Want your own electronic copy of the LTISD Student Directory?

Want to save yourself the expense of purchasing a written copy from the LTHS PTA?

The 2008-2009 LTISD Student Directory is available in Acrobat^© (PDF) format, or HTML format.^TPIA

Did you know that this information is public?

Not many people know that the LTISD gives this directory information away to anyone who asks. See written LTISD Board Policy FL(LEGAL).

Here are but a few examples of requests for student and employee directory information made to the district.

Not only does the LTISD give it away, the LT High School PTA sells this same directory information in printed form! If you like hard copy, you can purchase one from them.

The LTHS PTA even prints an advertisement thanking and soliciting supporters for the published directory.

I have recently obtained the 2008-2009 salaries for the employees of the LTISD and have posted them for your benefit^TPIA (see links below) :

1. Adobe Acrobat^© (PDF) versions which include pay ratio to that of our overpaid superintendent, Rocky Kirk.
   1. Sorted by employee name
   2. Sorted by salary
2. HTML

I have also compiled a list showing the salary differences between last year (2007-2008) and this year (2008-2009) and are available at the following links:

1. Adobe Acrobat^© (PDF) format
2. HTML format

Let’s look at some interesting changes in some selected salaries between last year and this year:

1. Rocky got an 8.7% pay raise. Just what did Rocky do to deserve this much when the teachers got a much less percentage raise?

   Ever wonder:

   • Just what has Rocky done for this district?
   • Why is Rocky paid so disproportionally higher than other superintendents?
2. Linnea Bennett, Rocky’s loyal admin, got a 65.3% increase! The price of silence I suppose.
3. Diane Frost got a 17.6% salary increase. Again, for what? I guess when you go from “Assistant Superintendent” to “Deputy Superintendent” there is a financial entitlement included?
4. Kim Brents got a 41.1% increase for moving over to the high school. She is making about $5,000 more than Charlie Little did last year as the LTHS principal.
5. Jill Siler saw a 25.1% increase.

It was just this last May that the Board did it’s annual “Resolution to Nominate Dr. Rocky Kirk for Texas Association of School Boards’ Superintendent of the year.”

Jim Cummings read the resolution that the Board approved on April 23, 2009:

“Prior to taking action, Trustee Cummings read the proposed resolution: `We the Board of Trustees of Lake Travis Independent School District do hereby resolve to nominate Dr. Donald Rockwell Kirk for Texas Association of School Boards’ Superintendent of the Year, 2009, in recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication, integrity, vision and service to our students, staff and community.’”

P.T. Barnum said it best:

“There’s a sucker born every minute”
-P.T. Barnum

After reading the TASB press release, we know why Rocky didn’t make the cut:

“Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality, ability to build effective employee relations, student performance, and commitment to public involvement in education.”

- “Nominees Announced for 2009 Superintendent of the Year Award,” TASB, June 30, 2009

Too bad Rocky, looks like a far better superintendent got the nomination from Region 13, Jesús Chávez, Superintendent of the Round Rock ISD.

Round Rock ISD Superintendent Jesús Chávez

Remember, Jesús Chávez is the Round Rock ISD Superintendent who wagers part of his benefits on outcome of his district’s scores.

Sadly we can’t say that Rocky is willing to wager any of his outrageous benefits or salary because as we all know, it would be a loosing proposition.

Rocky can’t even make good on his audacious claim to make the LTISD “the most exemplary school district in Texas!”

Rocky has found “the goose that laid the golden egg” and has convinced some fools to keep paying him such outrageous salary with so little in return.

Several of the Adobe Acrobat^© (PDF) files posted to the meetings pages do not include “searchable text.” In other words, you can’t search these documents for some particular text.

I wonder if they do this on purpose? Wouldn’t surprise me, but for now, let’s just assume that they are “technically challenged.”

I have taken the liberty of adding searchable text to the posted LTISD Board Agendas, BoardBooks and Minutes. This has the added benefit of making all of their meeting information accessable to the numerous Inernet search engines.

That’s right, Rocky, seems unable to answer to the public and media about his outrageous contract. The usual cowardice on his part.

Rocky really does have a hard time when it comes to the truth and explaining himself to the citizens and tax payers of this district.

Rocky makes me think of Bill Clinton when he said: “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. If the–if he–if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not–that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement….“

Surely Rocky would want to take the opportunity to explain how his salary is commensurate with his management skills? Oops, Rocky really can’t do that, but, but …

Or how he has made the district “the most exemplary school district in the state of Texas,” or … or …

Perhaps it’s best for Rocky to cower in the corner and send Jim Cummings out to talk … Oh no, even Jim is too frightened to talk to the media about the Board’s foolish financial decisions.

The timing of the request was particularly bad considering the district’s precarious financial position.

Perhaps it was the fact that Rocky and Jim are such close friends:

“He has grown close to several trustees, but has particularly developed a friendship with Kirk, one he thinks will last a lifetime.”

- “Cummings stepping off school board after 12 years of service”, Lake Travis View, May 5th, 2009

Surely since  Rocky and Jim are such good friends there would be no questions about hiring Jim’s youngest daughter, Sarah Cummings, as a teacher in the district?

I guess Jim hit the eject button and left the rest to  endure the fiery heat of reentry.

“Two Central Texas school districts — Lake Travis and Lago Vista — will be the unintended beneficiaries of a decision by Education Commissioner Robert Scott to help one struggling Houston-area school district.”

- Kate Alexander, Austin American-Statesman, June 23, 2009

Imagine that, the LTISD, who already spends more money than the Eanes ISD yet significantly lags behind them in academic performance, is getting more money.

Why is the LTISD getting MORE money?

Why can’t the LTISD tighten their belts like everyone else?

Why did the LTISD give Rocky Kirk a pay raise this year if they are in such financial straights?

Why, why, why …

We keep paying taxes and they keep throwing our tax dollars down the toilet. And they have the audacity to consider asking us for more money in a roll back election?!

Unfortunately, I found out why the LTISD Minister of Disinformation did not put out a similar press release!

Keeping with Chris Wilson’s list of ‘cohort’ high schools, I have compiled a history of the yearly Newsweek rankings of the Lake Travis, Westlake and Westwood high schools:

Newsweek’s ranking of Westlake, Westwood and Lake Travis high schools in their annual list of the top 1,500 U.S. high schools.

(Source: Newsweek, “The Top of the Class, The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools”)

Wow, 1096 for the LTISD! Quite a drop for the “highly acclaimed” LTISD and no where near the ranking of Westlake or Westwood high schools.

Just how did this dramatic drop happen?

Wait a minute!

Didn’t Marco Alvarado, LTISD Minister of Disinformation, put out a press release on April 18, 2008 saying:

“Lake Travis High School makes significant jump in Newsweek’s Top Schools list

For the third year in a row, Lake Travis High School has been listed as one of Newsweek’s Top 1,300 schools in the country. This year, the campus jumped more than 200 spots to be listed at number 503—its highest ranking yet. …”
(The district has not yet removed their web page for this “News Release.” Let’s see how long it takes before it “just disappears.”)

Hey Marco, why haven’t you put out a press release about the dramatic drop that the LTISD suffered?

Marco, don’t you think that moving from 603 to 1096 news worthy? Isn’t this especially so since Westwood and Westlake high schools were able to maintain their rankings?

Seems like we have more proof to back up Chris Wilson’s call for improvements in academic rigor.

Just what has the LTISD been doing with all that money that they have been throwing at the problem?

Lets compare the three school districts for each of these three high schools from a financial and taxation point of view:

(Source: Texas Education Agency)

Notes: ¹Spending Efficiency = Expenditures per Student ÷ Instructional Spending per Student

On a spending basis, the LTISD should be a good as the Eanes ISD, but all the rankings and benchmarks say otherwise.

Why then can’t the LTISD academic performance be as good as the Eanes ISD?

When it comes to “bang for the buck,” we see that others can and do excel.

What’s wrong with the LTISD?

Why do they think that more money will solve their problems?

Why can’t the LTISD manage their money as effectively as other districts?

We pay a LOT of money for mediocrity.

“More scholars needed at LTISD

To the editor:

I wanted to share some information with the Lake Travis Independent School District community regarding my comparison of the Lake Travis High School versus Westlake High School and Westwood High School performance in the most recent National Merit Scholarship Competition.

LTHS, a TEA Academically Acceptable school for 2007-08, produced four National Merit Finalists eight National Merit Commended students, and was announced by LTISD on March 23. Westlake High School, a TEA Exemplary school, produced 28 National Merit Finalists, 48 National Merit Commended students, and was announced by Eanes ISD on Feb. 12.

Westwood High School, a TEA Recognized school, produced 29 National Merit Finalists, 43 National Merit Commended students, and was announced by Round Rock ISD on March 5. Both Westlake and Westwood high schools have seven times as many National Merit Finalists as Lake Travis High School. Westlake has six times as many National Merit Commended students as Lake Travis High School and Westwood has five point three times as many National Merit Commended students as Lake Travis High School. Westlake and Westwood high schools . do not have seven, six or five times as many students as Lake Travis High School even though they are both 5A schools and Lake Travis High School is a 4A school.

Historically, Lake Travis High School students perform very poorly on the written skills portion of the PSAT test that determines the National Merit Finalist and Commended status.

Congratulations to all of the wonderful students that achieved the Finalist and Commended student status.

You are the cream of the crop amongst high school seniors.

This community should be demanding that it is time for Lake Travis High School to see much better results in the National Merit Competition in line with the schools down the road from us.

Chris Wilson
The Hills”

-Lake Travis View, June 18, 2009, Volume 24, Number 25

Good point Chris! But do these districts have a back-to-back championship football team?! I don’t think so. Let’s get our priorities straight now!

Obviously Chris has not read the Wikipedia entry for the Lake Travis High School which is filled mostly with information about the schools past athletic achievements and very little information about academics.

There is only paragraph in the LTHS Wikipedia page regarding academics and it is very amusing:

“Lake Travis High School classroom standards higher than many other high school, and, therefore, are more difficult. For a student to be in the top 20% academically generally requires having a class grade average over 100 while attending virtually all advanced placement (AP) classes. However, despite their apparent intellectual superiority, and the rigor of their elite classes, they can not manage to write a grammatically correct Wikipedia entry.“

Has Chris Wilson endangered herself with the “powers that be” within the district. Things like this won’t get her an invite to the next class of Leadership Lake Travis.

But sometimes, like the child in Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes,”  someone just has to tell the Emperor that he is naked.

We should read the rest of the Hans Christian Andersen’s great fairy tale (perhaps better categorized as a “satire”):

““But he has nothing on at all,” said a little child at last. “Good heavens! listen to the voice of an innocent child,” said the father, and one whispered to the other what the child had said. “But he has nothing on at all,” cried at last the whole people. That made a deep impression upon the emperor, for it seemed to him that they were right; but he thought to himself, “Now I must bear up to the end.” And the chamberlains walked with still greater dignity, as if they carried the train which did not exist.”

Note that these are district issued, tax payer funded cell phones, not employees personal cell phones.

You can read more details about the subject in the “Truth in Taxation Manual (PDF)” or the “Handbook for Texas Public School Districts Property Tax Collection and Administration (PDF)” (HTML) published by the Texas Comptroller. The text of the legal code allowing the LTISD to fleece the tax payers is found in Texas Tax Code – § 26.08 Election To Ratify School Taxes.

The Texas Comptroller also has an excellent web page regarding “adopt the correct tax rate” and school districts which says among other things:

“The tax rate is important only in that it reflects the relationship between a school district’s ability to tax (the tax base) and the school board’s financial decisions and policies.”

Our spendthrift school board discussed the “potential tax rollback election” during their June 9, 2009 Board Workshop and the topic is on the agenda again, for the June 18, 2009 Board Meeting and in the June 18, 2009 copy of BoardBook.

• Why does the district need more money?
• Why can’t the district cut back like everyone else?
• Why is everyone else feeling the effects of the economic down turn  and taking action, except the district and Rocky?

Remember, Rocky graciously took only 2% of the 4% pay raise he was entitled to take. Rocky makes $247,840 per year, not to mention his other contract “perks” and outside consulting.

• How many of the district’s tax payers took a pay cut or even suffered a job loss recently?

The June 18, 2009 BoardBook says:

“The current budget projects a $1.6 shortfall with a widening deficit in future years. The District has two more pennies of tax rate that are not subject to recapture (Robin Hood), providing for all the revenue generated to stay within the District. A rollback election is required to access these pennies.”

(I would assume that BoardBook contains a typo and that the “$1.6″ should be “$1.6 million” …)

When did we ever see anything about “budget cuts” in a Board agenda?

Note that being a property or business owner is not a pre-requisite to voting for increasing taxation.

Doesn’t this smack of “taxation without representation?”

“Our landholders, too, like theirs, retaining indeed the title and stewardship of estates called theirs, but held really in trust for the treasury, must wander, like theirs, in foreign countries, and be contented with penury, obscurity, exile, and the glory of the nation. This example reads to us the salutary lesson, that private fortunes are destroyed by public as well as by private extravagance.”

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Samuel Kercheval, June 12, 1816

Sex offender policy flawed, parents say

School security methods go hi-tech, but at what cost to our personal freedom?

Schools turn to technology to bolster their security–but will it help?

Community Update # 16

In a follow up comment to “Privacy lawsuit brought against sex offender background checks in schools” the commenter writes:

“I recently had an occasion to be at an elementary school (not in Texas) that uses this system. I was there during the school day for a Veterans’ Day assembly. I was providing instrumental music with four other musicians. I was the last to arrive and was taken directly to the room where we were to warm up. When I got there, I realized the other four musicians had been “screened” as they had sticker badges with their names and photos on them on their lapels. But somehow I was missed? Perhaps because the others are male and I am female? All I can say is, that a high-tech system is only as good as those in charge of using it. If those using it pick and choose who to screen based on perceived risk, it is not much good at all.“

I have seen the exact thing happen that is described above. Just this last week I attended an end of year awards ceremony where every parent I saw, including myself did not have a “visitor badge” resulting from being “scanned in.” Interesting …

EXACTLY what I have been saying all along. An “arbitrarily” implemented security system is worthless! Security systems are only as effective as they are consistently implemented. Kind of like having an alarm system in your house. It’s only effective if you turn it on every time you leave your house.

The LTSID neither uniformly nor consistently implements their own policies regarding their use of Raptor!

Then isn’t it discriminatory to force Yvonne Meadows to participate when so many others are not?!

Again, the LTISD is “consistently inconsistent!”

Good job Rocky! Go out and waste some more of our tax dollars defending the districts bungled implementation of a security system.

What’s next? How is it that all of these ugly issues have not only surfaced, but have been allowed to become catastrophes?

Seems like Rocky can’t effectively manage the district in the first place.

Instead of working to address, and correct problems before they become unwieldy nightmares, Rocky would rather spend your tax dollars on lawyers and PR campaigns such as Leadership Lake Travis.

If only Rocky could learn to “contain” problems before they explode in his face.

Obviously poor management skills. Perhaps Rocky could still take advantage of his ineptitude and use his blunders as consulting material for a class on “how not” to manage. Kind of like Susan Bohn teaching about public information requests.

How many other school districts the size of the LTISD have had as many problems like this?

Go out and spend good money on a security system, then spend money defending your mismanaged implementation, yes, that’s the LTISD!

The district doesn’t seem to care, its only your tax dollars they are flushing down the toilet.

The Austin American-Statesman writes all about it in “Lake Travis school board raises public information law questions.”

I really like the comment by the districts Minister of Disinformation:

“District spokesman Marco Alvarado said that the district’s lawyers believe that the posting complies with state law. “

-Austin American Statesman

If the district was relying on the opinion of Susan Bohn, they had better watch out! Can we say Grumbels fiasco?

This email which seems to involved the following individuals:

Nola Wellman (Superintendent, Eanes ISD)

Dawson Orr (Superintendent, Highland Park ISD)

Rocky Kirk (Superintendent, Lake Travis ISD)

Danny Modisette (Cambridge Strategic Services retired Plano ISD Deputy Superintendent)

Speaking of consulting, look at Danny’s picture from the 2007 announcement of his retirement and this current Cambridge Strategic Services picture:

Looks like two years of consulting hasn’t been too good for Danny.

Just what were all these people discussing and just why doesn’t Rocky “know how to behave?”

Is this a meeting where Cambridge Strategic Services is trying to get these three superintendents to do some “consulting” on the side? Just what brings these people together?

Interesting to say the least.

Well, at least some superintendents do keep their emails!

What else lies out there?

Hey, aren’t Rocky and Dawson Orr the highest paid superintendents (for the number of students in their district) in the state of Texas?

¹The TEA incorrectly lists someone other than Dawson Orr as the superintendent of the Highland Park ISD, but “Dr. Orr leaving WFISD” confirms that Dawson Orr’s salary is $271,731.

It must be so since the LTISD says so and they say “Lake Travis ISD lauds community support for use of Raptor visitor management system.” So it must be true?! Yeah, right!

“And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth. ‘Who controls the past’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’”

-George Orwell, 1984

If we look more into the question:

“Was this a problem in need of a solution, or was it a ’solution’ in search of a problem?”

If this solved a “real” problem, why then did Raptor Technologies, Inc. need to employ a lobbyist, Bradford T. Shields in order to get the state officially sanction, through legislation, the use of Raptorware?

(You can read more about Bradford T. Shields in “Connecting the Dots – Education … Attorneys … Lobbyists“)

The Texas Ethics Commission web site lists Bradford T. Shields as a lobbyist for Raptor Technologies, Inc. during the following years, they also include his reported “remuneration” for “services rendered:”

2005:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Amount: Less Than $10,000.00
Client – Start: 04/20/2005    Term Date: 12/31/2005

2006:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Amount: Less Than $10,000.00
Client – Start: 01/18/2006    Term Date: 12/31/2006

2007:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 – $49.999.99
Client – Start: 01/05/2007    Term Date: 12/31/2007

2008:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 – $49.999.99
Client – Start: 01/24/2008    Term Date: 12/31/2008

2009:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716

Shields, Brad II   (00056074)
208 West 14th St  Austin, TX 78701
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client – Start: 01/15/2009    Term Date: 12/31/2009

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 – $49.999.99
Client – Start: 01/15/2009    Term Date: 12/31/2009

Let’s see, using the numbers that were submitted to the Texas Ethics Commission, Bradford T. Shields made $75,000 – $170,000 to lobby the Texas Legislature on behalf of RaptorWare, aka Raptor Technologies, Inc.

Why does Raptor Technologies, Inc. use the name RaptorWare and an Austin address?

RaptorWare, P.O. Box 162925,  Austin, TX 78716

Isn’t Raptor Technologies, Inc. a Houston based company? Their own web site gives the following contact address:

631 West 22nd Street, Houston, Texas 77008

Also very interesting is the way in which Raptor Technologies, Inc. has registered themselves on the Internet. Here is a result of a “whois” query of “raptorware.com:”

I remember making a Texas Public Information Act Request asking the following:

“Any contracts, invoices, and payments between the LTISD and Raptor Technologies, Inc.“

Interesting, but the documents “responsive” to my request^TPIA do not include an actual “contract” between the LTISD and Raptor Technologies, Inc. Why not?

Does the district have a contract with Raptor Technologies, Inc?

You would think that the terms of:

Privacy, just who is responsible for the protecting the privacy of the information collected by Raptor Technologies, Inc? Don’t count on the LTISD for this!

Data use, just who will use the data and what will they be doing with it? Also, specifically, what data is collected and what justifies the use of each item collected?

Data ownership, just who “owns” the data that is collected?

Liability, just who is liable if and when the data is compromised? Raptor Technologies, Inc? LTISD?

Don’t you want to know the answers to these and other questions before you blindly turn your personal data over to a stranger?

Shouldn’t the district be required to spell out the terms of the data use, like every other government agency that holds your personal data?

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has not seen the terms of the contract before they let their personal information be harvested.

Just because “the school district says it’s ok” is reason enough to be suspicious, especially the LTISD with their checkered history.

Next we will look more into the Texas Legislature’s sanction of Raptor Technologies, Inc. with SB9 and the relationship of Bradford T. Shields, Raptor Technologies’ lobbyist.

Perhaps we should “follow the money” on this … straight from your tax payments.

We ultimately have to ask ourselves: “Was this a problem in need of a solution, or was it a ’solution’ in search of a problem?”

Finally, look at Texas Education Code § 38.002 and read what it really says:

“Sec. 38.022.  SCHOOL VISITORS.  (a)  A school district may require a person who enters a district campus to display the person’s driver’s license or another form of identification containing the person’s photograph issued by a governmental entity.

(b)  A school district may establish an electronic database for the purpose of storing information concerning visitors to district campuses.  Information stored in the electronic database may be used only for the purpose of school district security and may not be sold or otherwise disseminated to a third party for any purpose.

(c)  A school district may verify whether a visitor to a district campus is a sex offender registered with the computerized central database maintained by the Department of Public Safety as provided by Article 62.005, Code of Criminal Procedure, or any other database accessible by the district.

(d)  The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a policy regarding the action to be taken by the administration of a school campus when a visitor is identified as a sex offender.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1372, Sec. 12, eff. June 15, 2007.”

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. The law says that the district may require a visitor to DISPLAY their driver’s license. Note that no requirement to scan or archive their driver’s license information is mentioned.
2. The school district may establish an electronic database or the purpose of storing information concerning visitors to district campuses but § 38.002(b) neither specifies the storage of “driver’s license” data nor the storage of personal data.
3. § 38.002(c) says that the district may access the sex offender registered with the computerized central database maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Why don’t they? Why do the need to pay Raptor Technologies, Inc. for the privilege?

This request brings up many questions regarding our district’s use of Raptor’s V-SOFT.

Just what can the company, Raptorware, do with the data? Seems like they can do a lot if you read Texas Transportation Code 730.007.

Just how much of your personal information are you allowing Raptorware to use?

Doesn’t the district owe us all a copy of the terms of just what is being disclosed and how the data is being used BEFORE you give out your personal information?

Just who is responsible for the collected data? The LTISD or Raptorware? We already know that the LTISD has a history of incompetence with regard to confidentiality.

Let’s also look at some issues raised by this “Request for Attorney General Opinion:”

“TEX. TRANS. C ODE § 730.013(b) states that ”[a]n authorized recipient of personal information may resell or redisclose the information only for a use-permitted under Section 730.007″¹
Furthermore, TEX. TRANS. CODE § 730.013(b) states that “[a]ny authorized recipient who resells or rediscloses personal information obtained from an agency” must maintain for a period of not less than five years records as to any person or entity receiving that information and the permitted use for which it was obtained.” Similar language can be found in Title 18 U.S.C. § 2721(c) which states “[a]n authorized recipient of personal information…may resell or redisclose the information only for a use permitted under subsection (b).”² Title 18 U.S.C. § 2721(c) also requires an authorized recipient to maintain a record of “the permitted use for which [personal information] was obtained.” These provisions appear to limit redisclosure of a driver license photograph to a person who is permitted to obtain the information under TEX. TRANS. CODE § 730.007 and Title 18 U.S.C. § 2721.”

-RQ-0799-GA

Aren’t we entitled to review the terms, in simple english, regarding just what happens to the data used by Raptorware when your driver’s license is scanned and just who is responsible for the retention and security of the data?

Perhaps we should ask the district for a copy. Stay tuned …

Just ask for some emails from the district. Seems no one (especially Rocky) seems to keep emails. BTW: don’t ask for Rocky’s emails, ask for Linnea’s emails. All of Rocky’s emails apparently go through her.

The article “Email Archiving Requirements For Schools and Local Governments” (the entire text in Adobe Acrobat format may be requested at the bottom of this link’s page)  says:

“The newly revised Federal Rules of Civil Procedure define how email must be handled in federal court cases. Businesses tend to think that the FRCP focus is on interstate lawsuits. Schools and governments, however, also need to be concerned with emails relating to federally funded activities or any activity governed by federal legislation.”

“Unfortunately, the courts are taking a dim view of organizations that cite lack of resources as a reason for not meeting tight deadline requirements.”

“The newly revised Federal Rules of Civil Procedure call for an exhaustive search for all electronically stored information (ESI), including email, which is “in the possession, custody, or control of the party.” It must be disclosed “without awaiting a discovery request” (Rule 26(a)(1)). Privileged information, such as attorney-client communications, may be excluded.
Most legal experts believe that this provisions means that if even one member of the faculty, staff, administration, or Board has a copy of a relevant email on a laptop or home PC, then it is “in the possession, custody, or control of the party.” The email must be found quickly and disclosed.”

“However, the organization must put in place provisions to prevent the deletion of any document that could be relevant as evidence in the case. For example, companies must place a “litigation hold” on documents and email to prevent any evidence from being destroyed if litigation is “reasonably foreseeable.” Some good indicators that a litigation hold is required are as follows:

• A formal complaint, subpoena, or notification of a lawsuit is received.
• Somebody threatens litigation, even verbally by saying, “I am going to sue.”
• A regulatory or governmental body starts an investigation.
• An attorney or third-party investigator requests facts related to an incident or dispute.
• An incident takes place that results in injury.
• An employee makes a formal complaint to management, especially when related to personnel issues.”

I wonder if our district’s super duper General Counsel, Susan Bohn, is aware of all this? Somehow I doubt it.

See this map for the location from “The Canyons of Sweetwater” web site:

and here is a more detailed map obtained from an interesting web site: Neighbors in Paradise

Why do I mention this development?

No, I do not have any financial connection, but I did find something very interesting on their web site.

An earlier version of “The Canyons of Sweetwater” web site (which has since been removed), the developers said:

“On-Ground Schools

At The Canyons, you don’t have to go far to learn about the beauty of nature. And soon, you’ll be able to learn just about anything else. Our master plan includes the construction of an elementary school and high school. Your kids will be just a short walk, drive or pedal away from all their classes.”

They even had a link to the LTISD’s web site which also has since been removed. You can click on the text above and it will take you to an image of their earlier web page someone has uploaded.

Just how did these developers have such access to the LTISD’s plans or to boldly speak for the district in saying: “Our master plan includes the construction of an elementary school and high school?”

An elementary school? Possibly, but aren’t they jumping the gun a little bit?

How about the “fantasy” of a high school? Just when was this going to happen?

What I want to know is just how did they know about some land purchases by the district before the rest of us knew? Of course, they could have made it up, but why?

I now know more about the district’s legal expenses involving the Lazy9 MUD and now I see the connection between the “The Canyons of Sweetwater” and the Lazy9 MUD.

I have posted just one of many of the LTISD’s legal bills regarding the Lazy9 MUD. This one happens to be from September 2008.

The best part of this blog post are the comments by Dan who wrote:

“Sam: As someone who is considering relocating to the Lake Travis ISD, I would like to thank you for your candid comments.  As a father with children who would be attending Lake Travis high school, the apparent lack of commitment to educational priorities concerns me. Until now, I thought the incredibly high property tax rates reflected a strong desire by the community to create an educational system that put education first. But I have now regained some skepticism regarding the tax system, the appropriation of funds, and the decisions made by the Lake Travis ISD.  Add to this real estate values that approach those of both coasts and the apparent lack of foresight to manage Austin’s growth, and you get an Austin that might just be in over its head.

Now that’s a comment that find some trouble.”

And another comment from “Austin Realtor’s Wife” who wrote:

“You don’t have to post this comment Sam (unless you want to), I just want you to know that I am WITH you!!!

Back when I was at LTHS, the emphasis was put on the football program (which has yet to produce a notable college/pro player and won only ONE game my senior year).  I competed in many UIL competitions and we ALWAYS had to pay for our own hotels (debate), our own uniforms (cheerleading), our own supplies (yearbook) and they resorted to hiring bus drivers as substitutes to save a buck (this is no joke- this was in the 90s).

I am a HUGE football fan (you may have seen me at a recent LTHS homecoming football game), but there should most definitely NOT be more money pumped into anything non-academic.  LTHS has great teachers and could use many more. The football program is fine and will remain just fine on their over-inflated budget.

Great great expose, Sam! ”

Just some more people who are concerned about our high taxes and how the LTISD spends our tax dollars.

Authorize administration to negotiate and execute an agreement with Triton Financial, LLC, for the donation of artificial turf at the high school stadium.

March 27, 2008 LTISD Board Meeting Agenda

March 27, 2008 LTISD Board Meeting BoardBook

March 27, 2008 LTISD Board Meeting Minutes

Not only that, but the board needed to waive provisions of CDC(LOCAL) regarding sponsorship.

Well, the Board’s first mistake was to authorize Rocky and the rest of the administration to negotiate and execute an agreement. Letting Susan Bohn near anything like this is like giving a monkey a loaded gun and not expecting to get shot. Remember the Grumbels incident and how it was handled?

Well, they screwed it up alright, the generous donation offer fell through.

You can read all about the terms and conditions that the district tried to impose in documents obtained though the Texas Public Information Act.^TPIA

Looking though these documents I found something else that was interesting:

Gary Wrinkle’s name pops up. This time in an email from Jack Moss (Note: Kirk-Moss-Wrinkle triad) writing:

“I have attached the proposed drawing for the front gate to the stadium entrance. We would need this on both sides of the stadium, i.e. Home and Visitors. Originally when I was working on this Gary Wrinkle was going to do the iron work and at minimal charge or maybe no charge. I would have to ask him again. He is very good and does this type of work in many of the upscale homes in the area.”

And I thought that Gary Wrinkle was persona non grata with Rocky.

Note: The February 19, 2009 Austin American-Statesman article on this is no longer on the paper’s web site. You read the text of the article below:

“EDUCATION

Lake Travis High School coffee bar an early success

Growing number of high schools nationwide building cafeteria coffee bars.

By Molly Bloom
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, February 19, 2009

By 1 p.m., Lake Travis High School junior Erica Bonin was sipping her third Snickers-flavored Frapp from Main Street Java, the school’s in-house coffee bar.

Some days, she says, she’ll knock back four or five coffee-flavored shakes by the time the final bell rings.

“I hardly ever eat anything else,” Bonin said.

Some high schools in Texas and nationwide are building in-school coffee bars, enticed by the profits from the beverages, which are popular among teens, and by the premise that keeping coffee-drinking kids on campus will help them focus on their studies. Many of the ventures are a success, as measured by sales and student satisfaction, but some nutrition experts are questioning whether selling the often sugary caffeinated drinks in schools is good for students’ health.

Main Street Java opened in Lake Travis High’s newly renovated cafeteria at the start of the school year. Bastrop High School opened a coffee shop this school year, too, and Round Rock is planning to incorporate a student-operated coffee bar into its newest high school, planned to open in 2010.

Food service contractor Aramark has opened 15 in-school coffee shops nationwide since 2003, including three in the Dallas and Houston areas. Austin schools do not serve coffee to students, district spokeswoman Roxanne Evans said.

In Lake Travis, the inspiration for Main Street Java came from the sight of high school students strolling into morning classes with disposable coffee cups in hand, food and nutrition services director Barbara Galaway-Patrick said.

Lake Travis spent about $12,000 of the $2.9 million allotted for the high school cafeteria’s renovation to outfit the coffee shop with a stainless steel La Cimbali espresso machine, display cases for pastries, slick black counters and bar-height tables and stools, Galaway-Patrick said.

The investment has paid off, she said.

The coffee shop sells about $350-$500 a day in cappuccinos, lattes, organic teas, scones and other assorted goodies, accounting for about a sixth of the cafeteria’s total sales, Galaway-Patrick said. Students from the school’s business academy work in the cafe, which pays $8 to the academy’s activity fund for every hour students work.

The coffee shop’s top seller is the Snickers-flavored Frapp, a blended mixture of caramel, chocolate and hazelnut syrups, milk, a powdered dairy base, ice and, of course, a shot of espresso, all crowned with whipped cream and drizzled with more chocolate syrup.

A large Snickers Frapp, which is 20 ounces, has 402 calories, 12.5 grams of fat, 22 grams of sugar and about 60 milligrams of caffeine. By comparison, 20 ounces of Coca-Cola has about 243 calories, no fat, 65 grams of sugar and 58 milligrams of caffeine, according to the company. Also popular at the coffee shop are the cookie dough and cookies-and-cream Frapps. A large Frapp is $2.75, and a smaller 12-ounce Frapp is $2.15.

Teachers are usually the only customers for black coffee, Galaway-Patrick said.

District administrators thought about the merits of serving coffee to teenagers before deciding to open the coffee shop but figured that students were drinking coffee anyway, and an in-school coffee bar gives them a reason to be at school on time and gives them a safe place to socialize, Lake Travis High food and nutrition services manager LoraJeanne Blaker said.

Dr. Marcie Schneider, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on nutrition, said the in-school coffee bar sounds like a bad idea.

Though it’s unclear whether caffeine negatively affects teenagers’ developing neurological systems, Schneider said that for teens, as for adults, caffeine can raise heart rates and blood pressure, act as a diuretic, give drinkers a sense of hyperawareness and increase motor skills.

Some doctors recommend that teenagers have no more than 21/2 to 4 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram a day, Schneider said. That works out to about two cups of coffee for a 100-pound freshman.

Teenagers are less inclined than adults to rein in the impulse to have just one more cup of coffee, despite the side effects, said Schneider, who has a medical practice in Greenwich, Conn., that focuses on adolescents.

“For kids, for teenagers, there’s no reason to have caffeine,” she said. “From my perspective, kids can be drinking water, milk and orange juice fortified with calcium. There’s nothing else they really need.”

Lake Travis High School covers healthy lifestyles in health and physical education classes and offers a variety of healthy food options in its cafeteria. It also offers free workshops on nutrition, exercise and other health topics for parents. Because the school doesn’t participate in the National School Lunch Program, it is not subject to state laws that limit beverages, except milk, to 30 grams of sugar or less per eight ounces. State law caps drink serving sizes in schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program to less than 12 ounces but does not limit caffeine content.

Lake Travis parents have the option of barring their children from using money in their cafeteria accounts to buy coffee shop items. Only one parent has instituted a Frapp block, Galaway-Patrick said.

mbloom@statesman.com; 445-3620″

- Molly Bloom, “Lake Travis High School coffee bar an early success,” Austin American-Statesman, February 19, 2009.

On March 13, 2009, the Austin American-Statesman published this correction:

“In a story about coffee bars in high schools that appeared on Page One on Feb. 19, a Lake Travis High School student who claimed to drink as many as five coffee-flavored shakes a day falsely identified herself as Erica Bonin. School officials said they could not confirm the identity of the student who did speak with the reporter. Attempts by the Statesman to reach the student or her parents by phone have been unsuccessful.”

What does a “coffee bar” have to do with public education?

Just who made the decision to allow this and better yet (follow the money), who is profiting from this?

A “coffee bar” must be one of those things that just goes along with an “indoor athletic facility,” AKA: Multipurpose Facility.

By the way, have you ever heard of any organization other than the football team having access to this facility?

Has the band ever used it?

Makes you wonder about the term “multipurpose.”

Too bad the Board doesn’t hear the outrage.

1. But we should ask the Board, just what has Rocky done for the district that warrants this salary?
2. When compared to other districts our size and even larger, how does his salary compare to other superintendents and their accomplishements for their district?
3. Are we overpaying for what we get?

In this report they say:

“The weighted average teacher salary in responding districts is $47,305 for 2008–09, up 2.4 percent from the 2007–08 average salary of $46,178.”

Let’s see, the LTISD average teacher pay and increases since 1998 are¹:

“Administrators received the lowest average pay increase at 3.0 percent.”

The “administratium” heavy LTISD average administrator pay increases since 1998 are¹:

And let’s not forget the my friend, Rocky Kirk and his outrageous pay raises¹:

Wouldn’t our tax dollars be better spent paying the teachers more?

Now, let’s compare the average pay raises of the teachers, administrators and the superintendent of the LTISD¹:

But why does Rocky keep getting pay raises, even when private business executives are taking pay cuts?

I just wonder how much of a pay raise the teachers are going to get next year? I bet Rocky keeps on getting paid more.

¹Source TEA Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) and Standard Reports. Again, I must compliment the TEA on an excellent source of public information regarding the performance metrics, both academic and financial of the states schools.

Oh boy, it is filled with some very insightful information:

Rocky finds that his propaganda is not effective and a new strategy must be implemented:

“‘I found as I went around and spoke to various groups in the community that there was a shallow understanding of how the school district operates,’ says Superintendent Rocky Kirk.

To remedy the problem, Kirk and his administrative staff hit upon an idea to make advocates out of community leaders by engaging them in monthly seminars.”

Rocky wants to only gather those who have already “drunk the cool-aid” rather than convince skeptics:

“Says Kirk: `The motivation behind the program was to gather 20 to 25 people in the community who are friendly to the district and public education, and bring them together with administration to try and dig below the surface and answer whatever questions they might have.’”

Why is Rocky so wrapped up in people trusting him? Rocky says “trust me …” all the time. Makes you wonder …

“According to Kirk, after months of careful planning and preparation, the program emerged with the goals of building relationships, understanding, partnerships and trust. `We didn’t start with trust, because you have to build toward trust,’ Kirk explains.”

Even Rocky doesn’t have the follow through for his own project.  He asks the participants to attend, yet his interest wanes. Another indication of Rocky’s commitment or should I say lack thereof.

“Kirk and his senior staff attended every session during the inaugural series, but nowadays they take turns. `Logistically, getting busy people to commit to an eight-month endeavor was a challenge,’ Kirk says. `But I’ve just been amazed at the attendance rate and how seriously everyone takes it.’”

Even Jim Cummings becomes enlightened! Now we know why he didn’t run for re-election this year.

“Even Lake Travis ISD School Board President Jim Cummings had his moments of enlightenment.”

““I was blown away,” Cummings says. “Technology is changing the face of education.””

Rocky continues on his trust theme.

“Kirk adds that trust is at the root of these partnerships.

“No doubt if you don’t have trust within your organization, you’re not going to get much done,” he says. “Because of the complexity of running a school district and the political environment, if you don’t have trust within your community, then you really don’t have a foundation for moving forward.””

Finally we wrap full circle back to the purpose of Rocky’s plan:

““Sometimes people are hesitant to ask those hard questions of the administration and staff, but if they can talk to their neighbors, that’s pretty powerful,” Kirk says.”

Of course they are afraid to ask hard questions of the district, the district sues those who ask those hard questions. Who dares question the “brain trust!”

You know, this “Leadership Lake Travis” thing has been most “low key.”

Will the LTISD continue this “success” next year?

Will Rocky re-commit to only fizzle out again over time?

Again, another news opportunity for our overpaid superintendent Rocky Kirk to advance his cult of personality.

Only one press release?! Just why hasn’t our  Minister of Disinformation been pushing this at every party meeting?

I can only find 2 working links to “Leadership Lake Travis” on the district’s web site. (A third search link is broken, so much for effective communications through the Internet.)

1. The LTISD 2008-2009 District Improvement Plan
   
2. Rocky’s own bragging site where he only mentions such a significant successful program with so little fan fare. After reviewing Rocky’s bio page, you might wonder just what has he accomplished for the district and his salary?
   

“In 2007, the Superintendent launched the first class of Leadership Lake Travis, a district-initiated program designed to annually bring approximately 25 Lake Travis community members into a year-long district/community collaboration project built around the values of relationships, understanding, partnership and trust.”

(There he goes with that “trust” thing again. You keep getting the impression he doesn’t believe that he is trusted? Why?)

Marco should look at the history of those who have failed Rocky in the past. Perhaps it would be instructive for Marco to look back at another similar paranoid schizophrenic, Joseph Stalin.

As an example, notice how people were simply erased as though they never existed, at least until “De-Stalinization” took place.

One day your the confidant …	the next day, you never existed!

The Texas Business & Education Coalition (TBEC) prefaces their listing of their 2008 Honor Roll by saying:

“Too often, recognizing our public schools for academic achievement takes a back seat to winning championships on the athletic field. Also too often, the media seems to headline any event that has a negative slant, while rarely showcasing our many outstanding schools and their accomplishments.

The Texas Business & Education Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll recognizes schools for academic performance, and honors those students, teachers, principals, and superintendents who have won their championships in the classroom.”

-Texas Business & Education Coalition

Wow, did you catch: “Too often, recognizing our public schools for academic achievement takes a back seat to winning championships on the athletic field?”

If it weren’t for the recent football championships, what would the LTISD really have, other than an overpaid superintendent?

You can download the list of all schools who made the TBEC 2008 Honor Roll listed by Region or School Name.

Let’s see, here is the list of schools who did make the 2008 TBEC Honor Roll in Region 13 (LTISD is located in Region 13):

Television station KHOU had an interesting report on this subject on May 20, 2009. You can read their article and watch their video from their web site.

Better yet, the reporter interview the celebrated “common law” legal genius and lobbyist  J. David Thompson III. Of course since he makes a lot of money “placing” over paid superintendents, he thinks it’s just fine!

J. David Thompson III just loves to take in your hard earned and paid out tax dollars! He does it so easily, I guess he is a genius after all!

[See post to watch Flash video]

You know, after watching the report, it would appear that the Houston ISD superintendency is being vacated? Do you think that Rocky would be interested?

Another web site, National Center for Education Achievement, ranked all of the Lower Elementary Schools (K-2nd Grade), Upper Elementary Schools (3rd-5th Grade), Middle Schools and High Schools in Texas for 2008.

How did the LTISD fare compared to the rest schools of the state who made this ranking?

Lower Elementary Schools (K-2nd Grade) in ranking list: 481

LTISD schools making the list:

Higher Elementary Schools (3rd-5th Grade) in ranking list: 621

LTISD schools making the list:

Middle Schools in ranking list: 327

LTISD schools making the list:

High Schools in ranking list: 145

LTISD schools making the list:

Granted, you can’t might find a few cases of excess as outrageous as Rocky’s pay, but you will be hard pressed to find any!

Of the 950 reporting ISD’s in the state of Texas, Rocky’s salary ranks 23rd! Not bad (for Rocky that is) for a district with only 6145 students!

The only person who does better than Rocky (base on size of district) is Dawson Orr of the Highland Park ISD who makes $271,731 per year in a district with 6331 students. But I must to note, Dawson is a superintendent of an “exemplary” school district and the LTISD only become “recognized” last year, the first time it has achieved this rating under the Rocky’s regime.

Remember that Rocky said that he was going to make the LTISD “the most exemplary school district in Texas!” Note that Rocky’s brash claim has since been removed from the district’s web site. I wonder why?

Here is a list of the top 50 highest paid superintendents in Texas (for 950 reporting ISDs).

Note that on a $/student basis, Rocky ranks #2 in the state of Texas.

Just what makes Rocky’s salary so “exemplary” when the district is far from being rated “exemplary?”

I thought I would take the time to show that the LTISD, or should I say, the lawyers for the district,  made 113 requests. It was best to show reality before Susan Bohn goes out and blows that number up to 113,000 or more!

By the way, not all of those requests for an Attorney General’s opinion are related to my TPIA requests! Also, you should see just how many times the Attorney General ruled that the district may withhold all documents, hmm …

I have also gone to the trouble of providing the direct links to each of the Attorney General opinions issued to the districts requests (see below).

You can go to the AG’s web site directly and browse for others if you wish.

The Attorney General’s web site is a great resource for people who want to research and verify facts rather than believe some outrageous fiction.

	Attorney General’s Opinion Number
1	OR2005-01140
2	OR2005-08408
3	OR2005-09655
4	OR2005-10360
5	OR2005-10471
6	OR2005-10910
7	OR2005-11535
8	OR2006-00194
9	OR2006-00473
10	OR2006-00711
11	OR2006-00965
12	OR2006-01212
13	OR2006-01546
14	OR2006-01915
15	OR2006-02674
16	OR2006-02748
17	OR2006-03660
18	OR2006-03869
19	OR2006-03935
20	OR2006-04797
21	OR2006-05068
22	OR2006-06024
23	OR2006-06054
24	OR2006-06098
25	OR2006-06746
26	OR2006-08109
27	OR2006-09202
28	OR2006-09268
29	OR2006-10089
30	OR2006-10099
31	OR2006-10205
32	OR2006-10519
33	OR2006-10904
34	OR2006-11076
35	OR2006-11301
36	OR2006-11507
37	OR2006-11695
38	OR2006-11968
39	OR2006-12207
40	OR2006-12493
41	OR2006-12700
42	OR2006-13540
43	OR2006-13872
44	OR2006-13917
45	OR2006-14124
46	OR2006-14341
47	OR2006-14471
48	OR2006-14584
49	OR2006-14844
50	OR2006-15063
51	OR2006-15106
52	OR2007-00060
53	OR2007-00356
54	OR2007-00463
55	OR2007-00611
56	OR2007-00738
57	OR2007-01168
58	OR2007-01857
59	OR2007-02590
60	OR2007-03023
61	OR2007-03314
62	OR2007-05348
63	OR2007-05688
64	OR2007-07083
65	OR2007-07971
66	OR2007-08599
67	OR2007-08692
68	OR2007-08692A
69	OR2007-10280
70	OR2007-10828
71	OR2007-11741
72	OR2007-11858
73	OR2007-12294
74	OR2007-12398
75	OR2007-12441
76	OR2007-13034
77	OR2007-13356
78	OR2007-13477
79	OR2007-13677
80	OR2007-13679
81	OR2007-13813
82	OR2007-13889
83	OR2007-13951
84	OR2007-15037
85	OR2007-15630
86	OR2007-16796
87	OR2008-01173
88	OR2008-01280
89	OR2008-02144
90	OR2008-02305
91	OR2008-02341
92	OR2008-02423
93	OR2008-02446
94	OR2008-03888
95	OR2008-04478
96	OR2008-05590
97	OR2008-06260
98	OR2008-07547
99	OR2008-09975
100	OR2008-13303
101	OR2008-14449
102	OR2008-15960
103	OR2008-16150
104	OR2008-17398
105	OR2009-00212
106	OR2009-00304
107	OR2009-00346
108	OR2009-00577
109	OR2009-00590
110	OR2009-00914
111	OR2009-01049
112	OR2009-01194
113	OR2009-01443

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