Only name I recognized, I always liked Richard personally, even though at times I disagreed with his stances on issues.
[A reader was kind enough to pass along Richard's email, thanks]
Browsing Posts in 2007 KISD Election
I’ve contemplated running for school board on a number of occasions, even filed once but withdrew my name at the deadline.
The biggest drawback for me ever running was the fact that if the employees of the district were to dislike my style, the threat was always there to take their anger out on my kids. If somebody at the City doesn’t like my views they don’t have the same access to the innocent people in my life.
The results of this past election have me confused though. The sit on their hands crowd won an overwhelming majority of the votes….so it got me thinking. What purpose do board members serve, other than to rubber stamp the Staff’s will and hand out diplomas on graduation day?
Edumacate me on what you think the job of a board member should be.
Since I started working in the Keller area almost 20 years ago, there has been talk about splitting KISD into two separate districts, basically using 377 as the dividing line.
There have also been some recent comments to posts on this blog mentioning the same thing.
It’s impossible people, it will never happen. There would be no way to separate assets and liabilities on the balance sheet, let alone get people to vote for it or get the State Legislature to pass a bill to allow it.
I have a better idea that is a whole lot more cost effective. Rename the district.
By taking away the “Keller” from the Keller ISD, it would change the focus from this side of the tracks and that. Look at Birdville or Northwest ISD, the name pretty much doesn’t describe anything other than a name.
By a simple stroke of the pen, we could solve a lot of the perceived problems.
On May 13th, 2007 at 5:04 pm I commented to an existing post, concerning my call to Mr Wylie. Upon reflection I am posting this as a new post, not expecting comments so much as to let people know my comments to Mr Wylie and my feelings, hopes and thanks to all who helped me, believed in me and especially to ALL that voted regardless of their chosen candidate. Here is a copy of that comment:
I called today and sincerely congratulated Jason Wylie on his victory for Place 1 KISD School Board. The voters have made their choice and I respect their decision.
In this case, for the rubber stamp board – the end justifies the means. I truly pray that the Honesty, Integrity and Financial Responsibility they demonstrate will travel a much higher road than the road they took during the campaign.
Thanks to all that backed me and also to all that voted; your voice was heard.
Pray for our KIDS, and keep your eye on the Keller Administration and the Keller ISD Board.
I will do the same.
May God Richly Bless you all,
and have a Glorious Day!!
Mike
Anything you wish to post on the KISD school board races goes here.
Sarah Bahari has an article in today’s Star-Telegram on the supposed $900,000 cost of terminating a school superintendent.
http://www.star-telegram.com/593/story/96864.html
The exaggerated cost was created by adding numbers that don’t yet exist and probably never will (two full years’ severance,) and numbers that will be paid whether the Board fires a superintendent every week or never (base salary).
This makes about as much sense as adding up the balance column in your checkbook register.
My 11th-grade Algebra II teacher, Mrs. Byrd, once showed her exasperation with her students’ failure to understand what you can and cannot do to simplify algebraic expressions: “You cannot just arbitrarily multiply–if you could, I’d multiply my salary by the biggest number you’ve ever seen!”
There are also some opportunities for time warping here. If Dr. V is not terminated, then—by implication—we can “save” the money spent terminating Bradberry, searching for Veitenheimer, moving Veitenheimer, etc. He will even give back his first-year salary. Isn’t creative accounting grand?
I’ve been discouraged by the quality of commentary recently on Keller City Limits. I’m not saying anyone is right or wrong, just that they are less and less interesting. Fortunately, today I received this cartoon, with the above-mentioned title. He/she gets it—no matter what your message is, make it interesting!
So how about the rest of you? Got any funny comments? Insightful commentary? Monty, got any more limericks?
E-mail me here: jim@kellercitylimits.com
Below is a quote from a story in the Ft Worth Star-Telegram:
SCHOOL BOARD CONTACT
“Gov. Rick Perry has signed into law a measure providing authority for a school district employee to communicate directly with a member of the district’s board of trustees on an issue related to district operations.
The bill by Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, and Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, takes effect immediately because it received the two-thirds vote needed in both the House and Senate.
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association said it has worked with lawmakers the past two legislative sessions on the issue. Some districts, by adhering to strict “chain of command” policies or giving informal notice to employees that communicating with board members was not viewed favorably, discouraged the contact, according to the TCTA.
“Boards make better decisions when they hear the perspective of those who implement the policies they adopt, and school employees don’t give up their rights to communicate with their elected representatives by virtue of their employment,” said Lonnie Hollingsworth Jr., TCTA director of governmental relations.”
I applaud the enactment of this Bill into Law. No employee from Keller ISD should feel intimidated or threatened because she/he feels compeled to skip-level to a School Board Trustee to report on an issue related to district operations.
Teachers, Administrators, Staff, Principals and any other Keller ISD employee should feel free from the fear of retaliation in reporting their concerns and observations to a Keller ISD Board of Trustees member.
This in no way eliminates the Chain of Command of the Administration. In my opinion it puts more pressure on the Administration to listen, evaluate and act on concerns from its employees. Because the Administration now knows that the employee now has an advocate.
Mike Carter
Candidate for Keller ISD Board of Trustees Place 1
http://kellercitylimits.com/?p=225#comment-12800
Please take the time to read it, it is a very good summation.
Here is Cindy Lotton’s reply to Randy Pugh’s op-ed last week. It’s obvious there’s a chasm of trust—Ms. Lotton’s trust in the administration is nearly total, and Mr. Pugh’s is nearly absent.
And now … the rest of the story
By CINDY LOTTON
Special to the Star-Telegram
In the interest of openness, I want to give the rest of the story about fellow Keller school board member Randy Pugh’s allegations of incompetence, dishonesty and unethical conduct in the district’s administration. (See April 17 commentary “Yes, try a little openness.”)As a freshman at Baylor University, Superintendent James Veitenheimer’s daughter interviewed and was selected as a student worker to work 10 to 12 hours each week for the higher-education division of a national company. The school district had a contractual relationship with this company’s K-12 division. The daughter’s part-time job was in a different division and a different city.
The question of her employment was raised by a board member, was referred to the district’s attorney for a legal opinion and was found to be permissible. But because the concern was raised, Veitenheimer agreed to ask his daughter to resign.
In a second allegation, Pugh asserted that the district exceeded an amount authorized to a consulting firm by $121,000. Multiple reviews, a legal opinion and countless explanations to the board showed that his “facts” don’t match reality.
Although the consultant provided all that was contracted (a management review and report), district administrators used additional services for assistance through the transition away from our contracted service provider. The money was budgeted, available in the general fund and appropriately spent.
Pugh says that it is necessary for the administration to get board approval for “temporary maintenance and custodial labor” to keep the district operating smoothly. Others would call this crossing the line of governance.
Pugh’s third allegation relates to a March 2006 Texas Education Agency report to the district regarding possible violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act cited by the Office of Civil Rights. Veitenheimer signed the “receipt of report” form and returned it to the TEA. The district also submitted a plan of action. Once confirmed, the violations will be rectified, as required by law, using money set aside in the current budget.
Veitenheimer gave a full explanation of this procedure to the board. If there was concern about a “contract violation,” it seems that the other five board members who voted with me to accept the recommendation would have raised questions at that time.
A full disclosure of a recent incident with an “unauthorized vendor,” the subject of Pugh’s fourth allegation, was made to the board on March 26, 2007. A comprehensive investigation by district officials and the district’s attorney confirmed that employees in the maintenance and purchasing departments violated district policy.
Violations were not found to be intentional or criminal. Appropriate personnel action was taken.
There was no finding of a cover-up by any district official. No district administrator was asked or forced to resign as a result of the investigation.
There was, however, an unethical release of confidential personnel information from the March 26 executive session by a board member or members, resulting in a violation of employee personnel rights and threatening the confidentiality of executive session discussions — a significant ethical breach, according to the board operating procedures.
Pugh’s assertions of “instances of misfeasance” include the following errors:
Since 1994, the TEA has never rated the district as “exemplary.” It has been rated “recognized” five years and “acceptable” eight years. The district was rated acceptable when Veitenheimer arrived.
Keller High School’s academic rating was acceptable when Veitenheimer arrived.
Contrary to Pugh’s interpretation, scores are up in 95 percent of the measured areas on state assessments.
Perhaps Pugh’s most disturbing comment was his insinuation that district personnel “botched” the implementation of the curriculum audit. The acceleration of the audit from seven years to four was chiefly at Pugh’s insistence, not Veitenheimer’s. The curriculum alignment has been difficult, but the challenge has been intensified because of the accelerated pace.
District employees Donna Rawlings and Kim Pool, district administrators and a large panel of teachers have worked countless hours to create a document that will take our students to new heights of success. To call the implementation “botched” is insulting to these hard-working employees.
Recent complaints filed with the TEA were a direct result of the persistent efforts of some board members to continuously criticize and undermine the work of the superintendent, district administrators, teachers and staff.
Veitenheimer has led the district with honesty, integrity and professionalism. I am saddened when board members do not.
Cindy Lotton holds the Place 3 seat on the Keller school district’s board of trustees. Cmlotton@aol.com 817-485-4177
I’ve received the following email from multiple sources:
From: Kevin Stevenson
To:
Subject: An interesting comment from our ‘friends’I thought that you would enjoy seeing what some of the candidates are saying about us over here on the ‘other side’ of 377. Spread the word to your friends and neighbors and let’s prove ‘em wrong by going to the polls to let them know how we feel about THEM.
From: Melody Kohout
To: Debbie, John Price, Kevin Stevenson
Subject: HMMM?It has come to my attention, that the supporters of the majority portion of the current school board members feel they are a “shoe in” in the upcoming election.
They have gone so far as to say that KISD “patrons living on the “other side ” of 377 are not smart enough to read and vote”.
I don’t know about you, but I have told everyone I know living in the Central and Fossil feeders about their feelings toward their population – they were shocked and are spreading the word.
I don’t know at what age we’re supposed to outgrow fictitious and malicious gossip, but surely it’s before one becomes the Chair of the KISD Education Foundation.
As for Kevin Stevenson, forwarding such an email constitutes participation in a whispering campaign.
CODE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES
There are basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play that every candidate and political committee in this state has a moral obligation to observe and uphold, in order that, after vigorously contested but fairly conducted campaigns, our citizens may exercise their constitutional rights to a free and untrammeled choice and the will of the people may be fully and clearly expressed on the issues.
THEREFORE:
- I will conduct the campaign openly and publicly and limit attacks on my opponent to legitimate challenges to my opponent’s record and stated positions on issues.
- I will not use or permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurrilous attacks on any candidate or the candidate’s personal or family life.
- I will not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.
- I will not use campaign material of any sort that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts, nor will I use malicious or unfounded accusations that aim at creating or exploiting doubts, without justification, as to the personal integrity or patriotism of my opponent.
- I will not undertake or condone any dishonest or unethical practice that tends to corrupt or undermine our system of free elections or that hampers or prevents the full and free expression of the will of the voters, including any activity aimed at intimidating voters or discouraging them from voting.
- I will defend and uphold the right of every qualified voter to full and equal participation in the electoral process, and will not engage in any activity aimed at intimidating voters or discouraging them from voting.
- I will immediately and publicly repudiate methods and tactics that may come from others that I have pledged not to use or condone. I shall take firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this code or the laws governing elections.
I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Texas or campaign treasurer of a political committee, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge myself to conduct the campaign in accordance with the above principles and practices.
“First, many thanks to Jim Carson for maintaining this blog and for inviting all of the candidates to visit and post.”
My name is Mike Carter and I am a candidate for Place 1 on the Keller ISD Board of Trustees.
From this point on you should notice a real difference from my opponent in the content of our posting. My expectation is that you will know where I stand; all I ask is that you compare for yourself and make an informed decision.
My sole purpose in running for Keller ISD Board of Trustees Place 1 is to lead the KISD Administration and the Board of Trustees to a better understanding that the Board’s primary purpose is to help institute, guide and direct policy to be administered by the Superintendent and his appointed administrators, teachers and staff. This leadership will stress the requirements of Honesty, Integrity and Accountability of both the KISD Administration as well as the Keller ISD Board of Trustees. Hidden agendas, “kingdom building” and deceitful omissions of pertinent information are not acceptable. “It is NEVER right to do wrong to do right.”
Teachers must be given more opportunity to be involved in the Curriculum decisions and District-wide Curriculum standards are a given. Our children must always be our focus, purpose and goal. We all must set a moral, ethical and worthy example to the children of KISD and those unwilling to meet the High Standards we require WILL NOT be a part of this School Administration or its Board of Trustees.
If you’re looking for a “business as usual” Keller ISD Board Trustee Place 1, you aren’t looking for me.
I’m NOT running for CHANGE, I’m running for “our kids”.
I applaud any Board Member that asks questions on issues of Honesty, Integrity and Accountability—who seeks to find the truth and does not see their role as merely a rubber stamp for the Administration. Board Members take an oath of office to uphold the Laws of The State of Texas and the Policies and Procedures of the Keller ISD and would be in violation of that oath in doing otherwise.
I am not beholden to anyone in this Administration or Board, and seek the harmony of a Keller ISD and Keller ISD Board of Trustees to work in concert with one another to provide the BEST for all our Kids. That being said, the harmony we seek must be held up on a three-pier foundation of HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
If “micromanaging” means investigating illegal practices, complaints of wrongdoing, documenting facts of improprieties, letting the public know; public record information like KISD district ratings from TEA declining over 7 years from exemplary to recognized and now to acceptable then perhaps what this district needs is more board members “micromanaging” until the decline of this district stops. And by the way I prefer calling it holding the Keller ISD and Keller ISD Board to Honesty, Integrity and Accountability.
Finally our Keller ISD Administration top to bottom and our Keller ISD Board of Trustees should be the premier role models to our Kids. No one person or group of individuals has all the answers. We have wonderful, caring, compassionate and capable people; teachers, principals, administrators, staff and board members who have a wealth of knowledge on how to do better. LET’S UTILIZE THEM…
LET ME HELP!
Have a Glorious Day!
Mike Carter
Candidate for Keller ISD Board of Trustees Place 1
