If you have an issue in your school district that you believe needs attention "from above," you can contact the Texas Education Agency. I do believe this should be a "last resort" and only done if you have collected thorough information on your complaint.
To email, go here: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/tea/contact.html
NOTE THIS: "Agency procedures require a written and signed complaint from the complainant before any action can be initiated. " Email is NOT sufficient.
To initiate the complaint process, please go here: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/tea/compact.html
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Last minute money dump could impact down-ballot races
A couple of weeks is a long time in political terms. There was plenty of time, for example, between this Feb. 21 post and this one for there to be much more to report on.
Kronberg made some noise last week complaining about the money game that appears to surround a few previously pro-Craddick legislators. Of course, what he didn't get into was that at least a couple of the groups collecting and spending cash were doing so along ideological lines, and not speaker-loyalty ones. I'll be far more fair than he was and state unequivocally that I believe the Texas Parent PAC is collecting and spending money along ideological lines, too - an ideology that favors school administrators over taxpayers, sure, but an ideology nonetheless.
The Parent PAC, previously focusing only on Joe Tison in HD 61, found itself flush with new cash recently, and dumped money into the coffers of Doug Miller (challenging Rep. Nathan Macias in New Braunfels), Rep. Charlie Geren, and Rep. Pat Haggerty. One has to wonder, what do Tison, Miller, Geren, and Haggerty really have in common? Haggerty is definitely furniture, and in Geren's and Miller's cases, it's just the same old song from the last primary (last time, instead of Miller, it was then-incumbent Carter Casteel - it's largely believed that Miller and Casteel are cut from the same pro-big-spending cloth).
Again, though, I wonder about HD 61. Rep. Phil King is taking hits from the gambling lobby and the educrat community. Is it just that any chance to gain an educrat in the House is a worthy cause for the Parent PAC?
Other races the Parent PAC has gotten involved in include HD 144, Robert Talton's former seat. They gave money to Republican candidate Fred Roberts. His website reveals....well, it reveals nothing about the candidate himself (check it out here). They've also given some money to former Richardson city council member James Shepherd, who is running in a four-way race to succeed local government's best friend and the taxpayer's worst enemy, Fred Hill. The Parent PAC also gave money to Republican Paula Stansell, challenging Rep. Charlie Howard down in Fort Bend County.
Never fear, Democrats! The Parent PAC is also looking out for your guys...kind of. They gave money to both Rep. Paul Moreno and Rep. Juan Escobar. But don't worry - the PAC's still got your interests in mind, just look at the so-called "Republicans" they're backing above!
Today is primary election day in Texas, and it's time to see if all the money being pushed around has a major effect or not. If you haven't gone to the polls, you better leave soon - lines are already forming.
Kronberg made some noise last week complaining about the money game that appears to surround a few previously pro-Craddick legislators. Of course, what he didn't get into was that at least a couple of the groups collecting and spending cash were doing so along ideological lines, and not speaker-loyalty ones. I'll be far more fair than he was and state unequivocally that I believe the Texas Parent PAC is collecting and spending money along ideological lines, too - an ideology that favors school administrators over taxpayers, sure, but an ideology nonetheless.
The Parent PAC, previously focusing only on Joe Tison in HD 61, found itself flush with new cash recently, and dumped money into the coffers of Doug Miller (challenging Rep. Nathan Macias in New Braunfels), Rep. Charlie Geren, and Rep. Pat Haggerty. One has to wonder, what do Tison, Miller, Geren, and Haggerty really have in common? Haggerty is definitely furniture, and in Geren's and Miller's cases, it's just the same old song from the last primary (last time, instead of Miller, it was then-incumbent Carter Casteel - it's largely believed that Miller and Casteel are cut from the same pro-big-spending cloth).
Again, though, I wonder about HD 61. Rep. Phil King is taking hits from the gambling lobby and the educrat community. Is it just that any chance to gain an educrat in the House is a worthy cause for the Parent PAC?
Other races the Parent PAC has gotten involved in include HD 144, Robert Talton's former seat. They gave money to Republican candidate Fred Roberts. His website reveals....well, it reveals nothing about the candidate himself (check it out here). They've also given some money to former Richardson city council member James Shepherd, who is running in a four-way race to succeed local government's best friend and the taxpayer's worst enemy, Fred Hill. The Parent PAC also gave money to Republican Paula Stansell, challenging Rep. Charlie Howard down in Fort Bend County.
Never fear, Democrats! The Parent PAC is also looking out for your guys...kind of. They gave money to both Rep. Paul Moreno and Rep. Juan Escobar. But don't worry - the PAC's still got your interests in mind, just look at the so-called "Republicans" they're backing above!
Today is primary election day in Texas, and it's time to see if all the money being pushed around has a major effect or not. If you haven't gone to the polls, you better leave soon - lines are already forming.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Alvord ISD Letter - if you're curious
I finally found a way to get the actual Alvord ISD letter available online.
Click here for the .pdf. Please ignore the domain, it is not related to this. Also, the .pdf is about 2MB, so it may take awhile to open. Smartest thing would be to right-click and save.
Click here for the .pdf. Please ignore the domain, it is not related to this. Also, the .pdf is about 2MB, so it may take awhile to open. Smartest thing would be to right-click and save.
Alvord ISD electioneering story getting blogger attention
First, a blog from Wise County posted a blurb about the Alvord ISD/John Trice/Larry Wilson electioneering story and it's getting comments here: http://skattershooting.blogspot.com/2008/03/alvord-isd.html
Another North Texas area blogger picked up the story over a week ago: http://ntconservative.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/alvord-school-officials-have-lost-their-minds/
Also, Paul Burka posted something about the King/Tison race, and the comments mention the Alvord ISD scandal: http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/2008/03/campaign-central-32-p-king-tison.php
Regardless of what happens tomorrow in the King/Tison race, I think it's extremely important that the residents of Alvord ISD start digging into this electioneering scandal. A lot of accusations have been flying through the comments on our last post on the subject - it's vital that local citizens begin keeping a closer eye on the district and the school board.
Another North Texas area blogger picked up the story over a week ago: http://ntconservative.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/alvord-school-officials-have-lost-their-minds/
Also, Paul Burka posted something about the King/Tison race, and the comments mention the Alvord ISD scandal: http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/2008/03/campaign-central-32-p-king-tison.php
Regardless of what happens tomorrow in the King/Tison race, I think it's extremely important that the residents of Alvord ISD start digging into this electioneering scandal. A lot of accusations have been flying through the comments on our last post on the subject - it's vital that local citizens begin keeping a closer eye on the district and the school board.
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