queensheeba Anonymous

We always have more questions and not enough answers. I would think if you call a meeting you would add the swearing in of the new board member. Maybe Dr.LL has something up his sleeve and can't stand the thought of losing a supporter. It just keeps getting fishier all the time. We all know that Ms. King will have her hands full. Hopefully she will stand tall and strong for the people that voted her in.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

Why don't you people get a life! Why are you always searching for problems? Why is it that you think everything is underhanded? Seems to me like this comes from something within. You know they have medications for these apparent issues that you expose everytime you write such negative comments.

Do you have any information regarding the process of "swearing" in new board members after an election? Is there a time constraint? Are there other processes that must occur before someone is sworn in? In your pretentious quest for the truth, have you researched those answers? What did you come up with? Why don't you be responsible in your writings and deal with real issues and real answers and by all means, GET OFF YOUR VISIBLE HIGH HORSES instead of using this forum as a Bash Attack all the time! If you really are interested in keeping the public informed, why don't you present a fair and unbiased "opinion" and deal with the facts and leave your apparent, personal attacks to yourself.

Where were you, Mr. Greisman, when the elementary and high school children performed their end-of-the-year Theater Review, violins, cellos and all? Do you even know that we have some future thespians in our midst and we should be so proud. Why don't you comment on the fact that our Girls Track Team has won their 7th (in a row) State Track title? Why don't you tell your readers that our Boys Track Team was one of only two or three track teams in the United States to be invited to New York City?

Surely you have some other positive information to share with your readers ... that's if your true concern lies with how the school district is performing both in the board room and in our schools.

I hope the intelligent people of Lancaster soon rear their heads and see you and your co-complainers and non-doers of this city, for who you truly are .... racists in their truest forms.

The challenge has been offered ... report something positive and about the children of our city and schools. Let the facts speak for themselves.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

Well, Mr. Greisman, why have you not shared with your readers today, what that "suspicious" meeting was all about last evening? Why? I will tell you ...

Mr. Greisman and his co-conspirators do not want to report good, positive information. All they want to do is report the seemingly negative comments and opinions they have. They don't wish for their readers to know that there are great, positive things happening in our school district.

They don't wish for you to know that Dr. Larry Lewis and his very abled staff are truly working to advance this school district and to allow "our" children to receive a quality education and afford them the same opportunities that are afforded children that do not look like the majority make-up of this district and city.

What Mr. Greisman does not want you to know is that Dr. Larry Lewis, and the entire staff of this district, from the custodian to the head, are devoted to our children and willing and able to endure the constant criticism to promote "Children First."

Where are you now Mr. Greisman?

Tell the readers that the meeting was about the changes that will have to occur to accommodate the constantly increasing growth of the district and that Dr. Lewis and his staff, despite the non-support from the community of the bond issue and the constant criticism from you and your co-conspirators, are diligently working to prepare for the influx of students in and coming to the district.

Tell your readers that because they do not support the bond issues, that our kids will not be able to attend schools in their neighborhoods and within walking distances of their homes, but will have to be bused to other locations to try and accommodate their learning. Tell them that their children will have to be housed in portable buildings for their learning because the schools are overcrowded and bursting at the seams. Why don't you share with them the costs associated with having to provide buses to bus these children to other locations? Come on, Mr. Greisman, surely you want your readers to have all the information they can so they can sit comfortably on your side of the perverbial fence.

Be sure and educate your readers about the issues related to housing students in portables, how safe they are and how much they cost; and that bringing in more portables means taking money out of the classrooms (be it from cutting back on teacher salaries to having to increase the student-teacher ratio).

Mr. Greisman, I contend that you don't want your readers to know these truths because it would defeat your purpose, and, that if they knew the real truth, you and your "friends" will be exposed for the hypocrits, deceivers and spreaders of false truths, you are; not to mention, the racists that you appear to be.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

I appreciate the offer to submit my newsworthy stories. However, it seems as though you are commenting on my decision to express myself under an anonymous identity. Am I correct in that assumption?

It seems that just like Mr. Greisman offers his opinions, whether anonymously or not, I should be allowed to contradict the information he provides to your readers. Isn't that what this forum is about? Or is Mr. Greisman a paid staff member? Did I misunderstand that button on the top of the article that says "post comment" ... I don't remember anything saying that you must use your real name in order to do so; but please correct me if I am wrong.

What difference does it make if I submit my opinions anonymously or not? Is it that I offer a valid opinion about the type of articles and information he is providing for your readers, that you are seemingly question me?

Seems as though because I have offered the opinion that he could possibly be a racist, that the staff of this newspaper is trying to establish some ground rules. Is it not the same as Mr. Greisman calling our Superintendent of Schools, a thief? Wow! Those perverbial apples don't fall far from the tree.

Are my opinions about Mr. Greisman and his supporters not as valid? Seems to me that he shares the same types of comments or viewpoints (as jaded as they are) about the school superintendent as I do about him and his supporters. It should not matter that he assigns his name to an article or not.

Thank you again, for your offer ... I just may take you up on it if I could be assured that my news will be accepted by your "newspaper" as Mr. Greisman's apparently is, whether I choose to use my name or not; surely you will validate information before allowing it to appear on your site.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

I was curious about whether the lady tigers won the state championship. I looked in mainstream media to find out and couldn't find it. The story is here: http://www.lancasterisd.org/displayar...

I was surprised that the Today Newspapers covered the victory by the DeSoto girls but didn't cover the victory by the Lancaster girls. The website article announced a press conference. Did anyone attend? Did the mainstream media cover it? I admit, I'm not an avid reader of the sports pages, preferring the opinion pages, world events, the metro section, and occasional forays into the business section. Sports and entertainment mean next to nothing to me.

We suffer from the lack of a newspaper staff dedicated to coverage of our city. In order to cover our city, we need citizen journalists reporting to this site.

The victory by the lady tigers wasn't even covered in the neighborhood insert of the Dallas Morning News. Where were our local tipsters? Why were they not communicating with other area media outlets? Why don't signs, banners, and bulletin boards around town, publish the 7th straight state title?

I do hope that canuhearme1 will become a citizen journalist and report what she knows to be true on this site. This site could very well become a quicker way to exchange information than any of our daily or weeekly mainstream newspapers.

I'll admit I don't attend high school athletic events, I do have a life elsewhere, and it is quite full. More happens in this community than high school sports and entertainment. What a small world it would be if our lives revolved around high school sports and entertainment.

I am glad to know that we are starting to hear violins and cellos in this community. I might start attending more musical events when I start hearing violins, cellos, oboes, basoons, timpani, French horns, and flutes. Along that line, I tried teaching a neighborhood kid about the classical guitar and introducing him to the cornet. He wasn't interested. He liked rap music. I hate rap music, whether it is performed by whites, blacks, or Hispanics. It is not racial. It is cultural and I have a very low impression of the influence of the rap music world.

As for local thespians, I have attended two wonderful events presented by Cedar Valley College's Family Music Theatre, performed largely by home schooled students. At Christmas, they sang and danced It's a Swingin Christmas, a brilliant production involving 40s era dance tunes and radio commercials, which were well before my time, but which were produced at a time when America was pulling together. It was an expert production with a multi racial cast of performers. This spring, I attended a performance of Cindarella, which also featured a multi-racial cast of performers.

We're all taxpayers. Even if we have a full life that doesn't directly cause us to attend LISD sports and entertainment events, we have an interest in making sure our school tax dollars are not wasted.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Shelia_in_Lancaster Anonymous

Canu,

I agree we need more positive news about LISD. DeSoto always seems to have something in the paper. Spelling bee winners. Robot project winners. Teacher of the year. Doesn't Lancaster ever have a spelling bee or a teacher of the year? I don't know whose job it is to tell the newspapers but it's not happening.

Citizen, The track team was in the Dallas paper. You missed it.

Here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedconte...

Newspapers always print athletic news. Academic news, not so often.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

RichardG Anonymous

This called meeting produced no action. Mr. Gonzales recommended a small portion of Houston School Elementary attendance zone be moved to the Beltline Elementary attendance zone. For all my suspicions of the meeting, the meeting was routine and lasted about 30 minutes.

This is in response to comments by canyouhearme1.

For your information the report was submitted to Pegasus News on Tuesday morning. The Editors have the discretion of posting reports they consider news worthy and apparently my report did not meet the test.

The LISD has a paid employee in Public Relations to promote and publish the positive successes of the athletic and artistic students. I do not have the time or resources to compete with the LISD Public Relations department. Why don’t you walk down to her office for the weekend results and post the “positive” successes yourself?

I take exception to your comment “Is it not the same as Mr. Greisman calling our Superintendent of Schools, a thief? In review of my reports, I could find no mention of me calling anyone a “thief”. Perhaps canyouhearme1 would like to refresh my memory and point out the report with that statement. There is no such statement, but it does show your bias.

While some may view my reports as negative, my goal is to report information that the LISD would prefer to keep hidden from the Board of Trustees and the public.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

So, Mr. Greisman, are you now insintuating that the illustrious http://Pegnews.com is selecting to print the all-so-negative reports as opposed to some more positive and great things happening in our city and schools? Is it http://pegnews.com that is making it seem that you are negative in your writings and casting doubts on the administrators of our school districts?

Well, if that were true, I would question whether you (or anyone for that matter) should be trusting any newsworthy information to this website. Is that what you are saying, Mr. Greisman? I would just like to be clear on what and who you are accusing this time.

Why wouldn't it be "your" goal to share any information with your readers, including good news? By your own admission, you are only out to report "information that YOU THINK LISD would prefer to keep hidden." Well, I believe that theory was arrested the other night with that so-called "suspicious" meeting that did not "pass the smell test."

Did you not noticed how you just brushed off that bit of explanation and did not expound on the information shared? Why don't you explain to your readers the changes that will have to be implemented because they did not get out to vote and support the bond issues? Why don't you share with your readers the overwhelming influx of students to our district? Why don't you tell them how their children will be housed in portables to accomodate their education? Mr Greisman, why don't you explain, word for word, the happenings of the meeting? I contend that it wasn't newsworthy to you because you could care less the conditions under which our children have to learn and the conditions by which the wonderful teachers in LISD have to teach. Come on, Mr. Greisman, admit it. You are only out to try and tear down the superintendent by any means necessary.

Contrary to your apparent intentions, you, Mr. Greisman, do not pass the smell test.

My question to you now is, if you are truly concerned with the state of the school district, would that not include being concerned enough to give of your apparent over-abundance of time on your hands, to visit various campuses to share your time and concern with tutoring some young children? Wouldn't that mean that you have the children of the school district as your top concern and that you will be found at any given campus possibly reading to a class of pre-kindergartners or maybe overseeing the teacher appreciation luncheons?

Maybe if you were truly interested in the happenings of our school district and your goal was to support the children and staff of our school district, you would have been seen on last evening in the audience at the Morton H. Meyerson, witnessing a beautiful evening of children (from elementary to high school) sharing a performance that was outstanding, to say the least.

The jazz band from the high school could compete with any professional jazz musicians around. The mass voices of the elementary school choirs sang beautifully. The awesome Fine Arts Department is unstoppable. The dancing, acting and singing were broadway believable. Our children of Lancaster were AWESOME! The school house did, indeed, rock!" Some four (4) plus years ago, this was and had no potential to be heard of in Lancaster, Texas.

A HUGE AND TREMENDOUS THANK YOU TO DR. LARRY LEWIS, DR. JAMES BROWDEN, THE LISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE WONDERFUL FINE ARTS STAFF MEMBERS (I will not attempt to name them because this writer would not like to omit anyone in error); the FANTASTIC BAND/MUSIC/CHOIR DIRECTORS. What an awesome work you are. Thank you so much for your dedication to teaching and sharing with the children of our great school district. Thank you for your vested interest in teaching them the fine arts of life.

You see, Mr. Greisman, this writer even believes that even with your unwavering lack of respect for this school district, its leader and its staff, even you would have found a way to be proud of the town you live in and the school district you so often scrutinize.

Maybe if you spent as much time writing about the other things that are happening and give of your time in more constructive avenues, maybe ... just maybe, you would not be viewed as those of my previous descriptions.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

Four years ago, Lancaster did not have a jazz band and a performance at the Meyerson. We have an awesome performance there now. Who pays for it? Does any of the cost of that performance come out of the operating budget? Does it improve academic performance? It's window dressing. Years ago we had much better academic performance without all the hype. Where is the proof that all the hype improves academic performance? Does the hype lure capital investment to Lancaster? If academic performance is not improved by hype, what is the point?

Let's look back in history to get a true picture of where we are.

In the year 2000, as shown by TEA data, our wealth per student was only $5,392.00 less per student than was available to students on a statewide basis. Today, our wealth per student is $52,402 less than it is statewide. That is the result of runaway growth in "affordable housing" without corresponding growth in commercial and industrial development. I suggest that there might be a flight of capital from Lancaster because of the rapid influx of low to moderate income housing and an excessive number of single parent households as shown by 2000 census data. The generous use of tax abatements to lure a small strip mall and a chain restaurant onto prime real estate with highway frontage is an example of the extreme reluctance of capitalists to risk an investment here. Those aren't high paying jobs and they certainly don't enable people here to buy and hold higher income housing. True, those businesses generate sales taxes, but to get the sales taxes, we have to give away ad valorem taxes to the city. The school district does get the ad valorem taxes, but we don't get much when we have to give away those taxes just to get a restaurant. The prime real estate alone ought to draw the restaurant. The fact that we have to grant a tax abatement is an indicator that capital is very skittish about investing here.

In 1993, Lancaster's mean SAT score was only 3 points less than the statewide mean SAT score. By 2002, the year before Larry Lewis arrived, the gap between Lancaster's mean SAT score and the statewide mean SAT score had widened to 142 points. The gap widened during Supt. Lewis' administration to its present 189 points. In 2005, we gained one point against the region, but lost 4 points against the statewide mean. It is apparent that academic performance is declining in the region as a whole. We are part of a region wide trend.

Lewis said on Sept 30, 2003, "Give me $75 million in February and I will give you the best school district in the nation in five years." We gave him $110 million instead. He gave us a fancy stadium and admin building, but we are nowhere near being the best district in the nation and we're already almost four years down the road from his Sept 2003 promise.

In case you missed it, the 3rd grade readers at Pleasant Run and West Main, the supposedly least adequate facilities in the district, outscored the 3rd graders in our new facilities elsewhere in the district. When we put the emphasis on buildings, we put it in the wrong place.

What is your definition of "best?" Track champions? I'll give you that. Math champions? No, that honor belongs to a school down in Corpus Christi which was just replaced by Highland Park Junior High, and if you want to know how they got there, they got there by hard work by a dedicated teacher, not a fancy classroom with whistles and bells. Geography, reading, mock trial, debate, science, history, literature? No, those honors belong to others.

The mission of an education system is "the diffusion of knowledge." If you have any question about that, read the Texas Constitution. Check out statements by the Texas Supreme Court. "Best," in the context of an education system, has nothing to do with athletics and everything to do with knowledge and skills. Athletics, by definition are "extracurricular." They are not part of the core mission, which is why some smaller liberal arts colleges are terminating intercollegiate athletics to focus on their core mission.

The high school's mission statement acknowledges that we are in global competition. Given that schools in other countries without expensive athletic programs outrank us in academic achievement, perhaps it is long past time to stop focusing so much on athletics and more on academics.

I think what we are trying to say is that Lewis has a Messiah complex. He wants to be the great savior. He promises too much and when his promises don't come true, he doesn't show humility. He just blames others for causing his failures.

In addition, he spins information. He plays on the edge with his mass mailing of literature which he calls "facts" but which really contain advocacy. His tendency to use taxpayer dollars to campaign against the taxpayers has led to his loss of credibility.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

takesone2knowone Anonymous

the psychos are coming out of the woodworks, I see ... rhetoric, rhetoric, unbelievable rhetoric

Interestedcitizen, what are you doing to eleviate this problem? You say you are a "interested citizen"? Prove it ...

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

Takesone:

What is your definition of psycho? Are you saying that anyone who engages in rhetoric is psycho? Psychosis is believing something is true that can be objectively proven to not be true. Psychosis is not shown by offering a hypothesis and seeking to disprove the hypothesis by objective evidence.

Using the label "psycho," as a derogatory term for one's opposition is the classical fallacy of "ad hominem." It has no place in civilized debate and does not help in the search for truth.

The first thing I am doing is that I am trying to help get out the truth.

I'm asking reasonable questions. Who pays for the Meyerson performance? Does it come out of the operating budget? Given that we have to keep borrowing more and more money after the end of our fiscal year to make it through December, it seems to me that we have no room for money losing ventures, if the Meyerson is one of them. If it is revenue neutral, I don't have a problem with it. If it is a net loss for the school district, though, there had better be a demonstrated connection between it and measured academic progress. It had better be more than hype. If performances at the Meyerson lead to higher academic scores, why does the gap between statewide SAT performance and local SAT performance continue to grow and why was the gap so much narrower without performances at the Meyerson? Does our cross town academic rival, Highland Park, have a Meyerson performance, and is its performance revenue neutral? Why did the gap between local and statewide SAT performance widen after Lewis became superintendent? Why did it widen further in 2005, even though we gained a point over the prior year? Why do we insist on tearing down old buildings when the best reading results were produced in old buildings?

By the say, the proper spelling is "alleviate," not "eleviate."

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

Takesone:

What is your definition of psycho? Are you saying that anyone who engages in rhetoric is psycho? Psychosis is believing something is true that can be objectively proven to not be true. What have I said that is not true? Psychosis is not shown by offering a hypothesis and seeking to disprove the hypothesis by objective evidence.

There can be no debate without rhetoric. Debate is necessary to get to the truth. If everyone who engages in rhetoric is psycho, there is no way to get to the truth.

Using the label "psycho," as a derogatory term for one's opposition is the classical fallacy of "ad hominem." It has no place in civilized debate and does not help in the search for truth.

The first thing I am doing is that I am trying to help get out the truth.

I'm asking reasonable questions. Who pays for the Meyerson performance? Does it come out of the operating budget? Given that we have to keep borrowing more and more money after the end of our fiscal year to make it through December, it seems to me that we have no room for money losing ventures, if the Meyerson is one of them. If it is revenue neutral, I don't have a problem with it. If it is a net loss for the school district, though, there had better be a demonstrated connection between it and measured academic progress. It had better be more than hype. If performances at the Meyerson lead to higher academic scores, why does the gap between statewide SAT performance and local SAT performance continue to grow and why was the gap so much narrower without performances at the Meyerson? Does our cross town academic rival, Highland Park, have a Meyerson performance, and is its performance revenue neutral? Why did the gap between local and statewide SAT performance widen after Lewis became superintendent? Why did it widen further in 2005, even though we gained a point over the prior year? Why do we insist on tearing down old buildings when the best reading results were produced in old buildings?

By the say, the proper spelling is "alleviate," not "eleviate."

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Shelia_in_Lancaster Anonymous

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2006/...

I still wish Lancaster could do as good a job as DeSoto with their positive news stories. Front Page right here on Pegasus today talks about the DeSoto Education Foundation

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/...

Lancaster has a foundation, too. Why isn't Ross Taylor telling us all the good stuff he's been doing?

Grade 7 and 9 reading and writing "TAKS" scores came out a week or so back. Why can't the district brag about how much progress we made there?

Irving ISD is all over the news because so many of their seniors failed TAKS and can't "walk" at graduation. Why can't Lancaster boast about how much higher a fraction of our kids passed?

We named our stadium after historically great coach Beverly Humphrey. DeSoto has had contests to name schools. http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/... Why can't "Lancaster Elementary" be re-named with community input per local policy? "Larry Lewis Elementary", anybody?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

check out a comment by takes1toknow1 at http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/... In defending the education establishment, he uses the word "eleviate" instead of "alleviate."

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

queensheeba Anonymous

Sheila, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ross Taylor left the district rather quietly. Never heard as to why, but when people leave quietly, there has to be a good story behind it. I know, why don't you call Dr. LL and ask him why he left?

As far as Secondary TAKS scores, I am guessing they were not so good, because if they were... I am sure we would have received a flyer in the mail as to how great they were.....or something on the district web site...or Dr. LL letting the board and audience know at board meetings before they begin....or atleast end. I am almost certain that Dr. LL couldn't get out enough info when elementary TAKs scores did so great... I got a flyer in the mail, people heard about it at a board meeting, and i believe district staff got an email... go figure

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Shelia_in_Lancaster Anonymous

Sheeba, Are you sure you're not confusing Ross Taylor with Eugene Smith? The foundation is still in business. They had a huge fundraiser last month, too. A successful one. Another positive news story the news didn't emphasize. As kids graduate that foundation I guess is handing out scholarships. Can't somebody name the winners?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

interested:

as far as borrowing money goes, get your facts right ... why don't you get in touch with your superintendent and ask for a clear and concise explanation of the borrowing of monies. why don't you get your information prior to publishing inconsistent information that you pass off as "fact."

do you attend the board meetings? you are showing the readers that you do not attend because if you did, you would have that information already, as does anyone else who frequents the board room.

be a seeker of truth, not the pretend. let's see if you are really interested in the truth and facts. I challenge you to find that correct information out.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

P.S.

I appreciate the correction in the spelling of the word I used. I am not above accepting correction for my errors. Can you say the same?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

Can you hear? Are you listening?

Instead of using derogatory labels in your debate, can you cite one fact that I have reported that is wrong? Quote an original source and point out the erroneous facts, and I might admit it. You have not pointed out one fact in my debate that is in error. I've done the research and the analysis rather than spout empty rhetoric and use derogatory labels.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

I am not as anal as you seem to be about spelling of words and such; so, to you sir, I will not even give merit.

In fact you have not done your research because if you had, you would be delivering factual information. Why don't you do as I suggested and speak directly to the source, Dr. Lewis. He will give you the actual and factual information. Surely you would not be afraid to speak directly to "the" source or to a African-American man?

Thank you very much, Sir (and I use that term loosely).

P.S. Did I miss any spellings this time, Mr. Perfect?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

Can you hear? Are you listening?

Here is where I got my raw data for my analysis of SAT scores: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport...

You will find that what I reported is factually true. LISD has fallen from 3 points behind the state in mean SAT scores in 1993 to 189 points behind in 2005. Between 2004 and 2005, while gaining 1 point in mean SAT scores, LISD fell 4 points further behind the state mean SAT score, although it gained 1 point against the region.

Second, the 2006 LISD audit shows, on page 21, a negative cash balance in the general fund on August 31, 2006. Specifically, the balance is ($1,339,032.00.)

I did hear Supt. Lewis state at a public meeting that we will have to borrow money at the end of fiscal year ending 8-31-07, just as we have had to do every year since he came here. He came with the promise to end year end borrowing, yet every year he has been here, the amount of year end borrowing has increased.

I was at the meeting on 9-31-03 when he said, for $75 million, he'd give us the best district in the nation in five years. It is a fact we gave him $110 million in 2-07. It is a fact that he failed to spend $14 million in promised upgrades at W. Main and Pleasant Run Elem.

It is a fact that he put his first priority on a fancy stadium and indoor practice field instead of classrooms. We saw the stadium open in September and the Administration open in December, long before the first new classroom came online. We saw permanent classrooms at Houston elementary torn down. Nothing in the 2004 bond proposal said Houston Elementary would be torn down. The committee that called for that bond proposal did not recommend tearing down Houston Elementary. That is undeniable and it speaks volumes about his priorities.

As for taxable wealth per student, they are at the TEA website, too. Everything I have said on this website is backed up by raw data. If you have different observations, or if you question a particular factual observation, point specifically to one of my assertions and I will answer you. I cannot respond if all you do is use derogatory labels and make broad assertions that my facts are not true.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

SocraticGadfly Anonymous

Several comments:

First, canyouhearme: Why don't you ask orchestra director Theresa Dobbs about the money for additional cellos that Browden later reappropriated? Why don't you ask her how many supplies she and the two other orchestra teachers have to buy out of their own pockets?

While you're at it, why don't you ask the district office if it ever recovered that violin stolen last fall? Or all the other stuff stolen from the high school?

Oh, and while I'm at it, I talked directly to Larry Lewis on many things when I was there, including all of this that I was told on the record, whether quotably or not.

And, as for local coverage of sports, high school music, etc., did you ever subscribe to Lancaster Today before it went out of business, going out of business precisely because people like you didn't read it? We had plenty of it. If you didn't read my paper, then stop whining.

Second, Sheila: Ross Taylor hasn't been running the educational foundation since last September. That also was in Lancaster Today.

Fact is, LISD actually didn't want ROSS in the first place. Supposedly, they actually wanted his executive assistant in Duncanville, and they hired Ross just to bring her along for the ride. (This was long enough ago I think off-the-record shelf dates have expired.) But, D-ville gave her a raise (but not Ross' title) and got her to stay.

Interested Citizen: Has it already been almost four years down the road toward that "Five Year Plan"?

I want back in a metropolitan area, but am glad I'm no longer there, even though small-town BFE journalism -- and its life in general -- is about to drive me stir-crazy.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Shelia_in_Lancaster Anonymous

Are you calling us ignorant now? I read the papers! You wrote and I quoted you the paper didn't cover for Dr. Lewis's satisfaction. If you wrota Ross Taylor story at all, you sure buried it until now. The point is that DeSoto, and the current TODAY paper, is full of good news about their schools. All we ever hear about Lancaster is that there's money trouble. I'm tired of it. If you got some story about Dr Lewis and can prove it, show me. Otherwise our kids deserve recognition for acomplishments and leave the grownups to do the job.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

MarjorieMorningstar Anonymous

"Teacher of the Year" was Ursala Kirkland. Mrs. Ed Kirkland. No reason people shouldn't know that.

Shelia, Talk to Terri Wilson. She writes the press releases for LSD. She does the foundation now. Ellen Clark is the foundation treasurer. Ellen was so busy with the bond campain Terri had all the work. Terri has to divide her attention. Her own children are in Duncanville schools. If your home and kids and heart were in Duncanville how good would you be putting Lancaster first?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

SocraticGadfly Anonymous

Sheila, I'm not even going to try to argue with you further. You obviously have preconceptions that it isn't worth my time to try to change. And, I doubt you did read Lancaster Today that regularly.

Oh, and hello, Marjorie. :)

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

Well, well, well ... where should I begin. First of all Mr. Interested Citizen, you incorrect in your assessment of the issue of the school district borrowing monies. If you are really interested in the facts, again, I challenge you to pull the white sheet off of your head and speak directly to the person accountable for all that you are questioning. I am too sure that Dr. Lewis will be more than willing to meet with you the others of you who continue to try and defame his character and ability to run this district.

Do you dare try and compare stats from 1993 to that of the current administration? You are disillusioned. I doubt very seriously if you even lived in this town back then. As a matter of fact, most of the "critics" (you know who you are) have only lived around here for the past few years and do not know from whence we came.

Where were you when Bill Ward was here and graduating seniors reading on 2nd grade levels? Where were you when, under the previous administration, children were being graduated with absolutely no hope of furthering their education at a higher institution of learning? Where were you when, Sir?

I am not sure but I know you couldn't have been living in this town. You couldn't have because Bill Ward would have been ousted long before he left (along with LISD's money I add). If you were around then, you would know and understand what a God-send Dr. Lewis has been to this district.

If you truly understand from whence we came, you would know that when he came to the district, we were so far in the RED that you would have believe the district's colors were red/red. Back then, Mr. Interested Citizen, you probably would not have spoken up and believe every lie you were told because the administration, the population of the students in the district, and the faculty and staff, were made up of those whose skin color was the same as yours.

That's really the point, isn't it? You, and others like you, are unhappy because this town's makeup has changed and you are not the majority anymore. Well, Mr. Interested Citizen, my advice to you and your friends, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, GET THE HECK OUT OF DODGE CITY!

As far as the "scores" you claim you found at this website, what are YOU doing to change what you can? Are you a part of a tutoring program at your local campus? Have you started a non-profit program that will help mentor these struggling youth? What are you doing, Sir?

I contend that you are not doing anything nor have any plans of doing anything except what you have been doing: attempting (with all you might, I add) to make this district, town and superintendent look bad (try as you may, you won't win). You won't win because I believe that the real citizens will see you for what you are. RACISTS.

If you knew what you spoke of, you would know that the stadium and athletic facilities were a part of the bond propositions that passed. You would also know that those facilities were started at the same time as the high school but took less time to complete than the high school.

If you knew of what you speak about, you would know about the danger involved in keeping Houston Elementary School on the actual street. You would know how old and delapidated (did I spell that correctly, Mr. Interested Citizen?) that facility was. If you had any idea of which you speak of (and if you cared in the slightest bit about the children of our town and district, you would even understand the conditions under which our children have to learn everyday at Pleasant Run and West Main.

Mr. IC, the fact is that you don't want to know the truths by which this district is established and operates in and on, on a daily basis.

To the other writer, SocraticGadfly, yes, I have been a subscriber to the Lancaster Today Newspaper for many, many years (and remain a subscriber). You reported that you spoke with Dr. Lewis, himself ... what did you find out?

The fact is we can talk numbers and things that we think are the truth and nit pick on how people spell words, etc.; but until we get off of our high horses and get involved in the schools and make a difference in someone else's life besides our own, then, and not until then, will things begin to truly change.

I challenge all the readers to support our children and district at functions; I challenge you all to crowd the board room on the first Monday of every month. I challenge all who read these words to volunteer your services to mentor the children of our town and to make a difference.

We all know that we can continue this debate and continue to go back and forth (and I can hang with the best of you, too); but it will not change a thing unless we as truly 'interested citizens' don't get off our backsides and make a difference in the lives of the children we are charged with. Might I add, it is not just the children we are charged with raising.

To you, MR. IC, I leave you with this old African proverb: IT TAKES A WHOLE VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. Somehow, I don't think you are very "INTERESTED" in that, huh?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jefmelch Anonymous

CanU? Let's review:

(1) "I doubt very seriously if you even lived in this town back then. As a matter of fact, most of the "critics" (you know who you are) have only lived around here for the past few years and do not know from whence we came. "

(2) "You, and others like you, are unhappy because this town's makeup has changed and you are not the majority anymore. "

Could you pick one of these two accusations and stick to it?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

Can U?

Let's test the truth of your statement that LHS was graduating seniors that couldn't read at the 2nd grade level. One of the few measures we have to test the truth of that statement is the AEIS (Academic Excellence Indicator System at the TEA website that I linked to above) Go, there and download the pdf files.

Bill Ward was here in 2002. That year, the TEA rated LHS "Recognized," a step above acceptable. For all grades tested, 83.8% of students passed the reading portion, as opposed to 91.3% statewide, a 7.5% gap to be exact. For all tests, 73.3% passed the TAAS, as as opposed to 85.3% statewide, exactly a 12% gap.

Now, lets look at the latest AEIS online at the TEA website. The school's rating is no longer "recognized," but academically acceptable, a step down. On Section I, page 2, of that report, we see that 73% of our students passed the reading portion of TAKS, while statewide 87% of students passed that portion, a 14% gap. Of all tests taken, 39% of our students passed, as opposed to 67% statewide, a 28% gap.

So, LHS' academic rating has gone down from "recognized" to "academically acceptable" since Ward left, the gap between local percentage passing reading performance and state reading perfomance has almost doubled, and the gap between the percentage passing all tests locally and state passing rates has more than doubled.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jefmelch Anonymous

Not to pile on to CanU, but aside from incompatible conjectures about old whitesheets who can't abide demographic change, and upstart newcomers who don't respect Lancaster traditions; we have the notion put forward that:

" organized opposition didn't come from parents or taxpayers, but from individuals working for their own political gain. ... a group of African-American men that don't support the school district ... you'll see many of them running for political office next spring. ”

This, according to Dr Lewis himself, as told to TODAY Newspapers' Brian Allen 17 May 2007.

http://www.todaynewspapers.net/articl...

Of course some people don't read TODAY (Hi Shelia! ) So they don't know what Dr Lewis is telling his supporters to believe this week.

Anyhow. Who is it, exactly, who is attempting to fix -- "ruin"? -- the Lancaster ISD? Choose one: The Klan? Migrants passing through? Ambitious African American politicians?

Or has the present administration managed to unite these diverse groups into an alliance?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

queensheeba Anonymous

Sheila, did you contact the district at 972-218-1400 and ask for Dr.LL or Human Resources??? I guess not, because if you had they would have told you that Ross Taylor along with Eugene Smith no longer work for LISD. In fact Terri Wilson was put in charge of the foundation, along with her other many hats, I mean work titles.

Canu: Racism is a two way street. I have seen it first hand myself. Also, since you seem to be so close to our Superintendent, why don't you ask for written documentation on any subject that has been talked about here and see what or if you get it...

Miss Morningstar, I sure do miss your articles.

People of Lancaster, if you had subcribed to Lancaster Today and the city and school district had made it the primary newspaper instead of Focus, we might still be getting the coverage we deserve.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Chestertonian Anonymous

Reading through the above comments, I'm reminded of Taylor Caldwell's observations written over thirty years ago, "The Dolt believes that the world owes him a living, and particularly his more intelligent and industrious brothers. That is why he is always against the lowering of taxes....Only recently, a friend of mine, a fine man of high principle and devotion to his country, was defeated in a political election by a mediocre, mealy-mouthed man. Why? My friend was childless, and he had resolutely halted a scheme for spending enormous sums of money for unnecessary school-palaces with hot and cold running pools and with a proposed curriculum of homemaking, home economics, bird calling, folk dancing, folk stories and social adjustment. But the mealy-mouthed man had five children, and he rousingly spoke of 'spending more and more time with the kids,' and could we affford NOT to have these lovely schools and the lovely programs? Naturally, he won hands down. And why not? The love-cultists were right behind him, ringing doorbells in his behalf, getting up petitions, stealthily threatening the hard-headed and sensible, and accusing those who opposed them of 'hating children.' The matter of prudence, principle, patriotism, sensible administration, honor and righteousness and a regard for the hard pressed taxpayer, was not even mentioned." Reassuring and refreshing it is that the love-cultists don't always win. Witness the LISD bond election results.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

CanU:

Lest I be accused of committing a Lewis type math error, I must correct some information I shared above.

I erred in using the term "percentage difference" instead of "percentage point difference." The proper terminology reveals a more disturbing trend. A 7.5 percentage point point gap is 7.5/91.3, or 8.2% less than the state average and a 12 percentage point gap is 12/85.3, or 14% less than state average. A 14 percentage point gap is actually 14/87, or 16% less than the state average, and a 28 percentage point gap is 28/67, or 41% less than state average. Thus, we can state that, while the percentage point gap for all tests taken by LISD students and students statewide has more than doubled (28/12 = 2.3) since 2002, the percentage difference in performance on all tests taken by LISD students and students state wide has almost tripled in that time period. (3 times 14 equals 42)

If we don't have school board trustees who can follow these calculations and seriously question our superintendent about them in public, rather than smile and cackle with laughter, we are in trouble. Remember, a superintendent with a doctorate took down Wilmer Hutchins, doing such things as spending lavishly on decorating his office. If it happened there, it can happen here. We can also think about Dr. Yolanda Gonzalez at the DISD. She had a doctorate, too. I still remember her dog and pony show with that front loader. She, too, spent lavishly decorating her office.

You can talk about athletic victories and awesome music and entertainment all you want, but the record shows a widening in the gap between local academic achievement and academic achievement statewide. Remember, the mission of education, as set forth in the Texas constitution is "diffusion of knowledge," not sports and entertainment. Knowledge is what is going to keep us globally competitive.

If you refute what I say, go to the TEA website, download the figures, do the math, and challenge my calculations. When we start engaging in that debate instead of name calling (psycho, anal, racist), we might get closer to the truth.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

RichardG Anonymous

Feedupparent may wish to request a full hearing before the Board of Trustees. Often it is the light of day or exposure of the problems to the public that lead to corrective action. If feedupparent proceeds with the hearing request, they may want to consider an experienced person for their organization and presentation of their case.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Shelia_in_Lancaster Anonymous

Well, I don't know how long an employee has to be gone before the LancasterISD.Org website updates. I see, (thank you Sheeba) that Teri Wilson has replaced Taylor. But Eugene Young is still displayed in charge of Department of Financial Services.

The latest parents' newsletter on the website is from August '06. The last LISD homepage news was on May 2nd about a PTSA meeting.

I stand by my above comments. There is a lot of good news in Lancaster schools. But the district does a poor job getting that news out. Its awful that Pegasus is the most current outlet for news -- and that all bad. Where are happy parents?

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

queensheeba Anonymous

Fedupparent, kudos to you for bringing out what is happening with our atheletes. All students involved in the fight should have received the same punishment. It just goes to show us that athletics are at the top and academics are getting shoved lower and lower. Guess this goes to show us that a bright new state of the art building isn't what we always need to bring up grades, TAK scores, more graduates, etc....Oh, yea, we don't have all the state of the art equipment that had been promoted and promised when we were building the new high school.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

canuhearme1 Anonymous

y'all are absolutely ignorant

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

RichardG Anonymous

Canyouhearme1 can you explain why LISD was not in violation of Chapter 11, Section 11.061 (c)"at the first meeting after each election and qualification of trustees, the memebers shall organize by selecting: (1) a president, who must be a member of the board; (2) a secretary, who may or may not be a member of the board; and (3) other officers and committees the board considers necessary."

The vote count was certified earlier in the day of the May 21 meeting. It would appear the qualification of trustees was met.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

interestedcitizen Anonymous

canu:

Ignorant of what? There you go with "ad hominem" again, or do you know what "ad hominem" means? It means "attacking the man" and it is a logical fallacy. We have a collection of your derogatory labels: "racist," "anal," "psycho," and now "ignorant." Name calling is what junior high kids do when they can't win an argument. It has no place in reasoned debate. It does have a place in propaganda, and we are attempting to expose locally produced propaganda for what it is. We can look at the the School District's policy and procedures mannual to see how tightly controlled the flow of information is from this school district. The policy manual itself reveals an administration that is not committed to openness and transparency. The culture reflected by that manual is to trust everything the man at the top of the chart says and do not question him publicly. Invitations to meet with him privately reflect the closed nature of this administration.

Give us the documents we demand. Don't make it difficult or expensive to get them. Give us time to study them. Then let us have a press conference with the supt. and his underlings, not with the professional spin doctor. We don't want to hear some story or explanation behind closed doors or off the record. We don't want spin. We don't want pomp and ceremony. We don't want window dressing. We don't want an hour's worth of back slapping before a board meeting gets under way. We want the truth, out in public.

There are clearly negative repercussions for anyone in the local chain of command who utters a word publicly contrary to that of the man at the top of the organization chart. Obviosly, canu, you are either in that chain of command or close to it. You are obviously doing your part to maintain the illusion that the man at the top is all knowing, all seeing, and all wise. He's not. The truth is already out there.

Whistleblowers, where are you? The law protects you. The law punishes those who retaliate against whistleblowers. Get yourself to an attorney first and find out what protections are available to you when you blow the whistle on public corruption. Come out from your hiding places. Don't be intimidated anymore. Remember Enron. If you know about the corruption, but you are remaining in your hiding places, the excuse "I didn't know" will not protect you. Witness Jeff Skilling and Kenneth Lay. They tried to convince us they didn't know.

What facts reported or analyzed here are not true? Look at our original sources. We have given you links. We have cited sections and page numbers to on line sources. The world is watching you and all of us. If you don't go to those original sources and declare to the world which of our facts have been misquoted, the world is going to see you as ignorant.

RichardG:

You have a point worth considering. Maybe that's why, in spite of the fact that the agenda called for action, the board decided it would be on shaky legal grounds to take action that night. It is also quite possible that a school board attorney advised them that an executive session called by a person who arguably was no longer a legal member of the board would have had severe legal consequences.

The school district should be breathing a sigh of relief that the board didn't create a legal problem by taking action that night.

I would suggest, however, that you refrain from injecting personal opinion into your news articles. Quote sources.

All in all, though, that meeting wasn't necessary. No action took place. The information wasn't critical. It does appear, given the agenda, that a game plan was in place that was foiled by public exposure. The game plan was clearly not followed. An agenda calling for action and a meeting resulting in no action indicates a foiled game plan.

1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )