Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Alvord ISD officials electioneering

Alvord ISD Superintendent John Trice and Larry Wilson (Assistant Secretary of the School Board) appear to have lost their minds, and should soon lose their jobs. They are using their positions to electioneer.

These nitwits have sent a letter to “Fellow Educators and School Employees” which all but threatens school district employees to vote for State Rep Dist 61 candidate Joe Tison.

This letter begins with, “We assume your family, health and livelihood are most important to you.” (Duh!)

“With confidence, we endorse Joe (Tison) and do ask your support and vote. As career educators, public schools are our 1st priority and primary reason to support Joe.” (And here we thought the family and health were priorities!)

Even superintendents should do their homework. Several items in the letter are blatantly false, such as Rep. King’s support for elimination of the Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was a big loss to school districts.*

There was nothing subtle about the letter:

“…we can elect the candidate of our choice…….if we all vote!”

The letter goes on to say “We can win with Joe Tison in the primary and general election if….
1. Every school employee and their family members support and vote for Joe.
2. Every school employee tells other family members & friends why they should support/vote for Joe. Ask each of these to tell three others
3. Some employees participate in a campaign strategy meeting (inform Mr. Trice)
– This is the Superintendent!!!
4. Employees will display a yard sign supporting Joe Tison. You can contact Mr. Trice or Mr. Wilson at 427-8711 for a sign.
5. Go to the polls for early voting. Employees could group together and go vote.”

The letter ends with a basic civics lesson:

“Important to remember:
1. Please vote in the Republican Primary…
2. The candidate receiving the majority of votes wins the primary and their name will be listed on the General Election Ballot in November.
3. Registered voters can vote for any party’s candidate in the General Election.”

“You have our thanks and respect.

John Trice Larry Wilson”
(Letter is signed by each)

Tison was reported early in his campaign as “currently looking for a political consultant. In the meantime, he is relying on the Texas Parent PAC.” We don’t know who is advising him, but clearly no one with any sense is advising the Alvord school officials.

Friends, my bet is that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama won’t be any too happy that these school district employees are being encouraged to vote in the Republican primary.

And I anticipate that these school officials broke a myriad of laws.

But it isn’t our job to prosecute them, but to call public attention to their shenanigans and to call for a public outcry against public school officials using their position to influence elections.

UPDATE: A call to Supt Trice at 5:07 pm today went into his voice mail. He was likely out campaigning for Joe Tison.

-- Bahamamamasmama


* Brief on TIF Tax:

 The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was institute in 1995 and is a 1.25% tax on telephones

 The TIF Tax costs Texas consumers $200 million a year

 The TIF Tax was originally slated for repeal after the collection of $1.5 billion—this goal was met sometime ago

 The TIF Tax no longer serves the primary purpose it was intended to—which was to place broadband in schools, libraries and hospitals

95 comments:

MJSamuelson said...

This is outrageous!

Anonymous said...

Please notify the Atty General. This is really illegal. Taxpayers are getting soaked again!!

Anonymous said...

Didn't a big Energy executive send out a letter to his fellow executives and employees urging them to funnel money and support to Phil King? Didn't King go to this guy's lavish house in Houston for a big fundraiser with the people he regulates as a committee chairman? Didn't King even get free superbowl tickets to the energy company's suite?

Let's see, a handful of teachers voting - or dozens of energy executives funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign of the person that regulates them? While I appreciate everything you and other members did getting rid of the ridiculous TIF tax, I think my energy bills would be much lower if King were out and the market were allowed to properly function.

Anonymous said...

What John Trice and Larry Wilson have done is possibly illegal. It's not that teachers voting is a bad thing - it's a bad (ILLEGAL) thing that school district officials are attempting to influence a race.

Anonymous said...

This and many other things John Trice has done should be reported, but it seems that as with all other small town politics, it is hard to get someone to correct the problem. Most of the town is SCARED of him and his employees, if you think this is illegal you should investigate some of his other activities. Maybe someone should come here and investigate just how much of this goes on.

Anonymous said...

This is just the tip of the iceberg!!! There is alot of that "GOOD OL BOY" stuff that goes on that nobody knows about and if they do they won't say anything because there kids go to school here. Because they can make it so hard on them that they just check out of our schools to go to Decatur where there treated equal to all the rest of the kids. Thats why there SCARED and his employees are just puppets!!!! He pulls there strings and they jump and if you don't your job is on the line!!!

Anonymous said...

Instead of Alvord it should be called "STEPFORD"

Anonymous said...

As a former employee and a parent of ex-students at the Alvord Correctional Institution, I say somebody please help. I was threatened with my job twice for showing up at a school board meeting and voicing my opinion about a matter concerning my children. If someone could help us by standing up or just contacting the right people we might have a good school again. You could dig into the sports program, special education, or the failure of the supt. to close down the school due to staff infection out breaks in the high school locker rooms. I believe that this is not the first time that he has tried to control the outcome of an election.

Anonymous said...

Wanna know how bad it is in this town!!!!! Larry Wilson was the Supt. then he was fired and the Good Ole Boys had him elected to the school board. Now isn't that what everyone wants to happen in their town?

Anonymous said...

Yes his election of school board members!! Heaven forbid that someone get on there that he can't control!! An any outsider that wants to run ends up "BLACKBALL" from working there or can't even step foot on school property!!!! Between him and the Baptist church the town doesn't have a chance!!!!

Anonymous said...

Someone anyone tell someone else what is going here and help us, our children are the ones that are suffering!!!! It's not right!If you tell two friends and so on and so on then maybe it will make a diffrance and someone can look into all that his done and is still doing!

Anonymous said...

Dear John and Larry,
Seems like you have been caught with your pants down. Do us all a big favor and resign today. Hope you can read, cause it seems you can't return a phone call.

Anonymous said...

All I want to know is why on earth is this corrupt man stilling running a school system??? Let something like this happen at Dallas or Fort worth school districts, this would be on the front page of newspapers and on nightly newscasts. Come on, what he has done is illegal. Not counting the numerous other things this man has done to bully his employees and parents of the community!! Something has to be done!!!

Anonymous said...

I can understand the questioning of Trice and Wilson's activities on behalf of Joe Tice but the destructive blathering thrown around here is just as outrageous.

02/27 1:00 PM - "Investigate his many other activities .." Investigate what? That is only harmful gossip unless you are specific.

02/28 9:47 AM - "Tip of the iceberg...investigate other activities.." Like what? Sounds just like "big bad wolf" whining to me.

And you go on..." He pulls (employee) strings and they jump and if you don't your job is on the line!" So, you come from a remote part of the planet where employees can DISOBEY their boss and not get fired? I expect Trice or any othe manager to get rid of any employee who can't or won't follow instructions.

02/28 11:47 AM - "Children suffering." Suffering from what?
Is Trice personally doing any injury to children in Alvord ISD? I don't think so. Such comments are without substance and represent only idle bitching.

I think Trice does his job as a good executive should. He allows teachers to TEACH (uncommon in most other places). He keeps morale up with the children and teachers, and manages to a thrifty budget. He tolerates hundreds of disident parent complaints whenever their spoiled rotten children blame teachers for THEIR failures. That, of course, makes disgruntled parents who attack Trice when their stories fall apart.

I don't think you could find a good substitute for John anywhere around these parts.

Anonymous said...

Hey browserdog,
Do you think that Jim Jones,Hitler, or David Koresh were good executives?
Nobody DISOBEYED them. All of their followers could and did follow instructions. I wonder what they would say about a good executive. Oh thats right they can't say anything they are all dead!!!! I believe that a good executive would have an open mind and would want to have a staff of free thinking individuals who were not afraid of losing their jobs for voicing their opinions and willing to work out a comprise for the greater good of all involved. Their priorities should be to see that every child gets a great education. You say you understand the questioning of Trice and Wilson's activities on the behalf of Joe Tice but not the destructive blathering. Why would you believe in an administration that is clearly doing illegal things concerning our election process. If they manipulate this basic freedom what makes you think
they don't manipulate other things as well.
Investigate?????
Where should we start!!
How about an assistant vice principle that does not have a teaching certificate.
How about teachers getting paid days off when they have used all their alloted days.
Why is an elementary parent banned from being on school grounds, being an officer in the PTO. In this day and time we need all the volunteers
we can get.
How can good executive not know until September that a school employee received a DWI in a school
vehicle in July and the vehicle was impounded!!!
How about this one a parent donated a scoreboard to be used at the old baseball field and it was put in storage and forgot about because it came from disgruntled parents. It was discovered buy a parent in good favor and he was allowed to refurbish it, and get his picture in the paper presenting it to Trice for the new ball field with no mention of it being previously donate by some one else.
How about AISD staff getting to work in a concession stand for a
few hours and getting the rest of the day off with pay for the day.
How about last years school board election. One school board member sold her home in Alvord and bought in Decatur before the election. She conveniently resigned at the end of May. Making Trice able to appoint her replacement instead of Hundreds of disgruntled parents voting on her replacement. Could it be that dear John was worried about being replaced himself. Her appointed replacement was a man that was defeated the school board election
last year. When newly elected school board members questioned this appointment(and I quote from news article in Wise County Messenger) School board President Eddie Hale replies "He did not lose the election he just got fewer votes." (DUH!!)
Children suffering?
when academic attention is not given to all students then yes there is suffering.
When the good executive hires teachers who do not have a teaching certificate, the children suffer. Is it because of the thrifty budget
that he hires teachers without certificates and can't keep the good ones. Could we be on such a thrifty budget because of the new employee only workout facilities we the taxpayer had to pay for because our good executive didn't do his homework and got duped.
If John Trice does such a good job
why does he have HUNDREDS of complaints from parents. Are all of the children in Alvord ISD spoiled rotten. Alvord is a small AA school, if you have hundreds of complaints isn't that pretty much everybody but the favored few.
Last but not least if John is doing such a good job then why is he here in this remote part of the planet and not supt. of a much larger school some where else. Every one can be replaced just like they did in a much smaller remote part of the world where John Trice came from.

Anonymous said...

How about those comments concerning destructive blathering, harmful gossip,"big bad wolf whining" and comments without substance that are only idle bitching.
Sounds like this came straight from
John Trices' mouth.
Good work PUPPET BOY browserdog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

What about an elementary principle who is never at his job, but spends hours a day, ok, not every day but many, at the ADs home with the AD? and that IS during the school day. Why do they get to go home and still get paid when all other teachers have to stay at school. Why doesnt Trice stop that.

Anonymous said...

Well now, that's more like it. At least someone came out with details rather than having Trice branded by a bunch of secretive barnyard gossip. The broad brush never means anything to most people.

It seems to me that with such allegations, people should be able to select a more responsive school board and get things changed. Your concerns certainly deserve some answers and that was my purpose in getting things riled up and out into the open.

No....I am not Joe Tison...far, far from it.

Anonymous said...

King needs to go


By Larry Wilson

Published Sunday, February 17, 2008

In a monarchy, the king determines how much the voice of the people influences the kings' decisions affecting their lives. The privileges of court/kingdom are extended to the subjects who pay the highest tribute to the king.(In place of king, insert Trice, inplace of kingdom, insert Alvord, inplace of subjects, insert the deranged.)

We don't live under a monarchy,(see the above) but our experiences seem quite similar. State Rep. Phil King's listening ear to the voices in Wise/Parker County have been in gradual decline. Examine his record.(Examine the AISD board's record while you are at it) Special interests have gained priority. In January, King reported 12 percent local campaign donations from Wise/Parker counties and 88 percent from outside resources. Whose interests does he represent? See the Texas Ethics Commission Web site.

Texas ranks as the 12th most expensive state in electricity rates. Rates in my own household have increased 44 percent the last four years. Rates in our school district have increased 45 percent in 3.25 years. His current campaign literature states "led the fight to eliminate the TIF tax," a 50 cent telephone fee that raised millions for technology in Texas schools. A big loss! He's an advocate of the "voucher system" that would reduce funding to our schools. The state allotted just over $800 toward a new mandated Discipline Alternative that will cost our school $60,000 a year.

See, it's time to change. (Yes it is! We need a new superintendent and a new board) Support and vote for Joe Tison in the Republican primary.

Larry Wilson
Alvord
With added commentary from the "court jester"

Anonymous said...

YES! When a kid is failing, the first one blamed is the TEACHER! Generations of others get through but only the teacher creates the one that flunks! EXCUSE ME! With some homeschoolers who come into the system it is a real problem. If you are a highschool dropout or have a criminal record, you should not be allowed to homeschool your kids.

Anonymous said...

I applaud Peggy Venable for bringing this to the public. The public should call for John Trice and Larry Wilsons resignation; we cannot hope that either of them would resign and save alot of publicity and drama that is a certainity when TEA finishes their investigation into this atrocity. Shame on both of you and shame on AISD school board for allowing this kind of behavior. PS - Vote for Phil King

Anonymous said...

This is one reason the good citizens of Alvord voted to remove a school board member, then another resigns only a short time after the election... The member who was "not beaten, just got less votes" or so said the President of the school board, was conviently reappointed by none other than the board and superintendent. There has been alot of people whom should unite and share all of their information with the local news paper, but the ones who have tried have been treated UNFAIRLY by the newspaper and the school officials. I only wish we had our own Becky Oliver... but being a small town, it is only small town news. I only wish everyone would go on the TEA web site and investigate some of the monies spent, drive by the football field during football season and see 8 coaches standing around, but never have I seen 8 teachers in one class of 20 children. I hope we all take a long look at what our elected officials are doing and we have the power to replace them ALL!! Get out and vote... If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the PROBLEM!!

Anonymous said...

I think the AD at Alvord needs to be one of the ones to go too! He teaches no classes, has time during the school day to go home and piddle and his win/loss record isn't anything AT ALL to brag about. But what does he do? The day before the basketball girls head to the playoffs (for the upteenth time in Enis's career there) the AD gives a letter to that coach telling him what all he is not allowed to do next year! Not a letter of "good luck, we're all behind you in the playoffs" type letter, but a letter of reprimand! That is atrocious! Will the super and board support this nonwinning, lazy AD in his attempts to run off one of the most successful and loyal coaches to have even careered in Alvord? By the way, that same AD chose NOT to attend that girls playoff game. Real supportive.
Maybe all this info needs to go on a more local blog, like that Liberally Lean blog. This one is pretty remote. Anyone know Barry Green well enough to tell him?

Anonymous said...

I agree the AD needs to go. No one checks to see if he is working, he is at his home with the Elementary Principal during the school day, while all the other teachers in the district are working on keeping HIGH TAKS scores! AISD gets a lot more recognition for HIGH TAKS scores then it does for Football championships! Or what about the Assistant Principal that spends his day trying to make each kid at Alvord HS hate coming to school. The children are treated like prisoners! Or the new position at the HS created especially for a COACHES wife! Or the HS principal that does not return phone calls to concerned parents! All of these problems occur because of bad leadership! Alvord has many excellent teachers and ONE good Principal but all the others give a bad name to the district.

Anonymous said...

This issue is now on a popular Wise blog here:

http://skattershooting.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I've known John Trice and Larry Wilson for years. They are good people. I do not agree with everything that goes on under their watch at Alvord ISD, but I believe they are trying to fulfill their obligations in a professional manner.
I hope they did not use public funds for a private purpose in mailing out the letters.

Mr. Phil King needs to go. He cannot be objective as shown by the support he has accepted from the energy industry while costs to the public have gone up, up, and up.
Folks are innocent until facts show otherwise.

MJSamuelson said...

Why so many anonymous comments? Is Alvord ISD really that bad?

Anonymous said...

I can't believe we have principles and teachers without certifications. I am very disappointed in our school board - As a parent, I need to believe out school is being ran correctly. I have witnessed unfair practices in sports for years,(especially the boys) but I would hope the classroom is protected. I understand why everyone is posting under anonymous .... it's embarassing. Why hasn't the Messenger and Gazette ran stories on this electioneering letter? They ran a picture of Mr Trice, Alvord teachers, principles, with Joe Tison. With all the comments being made, we need to have Mr Trice investigated.

Anonymous said...

Why hasn't the Messenger and Gazette ran stories on this electioneering letter?

i'll tell you why the gazette hasn't run an article...because as a newspaper they suck! that paper isn't worth the .25 or .50 they sell it for. also the HS girls coach should be investigated too! i played for him when he first came to this school and you talk about sexual harassment if any of us girls would have spoke up. there is also stories about him and a student having an affair several years ago before his daughter was playing for him. i'm sure now with his wife coaching with him and his daughter playing for him, he is much better...not to mention he has gotten older..

Anonymous said...

MLSAMUELSON - Will you notify Attorney General and TEA? It is as bad as it sounds. John Trice has a control problem and doesn't mind abusing his position. The school board is corrupt too.

MJSamuelson said...

Anonymous at 9:39am: I'd be glad to, however I think the citizens of Alvord would be in a better position to lodge complaints about what has been happening in their community. I'm not a resident of that area.

Anonymous said...

I am a resident of Alvord.......and although I see and hear alot of the things you are talking about, all the name calling needs to stop! If you have a case, go fight it! Have you been to board meetings? Have you filed complaints? Have you gone through the proper channels to correct the issues? Are you willing to put YOUR name where your mouth is? If not then HUSH! If you are not willing to do what it takes to help fix these issues then it is just idle gossip, from scared, cowardly people. There is no need to bash people on this blog. Some of these people you are bashing are the same people that have been "going to bat" for our kids for years. The only thing this kind of bashing does it make YOU look like a bunch of uneducated, high maintenance, trash. Stick with the facts! Fight the battle with the truth! not this trashy gossip! Let's see how many of you show up at the next board meeting!!!!

Anonymous said...

to anonymous 6:09 - tough talk for anonymous ! Who's bashing? The letter was signed by John Trice and Larry Wilson. It's hard to deny. Why go to board meetings when they just vote how John Trice tells them to. It's time for a new Alvord School Board. The current board is much to tolerate of the misappropriated and illiegal activity of school officials.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Alvord ISD is in serious trouble! We better get together and compare notes on what these dogs are doing to our district. Taxpayer money is paying for all of this. You people better straighten up or get yourselves a new job! We're watching now.....all of us!

Suomynona said...

We have children here at Alvord and are very happy with the Alvord Schools. The teachers and staff seem to always have the best interest of our children in mind. I believe our children are receiving a great education. A lot of the teachers have children in Alvord. I think it is so unnecessary to drag their parent's name through the mud based on unsubstantiated rumors and hearsay. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. Remember, no one is perfect! What kind of environment are we creating for the students if our teachers and administrators have to peak around every corner for fear of being sniped at. It seems that this blog has turned into a mud slinging contest. Our teachers and administrators live their lives in the public spotlight to serve the needs of our children. They are not any more perfect than you are. How would you feel if the spotlight was shone on every decision that you ever made. How about a little bit of empathy for those who have dedicated their careers to the thankless job of teaching our children. If you don't like the way they are doing that job then get involved for the long haul to make positive changes through the proper avenues. A great place to channel your energy would be to try to help abolish the TAKS Test!

Anonymous said...

I heard he was a HUFFER of Key Board Cleaner and he passed out at the wheel of the car when he slammed into that retaining wall. Even after killing someone, it obviously hasn't effected him since witnesses have seen him crawling behind the wheel of a car after he's been out partying with his friends!


Alleged intoxicated driver pleads not guilty

By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Thursday, January 3, 2008 10:05 AM CST




Ryan Keith Crutsinger of Alvord pleaded not guilty to an intoxication manslaughter charge in a pretrial hearing in the 266th Judicial Court in Stephenville Wednesday.

Crutsinger was the driver of a black Saab that plowed into a retaining wall in a Tarleton parking lot shortly after 3 a.m. on Sept. 11, which resulted in the death of Tarleton freshman Stephen Cage of Conroe.
Cage was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crutsinger and the other passengers were transported to Harris Methodist Erath County Hospital.

Crutsinger and Ryan D. Mason of Colleyville were hospitalized. Mathew S. Ulibarri of Nocona was treated and released. All of the occupants were Tarleton students.

Judge Don Jones set the jury trial to begin on Jan. 7 at 9 a.m., but District Attorney John Terrill said he doesn't expect the case will be reached because there are 12 cases scheduled.

If Crutsinger is convicted of the second-degree felony charge, he will face two to 20 years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine, Terrill said.

ANGELIA JOINER is a staff writer for the Empire-Tribune. She can be reached at angelia.joiner@empiretribune.com or 254-965-3124,ext. 238.

Anonymous said...

I have some questions can anyone give me the legal answers?
It is my understanding that the letter was distributed in the teacher/employee boxes at school. Is that legal?
Is it illegal for a school employee to attend a school board meeting?
Is it legal for a sup. to act as the secretary take all the minutes of the school board meeting?
Does the sup. have the power to say whether or not an individual can be added to the school board agenda and what they can or cannot talk about?

Anonymous said...

I have some questions can anyone give me the legal answers?
It is my understanding that the letter was distributed in the teacher/employee boxes at school. Is that legal? (That would not be legal, but that is not how the letters were received. The letters were mailed to the employee's homes.)
Is it illegal for a school employee to attend a school board meeting?(Not illegal, encouraged in most schools, but it's not a popular practice at AISD)
Is it legal for a sup. to act as the secretary take all the minutes of the school board meeting?(Not common, but can't find where it is illegal.)Does the sup. have the power to say whether or not an individual can be added to the school board agenda and what they can or cannot talk about?(Yes and No. The indv. can be added with the approval of the board president or a trustee that takes the item to the president. But the sup is the first step. The agenda would require the topic for discussion and only topics on the agenda can be discussed.) Hope that helps...........there are websites that offer more answers.

Suomynona said...

anonymous March 4, 7:23am

SHAME ON YOU!!!! That has nothing to do with any of this!!! That would be the epitome of mud slinging! Shame! Shame! Shame!

Anonymous said...

I agree, leave the kids out of this and stay on the subject that started the blog. The reason the blog started was to help call attention to what needs to be done to better the school system, so "our kids wouldn't suffer" according to one blogger. Posting someone's personal pain, is adding to the suffering, and has no business here!

Anonymous said...

Maybe your right suomynona, but before I apologize, will YOU please call the Wise County Sheriff and tell him SHAME ON YOU for publishing about all the sex offenders in Wise County. How about calling all the MADD and tell them the same and what about the Cage family, Miss Murphee's family, Amber Hagerman's family and the family's of all the school shootings and the list goes on!

What do you mean it doesn't have anything to do with any of this, he is one of are own! This kind of crap is how it all gets started and how it got started in our town. We say, oh it is okay for you to only steal a little piece of candy, but don't you go out and rob a bank now, because that would be wrong.
RIGHT IS RIGHT & WRONG IS WRONG no matter how big or how small it is!!!!

You say this has nothing to do with any of this! REALLY! Isn't his daddy the Elementary Principle that lives next door to the AD and isn't that his daddy on the February 14, 2008 front page of the Gazette Newspaper standing behind his wife (HS Speech Teacher & Coach)? I bet he will say he's not guilty either! The apple never falls to far from the tree!!!!!

I don't mean to hurt anybody but it is high time we all pulled are heads out of the sand and woke up to what is going on around us and in our schools and stop compromising GOOD for EVIL and EVIL for GOOD!

Anonymous said...

Please just stop before you hurt yourself! If you don't mean to hurt anyone, then quit blogging!

Anonymous said...

true

Anonymous said...

This commnt is to Peggy and ML -
AISD needs some help. I find it hard to understand why John Trice and Larry Wilson would go to such lengths - even breaking the law - to support Joe Tison - Obviously Phil King has the support of his Districe. You can see by this blog, AISD is in trouble. How do we get back on track? I don't see encouragement from Trice, school board, etc for parental envolvment. It is discouraged. How do we make sure this illegal act does not go unnoticed? Thank you

Anonymous said...

"It's weird how when you read a story about someone you don't know you just assume it's true."

-A quote from Barry Green from one of his postings on March6, 2008.

Anonymous said...

ML/Peggy - Can you give us the name and contact info. for TEA? I think that would help us ensure this gets reported and help AISD

Suomynona said...

March 5, 10:40am --
This all seems very personal for you. With all of the anonymous posts, it is hard to tell just how many individuals are truly posting. It sounds like to me that just a small handful of you are angry at the school. You are using this electioneering drama to voice your own personal disputes with the school. I believe that you are just using this avenue to add fuel to your own personal fire. I don't foresee TEA finding anything worth pursuing. Our family and others have moved into Alvord schools because of it's great reputation. If you are so unhappy, maybe you should move and leave your property available for someone who wants to be here.

P.S. I hope that your children never make a mistake! That would be your apple!

Anonymous said...

I think you would be very surprised at how many people are actually watching this drama unfold. It's not just a few "bad apples" but parents, politicians, present and ex employees and students and future taxpayers as well. Although AISD does have a good rep when it comes to TAKS scores and good teachers, there is a dark side that no one likes to discuss unless they can do so anonymously. There seems to be several victums (or people who consider themselves victums)venting with rumor and gossip. They do this anonymously because they are scared of retaliation from the administration. There lies the problem. Why are we scared? Should we be? Constructive comments on the areas that need to be improved would move this blog in the right direction. Let's keep it going, just clean it up so that it's not just a place to vent. We need to look for answers and stay on task.

Anonymous said...

I'm a student at AHS and coaches Rhonda and Curtis Enis are great coaches and great people they do alot for this school and i have never witnessed either one of them doing anything inappropriate!

Anonymous said...

I agree Naudia! Their record proves their dedication to the program! And congrads on being the first local brave enough to post by name! AND THE CHILDREN WILL LEAD THEM.............keep it clean guys. Our kids are watching!

MJSamuelson said...

We appreciate all of your comments and opinions.

Please refrain from posting names of any employees within the school district. Also, I must ask you to keep a civil tone, or comments will be deleted and the ability to comment disabled.

For those who asked about contacting the Texas Education Agency, please go to this post: http://txpayervoice.blogspot.com/2008/03/contacting-texas-education-agency.html

Anonymous said...

I really bope we get new school board members. As parents, we need to stay involved in our school. I'm glad we have the web site for TEA -

Anonymous said...

I have watched this unfold from the start, and I am shocked at some of the things I have read. I have lived in Alvord for 12 years and I was raised in Wise County. Some of you have came on here and thrown stones when you have glass windows yourselves, very few are willing to sign you name to what you say, but yet you want us to put stock in what you say! If you all have such a problem with our district and OUR employees, get your name on the ballot, get up and make some changes!!! I have heard all of this small talk in town, and then I attend a couple of school board meetings to see only a couple of women there. This is not a DICTATORSHIP, if there is this much done in the dark.... bring it to the light!!! Bring forth your proof and let the towns people know of this and let us make a decision! I sit in judgement of none of you, but I find it very funny for someone to be talking about everyone posting as anonymous.......... then they sign there post soumynona..... pot you just called the kettle black!! You posted as anonymous backwards!!
As for the student, I applaud you the 2 coaches you mentioned are well respected here and I personally feel they have been slighted a few times myself, but haven't we all. I ask you all to open your minds and your hearts, ask God to judge your actions! I hear many folks in town shouting "I am a CHRISTIAN", if you truely are would you make the same decisions if God were sitting to your right?? Going to church makes you no more of a Christian than sitting in a garage makes you a car. You don't have to tell people you are a CHRISTIAN, live it! My preacher ask us on Sunday, not to judge our own actions, but to ask God to judge them.. this would be a good thing for all of us to do now and again, it is a GOOD reality check!!
by:
little sister

Anonymous said...

Do we know who is running yet?

Anonymous said...

I hear you little sister. but remember this electioneering is only one example of the injustices that have been done. It's understanding why we are cautious. A new board is a step in the right direction.

Anonymous said...

How do you report the electioneering to Attorney General? I saw someone post that is should be reported??

Anonymous said...

Education Code

Subtitle C. Local Organization and Governace

Chapter 11. School Districts

Subchapter A. General Provisions


§ 11.169. ELECTIONEERING PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding
any other law, the board of trustees of an independent school
district may not use state or local funds or other resources of the
district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or
political party.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1109, § 32, eff. September 1,
2005.

Renumbered from Education Code, Section 11.168 by Acts 2007, 80th
Leg., R.S., Ch. 921, § 17.001(11), eff. September 1, 2007.



You can read all these rules, codes and others by going to the TEA website and the State Board of Education.
The SBEC you will be able to see all who is certified and what they are certified to teach. If there name doesn't pull up then that usually means they are not certified or you don't have the correct name or spelling.

The best defense we have, is to educate ourselves, to find out what our rights are and to know what rules our schools are required to follow by law.

Anonymous said...

Sec 11.169 states:
"electioneering prohibited, including time for which the person is being compensated by the district"
As taxpayers, we paid the superintendent, principle, and several faculty members to attend a Joe Tison political rally (during the school day) - they even had their picture in the Gazette - Yes, we do need to educate ourselves.

Anonymous said...

The Joe Tison rally that some of the AISD faculty attended was held on Monday morning 2/11/08 at the Gazette.

On 2/13/08, the elementary principle wore a "VOTE FOR JOE TISON" button to a mandatory faculty meeting where he encouraged the faculty to vote in the Republican primary.

ELECTIONEERING is prohibited for a reason.

Anonymous said...

Here's a funny thing, the people that keep on posting as Anonymous are the same few people over and over again. You guys (ladies) needs to join NATO .... (No Action Talk Only) club. Here's an fyi, just because you post anonymous, that doesn't mean we don't know who you are....every time you submit post, your computer print (ID) registers to this blog site. Be a man (woman) and reveal yourself before you make serious accusations.

-Responsible blogger

Anonymous said...

intimidate: 1. To make timid: FRIGHTEN. 2. To inhibit or discourage by or as if by threats.

Oooh Wee e.bolivar! That sounds like some more of that intimidation that goes on in this district.

Listen up to everyone that may have been intimidated by the so called responsible blogger e.bolivar. I spoke with the Texas Insider today, and this is what was said, the only thing that registers on the site is the IP# and that is the number telling the Town in which your computer is being used in.

Here's an FYI, I do my research before I spout anything off.
By your ID and signature doesn't look like you revealed yourself as much of a man (woman). Sounds like another pot calling the kettle black!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

e. bolivar, you should not play the gender card... it don't make you look very manly....(as a matter of fact you might be suffering from lds) I am a woman and I don't have a problem signing my name, it was very difficult to sign in and it is very easy to click the anonymous this is why I did so... but as you can see I signed mine at the bottom. I know some of the information on here MIGHT not be all true, but if there is this much being said there must be something to some of it.
Just a note for the one who said that this information was generated from the church.... this would be a big NO NO, you are not allowed to do things like this from ANY non profit organization. I would hope that this is not TRUE, it could cause more problems for Mr. Trice and Mr. Wilson

little sister

Anonymous said...

The IRS also emphasizes that voter registration drives must be unbiased both in theory and in fact, and it encourages 501(c)(3) organizations to monitor their Web sites to ensure they aren't favoring certain candidates through the use of links.

Further, the guidance underscores the rule prohibiting churches and charities from selectively giving their directories or anything else to campaigns. "Allowing a candidate to use an organization's assets or facilities will also violate the prohibition if other candidates are not given an equivalent opportunity," the IRS says.

Thanks little sister - like we've said, we all need to educate ourself. If I understand this correctly,the church could lose is tax exemption status for allowing copies to be made. It has been said the copies were made at Wilson's church. Google "church electioneering" and you'll find more information.

Anonymous said...

What is the latest on this issue? Has anyone made any progress on getting charges filed or an investigation started? Do tell.

Anonymous said...

Ananymous backward: it appears you are threatening parents who are speaking out against the school district, and the threat is regaliation against their children. People are watching, and any retaliation will be investigated.

Someone asked what is the latest on this issue. You will be hearing more in the future.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for following up Mrs. Venable. We appeciate any information you can provide. We as taxpayers don't want this to be just another "small town secret". It's about time for the truth to come out so that we can start the clean up process.

Anonymous said...

This was on the scattershooting blog.
He's at it again! Mr Trice was seen at the track meet in Chico yesterday trying to influence voters to elect Calvin Baker and Kerry Clower in the upcoming school board election! (Kerry was approached by Trice to run) Did he NOT learn anything the first time? Jeannette Ward is running against Baker, and Tracy Lodes against Clower! These two ladies want to see positive changes in our school system, not stir up trouble like Mr. Trice is accusing them of! Do we want things to stay the same? I say no! (It's also been rumored of Mr Trice saying "if Lodes wins he will step down the next day")
Is that a promise?
Let it be known I have nothing against Clower and Baker. They are respected retired men in our community. We don't need "safe" school board members at this point! We need people who have children in our school system who know what is going on inside the school, who are not afraid of positive changes to make things right! Many issues never make it to the school board by way of Mr. Trice!! I just think it's time to have the school board run by the rules and not controlled by Trice.

Anonymous said...

Alvord Community,
Is this the way the Alvord ISD School Board engages the Alvord Community? If not, CHANGE IT and elect the two, who have invested interest in the school system. They want positive change and most important they believe the community needs and should be involved.

This article came off the National School Board Association and it was written by Mike Resnick & Anne Bryant:


How School Boards Engage the Public

A closer look at the concept of elected school boards and their governance function will show what they bring to the engagement process. One reason we have elected school boards is so that decisions affecting children
and the school environment are shaped and approved by people who
represent the community. In addition to being the school system’s policymakers and governing authority, school boards hold superintendents accountable for managing the schools. School board members, in turn, are themselves accountable to the public. In effect, elected school boards are the way by which the public schools belong to the public. When the school board becomes involved in community engagement, people know that the effort is being directed by their elected leaders. They also know that their elected leaders have access to the system and will, with the recommendations of the superintendent, make policy decisions based on the public discourse that takes place. In other words, when school boards engage the community, people know that their involvement counts and that decisions will be based on a wide range of views. A school board’s capacity to engage the community extends beyond the formal actions the board may take. Indeed, local school board members
engage the community as individuals every day in their personal lives, serving as a unique set of eyes and ears attuned to the schools and the public alike. They talk with parents about their children, meet with reporters, address local clubs, and bring together citizen groups on a wide range of issues concerning the schools and their impact on the community. In effect, school board members connect what the school system is doing with what the community expects for young people ingeneral and for individual children in particular. This is constituency representation at a personal level, a level that truly counts for individuals. How well a school system engages the public and how the public believes its involvement will be received depend on the school board’s
policies and the priority it places on community engagement. It also depends on the overall climate of welcome and accessibility that the school
board establishes and on its day-to-day engagement with constituents. In addition to informal engagement, a school board conducts formal and highly focused activities that take citizen involvement to a higher
level. Through these structured activities the community can help to shape the basic mission of the schools by asking crucial questions: What do community members want their children to know and be prepared to do when they graduate from school? What services do they want their
school to provide? What kinds of curriculum and extracurricular offerings should be available beyond the required subjects? What size should classes be? What special qualifications should be expected of teachers? What values, character traits, and twenty-first-century skills should their
students possess? And what do the schools need to look like and do on a daily basis to fulfill their mission? The public can be formally engaged to help identify and solve—and ultimately to assume ownership of—a wide range of issues, from raising graduation rates to school construction, from the academic program to drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and sex education. The list goes on. There is no one best way to engage the public, but a number of proven practices merit discussion for what they contribute to the school system and, ultimately, to the democratic process.

Anonymous said...

Attention Alvord ISD Parents and Taxpayers,

I came across this report on the TEA website and was wondering if anybody out there would like to enlighten me on who the Vice-Principal is see #1?
I looked on the Alvord HS website see #2 but when I looked at the State Board of Education teaching certificates I found see #3:
Interesting reading on the requirements on the SBEC see #4. Funny thing is they require our children to pass the TAKS before going on to the next grade or graduate but they don't require certain people to be certified in the area in which they are receiving a salary for! Something is VERY WRONG and STINKEN with this picture.



1) 2007-2008 Staff Salaries and FTE Counts -- Excluding ESC Staff
Totals by District for District: 249901

-----------------------------------

Region: 11 County: WISE COUNTY District: ALVORD ISD ( 249901 ) Staff FTE Count Total Base Pay Average Base Pay

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL 0.60 $33,528 $55,492
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR 0.78 $38,810 $50,000
INSTRUCTIONAL OFFICER 0.68 $42,659 $62,642
PRINCIPAL 2.48 $175,348 $70,668
SUPERINTENDENT/CAO/CEO/PRESDNT 1.00 $99,000 $99,000
TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF 5.54 $389,345 $70,245

***********************************

2) Alvord High School:
Campus Administrator
Carla Bullard - Principal

Ron Holson - Admin Assistant

Tracy Randall - Secretary

***********************************

3)
Texas Educator Certificate
This certifies that
Ronald D Holson
has fulfilled requirements of state law and regulations of the
State Board for Educator Certification
and is hereby authorized to perform duties as designated below:



STANDARD
Description Effective Date Expiration Date Status
Classroom Teacher
All-Level Physical Education 10/17/2002 12/31/2007 Expired
Grades (PK-12)

All-Level Physical Education 01/01/2008 12/31/2013 Valid
Grades (PK-12)

Generic Special Education 01/01/2008 12/31/2013 Valid
Grades (PK-12)

Generic Special Education 06/26/2004 12/31/2007 Expired




PROVISIONAL
Description Effective Date Expiration Date Status


Secondary Health Education 07/22/1997 Life Valid
Grades (6-12)

Secondary Physical Education 06/19/1994 Life Valid
Grades (6-12)



EMERGENCY PERMIT
Description Effective Date Expiration Date Status
Elementary Physical Education 08/11/1998 08/31/1999 Expired
Grades (1-8)

Secondary Physical Education 07/28/1993 08/31/1994 Expired
Grades (6-12)



Official Record of Certification
Monday, April 28, 2008

***********************************
4)
Texas Administrative Code

TITLE 19 EDUCATION
PART 7 STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
CHAPTER 241 PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE

Rules

§241.1 General Provisions
§241.5 Minimum Requirements for Admission to a Principal Preparation Program
§241.10 Preparation Requirements
§241.15 Standards for the Principal Certificate
§241.20 Requirements for the First-Time Principal in Texas
§241.25 Requirements for the Issuance of the Standard Principal Certificate
§241.30 Requirements to Renew the Standard Principal Certificate
§241.35 Assessment Process Definition and Approval of Individual Assessments
§241.40 Implementation Dates

Anonymous said...

So where is all this information going? Do you have a case or not? Please enlighten us on what the purpose of posting this information is.

Anonymous said...

So what kind of positive changes would Jeanette Ward and Tracy Lodes be in favor of making if they were elected to the school board?

Anonymous said...

I don't know what they are in favor of, but a good place to start would be to get Trice out of there. Then the rest of the trouble would tuck tail and run.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Neighbors,
No disrespect to you sir, but I believe some of your comments in your letter to The Gazette are found to be untrue. Sounds to me like you are listening to Trice's FUZZY MATH!!! A SMALL district like Alvord in NO WAY can be compared to Birdville, Dallas, Ellis, Galveston, etc. etc. etc....Alvord only has 3 schools with a enrollment of barely 700 and the other cities have many. Below you will find from the TEA website the Gold Performance Ratings for all school districts in the Wise County area. Each school is listed individually on the TEA website and you can even see ratings of past years, should there be anybody who is interested in seeing it in black & white.


DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249901 ALVORD ISD RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZED
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249902 BOYD ISD ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE RECOGNIZED
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249903 BRIDGEPORT ISD ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249904 CHICO ISD ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249905 DECATUR ISD ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE RECOGNIZED ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249906 PARADISE ISD RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZED
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HISTORY

DISTRICT NO. DISTRICT NAME 2007 2006 2005 2004

249908 SLIDELL ISD ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACADEMICALLY ACCEPTABLE
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Anonymous said...

Again Mr. Neighbors no disrespect to you sir, but you have been misinformed again by somebody's FUZZY MATH.
I believe in 1999 was the year the $5,000,000 bond was passed to build the new high school and elementary.
If I am not mistaken, the new elementary was completed December 2000 and the new high school was substantially complete November 2001, so again if I am not mistaken, there is no way there has been schools built in the last 10 years.
According to March 1, 2007 front page of The Gazette Mr. Hale (School Board President) is quoted as saying: The additional classroom space is due to the 63% growth rate at the high school in just seven years. For Trice to get the 63-69% growth (depending on what day and who you talk to) for the 6,000,000 bond of May 2007 election, he went all the way back to 1997-98 & 1998-99 school years to get his figures! These figures was taken before the new Alvord High School was even built.
I'm no Math Major but by my calculation, Trice should have taken AHS (my enrollment was taken from the TEA website) enrollment 2001-02: 188 & 2006-07: 247 for a truthful total: 247-188 = 59 then take 59 divide it by 188 = wellll you get a 31% growth instead of the 63-69%.
Those figures and number of years that was given to the Alvord Community and Taxpayers, to pass the $6,000,000 bond, was FALSE INFORMATION.
The cost of the new middle school and addition to the high school is costing the taxpayers $6,349,000.00, unless it has changed!

Now do you get a warm and fuzzy feeling from all this or does it make you hotter than Hell to know WE allowed this to happen!!!!!!
What does all this mean, it means before you believe everything that you've been told or heard, you need to check it out for yourself!

Anonymous said...

Damned if you do! Damned if you don't! Bottom line Alvord is growing! RIGHT NOW, we are in need of classroom space. As I see it, we are already behind in being prepared for our present growth as a district and then if you calculate future growth, we are wisely thinking ahead. You need to think outside of the box. Another complaint that I have heard about the High School is that Alvord does not offer enough courses. Well, duh, how can they? Where would the space be to put the additional classes? I just want to say thank you Mr. Trice for looking for ways to budget my tax dollar to get the most out of it and for thinking ahead so that my children will have a nice facility to learn and grow in! I don't have to be trivial about numbers. I can see with my own eyes the need!!!!!!!!!!!! I would be concerned if they were not taking action.

Anonymous said...

I agree, we need more space but lying to the public to pass the bond is not the way to do it. I would use those same eyes to take a GOOD look into the electioneering and other illegal or unethical practices that Trice has been involved in. No disrespect, but you need to stay out of the box and look into the truth.

Anonymous said...

I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE TRUTH. Can you pinpoint for me exactly how he lied about the bond? Are you sure that inflation from oil prices just has not driven up costs? It was a year ago that the bond was passed. Inflation has risen since then. Also, without bashing other employees by name, what illegal or unethical practices are you specifically talking about?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Mr. Clower and Mrs. Ward!

Now that the elections are over and I can HONESTLY say that I didn't SLANDER anybody as my name was being done in the Alvord Community and I ran a clean campaign.
I can finally set everybody straight about the REAL TRUTH. If anybody is wondering why I am letting this be known now is because I did try to go public back in the summer to the Messenger but I heard the reporter was told there is some news you just don't report, 2 weeks later I never received a phone call back and then when I called to talk with her I was told she no longer worked there.

I am the crazy red head lady that I have heard and been told Trice refers to me as and if elected I would stir up trouble and that I would be bad for the Alvord Community, my name is Tracy Lodes. I am those eyes that has spent a year and many many countless hours researching, reading the laws, educating myself, going to School Board Meetings and taking a GOOD LOOK at EVERYTHING.

ANY TIME and ANY WHERE OUTSIDE OF WISE COUNTY I will take a LIE DETECTOR TEST to prove that I am not lieing or blowing smoke, but Trice, School Board Members, Crutsinger and by all means PLEASE bring Sherry Bickers and Annie Allsbrooks, you will all need to take one to, because there is some questions that need to be answered, while we are all hooked up!

I am here to tell each and everyone in Alvord that the only thing that I am GUILTY of is speaking out about things that has taken place in the Alvord ISD and because of this I have been BANNED from the schools and labeled a TROUBLE MAKER.

First, I am guilty of speaking out in some (May 2007) personal emails that was sent to Sherry Bickers' personal home computer, (at the time she was suppose to have been my friend and in no way would I have ever suspected she would have done this to her worst enemy, because you know, she always tells everybody what a Christain she is and she doesn't want to ruin her WITNESS) that she felt the need to take to Trice and in return Trice felt the need to get involved in a COUPLE of HENS PECKING! BICKERS, Christains don't make up LIES about people or are suppose to go around SLANDERING others to get what they want in life!!!!!
Second, I am guilty of trying to hold the Alvord ISD accountable for there own rules, like we as PARENTS and OUR CHILDREN are held accountable for. You can't have rules for certain people and then certain other people not have to follow them either.
Third, I am guilty for attending the School Board Meetings.
Fourth, Pulling OPEN RECORD ACT LETTERS to Trice. (By the way these letters per Trice in the April 24, 2008 School Board Meeting, has cost the district some money) I would say, you need to read up on your rules. Trice, if you will go on the State Atty. General's website, there is a 287 page manual that you can printout and read. It tells you what is public record and what is not or you can call them, they are very helpful!!!!!!

To set the record straight: I am crazy about ACCOUNTABLITY, EQUALITY, FAIRNESS and NEVER COMPROMISING MY MORALS or BELIEFS for ANYTHING or ANYBODY, NO MATTER WHAT the COSTS IS!!!!!!!

Should there be anybody that would like to know the REAL TRUTH, just let me know. I have everything to back up what I have said.

I would like to THANK EVERYBODY who has supported me openly and secretly and to all those who have judged me before knowing me or the truth, I hope you all can be judged by the same measure that you have judged me by.


Anonymous May 9, 2008 10:33 pm: I have this in writing from Trice that shows exactly where he got his numbers from. I requested this information in a OPEN RECORDS ACT LETTER on Wednesday August 01, 2007.

Red

Anonymous said...

I have now seen the proof and I think that everyone in town should see all of this..... I think I have been bamboozled!! I am glad to know the TRUTH not the fuzzy truth! Thank you all for watching over me and my children!!

Anonymous said...

Certainly Mr. Trice would want to know if any of his activities are currently under investigation. If they are, it would be inappropriate to comment. If he has violated no laws, he should have nothing to worry about.

Anonymous said...

$6,000,000 is in 2008 budget. Where does the $349,000 plus who knows? The tax payers are being lied to. I hope the school board is investigating Mr Trice. It is Mr Trice's style to keep public in the dark about money.

Anonymous said...

Well I see that we should all get more involved in our school board, I think that MORE parents should be more involved in the public school system. After all they are our employees and they have the most important things in our lives in their hands.... our children!! Some of us have forgotten that it is our money that he is spending. I noticed that the attorney fees are up, is this due to the electioneering or something else? If he was personally accused, no reason to take money from my childs education to pay for his mistakes!! We as tax payers have certain rights, and when I have asked about those I have gotten lame excuses and lengthy explanations in which Mr.Trice talks alot and says nothing meaningful! I would like to see more people with children in the school run for school board. Nothing personal, but the majority of the school board members do not have children in Alvord..... So where is the vested interest?? I would also like to have the county tax collector to collect our taxes, not the county tax appraiser... maybe that is the reason for all of the value increases... if he gets a percentage of what we pay, why not charge more so he can get more... looks like a win win for the appraisal district!! And my tax values were up last year and guess what THEY ARE UP AGAIN THIS YEAR!!
NO NEW TAXES DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T RAISE YOUR VALUES TO GET MORE MONEY!! More fuzzy math!

Anonymous said...

I am writing this in hopes Peggy Venable and Alvord ISD school board helps our school. John Trice has reassigned our girls coach without just cause and merit. The football and boys program continues to be rewarded with nice facilities and more coached while they take away the most succesful girls coach in AHS history. OUr Administration and school board electioneer and lie and continue to get away with their actions. The lies that John Trices tells have to be looked into. I am asking the board not to believe anything he says without proof. Trice has had a personal agenda the last 2 years and now it's hurting our children.

Anonymous said...

Now do you see why we have been crying out for help? Kids, teachers and parents it is time to stand up for yourselves! Call your school board members, call the superintendent, call the papers and the news............The more attention this gets the more likely it is that the board will listen. Snakes don't like the light of day. Picket, sign petitions, call for resignations of those that are responsible for these lies! Please do not egnore this unjustice that has been done to this family. Do you think this is the first or the last time they have reassigned a person in order to get rid of them or shut them up? It's common practice! If you are tired of being scared, now is the time to join together and change things. Do not let the AD and administration get away with this. Reclaim this school!

Anonymous said...

Which girls coach? Where is the reassignment? Will the coach be coaching at all anymore? Who is going to coach the girls now?

Anonymous said...

Their: used when showing ownership
They're: used for saying "They are"
There: Used for directional purposes, such as "over there"

"Christains don't make up LIES about people or are suppose to go around SLANDERING others to get what they want in life!!!!!"

Sooo...what exactly are YOU here doing?? Christians and Christianity has been thrown around a lot in this blog, and for what reason but to prove to all the lost that Christians are NOT that different from them. Over and over I hear Christianity thrown around with carelessness, like some adjective that describes someone. I, I am not perfect but my prayer is that those who have not yet been called, can see the difference in my life since I've asked Jesus Christ into my heart. It breaks my heart when my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ use Christianity as an excuse to help them tear someone down.


"I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
~Galations 2:20

Anonymous said...

Why the english lesson? If you no longer have an ego, why do you feel it's so important to correct someone's grammar?

You're right. The word Christian is used as an adjective. But a true Christian is not judged by how loud he professes to be one, but by what he does that makes the lost see Jesus in him.

Sorry, but I can't see the Jesus in what Trice is doing. All I see is lies, cover-ups, and revenge. He walks around shaking hands and cracking jokes while stabbing his employees in the back. The scary part is that it comes so easy for him.
I'm sorry the truth is breaking your heart, but there is an infection in this town. We have to expose it to clean it out and it's going to sting like crazy before we can heal.
Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Anonymous said...

The correct spelling for your scripture quote is Galatians.

You see, since April 2007 you can't even imagine what I have been through with the Alvord ISD Adminstration and of all the blogs and verbiage, you chose mine Tracy Lodes'. I want you to know that you made a wrong chose and I don't spat off anything without having proof to back up what I have to say Anonymous June 8, 2008 12:49 am.

Slander: 1. Law. Utterance of defamatory statements injurious to the reputation or well-being of a person. 2. A malicious report or statement. To utter damaging reports about.

Lie: 1. A false statement purposely put forward as truth. 2. Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.

How about these quotes from the letter Sheri Bickers sent Trice about me: "She is dillusional" or "She is a loose cannon waiting to explode."

Let's see does the words "Crazy Red Headed Lady" or "if she gets in, she will stir up trouble and be bad for the Alvord community", how about "You have proven to be a potential hindrance to the safety of our children. Our staff is not comfortable with your presence in the teacher's lounge and at the volunteer activities knowing the false claims of your aforementioned email. Until such time as you provide the requested information concerning your allegations and until you have won the trust of the faulty, you are prohibited from serving in the PTO organization and from providing any volunteer work for the school district. The last quote is from my BAN LETTER. FYI, Trice has yet to prove I am a potential hindrance to anyone at any of the schools.

Does any of this sound anything like SLANDER or LIES.

Here's a better word, have you heard of DEFAMATION of CHARACTER or SLANDER LAWSUIT.

At know time have I ever made anything personal or slandered Trice or Sheri Bickers or said anything behind their backs I wouldn't say to their face. Mr. Trice learned this first hand in a meeting Cindy Stephens and I had with him in May 2007 and Sheri Bickers was around me enough with the PTO to know this to be true.

You know funny thing now, I have received a letter from Trice asking me to, (quoted from his letter) "Please accept my humble apology for ever making the issues personal. Somehow, we must work together for the good of our children and the taxpayers of the district."

I wonder what the issues are, is it for: the ban, maybe for listening to Sheri Bickers and Annie Allsbrooks lie about me saying I threatened with a gun, maybe for saying I told three blatant lies, maybe for Sheri Bickers trying to set me up for stealing $900.00 worth of books that she was 100% responsible for, maybe Sheri Bickers trying to provoke me in front of everybody at the Jump Rope for Heart or maybe for when I come into the elementary Sheri Bickers makes a call to alert someone that I am in the building.

Well you know, I bet it could be possibly ALL of ABOVE!!!!!

You see Trice you carried this way too far so what about the DAMAGE CONTROL!!!!!I don't see how you could possibly undo all the crap you have done to me!!!! Try telling my child how sorry you are for making the issues personal.

One of the blatant lies I was accussed of telling is about the alleged affair between a student and a coach last year (2007). I was told by Trice it didn't happen. But the parent who actually told us said Trice told her the reason the mother didn't want to press charges is because she didn't want to embarrass her daughter. So did it happen or not? If it didn't happen then why did the coach voluntary surrender his teaching certificate?
I heard about another one that happened on prom night of 2008 between one of the contracted band instructors and a band student, so did this one happen or not????

How do you parents feel about the alleged affairs?


Red

Anonymous said...

Remember it only took ONE woman to get the daily devotional and prayer removed from schools in 50 states. Just imagine how much more can be done when you go in NUMBERS!!!
I would like to give some encouragement to those of you who are standing up for what is right!!! My prayer has been for the last year that God would shine his light on the darkness in our town and expose everything like a raw sore!!!!!! Should there be anybody that wants help, there are people around town that can put you in contact with me. Another person is Peggy Venable. She is one of the nicest ladies you'll ever want to meet and very easy to talk to. I am very honored to be able to call her my friend.


This was read in my church this morning, author unknown:

People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.
Love them anyway!
If you do good people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway!
If you are successful, you will win fake friends and true enemies.
Suceed anyway!
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway!
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway!
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest ideas.
Think big anyway!
Peolpe favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway!
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway!
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway!
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway!

RED

Anonymous said...

"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."

Proverbs 29:11

Anonymous said...

Dear MJSamuelson,

You posted this on March 10, 2008..

"Please refrain from posting names of any employees within the school district. Also, I must ask you to keep a civil tone, or comments will be deleted and the ability to comment disabled."

Why is Tracy Lodes, aka "Red", being allowed to use employee names and make untrue slanderous comments?

Taxpayers' Voice said...

Comments will be moderated from this point forward.

Previous comments will be hidden.

Please respect this forum and each other.

Red said...

I apologize to the Taxpayer's Voice for posting names. I will refrain from posting employee names from now on.

Let's see, how about posting my ban letter dated October 19, 2007. What about listening to the taped meeting November 28, 2007 between the Alvord ISD Superintendent and myself! What about the letter that the State Attorney General made the Superintendent give to me that was written by S.B. How about my emails S.B. took to the Superintendent with all her nasty little remarks on them about me! How about the taped meeting in September 2007 with the elementary principle! You can always talk with Cindy Stephens and she can tell you all about the $900.00 issue! How about the Superintendent's response to my Open Records letter dated February 14, 2008. How about talking to some of the people who saw S.B. come over to me during the Jump Rope for Heart April 15, 2008 and what I looked like afterwards. Would you like to post the letter dated May 18, 2008 with the apology from the Superintendent?

I am no idiot nor am I crazy like I have been presented as. Maybe you ought to talk with the board member that was running against me and ask him what the Superintendent said about me! I've heard he is a wonderful Christian man, so that ought to mean he woouldn't lie about what was said.

You see dear Anonymous June 9, 2008 8:14 pm, it's not SLANDEROUS COMMENTS when you have the proof in your hands. IT'S FACTS!!!!!!

Red said...

I apologize to the Taxpayer's Voice for posting names. I will refrain from posting employee names from now on.

Let's see, how about posting my ban letter dated October 19, 2007. What about listening to the taped meeting November 28, 2007 between the Alvord ISD Superintendent and myself! What about the letter that the State Attorney General made the Superintendent give to me that was written by S.B. How about my emails S.B. took to the Superintendent with all her nasty little remarks on them about me! How about the taped meeting in September 2007 with the elementary principle! You can always talk with Cindy Stephens and she can tell you all about the $900.00 issue! How about the Superintendent's response to my Open Records letter dated February 14, 2008. How about talking to some of the people who saw S.B. come over to me during the Jump Rope for Heart April 15, 2008 and what I looked like afterwards. Would you like to post the letter dated May 18, 2008 with the apology from the Superintendent?

I am no idiot nor am I crazy like I have been presented as. Maybe you ought to talk with the board member that was running against me and ask him what the Superintendent said about me! I've heard he is a wonderful Christian man, so that ought to mean he woouldn't lie about what was said.

You see dear Anonymous June 9, 2008 8:14 pm, it's not SLANDEROUS COMMENTS when you have the proof in your hands. IT'S FACTS!!!!!!

Taxpayers' Voice said...

It is amazing that the local newspaper is so oblivious to the controversy and the fraud taking place in this community. Perhaps a real reporter can take a look at it and give the community -- and Texans -- an unbiased assessment.