. This seems to be his common answer. He is always out of town. But, he said he will investigate after saying he "heard what the media said they said"....basically, he is already on the side of Ms. Haynes. Board trustee Gwen Ambres made an excuse for Ms. Haynes, and so did Janice Brassard.
What is wrong with these people? Why can't they just stand up and do what is right instead of all this crap they are dishing out?
And why aren't Dr. Thomas or Ms. Haynes speaking out? They are in another of their "training sessions". They are in those every time there is a controversy. With all the training they are getting you would think someone would train them in the way to properly handle a school district.
Oh, and the best quote of the night came from Reece: "she doesn't speak for BISD." Uh, yes she does. That's her J.O.B.
What is wrong with these people? Why can't they just stand up and do what is right instead of all this crap they are dishing out?
And why aren't Dr. Thomas or Ms. Haynes speaking out? They are in another of their "training sessions". They are in those every time there is a controversy. With all the training they are getting you would think someone would train them in the way to properly handle a school district.
Oh, and the best quote of the night came from Reece: "she doesn't speak for BISD." Uh, yes she does. That's her J.O.B.
What Will Happen After May?
I told Brenham about this new blog this afternoon. He asked me what I will write about after school is out for the summer.
Do you really think that the media will leave Ms. Haynes and Dr. Thomas alone during the summer?? I don't. I think there will be plenty to write about over the summer. The circus never leaves around here!
Do you really think that the media will leave Ms. Haynes and Dr. Thomas alone during the summer?? I don't. I think there will be plenty to write about over the summer. The circus never leaves around here!
Parent Involvement and PTA
Contrary to the opinion at BISD, PTA is not part of their administration. They sure do seem to think so and I don't understand it at all.
This morning I received an email from Vicki Kibbles, the BISD Parent Involvement Coordinator, regarding a PTA General Meeting that is to be held in the BISD board room. I received this because I am the PTA President at Odom Academy and I was being invited to attend the meeting. I get that. The flyer attached was generated by the president of the Beaumont Metropolitan Council of PTA's. What I don't get is why Ms. Kibbles was the one to distribute it.
BISD is not in the PTA business. But in recent years the Parent Involvement Coordinator has been getting more and more involved in PTA matters. Is that her job? Is that her mission? I thought the mission of the PIC was to supervise the parent involvement people on the campus in their effort to get parents more involved in their childrens' education. Am I wrong?
I can see where these two things can go hand in hand. The Parent Teacher's Association and the Parent Involvement Department.....but should Ms. Kibbles be the one distributing flyers for the PTA? I really don't think so. But I think she has gotten this directive from Dr. Thomas. He is at every one of the PTA meetings that are held at the board room. So are Ms. Kibbles and Ms. Haynes.
Earlier in the school year, when we were in the swing of membership, I was at West Brook waiting in the band hall to travel with the band to a football game. I started receiving phone calls first from Odom, then from board members, then from Ms. Kibbles about the membership roster that hadn't been turned in. The dates for turning in membership names are October 15 for early bird and October 31 for deadline. The calls were on October 15th. Early bird only means that your PTA will receive a certificate stating that you got 25 names turned in by that date. It isn't a big deal. Oh, but it was that day. No matter how many times I stated that I couldn't do anything about it right that minute, I was asked repeatedly to do something. It wasn't the end of the world, but it was to Ms. Kibbles.
That next Monday, I called Texas PTA to ask whether we were still going to have a PTA since we didn't get the names in I was told yes because the 15th was only early bird and to just make sure we had names in by October 31st. I let Ms. Kibbles know I had spoken to them and what they said. I just don't understand her involvement. She isn't my boss. She isn't my supervisor. She isn't anything in relation to the PTA.
Maybe this wasn't the correct forum for this, but it was on my mind. I replied to her email today with just those questions. Why is she involved in PTA? I have not received an answer from her. I really don't think I will.
What is your opinion on this matter? Are other school administrations involved in PTA business or is it just BISD? Tell me what you think.
This morning I received an email from Vicki Kibbles, the BISD Parent Involvement Coordinator, regarding a PTA General Meeting that is to be held in the BISD board room. I received this because I am the PTA President at Odom Academy and I was being invited to attend the meeting. I get that. The flyer attached was generated by the president of the Beaumont Metropolitan Council of PTA's. What I don't get is why Ms. Kibbles was the one to distribute it.
BISD is not in the PTA business. But in recent years the Parent Involvement Coordinator has been getting more and more involved in PTA matters. Is that her job? Is that her mission? I thought the mission of the PIC was to supervise the parent involvement people on the campus in their effort to get parents more involved in their childrens' education. Am I wrong?
I can see where these two things can go hand in hand. The Parent Teacher's Association and the Parent Involvement Department.....but should Ms. Kibbles be the one distributing flyers for the PTA? I really don't think so. But I think she has gotten this directive from Dr. Thomas. He is at every one of the PTA meetings that are held at the board room. So are Ms. Kibbles and Ms. Haynes.
Earlier in the school year, when we were in the swing of membership, I was at West Brook waiting in the band hall to travel with the band to a football game. I started receiving phone calls first from Odom, then from board members, then from Ms. Kibbles about the membership roster that hadn't been turned in. The dates for turning in membership names are October 15 for early bird and October 31 for deadline. The calls were on October 15th. Early bird only means that your PTA will receive a certificate stating that you got 25 names turned in by that date. It isn't a big deal. Oh, but it was that day. No matter how many times I stated that I couldn't do anything about it right that minute, I was asked repeatedly to do something. It wasn't the end of the world, but it was to Ms. Kibbles.
That next Monday, I called Texas PTA to ask whether we were still going to have a PTA since we didn't get the names in I was told yes because the 15th was only early bird and to just make sure we had names in by October 31st. I let Ms. Kibbles know I had spoken to them and what they said. I just don't understand her involvement. She isn't my boss. She isn't my supervisor. She isn't anything in relation to the PTA.
Maybe this wasn't the correct forum for this, but it was on my mind. I replied to her email today with just those questions. Why is she involved in PTA? I have not received an answer from her. I really don't think I will.
What is your opinion on this matter? Are other school administrations involved in PTA business or is it just BISD? Tell me what you think.
A Work In Progress
As the title of this blog says, this is a work in progress in several ways. First, this blog is getting off the ground and the direction has not been fully decided. Second, our school district is heading in a direction that needs to be changed and this is a forum to maybe direct that change. Finally, our community needs to find its' direction again and get on a track that is more conducive to the education of our children. So this is my start and my contribution to maybe help all those issues find their direction.
This forum will not tolerate any outright hatred or attacks on anyone. Those who choose to use this forum for that purpose will be held accountable and will be taken off the approved commenters list. A dialogue that is constructive and is focused on the facts will be welcomed. We can all talk and debate, but we need to do so in a constructive way.
Having said all that I hope that this blog is received well and will be a place where we can gather and talk about the issues of the community, specifically the issues surrounding BISD and its' direction. We the community, we the voters, we are the ones who need to voice our concerns and use our vote to change things. If we do not do this we will continue down this road to a divided community that is no longer educating our children, but continuing a fight between different sides of the city that leads to a destruction of the educational process in our community. Our children are our future. They are the most important issue in this entire mess and they should be our focus.
Welcome.
This forum will not tolerate any outright hatred or attacks on anyone. Those who choose to use this forum for that purpose will be held accountable and will be taken off the approved commenters list. A dialogue that is constructive and is focused on the facts will be welcomed. We can all talk and debate, but we need to do so in a constructive way.
Having said all that I hope that this blog is received well and will be a place where we can gather and talk about the issues of the community, specifically the issues surrounding BISD and its' direction. We the community, we the voters, we are the ones who need to voice our concerns and use our vote to change things. If we do not do this we will continue down this road to a divided community that is no longer educating our children, but continuing a fight between different sides of the city that leads to a destruction of the educational process in our community. Our children are our future. They are the most important issue in this entire mess and they should be our focus.
Welcome.
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