interestedcitizen Anonymous

Anyone who wants transparency in government should question this policy. What is the check, when the superintendent is in the position to control the spin coming from his office and when it is obvious, both to local citizens and the larger Dallas Metroplex area, that he is spinning the truth, as was noted in the Sunday editorial page of the Dallas Morning News? It should be obvious that when an audit presents information that questions the superintendent's spending and accounting practices, that the superintendent is going to control the information in such a way that it only reflects favorably upon him. There needs to be a check in the form of an independent voice.

Further, where the school board had the ultimate legal authority and responsibility to enact permanent policies to force the superintendent to adopt practices that are in accordance with TEA recommendations, it seems that the school board had a responsibility to at least communicate with TEA officials about the status of a conservator. A school board president, reading an audit that presents a sense of urgency in enacting policies to correct the errors of the past, would be prudent in taking the intitiative to contact the TEA to determine whether it is sending a conservator to the district. She has the responsibility of calling a special meeting to begin the process of developing policies suggested by the TEA.

Thereafter, it seems prudent for the board president to immediately inform the Supt. of the communciation and thereafter inform the board. If the Supt. withholds this vital information from the press, it seems it is only right, for the sake of transparency in government, to inform the citizens of the communication through the press. If we do it any other way, then we are making the superintendent's job a self serving job and we are downplaying the importance of transparency in government.

It is also obvious that in order for there to be clear communications coming from the district, there needs to be at least a sense that there is a reliable source of truth. Numerous voices purporting to speak for the district would be confusing.

Just as there are occasionally rifts between CEOS of corporations and their boards that occasionally leak out to the press, conflicts arise betwen executives in government and their governing boards. Whether the stakeholders are taxpayers or stockholders, they need to be informed. Spin, whether it is from the CEO's office or the Board's office, needs to be detected.

The executive function and the legislative function will always have conflicts. Each group will always have its own spin, just as we see in the national government. It is a natural tension that will always exist. When the legislative branch gives up its right to speak, it cedes too much power to the executive branch, and the truth suffers.

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

estherspeaks Anonymous

This source misused the Pegasus news to say the Baord President was to be reprimanded. This was an agenda item and was voted down by a 5-2 vote. The reprimand never came and should not be reported as if it did.

Ms. Morris, Board President is trying to find out the truth about the current administration and some people in Lancaster have been duped by a very slick "Larry."

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

Shelia_in_Lancaster Anonymous

Doyle: It's political/racist for elitists of Austin take over a black school district. They assume black schools are so badly run we can't continue without their "help". They helped Wilmer-Hutchins and now they're starting to help Lancaster.

TEA helps black kids like Jack Kervorkian helped Terri Schiavo.

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

jtmbls Anonymous

Mine too...Maybe if we work it like an algebra problem....

TEA x Black kids = S - K ???

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

jtmbls Anonymous

Let's see...Wasn't Kevorkian in prison or house arrest at the time? Just from memory, I'm almost certain he wasn't anywhere near Terri Schiavo. So, is she trying to say that Kevorkian would have liked to help a poor dying woman end her suffering but couldn't so she had to die a longer and more painful death than if the Doc had worked his mojo? Contrary to her argument but perhaps there is a little Freudian thing going on...Shelia, come back before my head explodes!

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