Most intriguing of all was the comment made by one of the readers mentioning the relationship of Silverton Homes and Jim Cummings (former LTISD Board member) and the LTISD:

PaulHarvey says:
July 3, 2010 at 11:08 am

Lets see here…Briarcliff area is denied a LTISD built school for 15 years even though property is owned by LTISD at the corner of Old Ferry Rd and Pace Bend Park Rd. Former LTISD Trustee Jim Cummings is another (unmentioned) owner of Silverton Homes who has long been suspected of having an unfair advantage of where schools would be located so land could be bought close by, thus an easy sale for Silverton (note Serene Hills Elem proximity to Lakeway Elem). See the connection?

-Lake Travis View, “Dig Willie Nelson? Well here’s your chance to be his neighbor”

I wanted to verify the statements made by “PaulHarvey” and here are some interesting answers:

“Briarcliff area is denied a LTISD built school for 15 years even though property is owned by LTISD at the corner of Old Ferry Rd and Pace Bend Park Rd.”

I have not been able to verify that the district has owned the property for 15 years, but I did discover that indeed the LTISD owns a 17.28 acre lot on the corner of Old Ferry Road and Pace Bend Road (FM HWY 2322) worth $982,800 according to the Travis County Appraisal District (Property ID Number: 448046  Ref ID2 Number: 05560301090000).

Click for larger plat map image

“Former LTISD Trustee Jim Cummings is another (unmentioned) owner of Silverton Homes”

According to records at the Texas Secretary of State’s office, Jim Cummings is the President of Silverton Custom Homes and Michael Grimm is the Vice President. Also, according to these records, Jim Cummings incorporated Silverton Custom Homes, Inc. in January 1993.

The Lake Travis View article mentioned Michael Grimm but it did not mention Jim Cummings. The documents from the Secretary of State only show Michael Grimm’s name appearing on documents filed after 2004.

By the way, Jim Cummings said:

“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

Interesting …

Just look at what happened after Kim Eudy left the board.

Wouldn’t you  say that “PaulHarvey” makes some interesting observations?!

Susan Bohn, who handles all of my TPIA request with the district, neglected to redact the social security number of a former district employee.

I suppose that Susan Bohn’s “expertise” in the Texas Public Information Act come at the expense of knowing about confidentiality matters?

Unfortunately this was the first time that Susan Bohn or the district (remember Susan Tolles violation?) did something so careless.

Makes you wonder how someone so incompetent can continue to receive such lavish pay raises and promotions. Promotions to positions in which they are so unqualified. Just what was Rocky Kirk thinking?

Both Susan Bohn and Rocky Kirk will keep dancing their way to the bank at our expense.

You should read the entire article, it is very interesting. Here are the first few paragraphs to get you started:

“If you were depressed by last Sunday’s discussion in this space of the fact that Texas students could pass the TAKS test with scores as low as 44 percent, consider this:

Even with such low standards, the Texas Education Agency decided to rate hundreds of Texas schools and scores of Texas districts as “academically acceptable” last year — the lowest “passing” category – by counting thousands of students who flunked the TAKS as passing it.

This academic alchemy was achieved through a statistical exercise called the “Texas Projection Measure.”

This complex formula, based on statewide TAKS scores from the year before, is said to identify students who failed this year but are likely to pass next year. Or maybe the year after that. Or possibly the year after that.”

- “Lies, damn lies and magic statistics,” Rick Casey, Houston Chronicle, June 21, 2010

Be sure to read the comments about the article as well.

After reading this article, it makes you want to ask just how well did the LTISD really do this last year? Academically that is.

Even with inflated numbers, the LTISD could only pull out “Academically Acceptable” (again), yet Rocky Kirk’s pay keeps on sky rocketing. Let’s not forget the sky rocketing pay of our Deputy Superintendent, Susan Bohn who will probably get another pay raise real soon.

Surprisingly, you would expect a Deputy Superintendent to require some sort of education and certainly education administration certification? I don’t think that a teaching certification in dance would be considered adequate, but this is the LTISD and Rocky Kirk decided it so, bizarre as it might be.

I am sure that the Board will rubber stamp any of Rocky Kirk’s decisions regarding changes to Susan Bohn’s contract. Stay tuned for further developments …

This is yet another law firm that the district is going to “engage” even though the district has it’s own General Counsel. Remember how the Board said that they were going to use Susan Bohn to save money on their self inflicted legal costs? So much for that.

Well, come to find out, Ron Eudy, husband of ex-board member Kim Eudy is an attorney who works at Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C.

Coincidence?

Have you ever wondered if Ron and Kim Eudy’s political campaign contributions to Board members campaigns and public political endorsements  have had any influence on this decision? Doesn’t this smack of an ethical issue? Makes you wonder …

Ron and Kim Eudy

Next thing you know, the district will be hiring Mayo Davidson as another legal counsel. You laugh, but as we can see from Susan Bohn’s recent promotion, anything is possible!

Mayo Davidson has some experience with the Texas Bar regarding ethics. Perhaps Mayo Davidson could advise Ron Eudy on ethics? Experience is the best teacher, right Mayo?

The Lake Travis Crier posts an article “A church recruits in the school cafeteria?” which questions if it is true that:

“In April, it seems that a local church was allowed to set up a table in the Lake Travis High School cafeteria for the purpose of recruiting new members. “

This would not happen to be related to the Lake Hills Church?

Interesting …

Where is Marco Alvarado’s press release?

Interestingly the LTISD improved over their ranking last year coming in as 862 among 1622 of the nations highest ranked high schools in the 2010 rankings.

This year 126 Texas schools were included in Newsweek’s ranking.

Let’s compare several Austin area ranked schools with the salary of their superintendent for some further insight:

¹: Data from TEA 2009-2010 Superintendent Salary Reports

Look, our overpaid superintendent, Rocky Kirk has no bearing on the performance of the district. In fact, you could easily say that other school districts are getting much better value for their money!

A recent comment on the subject published in the Bee Cave Bee says:

“Westwood at 90, L.C. Anderson at 321, and Bowie at 820.McNeil at 525. Seems that other not so wealthy districts are doing better than Lake Travis. But then, we do great in sports.”

-“Barry  - Lets dont forget the others,” Bee Cave Bee, “LTHS among top in country”

I know, Rocky can send out Deputy Superintendent Susan Bohn to “dance around the subject” for him. Dance is one of Susan Bohn’s only education related certifications, other than “Social Studies.”

Talk about crazy! Just what are Susan Bohn’s qualifications and experience to be the Deputy Superintendent? Something isn’t right here and eventually we’ll find out.

It was an act of Rocky Kirk, so I guess that would explain it? Good management and personnel decisions always elude Rocky.

Did Rocky Kirk do this out of desperation or necessity?

You can read the rest of the press release in Lake Travis View’s article announcing this wacky promotion. It is pretty much a carbon copy of the district’s press release. Surprisingly the district’s press release seems to have disappeared from their web site. Never fear, I have archived a copy.

With the departure of Diane Frost, attorney Susan Bohn has been promoted to deputy superintendent of the Lake Travis Independent School District.

That’s the word from Dr. Rocky Kirk, who said the decision was part of a restructuring at LTISD. Last week, Frost designated by the Corsicana ISD Board of Trustees as their lone superintendent finalist.

“The deputy superintendent position and all of the responsibilities it holds is critically important to the successful operation of the District,” said Kirk. “Fortunately, we are able to re-direct these duties internally among staff already in place, rather than searching District for this position. In doing so, we get the dual benefit of lowering administrative costs while taking advantage of the skills, abilities and competencies of talented staff within our own ranks.”

Susan Bohn, currently LTISD General Counsel, will assume the title of Deputy Superintendent and General Counsel. In this role, Bohn will provide leadership to campus principals as well as to numerous administrative functions of the District including communications, community programs, extracurricular programs, and human resources.

-Lake Travis View, May 8, 2010

I like the comments that were made in response to the Lake Travis View article, it seems I am not the only one who ponders this imponderable act:

May 9, 2010 at 9:33 am
What qualifies a social studies teacher who becomes a lawyer and then accepts a job at an ISD to basically handle David Lovelace (and even botches that up requiring 3rd party outside legal counsel) to become the second in command? Those that keep up with the ISD know this is true. Those of you that don’t, take a closer look.

May 13, 2010 at 8:47 am

Oh yeah, lets get some more lawyers in the school district. I am sure they will play an important role in improving education. Why not hire someone to promote better teacher websites, maybe a better math and science program, and better communication. Looks like we are in for more years of poor performance.

May 15, 2010 at 12:02 pm

It is an exciting time for the district? Seriously? It terrifies me. I would love to see the actual financial numbers that show they are saving administrative costs. It looks to me like they are merely adding administrative costs with every administrator they add to the ivory tower. It’s ridiculous. ConcernedParent is right about outside legal counsel. Those bills are already way high and now they will be even worse. Is the board of trustees paying any attention at all to what is happening? Why would a superintendent ever think that a lawyer who taught briefly was qualified to lead principals. What administrative experience does she have? It’s not unconventional it’s laughable. Someone should take a look at how dramatically her salary has increased since she started in Lake Travis. Is ANYONE wondering about this expense?

May 30, 2010 at 8:04 am

They were able to save so much on administrate cost, after the restructuring they gave pay raises to the already over paid administrative staff. Tell me how that is saving the tax payers of LTISD money?

June 1, 2010 at 10:59 am

Disgusted Taxpayer is on the right path. They aren’t saving us a dime of OUR money but rather “redistributing it” and the problem is that the Top 10% of the food chain (admin) gets it all. Whats needed is a taxpayer revolt at the polls the next time they try to paint a bleak and gloomy picture of their financial shape and force them to make do with what the rest of us have to live with. Please don’t let them sing that “Its for the Kids” jargon either….Its for overpaid and under worked Administrators, period! Go check their salaries out

-Lake Travis View, 6/6/2010

Let’s look at some of Susan Bohn’s qualifications for the job as Deputy Superintendent. According to State Board for Educator Certification records, Susan K. Bohn¹ holds the following educator certifications:

¹Verification of Susan’s name required more research. Susan K. Bohn’s (DOB: 5/2/1973) maiden name was Susan Melanie Kolar until her marriage in 2002 (File Number: 164161, 11/23/2002, Harris County). She goes by the name of Susan Kolar Bohn.

Note that Susan Bohn does not hold any administrative certifications. But I am more than certain that Susan’s certification in “Secondary Dance” will more than make up for her lack of administrative experience. Why didn’t the district’s press release mention that?

We are informed all about Susan Bohn’s educational background related to her law degree, but we don’t know anything about her background related to teaching?

Just what educational management experience does Susan Bohn have?

How long did Susan Bohn teach Secondary Dance and/or Secondary Social Studies before embarking on her legal career?

So many questions, so few answers.

I wonder how all of the principals and staff feel about being subordinate to an unqualified and inexperienced Deputy Superintendent?

Let’s look at Susan Bohn’s history with the district. The following pictorial view will aid us.

It would appear on the surface that Susan Bohn has done VERY well with a pay raise of $43,873 (+46%) between November 2006 through at least April 2010 (less than 4 years), but it looks like the job is getting to her.

Among other things, the article tells us something we already know about here at the LTISD:

“As the school year ends, school board members across Texas are heading to class.

Their lessons are board training sessions, some of which will teach them to put aside personal agendas, support their superintendents, and embrace the idea that board members and the superintendents make up a team. Their teachers are often education consultants, mostly former superintendents and trustees.

“You want to do everything you can to make your superintendent successful,” one such consultant told the Plano school board recently. “Governance is hard work.”

Though the class time is state-mandated, the content is not. So, it’s unclear just how many Texas trustees will hear the message the Plano trustees got. But plenty will, former school board members say, and the results aren’t always in the public’s best interest.

They say the mind-set encouraged by the training can squelch public debate, hurt accountability, and discourage trustees from working for the voters in their geographic districts.

“The training is designed to help make it easier for the superintendents to function,” said Fiona Sigalla, a former trustee in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district.

Ron Price, a former Dallas ISD trustee said: “It’s a great program to train boards how to be a rubber stamp. But it’s not a good program for board members to represent your constituents.”

He said, “Many school board members across the country call it a brainwashing session.”

- Matthew Haag, The Dallas Morning News, June 1, 2010

The article forgot to mention that it would only help you if you stack the board with members of your own church.

How interesting …

I have obtained another 654 pages of public documents^TPIA giving more details as to just what happened at the Van Alstyne Elementary School, accessible from the links below.

Allison’s grievance to the Van Alstyne ISD Board and their response, Part 1^TPIA

Allison’s grievance to the Van Alstyne ISD Board and their response, Part 2^TPIA

Allison’s discrimination complaint filed with the Texas Workforce Commission and the settlement that ensued, Part 1^TPIA

Allison’s discrimination complaint filed with the Texas Workforce Commission and the settlement that ensued, Part 3^TPIA

Allison’s discrimination complaint filed with the Texas Workforce Commission and the settlement that ensued, Part 4^TPIA

Allison’s notice of Intent to Terminate her Probationary Contract, emails, supporting documents etc. (This is the most interesting section of documents), Part 1^TPIA

Allison’s notice of Intent to Terminate her Probationary Contract, emails, supporting documents etc. (This is the most interesting section of documents), Part 2^TPIA

Copy of the investigation into the issues surrounding the incident, written by the attorney hired to investigate the matter for the Van Alstyne ISD^TPIA

Here is the bottom line as I read it:

The incident involving Allison Cobb and her contract non-renewal at the Van Alstyne ISD was quite a three ring circus.

Allison Cobb’s contract was not being renewed by the Van Alystyne ISD. Instead of owning up to her failures, Allison wrapped herself in the cloak of religious persecution. It is hard to see just what persecution took place other than Allison referring to some staff members as “adulterers” and “abortionists.”

How about the robot phone call from Alex? Wonder if Alex used the Lake Hills phone directory for that too?

Wouldn’t this be a violation of the law regarding Charities, Churches and Politics and their tax exempt status?

Just who’s agenda is being advanced here? Alex Alexander’s? Rocky Kirk’s? The Lake Hills church?

What would the IRS think about this?

You can read more about tax exempt organizations and the restrictions that apply to their involvement in political activities at the IRS web site.

“The Internal Revenue Service gives serious consideration to complaints made alleging the abuse of the tax exempt status granted to certain organizations.”

See the IRS web page: IRS Complaint Process For Tax Exempt Organizations to learn how to go about filing a complaint.

Documents obtained from the Texas Secretary of State show that the Lake Hills Church is registered as a Texas Non-Profit corporation and the Lake Hills church claims to be incorporated as a 501(c)(3) entity:

By the way, we now know from their own statements and/or various documents that the following LTISD board members as well as the Superintendent, Rocky Kirk, are associated with the Lake Hills church:

Guy Clayton
Jason Buddin
Alan Williams
Rocky Kirk

Interesting!

Looks like it took Alex Alexander to openly use the resources of the Lake Hills church to help bring this all to light.

Let’s see how Alex might have violated the restrictions imposed by 501(c)(3):

Emails authored by Alex (sent out to 51 addresses) soliciting support for his campaign as late as April 24, 2010:

From: Alex Alexander <aalexander@lhc.org>
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:49:16
Subject: Alex Alexander Campaign

Dear Friend,

You may, or may not, be aware that I am running for LTISD School Board Place 3.  I am really excited about the opportunity to serve our community in this capacity, but can’t do it without you. I would love to have your vote.

I have attached a flier that includes information about me and my campaign. You can also find more info at my website – www.AlexForLTISD.com <http://www.alexforltisd.com/>

Early voting begins this Monday, April 26th at the Randall’s located on 620 and continues through May 4th. Election Day is May 8th.

Thanks for your consideration,

Alex

–
Alex Alexander
Pastor of Family Life
www.lhc.org <http://www.lhc.org>
twitter.com/pastoralex <http://twitter.com/pastoralex>
alexalexander.wordpress.com <http://alexalexander.wordpress.com>

Alex’s Facebook campaign web site, current as of April 28, 2010:

Update:

I guess that Alex reads my web site as well. Today (April 28, 2010) he decided to no longer use the resources of a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit corporation to advance a political agenda and changed his contact email address on his campaign Facebook page.

Apparently all of the discussion about Alex’s use of a supposedly tax exempt organization’s resources to actively campaign caused him to change his campaign web page on April 27, 2010:

Sure looks like active political campaigning on the part of an organization that is supposed to stay away from such activities so as to enjoy a tax exempt status?

Later I asked Alan Williams where he obtained my private number and he told me that Alex Alexander gave it to him. Why would Alan Williams use my private number since my home phone number is public? This bodes an even more interesting question, why would Alex do this?

Alex was given my private number when he collaborated with Rocky Kirk in Rocky’s latest prank feigning remorse for his mis-deeds.

I gave private information to Alex in confidence and yet he felt free to give it out. Just what else does Alex feel free to discuss?

I guess if you are giving out private information to board members and/or who are also members of your church, it’s OK?

Is it true that Alex is now using emails obtained as a Lake Hills minister for his political campaign? At least one of the 51 recipients of Alex’s latest political email believes this was the case and wrote this response to Alex:

“I don’t think it is appropriate for you to use an email address in a political campaign that you obtained in your position as a Lake Hills pastor.”

Talk about your conflict of interest: Alex even sends out his political emails from his Lake Hill Church email address!

From: Alex Alexander <aalexander@lhc.org>
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:49:16
Subject: Alex Alexander Campaign

Dear Friend,

You may, or may not, be aware that I am running for LTISD School Board Place 3.  I am really excited about the opportunity to serve our community in this capacity, but can’t do it without you. I would love to have your vote.

I have attached a flier that includes information about me and my campaign. You can also find more info at my website – www.AlexForLTISD.com <http://www.alexforltisd.com/>

Early voting begins this Monday, April 26th at the Randall’s located on 620 and continues through May 4th. Election Day is May 8th.

Thanks for your consideration,

Alex

–
Alex Alexander
Pastor of Family Life
www.lhc.org <http://www.lhc.org>
twitter.com/pastoralex <http://twitter.com/pastoralex>
alexalexander.wordpress.com <http://alexalexander.wordpress.com>

This leads us to an interesting question:

Where is the line between political ambition and Alex’s responsibilities as a minister?

Just how many current and/or former members of the LTISD Board are members of the Lake Hills church?

Just what is Alex’s political agenda or is it Rocky’s?

Who will Rocky get to go out and do his dirty work now?

Diane said as far back as August 2006:

“Our goal is to be exemplary. We realize that until we have recognized and then exemplary status, we have not met our goal as a district,” said Diane Frost, Lake Travis’ assistant superintendent for administrative services.”

I guess Diane figured out Rocky was never going to deliver on his exaggerated promise  “to be the most exemplary school district in Texas!”

The Corsicana Daily Sun reports that Dr. Diane Frost, LTISD Deputy Superintendent is leaving the district?

April 22, 2010
Frost named lone finalist

From Staff Reports Corsicana Daily Sun

Corsicana — Dr. Diane Frost, deputy superintendent of the Lake Travis Independent School District, was named the lone finalist Thursday for the superintendent’s post at the Corsicana Independent School District.

Frost has been in education for over 25 years, serving previously in her career as a special education teacher, coach, and administrator.

Frost earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Athens State College in Alabama and a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee. She obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Texas. Prior to beginning her tenure in Lake Travis ISD in 2006, Dr. Frost served as interim superintendent for Carroll ISD in Southlake, Texas.

Read more on Dr. Frost and the board’s decision later tonight on our online newspaper, and in the Friday print edition of the Daily Sun.

- Corsicana Daily Sun, April 22, 2010

It looks like Diane is hitting the eject button and letting the rest of them endure the fiery heat of reentry!

Perhaps it should have read: “Buddin, Williams fiscally responsible? Not hardly”

Patrick writes an excellent letter reminding  the voters and tax payers of the district of the financial condition of the LTISD and of the positions taken by both Buddin and Williams to the problem:

To the editor:

Before we re-elect Jason Buddin and Alan Williams to the LTISD board, everyone please recall a little recent history. On Aug. 6, 2009, both these incumbents approved of a budget that was in the red by $1.8 million dollars. Apparently they thought voters would rubber-stamp a “small” tax increase to cover the deficit spending. The November 2, 2009 election revealed otherwise as 60% of the voters killed the proposed tax increase. Lo and behold, then the school board found ways to balance the budget.

Any claim by Buddin and Williams to he “fiscally responsible” is demonstrably false. Fiscally responsible leaders do not spend more money than they have available. If these incumbents are re-elected, no one should be surprised to see continued excessive spending. Everyone should expect further attempts to raise taxes. They did it before and they will do it again.

LTISD voters, you’ve been warned. If you voted against last year’s attempted tax increase, you should also vote against any board member who wants to fool you into giving them another chance.

Patrick Watson
Hamilton Pool Road

-Lake Travis View, Letters to the Editor, April 15, 2010

Remember, both Buddin and Williams were supporters of the “2 Penny PAC” which wanted to extract more tax dollars from us?

Doesn’t sound very “fiscally conservative” does it?

It might be a good time to remind everyone that three of these candidates running for election to the LTISD Board of Trustees, Alex Alexander, Jason Buddin and Alan Williams supported the recently defeated plan by the district to coerce more money out of tax payers.

Isn’t Jason Buddin on the Board of Directors of the Lake Travis Republican Club? I would only assume that would mean that Jason is a Republican? How can a supposed business man and Republican back any tax increase?

I might also remind you that both Jason Buddin and Alan Williams have voted to increase the salary of Rocky Kirk, the district’s Superintendent. Recently, during a “special called meeting” of the LTISD Board, both Jason Buddin and Alan Williams voted to “re-arrange” Rocky’s compensation. Reading this peculiar “change” to Rocky Kirk’s contract sounds foreboding. Perhaps a way of hiding another of Rocky’s undeserved pay raises?

“Austin teachers are better compensated than other Central Texas teachers, according to an Austin ISD report to be presented to trustees tonight.

A beginning Austin teacher receives $3,276 more than the average beginning teacher salary in other Central Texas school districts, taking Austin ISD’s 6.2% FICA contribution into account. An Austin teacher with ten years of experience makes $1,404 more than the average ten-year teacher salary in other Central Texas school districts, again, taking the district’s FICA contribution into account.

In fact, Austin teachers at all levels of experience are better compensated than teachers in nearly every other Central Texas school district, when the district’s FICA contribution is taken into account, according to the report. The only teachers who make more are those with 20+ years of experience in Eanes ISD and 15-25 years of experience in Lake Travis ISD.”

Sadly they did not mention the outrageous compensation of the LTISD’s highly overpaid superintendent Rocky Kirk.

Why does the Lake Travis ISD have such a disconnect between those who make the “rubber meet the road,” the district’s teachers, and those who just talk? I seem to  remember Rocky boasting about making the LTISD “the most exemplary school district in Texas!” Yet Rocky “leads” the school district to another year of “Academically Acceptable.”

When was the last time that Rocky Kirk visited one of the district’s campuses?

Speaking of overpaid fools, how about the $10,000 pay raise doled out to the LTISD’s General Counsel, Susan Bohn? Just what has she done for such an unwarranted pay raise, especially in today’s economy? I doubt that merit has anything to do with it. Why does the district keep paying out for all those outside lawyers, doesn’t the district have their own in house  “General Counsel?” Just what does Susan Bohn do?

Do you see a pattern here?

Why aren’t these administrators taking pay cuts? Obviously the LTISD Board of Trustees doesn’t understand the concept of performance based compensation.

Don’t you see lots of opportunity to make significant budget cuts and not impact the quality of education in the district? In fact, the quality of education in the district would most likely improve!

We keep paying more and more in taxes and yet there are some who are laughing all the way to the bank with our money.

“To the editor:

This is the fourth year I have judged at the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair, and the fourth year that schools from the Lake Travis Independent School District were not represented.

For a school district with such a high number of educated and wealthy parents not to have their school district represented at this event is unimaginable. As I interview a 10th grader from Bowie High School who has a project about using electromagnets to dampen the vibration of structures, I wonder why I am not interviewing a student from Lake Travis High School.

I encourage all parents of science minded students to contact the LTISD administration, school principals, and members of the school board and ask why the LTISD does not offer an optional science fair program. We highly support football, basketball, cheerleading, drama, and music programs, why not a science program.

By the way, there are three school board positions to be voted on this year. Before you cast your ballot, ask the candidates if they would support a science program.

The Austin American-Statesman had an article with pictures about the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair 2010 on Feb. 26. The article can be accessed on my web site “HamilCooper.com“. Click on Science Fairs and you will find it and other information.

Hamil Cooper
Lakeway”

Science? What does science have to do with a three time championship football team?

Just how did this happen if the school district had been enforcing their own rules? The 2009-2010 LTHS Student/Parent Handbook & Code of Conduct says:

ELECTRONIC DEVICES CELL PHONES, PAGERS, PDA’S
For safety purposes, the district permits students to possess telecommunications devices, including mobile cell phones; however, these devices must remain turned off during the instructional class time, including during all testing. The use of cell phones in locker rooms or restroom areas at any time while at school is strictly prohibited. A student who uses a telecommunications device during instructional class time shall have the device confiscated. The [student/parent] may pick up the confiscated telecommunications device from the assistant principal’s office for a fee of $15. Confiscated telecommunications devices that are not retrieved by the student or student’s parents will be disposed of after the notice required by law.

According to the news articles about the incident:

“According to a search warrant affidavit, an assistant principal found more than 150 pictures on a cell phone …”

150 pictures?! Now that is a lot of photography. We should also note that the photographs “were of clothed girls.”

A recent comment by someone posted on the Lake Travis View web site makes a very interesting observation:
“This is the dumbest and scariest thing I have ever read! A teenage boy arrested for taking pictures of fully clothed girls. I did not even realize taking photos of people without thier consent was against the law!
Since this is evidently true, I suggest no more photos be taken at football games (like the ones on the right). And for heavens sakes don’t take pictures at a basketball game where you might get an unsuspecting students fully clothed body in the photo! You will get arrested and charged with a felony!”

But to take 150 photographs would mean that the student was obviously using his cell phone a lot, even during “instructional class time?”

In fact the student was caught by another student during “instructional class time” according to the sheriff’s deputies:

“…he photographed a girl from behind during class, according to deputies”

Why does the district even allow students to have phones? They claim its “for safety purposes.” But who’s safety? If you need to communicate with your child, couldn’t you just call the school office? Does this mean that the district doesn’t know where your child is located?

Doesn’t this place another burden on the teachers to simultaneously “police” the use of electronic devices and deliver educational instruction?

Let’s face it, the district is hopelessly inept, the LTISD issued a computer to my son that included photographs of Heidi Gudelman’s (Principal of the Lake Pointe Elementary School) Las Vegas vacation.

Reality tells us that a recent “QuickNews” email from the district about the “inappropriate photography” incident can’t be true.

“The LTHS administration will continue to take all appropriate and necessary measures to safeguard our students and communicate with our parent community.”

If this were true, the district would have enforced their own rules and then this incident would never have happened.

Now if all this isn’t enough, the school district is allowing middle schoolers to use “music playing devices” at school.

My son recently brought home this permission form allowing him to use a music device at school.

Note that the 2009-2010 Middle School Student/Parent Handbook & Code of Conduct says:

Cell Phones, Cameras, and Other Electronic Devices
Students are not permitted to possess such items as, I-pods, CD players, tape recorders, other digital musical players, camcorders, DVD players, cameras, electronic devices or games at school, unless prior permission has been obtained from the principal.  Without such permission, teachers will collect the items and turn them in to the principal’s office.  The principal will determine whether to return items to students at the end of the day or to contact parents to pick up the items.

What brought about this change?

We need to ask the school district some questions:

Why do students need these additional distractions at school?

How does allowing these “music devices” enhance the educational benefit of the students? Does this help to elevate the LTISD above “academically acceptable?” How does this help Rocky Kirk make the LTISD “the most exemplary school district in Texas?”

How does the district think they can control the use of these devices? The district has already demonstrated that they can’t  or won’t enforce their own rules, so what changed? Can the district ensure that these “music devices” which are often “multi-use” devices will not be used to take “improper photos?”

How does this impact the teachers who are already spending time preparing, teaching and disciplining their classrooms?

Joe goes on to say:

“I even posed these numbers to a few groups of administrators and received comments such as: “…it’s the economy,” “…changes in TRS are having impact,”  “…it is because the 907 school districts at or above $1.04 tax rate; they are all at the wall”.

I call this issue the “less green grass theory” – When the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence, there is no reason to go there.”

Interesting. Then Rocky Kirk has truly found his gold mine here and won’t be leaving soon! I doubt anyone else would hire Rocky with his track record of “academically acceptable” ratings.

“For years, “Recognized” and “Exemplary” have been used as bragging rights by school districts across Texas and in Kerr County, but those terms soon will be a thing of the past as the Texas Education Agency re-vamps and simplifies its district rating system.

A two-tier “acceptable” or “unacceptable” rating system will replace the current multi-level rating system starting in 2012, after the implementation of new statewide standardized testing.”

Rocky Kirk should be rejoicing! This will mean that starting in 2012 Rocky no longer has to explain why he can’t lead the district to be the “most exemplary school district in Texas.” Rocky Kirk has a long string of “academically acceptable” ratings obtained under his “leadership” and not one “exemplary” rating.

But, those districts who are truly rated “exemplary” and “recognized” will no longer be  identified for their hard earned achievements. Unlike Rocky Kirk, some superintendents believe that their districts should be given credit for their achievements:

“But some local administrators are wary of the new system, which they say fails to acknowledge high performing schools.

“I think it’s about giving credit where credit is due,” said Cody Newcomb, superintendent of Center Point Independent School District. “I have an exemplary elementary school, and I think it deserves that credit.”

Newcomb said that rankings for schools are an important measure of accountability and reflect the broad range of performances.”

But wait a minute, Education Week put out a grade for all of the states in the country and it rated Texas’ Standards, Assessments, & Accountability a “A.” Someone else thinks that Texas has a good accountability system.

Contrast this to the LTISD’s constant complaint that the current system is not fair.

“Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.”

-George Washington

“Fitch Ratings, a global rating agency committed to providing the world’s credit markets with independent and prospective credit opinions, research, and data, has raised its issuer credit rating (ICR) on the Lake Travis Independent School District’s general obligation (GO) debt to ‘AA,’ up from ‘AA-‘ the previous year. The rating is the highest level given by Fitch to any Texas school district.”

An interesting development to say the least. Which did not go unnoticed by Patrick Watson, who wrote in a Letter to the Editor published in the January 28, 2010 issue of the Lake Travis View:

“To the editor:

The January 28 edition of the Lake Travis View reported that Fitch Ratings has raised its score for the bonds of Lake Travis Independent School District to AA, the highest of any school district in the state. Superintendent Dr. Rocky Kirk was quoted attributing this action the the district’s “sound financial management.”

What Dr. Kirk didn’t point out is that only a’ few months ago, LTISD tried to raise property taxes saying that, among other things, the district’s bond rating was in danger at current tax rates. Voting residents overwhelmingly disagreed with the trustees and refused the board’s plea for more tax revenue. Now we learn that, far from being downgraded, the district’s bond rating actually went up!

I only see two possibilities. Either Fitch Ratings is incorrect about LTISD’s “high degree of financial flexibility,” or the LTISD bond rating was, in fact, not in peril back in November and those who said so were flat wrong. In either case, someone made a huge mistake. That’s the real story here.

If I’m misunderstanding this, I invite Dr. Kirk and the trustees who wanted a tax increase to offer the voters a more complete explanation. I’m sure the Lake Travis View will be happy to report the facts.”

- Patrick Watson, Lake Travis View, Letters to the Editor, January 28, 2010

It seems that Patrick Watson is skeptical of what Rocky Kirk, says. And with good reason. Rocky is plagued by an over inflated salary with little to show for it. And to think, the Board keeps giving Rocky more and more money.

We should all remember:

“A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”

-Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Anyone interested in running for the school board has until March 8 to file. Filing for the school board election requires that you select a campaign finance chairman, fill out the requisite forms (see below) and submit your election filing paperwork with the school district by close of business on March 8.

Appointment of A Campaign Treasurer By A Candidate (Instructions)
Code of Fair Campaign Practices [Optional]

There could be some good news in all of this: Susan Tolles hasn’t filed for re-election, yet! Somehow I doubt that Alex Alexander would be running for Susan Tolles‘ position without Susan’s knowledge and Rocky’s blessing.

UPDATE: According to the Lake Travis View, Susan Tolles will NOT be running for re-election!

As of February 12,  three candidates have filed for the upcoming election (see list below). You may obtain a copy of a candidates election filing form by following the link attached to their name.

Alex Alexander, Position 3 (Susan Tolles position)

Jason Buddin, Position 4

Alan Williams, Position 5

It might be a good time to remind everyone that all three of these candidates, Alex Alexander, Jason Buddin and Alan Williams supported the recently defeated plan by the district to coerce more money out of tax payers.

Isn’t Jason Buddin on the Board of Directors of the Lake Travis Republican Club? I would only assume that would mean that Jason is a Republican? How can a supposed business man and Republican back a tax increase?

I might also remind you that both Jason Buddin and Alan Williams have voted to increase the salary of Rocky Kirk, our overpaid and ineffectual Superintendent. Recently, during a “special called meeting” of the LTISD Board, both Jason Buddin and Alan Williams voted to “re-arrange” Rocky’s compensation. Reading this peculiar “change” to Rocky Kirk’s contract sounds foreboding. Perhaps a way of hiding another of Rocky’s undeserved pay raises? More on this later.

By the way, doesn’t Alan Williams “operate” a Chick-fil-A? Yet the district does not have a record of any conflict of interest documents filed by Alan Williams resulting from his operation of a business which does business with the district (according to the district’s response to my latest public information requests regarding any conflict of interest filings by Alan).  Do you know how much business the district does with Chick-fil-A? Answer: a lot! Just go to your kids cafeteria in any LTISD campus and see for yourself. I would think that Alan Williams would at the very least like to clear the air on this matter. More on this later.

Update: I recently received a phone call from Alan Williams regarding my comments questioning any conflicts of interest that he might have between his ownership of a local Chick-fil-A franchise and the school district. He assured me that his Chick-fil-A does not do business with the LTISD and that he and the owner of the Bee Cave Chick-fil-A agreed to not compete against each other for the LTISD’s business. He also went on to say that he was told by the district (wonder if it was Susan Bohn’s advice?) that he did not need to complete a conflict of interest form. This is interesting since many of the Board members have completed conflict of interest forms for such trivial things as having a checking account at Bank of America. Nevertheless, Alan appears to be a man of integrity. Therefore we must conclude that Alan does not have a conflict of interest between his position on the LTISD Board of Trustees and his ownership of a local Chick-fil-A franchise.

Funny, but the excessive salaries of overpaid superintendent’s such as Rocky Kirk is number one in the top five issues that tax payers have with school districts.

Note that Joe references gleaned his conclusions from comments to a Houston Chronicle article: “School districts still feeling the squeeze.”

Joe says, among other things:

The list below reflects the top 5 comments, based on the number of times the comment was recommended (agreed with), by those who read the Houston Chronicle article, School districts still feeling the squeeze, which we posted Monday.

1.    Fat superintendent salaries (Recommended Thumbs up 78 – Thumbs down 10)
2.    Illegal aliens attending Texas public schools (Thumbs up 68 – Thumbs down 44)
3.    Why can’t schools live within a budget like taxpayers do? ( Thumbs up 63 – Thumbs down 7)
4.    Football stadiums and administration buildings (Thumbs up 51 – Thumbs down 11)
5.    Incompetent teachers with tenure (Thumbs up 48 – Thumbs down 41)

And the LTISD wonders why they lost the recent tax rollback election?

According to the May 25, 2004 Dallas Morning News:

Principal who quoted Bible at meeting quits

Woman says she was defending co-worker who was set to be fired

Author: TIARA M. ELLIS; Staff Writer

Dateline: VAN ALSTYNE

Article Text:

School officials in Grayson County capped a month long investigation Monday by accepting the resignation of an elementary school principal accused of quoting the Bible to her staff, among other violations.

Most of the allegations against Van Alstyne Elementary School principal Sandra Bodak stemmed from an April staff meeting in which she lectured teachers with Bible verses after suggesting that staff gossip led to the firing of the school’s assistant principal.

The assistant principal, Allison Cobb, also spoke at that meeting, referring to some staff members as “adulterers” and “abortionists.”

Ms. Cobb and Ms. Bodak have been on paid administrative leave since early April.

Earlier this month, district Superintendent Bill Lytle recommended to the school board that Ms. Bodak be fired for a litany of violations cited in the investigation: insubordination, unprofessional conduct, undermining the school board by discussing personnel issues, violating state policy regarding religious discussion by a public servant and breaching employees’ civil rights by “preaching to them.”

The board accepted a settlement agreement that pays Ms. Bodak $25,300. Her annual salary was $64,150.

“We believe the best interests of the district are served by approving the agreement with Ms. Bodak. Although the board believes the violations by Ms. Bodak and Ms. Cobb are serious … the board approved the agreement with Ms. Bodak to bring closure to the matter,” Mr. Lytle said, reading part of a written statement released at Monday’s school board meeting.

Neither Ms. Bodak nor Ms. Cobb could be reached for comment Monday.

Ms. Cobb, who was employed under a one-year temporary contract as are all district employees, was given notice at the April 5 school board meeting that she would be fired at the end of the school year, according to the meeting minutes. Officials would not release the reason for Ms. Cobb’s firing, saying it was a personnel issue.

Ms. Bodak, who had openly opposed Ms. Cobb’s dismissal, called a mandatory staff meeting the next day to announce the firing and told district officials that the meeting was going to have a positive tone, according to a district memo.

According to the investigation, Ms. Bodak said that the meeting’s purpose was to “nip this in the bud,” but that Van Alstyne is a “gossipy, traditional” place and that she regrets the meeting’s outcome. At the meeting, Ms. Bodak said that rumors among the staff about Ms. Cobb’s marital status had contributed to her firing. Ms. Bodak pointed to laws and school policy prohibiting the discussion of personnel issues. Then she stressed the importance of forgiveness and moving forward, according to the investigation documents.

Ms. Bodak concluded her comments by reading I Corinthians 13:4-8 to stress “love endures all circumstance” and then handed her Bible to Ms. Cobb, the investigation report said. Ms. Cobb then quoted a few Scriptures and clarified her marital status – divorced. She said none of the staff members had room to judge her, because some of them were “adulterers” and “abortionists” and had remarried. And she said she had chosen the high road over others in that room, according to multiple e-mails to district officials.

Harold Jones, a Dallas attorney, interviewed 18 people during the investigation, including the principals.

Ms. Cobb told Mr. Jones that the point of meeting with the staff was to clarify that she was in the right. “I have done nothing wrong. I have no regrets. It’s a deeply [ingrained] truth I’m fighting for. It would be like denying Christ to give up. I can’t. I won’t deny my beliefs.”

PTA board president Lisa Hundt said parents received a message at the end of April about Ms. Cobb and Ms. Bodak being placed on administrative leave.

“This has been very frustrating … that nothing was publicly stated about this,” said Ms. Hundt, who has one child at the elementary school and another who will begin school there next year.

Throughout the investigation Mr. Lytle has stressed that classes have continued as normal with retired middle school principal Kent Whitehead acting as principal through Wednesday, the last day of the school year.

Mr. Jones, who was paid about $11,000 for his services, reported his findings on April 16, Mr. Lytle said.

He made no recommendations but finished his report with the point that at least 11 employees said they did not think Ms. Bodak could lead the school.

Ms. Bodak met with Mr. Lytle and Assistant Superintendent Pam Parmley on April 22 and was offered the chance to resign. According to a memo of the notes from that meeting, Mr. Lytle told Ms. Bodak that he would “allow her a gracious exit” and suggested she seek legal counsel.

Ms. Bodak and Ms. Cobb will remain on paid administrative leave and continue to be employed by the district through June 30.

With Ms. Bodak’s resignation, the district will begin its search for a new principal and assistant principal.

“We can never guarantee this won’t happen again. What we do is hire the best possible people” to educate the students, Mr. Lytle said.

Ms. Bodak was principal at Van Alstyne for six years.

E-mail tellis@dallasnews.com

I bet Allison Cobb has never met LTISD Board member Mayo Davidson. She probably would have some more harsh words regarding how many times Mayo has been married.

Could this be the same “principal Allison Cobb” that Marco Alvarado (LTISD Director or Communications, Media & Community Relations) wrote about in the November 4, 2009 issue of the Lake Travis View?

“Just ask school principal Allison Cobb whose unique vision for professional development is resulting in a different kind of widespread fever among her staff. Call it the “motivation virus”

-”Special services teacher is first to obtain multiple certification,” Marco Alvarado, Lake Travis View, November 4, 2009

 

Marco must have known about Allison’s “motivational lecture” on April 6, 2004.  Talk about your “motivational virus!”

But let’s look at more evidence obtained from the Val Alstyne ISD^TPIA. You can read a lot more about the incident in which Allison Cobb was allegedly involved. Interesting reading, including many more news articles on the matter.

You can even read Allison Cobb’s LTISD job application which looks like it was FAXed to the district on April 6, 2004 at 12:04 A.M.^TPIA

Does Allison still believe “It’s a deeply [ingrained] truth I’m fighting for?”

LTISD official wrong to blame voters

To the editor:

Following the crushing defeat of the LTISD attempt to raise taxes, board chair Susan ToIles said “As a result, our district is now faced with a budget deficit of more than $1.7 million.”

This is not correct. LTISD faces a budget deficit because the board approved a budget that was $1.7 million too high. The trustees knew full well that they were spending more money than they had available. That’s why we had an election. They assumed voters would’ rubber-stamp a tax increase to cover the shortfall — a bad assumption, obviously.

Maybe instead of blaming voters, Ms. Tolles and the other trustees should try listening to them. The message is clear: You don’t have a blank check. Stop whining about Robin Hood and stop spending money you don’t have. Will this mean tough .decisions? Of course, but you all asked for the job. If you don’t want to do it, you should resign.

Patrick W. Watson
Hamilton Pool Road

-Letters to the Editor, Lake Travis View, November 19, 2009

Patrick hits the nail on the head when he says:

“You don’t have a blank check. Stop whining about Robin Hood and stop spending money you don’t have.”

We are all sick and tired of hearing the whining of overpaid Superintendents such as Rocky Kirk telling us that we are tossing our money into into another black hole rather than into the local abyss, the local abyss that keeps on giving Rocky Kirk pay raises with little to show for it.

Rocky Kirk should spend more time telling us more about when we will start seeing some results from his boasts  of making “the LTISD the most exemplary school district in Texas.” I don’t think that’s working out to well for Rocky.

Of course, Patrick’s insight must be challenged and who better than Lisa Lawrence to counter with her Letter to the Editor on November 26, 2009:

Tolles comment on LTISD election taken out of context

To the editor:

In his letter to the Lake Travis View on Nov. 19, Mr. [Patrick] Watson made some assumptions that were incorrect.

Mrs. [Susan] Tolles never blamed the voters. Her words were that she was disappointed. Her statement was factual, and not for the reason he claims.

How can he claim that the board was spending more money than they had available? Did he look at last year’s budget figures? Did he note that administrative costs were practically flat in this year’s budget (the overall budget for expenditures rose just .33 percent over the 2008-09 budget)? Is he aware the district is making do with a fixed income allotted by the state that doesn’t take inflation, rising fuel and insurance costs, etc., into account? Is he aware that over 80 percent of the budget is for staffing?

Parents and prospective parents move to and remain in this district because of our schools, our teachers, our programs, our student-to-teacher ratios, our special programs, etc. People in our district expect a quality education and high performance for our kids.

The 2 cent referendum, had it passed, would have been used for maintenance and operation. Does Mr. Watson even know what that stands for? That money would NOT have been subject to recapture. It means 85 percent of it would have been used for teacher compensation, teacher raises, rising teacher insurance benefits, maintaining small class ratios… Seriously, Mr. Watson? You’ve heard the trustees whine? I’ve heard matter of fact information regarding Robin Hood presented, but never in a whining tone.

If the 2 cent referendum had passed, it would have helped us in maintaining our A++, bond rating at AA+, which depends on many things, including the state of our fund balances. This A++ rating enables LTISD to issue bonds on much more favorable terms, which — reduces the district’s costs!

“Blank check?”

It is mind numbing to try to comprehend how hard the board and Mr. [Bob] Hart worked to help us earn this superior rating that the District is now working to maintain.

It is disappointing that more people in our district didn’t take the time to educate themselves, read the information provided, attend the meetings that were held, and then get out and vote. And it is sad that so many do not understand the negative impact that not passing the 2 cents has upon our schools.

Lisa Lawrence
Lakeway

-Letters to the Editor, Lake Travis View, November 26, 2009

Lisa Lawrence urges Patrick Watson and the rest of the district’s tax payers to become better educated. Interesting to hear this from someone who is ignorant of the facts regarding the school district’s spending and revenue. I doubt that Lisa Lawrence posses anything more than anecdotal evidence based on quotes from the district’s administration and the Board.

First off, Lisa claims:

“Parents and prospective parents move to and remain in this district because of our schools, our teachers, our programs, our student-to-teacher ratios, our special programs, etc. People in our district expect a quality education and high performance for our kids.”

Then why was the LTISD rated “Academically Acceptable” by the TEA, again? The LTISD has been rated “Academically Acceptable” 3 of the last 4 years, far from the “most exemplary school district in the state of Texas!”

Secondly, Lisa also claims:

“It is disappointing that more people in our district didn’t take the time to educate themselves, read the information provided, attend the meetings that were held, and then get out and vote.”

Lisa should “take the time to educate” herself about the facts regarding the election turnout on November 2009:

Does Lisa know that 3,253 votes were cast in the recent Rollback Election?

Does Lisa know that this was a turnout of about 15% of the registered voters in the district?

Does Lisa know that this was one of the highest voter turnouts for an election in the LTISD?

Does Lisa know that the state wide turnout was only about 8% for the November 2009 election?

So, once the facts are sought out and not based on anecdotal quips from the likes of  Susan Tolles² who said: “we are disappointed with the overall lack of voter turnout in this important local election” we find that the voters actually did “take the time to educate themselves” and they did turn out to vote. Lisa Lawrence and Susan Tolles just don’t get it.

Perhaps Lisa’s arguments would be better served by providing references to the “facts” that she uses so that we can verify them?   I would suggest that Lisa start by looking at the great wealth of data available on line from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

I have found some interesting data that anyone else can review and (here’s the important part) then VERIFY against published sources.

I will be updating some of my already published data, but readers can review just some of the interesting facts that I have extracted from published sources with references:

1. Did you realize the difference in the salary and pay increases between the LTISD Superintendent and teachers in the district?

2. Did you know that instructional spending has not kept pace with inflation?

3. Did you know that Rocky Kirk’s salary is now $252,799.00/year?

4. Did you know about “LTISD hopes to get 2 cents worth?”

5. Did you know how the “academically acceptable” LTISD spends tax payers money, per student, compared to “recognized” districts?

6. Did you wonder just how the LTISD compares to a “high growth” school district?

Finally, on December 3, 2009, Patrick Watson responds to Lisa Lawrence’s question: “Does Mr. Watson even know what that stands for?” Mr. Watson wrote:

Standing ground on LTISD

To the editor:

Regarding the response by Lisa Lawrence to my criticism of the LTISD board on this page: I stand by everything

I said. The full Nov. 3 quote by Susan Tolles was printed in that week’s Lake Travis View. People can read in context for themselves and decide whether she was blaming voters for the district’s financial woes. When she says the deficit came “as a result” of the election, I find it hard to reach any other conclusion.

I repeat: it was the school board, not the voters, who decided to spend more money than current tax rates would cover. If Ms. Tolles would like to dispute my interpretation or clarify her remarks, I’m sure the View will be glad to give her an opportunity.

The same issue of the View that carried the letter from Ms. Lawrence also reported that the trustees have now reduced the budget by $1.5 million. Apparently it wasn’t so hard after all. Why didn’t they cut this spending in the first place? That would have saved the expense of an election and we would be no worse off than we are now.

On the other points Ms. Lawrence raised:

1. The LTISD bond rating is relevant only to the extent the district needs to issue more bonds. Since the 2004 and 2006 bond proposals supposedly covered all necessary capital projects for the foreseeable future, there should be no such need.

2. Yes, the board should consider inflation when making its budget, but we are currently in a deflationary economy with the price of most goods and services going down rather than up. Inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) fell -0.2% in the twelve months ending October 2009. This is why Social Security recipients won’t get a cost-of-living adjustment in January. If our senior citizens can get by on the same income or less, so can LTISD.

3. I am not at all surprised if the LTISD administrative budget rose only fractionally from the prior year, given that we already have some of the best-paid administrators in the state. There was no need to spend even more. Kudos to the board members if they have finally realized this. Your next step should be to spend less money on lawyers and lobbyists.

4. My definition of “whining” is “complaining about things that are not going to change.” I don’t like the Robin Hood situation either, but it is a fact of life. The legislature is obviously paralyzed on this issue. Anything they do might not survive court challenges anyway, so hoping for legislative relief is not a wise strategy. Far better to adapt to the new reality.

The voters obviously want the school district to balance its budget without raising taxes. This is not an unreasonable request. More than a few businesses in our area (bankruptcy lawyers being the main exception) are coping with sharply lower revenues. There is no reason LTISD can’t do likewise.

Patrick Watson
Hamilton Pool Road

-Letters to the Editor, Lake Travis View, December 3, 2009

You can verify the inflation rate information used by Patrick Watson from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Indexes.

1Rocky Kirk is paid $252,799/year for an “Academically Acceptable” school district of 6,536 students. The LTISD has been rated “Academically Acceptable” 3 of the last 4 years.

²Susan Tolles is also identified by Rocky Kirk as the individual for the district’s failure to “ensure the protection of confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, information, and records collected or maintained by the LEA in accordance with required procedures.”

The “Two Penny PAC” was formed by citizens who don’t believe that they already pay enough taxes and not only do they want to pay more taxes, but want you to pay more taxes as well.

“Salgo teamed up with six other parents over the last few months who called themselves the ‘Two Penny PAC.’”

-”Voters reject school district tax hike,” Erin Cargile, KXAN, November 4, 2009

The supporters of the “Two Penny PAC” want the rest of the district’s tax payers to continually dole out more money to the district’s outrageously overpaid Superintendent Rocky Kirk, squandering even more money than the $252,799/year he is given to manage an “Academically Acceptable” school district of only about 6,500 students. Let’s not forget to mention the $10,000 pay raise dolled out to the district’s General Counsel, Susan Bohn, who while being paid $140,000/year doesn’t seem to do anything other than farm out the district’s legal matters to outside law firms at tax payer expense.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post comparing tax rates, Superintendent salaries and dollars spent per pupil in LTISD and other district’s in Texas.

Fortunately the tax payers were outraged by the district’s request for even more money. Why can’t the school district tighten it’s belt in these economic times just like everyone else?

Makes you wonder why Robert Salgo wants to flush more of his and our money down drain at the LTISD. What’s his agenda?

“‘Right now people are just not willing to endure the tax increase,’ said Salgo.”

-”Voters reject school district tax hike,” Erin Cargile, KXAN, November 4, 2009

“Fordham Law’s Center on Law and Information Privacy released a study that found state educational databases across the country ignore key privacy protections for the nation’s K – 12 children.”

We already know that the LTISD violates the privacy of students.

Unfortunately it all starts at the top of the LTISD. Susan Tolles, the President of the LTISD Board of Trustees was blamed by Rocky in a letter responding to a TEA finding that the LTISD violated student privacy.

You can read about a just a few of them for yourself:

1. Did the LTISD violate confidentiality again?

2. Did you know that the TEA found that the LTISD violated student confidentiality? Yet Again!

3. Did you know what a recent LTISD purchased report says about the district?

4. Did you know that the LTISD violated confidentiality AGAIN?

5. Did you know that the LTISD violated student confidentiality on a GRAND scale?

6. Did she or didn’t she? She did! Did you know that Susan Tolles is the ONLY Board member to take confidentiality training and sign an oath of confidentiality?

7. Did she or didn’t she? She did! Did you know that Susan Tolles is the ONLY Board member to take confidentiality training and sign an oath of confidentiality?

8. Did you know that the attorneys for the LTISD sent out unredacted information, again?

9. Did you know that the district is supposed to remove any offensive, confidential, or proprietary information from computers before assigning them to students?

10. Did you know that the LTISD cannot maintain custody of confidential records?

11. Did you know that the LTISD was found to have violated student confidentiality?

How can you maintain privacy of educational records when you loose them?!

Just ask Susan Bohn, the district’s spectacular lawyer (she received a $10,000 pay raise this last year) once again deferred to an outside law firm to do her job. Susan wasted our tax dollars to have an outside law firm tell me why the district was not able to come up educational records in their custody and control.

The reason that the district was unable to provide a copy of my son’s educational records was: “… was not provided for the simple reason that the District cannot find his form.” Yes, you read it right, they lost it!

Oh how typical. Just look at the postings listed above.

Another question would be: Why couldn’t Susan Bohn do her job (she gets paid $140,000/year) rather than pay to have an outside law firm do it for her? Just what does Susan Bohn do for $140,000/year? Not much it seems.

Bottom line is that the district has a documented record of confidentiality and privacy screw ups.

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

The 2009-2010 LTISD Student Directory is available in Acrobat^© (PDF) format, or HTML format.^TPIA

You can also view the directory sorted by campus (Acrobat^© (PDF) format, or HTML format) and/or grade (Acrobat^© (PDF) format, or HTML format).

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 sells this same directory information in printed form!

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

It was the usual pathetic attempt by Rocky Kirk to say that the ratings were “not reflective of the exceptionally-high academic performance which  speaks volumes about the achievement and commitment of our students, staff, and parents.”

OK, now all we need is for Rocky to tell us just how he, as “The Superintendent shall be the educational leader and chief executive
officer of the District.” [LTISD Written Board Policy BJA(LEGAL), Texas Education Code 11.201(a)], will direct the improvements?

What is Rocky Kirk’s plan for the improving the district? Rocky fails to address any plan in this press release because I would assume he has no clue.

Instead Rocky let Myra Pettit explain that the district really didn’t understand the TEA process?

“We now have a better understanding of the processes used by TEA to determine longitudinal completion rates and annual dropout rates.”

How can that be?

Why did it take the district this long to “have a better understanding of the process?”

Have you read the district’s appeal of their 2009 rating?

Have you read the district’s  second appeal of their 2009 rating? (Note that this second desperate appeal letter by Rocky was submitted to the TEA well after the appeals deadline).

Isn’t Rocky still responsible for the district?

Is this Rocky’s usual process of trying to distance and insulate himself from his lack of leadership and management skills? I guess this explains why Rocky let someone else speak about topics he should have addressed.

We already know that since 2003 Rocky Kirk’s pay has skyrocketed. Rocky Kirk’s pay has increased over 60% to the current $252,799/year.

But how has Rocky Kirk’s outrageous pay increases “improved” the district? You couldn’t tell by the district’s TEA ratings which were relaxed this year accounting for the number of districts who’s rating improved, excepting of course, the LTISD which slid backwards.

So much for Rocky Kirk’s boast about making the LTISD “the most exemplary school district in Texas.”

Finally, why didn’t the Board of Trustees comment on the rating?

Do you think they even know or care? Note how Susan Tolles, the Board President comments about the recent loss of the recent tax increase but she remains silent on the district’s mediocre rating in this press release?

“Academically Acceptable” is certainly a mediocre rating for the amount of money we are being taxed!

“Lake Travis ISD becomes the first chapter 41 district where voters denied a TRE request to add 2 additional pennies to the tax rate. The fact that the two pennies would not be recaptured makes this decision by the voters a difficult one to understand…Maybe they didn’t understand.”

- “Election Observations,” Joe F. Smith, TexasISD.com, November 5, 2009

Joe, we understand perfectly! That is why the district lost their audacious attempt to fleece the tax payers of more of our money.

Joe, and the district should know that “recaptured” or not, the tax payers are tired of paying more taxes to an “Academically Acceptable” school district of 6,536 students, an overpaid superintendent who makes $252,799/year, an overpaid General Counsel who makes $140,000/year who got a $10,000 raise this last year, and …

Hope that this helps Joe and the others who don’t understand that the tax payers are getting tired of doling out more money only to see it wasted!

“Accountability appeals changed the ratings of 19 school districts and 64 campuses, final results released today show.

After appeals, six campuses moved up to an Exemplary rating and 19 campuses and five districts moved up to a Recognized rating, while 18 campuses and 14 districts managed to upgrade their Academically Unacceptable rating. However, ratings remained unchanged for most districts and campuses. Overall, 81 of the 234 district or campus appeals were granted.”

- Texas Education Agency

Despite Rocky Kirk’s two appeals to the TEA regarding the LTISD’s 2009 “Academically Acceptable” rating, the TEA affirmed their determination that the district only met the standard of “Academically Acceptable.”

Just how did the LTISD slip back to “Academically Acceptable” again?

How can other districts achieve higher ratings?

The LTISD constantly complains about how unfair the rating system is, but how do other districts achieve higher ratings, even with less money?

The better question is: How do other larger districts with lower tax rates achieve “Recognized” and “Exemplary” ratings while the LTISD can only manage “Academically Acceptable?”

It doesn’t make sense that the LTISD with 6,536 students, one of the highest tax rates in the state and an outrageously overpaid superintendent can’t do better than “Academically Acceptable.”

And the district Board and administration wonder why the tax payers of the district said no more to their latest tax increase.

The answer is pretty obvious, the tax payers are not being served by the enormous amounts of our tax dollars that the district spends.

How can Rocky Kirk justify his $252,799/year salary?

How can Rocky Kirk  justify any more pay raises?

How can the LTISD Board of Trustees just keep doling out more money without demanding results proportional to the amount of our tax dollars spent?