Recognize this?

http://bellescottagenest.blogspot.com/2010/03/sweetsmall-town.html

A voter writes me:

I ...live with ... [a] younger brother, who is a senior at Lancaster High School. We believe that you are the best candidate to represent District 3 on the LISD school board. {We] also plan to attend the candidate forum on April 22.

An issue that I have raised on several occasions with district officials is the of the airing of tape-delayed board meetings on Time Warner Cable's public access channel, similar to the way that the City of Lancaster does with its City Council meetings. The school board unanimously approved this item on August 4, 2008, but nothing has happened since then. ... I was a subscriber to the Today Newspaper and since its closure last summer, we really lack an outlet to provide citizens with timely information concerning the district and school board.

Hi friend.

This is an issue I've also raised with the technology director at Lancaster. The tale I hear is that the district only makes DVDs and the cable company only wants VHS tapes. If true, that still seems a highly surmountable problem, to me. (so it's probably more complicated... ) Hope I have the chance to help with this particular technology challenge.

Jeff

And then, for ANY board or leader, there is this:

I especially appreciate warning # 2

Watch for deadlines that pass by without adequate, timely responses. If a staff member is constantly missing deadlines, this is a red flashing light. It means such staff cannot keep track of upcoming deadlines and the need to keep things rolling along to meet the deadline. Alternately, there may be numerous excuses to postpone deadlines that ring hollow and do nothing to enhance the project being worked on.

Trustees code of conduct

Does anybody have a copy of a similar document in an edition newer than this?

Focus Daily News on McFarland

Rita Cook writes

LANCASTER—A lone Lancaster ISD Superintendent finalist was named at Monday night’s Lancaster school board meeting when ISD trustees voted 4 – 3 on Dr. Michael D. McFarland, 40. Voting for McFarland were board trustees Joe Kana, Irene Mejia, Ellen Clark and Marjorie King and against Carolyn Morris, Marion Hamilton and Cynthia Corbin-Jarvis, who were actually more interested in a second candidate who has since asked not to be named.

...

“I believe the financial conservator from TEA has established perimeters and I know the money will not be as much as Dr. Lewis had been making,” McPartland added about the current pay structure being offered McFarland.

Broden vs Goldstein

Scandal for the Republican primary run-off for TX congressional district 30? Goldstein's voter registration links to Dallas County Elections and bring up a sample ballot.

http://www.dalcoelections.org/findvoters.asp?dt=4/10/2010+7:42:29+AM&Lastname=goldstein&Firstname=sheldon&Middlename=&birthdate=06/26/1951&voterid=&Submit3=Submit

Goldstein can't vote for himself. His registered residence is in Pete Session's district.

There are rumors that Lancaster city council officials need a similar review. Where do the council people register to vote, to claim homestead tax exemptions; to become eligible for county or city benefits?

Same sort of thing happens for Dallas school board candidate Lew Blackburn.

Needs more attention all around...

George (not C) Scott on schools

The train

My question to y'all ... do you like video of this sort better than text? Let me know in the comments or by e-mail

jeff dot melcher _at_ A T T dot NET

I'm really listening. And unlike assistant principals at certain elementary schools, I do respond.

Saturday! The primary run-off winds down.

Frankly it's a tiny bit depressing how many voters are confused about what's going on. Between the party primaries last month, the primary run-off "early voting" last week, the primary run-off "Actual Election Day" coming up Tuesday ... people are TIRED of politics and don't really want to talk about the CITY and SCHOOL BOARD elections starting up a mere two weeks later.

Voter fatigue it the best friend a lazy and incompetent incumbent could possibly have. (Uhm, let me be clear, that's ANY lazy and incompetent incumbent, not a particular specific incumbent.)

If the voters are too tired to pay attention, then the mistakes and omissions of elected officials are overlooked. Accountability, geared to give the power to hire and fire such officials to voters rather than some God-annointed judge or king, depends on wakeful watchful aware voters.,

So, if I'm knockin' on your door Saturday morning so early I wake you up, my apologies will be a bit insincere. Wake up! Your vote matters. Which ever way it goes.

The Morning News chimes in

A report on Michael McFarland actually focuses more on the bickering board.

If it bleeds, it leads, I guess.

Michael McFarland

A profile from his current district

"The Department of Achievement and Pupil Services is committed to implementing effective systems, rigorous educational programs and researched-based practices that lead to increased student achievement. A laser-like focus on removing barriers to success will be maintained while simultaneously ensuring high levels of learning for the students we serve. The Department respects the collective power of the stakeholders of Unit 4 and is committed to building a professional learning community focused on clarity of purpose, collaboration, and capacity building. As a result of our actions, we believe that students we serve will leave Champaign Unit 4 with more than a diploma. They will leave with choices and opportunities."

More

Dr. Michael McFarland is a 1993 graduate from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Education. While at Baylor he served as an Executive Board Member of the Association of Black Students form 1990-1993. He also received the Hankamer School of Business Most Outstanding Student Award in 1993.

Upon graduating, he began working for Tyler Independent School district as a classroom teacher and football coach. He served as a teacher for four years teaching Algebra, Computer Science, Trigonometry, and Accounting before entering administration.

McFarland received the Hitachi Promise for Tommorrow Scholarship to complete graduate work in the field of Education and completed his Masters degree in Education in 2001 at Stephen F. Austin State University.

He was served as assistant principal at John Tyler High School and Foster Middle School before he was appointed to principal at Foster Middle School in 2002. During his tenure at Foster Middle School he was selected as “The Best Principal in East Texas” by the Longview News Journal.

He accepted the position as John Tyler High School Principal in 2004. During a very tumultuous time period and was able lead the school through a restructuring movement that resulting in dramatic improvement in test scores, school climate and culture, and college enrollment. Because of the success of John Tyler under his leadership, the school was awarded as the “2006 College Board National Inspiration High School Award.”

He returned to Baylor University to complete his doctoral studies in Educational Administration. He received his Doctorate degree from Baylor University in 2005.

He currently serves as an Adjunct professor with Texas College University in their School of Education. He is also currently President of the Tyler Alliance of Black School Educator Alliance and Executive Board Member of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators.

Lone Finalist

On a 4-3 vote, the Lancaster board named Michael McFarland of Champaign Illinois (formerly of Tyler) as "lone finalist".

Jarvis, Hamilton and Morris voted against.

Board president Morris offered a LONG speech in favor of another candidate from Fort Bend. She called the McFarland decision a "sad day" for Lancaster.

Trustee Marjorie King, speaking in support of McFarland, cited his work both theoretical and practical in making lower-income/diverse high schools more successful.

The board meeting lasted past midnight and the lone finalist announcement was the concluding business item. In other actions the board authorized interim superintendent Marables to continue talks with the city of Lancaster and the Deion Sanders "PTA" organization regarding summer camp.

April 2010 board meeting ...

So who wants to guess what the "inter-local agreement" is about?

Quoting the agenda:

"(13) Consider reviewing the Inter-local Agreement with the City of Lancaster and the Board’s Attorney – Carolyn Morris

(14) Consider Summer Programs for the children/students of Lancaster – Carolyn Morris"

Odd that the superintendent, Dr Dana Marables, isn't presenting. Not ready for "Prime Time"?

There are a range of matters previously defined in LISD policy that require interlocal agreements. For example, the district is authorized to make such agreements for nursing services with a local hospital; (GR-Legal) automobile liability insurance specifically for police vehicles; (CRB-Legal) and generalworkman’s compensation pools. (CRE-Legal) So, which one is it? Without specific details in the agenda it is impossible for the public to determine what particular agreement is being “considered”.

The language of “consider” in juxtaposition with “agreement” is also ambiguous. It falls under a section of the agenda marked “ACTION ITEMS”. If the LISD is making or renewing an “agreement” shouldn’t the agenda item be an “APPROVAL” question? If the matter is only for education preparing for later action, shouldn’t it be “communication”?

Odd, odd, odd.

Item fifteen is just as odd:

"(15) Approval and/or Discussion -- Naming of Finalist for Superintendent for Lancaster ISD"

I'll take a video camera and we'll see what happens.

School-Homing?

The Onion reports:

Deputy Education Secretary Anthony W. Miller said that many parents who school-home find U.S. households to be frightening, overwhelming environments for their children, and feel that they are just not conducive to producing well-rounded members of society.

Thousands of mothers and fathers polled in the study also believe that those running American homes cannot be trusted to keep their kids safe.

"Every year more parents are finding that their homes are not equipped to instill the right values in their children," Miller said. "When it comes to important life skills such as proper nutrition, safe sex, and even basic socialization, a growing number of mothers and fathers think it's better to rely on educators to guide and nurture their kids."

According to the report, children raised at home were less likely to receive individual adult attention, and were often subjected to ineffective and wildly inconsistent disciplinary measures. The study also found that many parents expressed concerns that, when at home, their children were being teased and bullied by those older than themselves.

ouch.

8) SELL SURPLUS ASSETS!

If we aren't using it, sell it.

The Lancaster School district owns old busses that don't run. The district owns tax-foreclosure real estate. We own old furniture. See the piles behind Pleasant Run and Dallas Avenue.

Auction it all off. The cash, at any amount however small, is more useful than the headaches of keeping track of odds and ends of little properties.

The board should direct the superintendent and facilities management branch to prepare a complete list of all capital/ major properties assets. The report should indicate acquisition cost, current value, most recent annual maintenance cost, (if any) and most recent income generated. The board should then decide which if any such properties can be retained. All others should be listed with county auction agencies for disposition sale.

Procedes should be dedicated to rebuilding the cash reserves -- fund balance.

More spork news WO # 21039

Given a question "Is it legal to charge students on free and reduced lunch .25cent s for a spork, kecthup and ice... ?"
http://twitpic.com/1c7b9q

We now have a reply

From xx@TexasAgriculture.gov>To: jeff.melcher@att.net
Good Morning Mr. Melcher,I just spoke to Thresa Horton Food Service employee in Lancaster school district, the district's policy is if a student wants extra kecthup(given up to three) they are sold at the price of three for 25 cents, there is no charge for a extra spork. There is a charge to teachers if they want to buy extra sporks for their class. Please feel free to contact me at 512 463-1xxx if you have any futher questions.

Work Order No.: 21039
Date Entered: 3/31/2010 5:17:18 PM (GMT-5:00) Central Daylight Time

Type: COMPLIANCE

Before I lose track completely...

Here's a recap of suggestions that I believe would make the Lancaster School Board operate more effectively.

1) MEET 2nd MONDAYS!

2) QUARTERLY REPORTING!

3) FOLLOW UP!

4) TRANSCRIBE CLOSED MEETINGS!

5) USE PRE-PAID SERVICES!

6) PARTNER WITH THE CITY!

7) OPEN ENROLL LOCAL STUDENTS!

7) OPEN ENROLL LOCAL STUDENTS!

Students resident in Lancaster itself should not be restricted by elementary school "attendance zones".

Any student from neighboring communities may choose to enroll in any Lancaster ISD campus. Make this policy for locally resident students as well.

Each campus in LISD has unique strengths. Houston Elementary has the newest facility. West Main, the most experienced teaching staff. Pleasant Run has it's wonderful International Baccalaurete program. Lancaster Elementary has the biggest athletic / recreational space. At present, a student is enrolled in a Lancaster school not by choice but by accident of residence. By allowing parents and student freedom to choose among the various schools, all the campuses would benefit from the health competition.

Move learning online?

Katherine Mangu-Ward writes in the Washington Post:

Since the Internet hit the big time in the mid-1990s, Amazon and eBay have changed the way we shop, Google has revolutionized the way we find information, Facebook has superseded other ways to keep track of friends and iTunes has altered how we consume music. But kids remain stuck in analog schools.

How should this change -- if it should at all?

Sixty Five Percent -- ish.

The Texas Education Agency has proposed changes to the Financial Accountability Rating System, (FIRST) last week. Changes included deletion of the two indicators related to the 65% instructional expenditure requirement for school districts The proposed changes will apply beginning with the financial data reported for fiscal year 2008-2009 (when ratings are released on or about June 2010). The comment period for the proposed changes will end April 26, 2010.

Oh my, is this disappointing. Many of us have been pleased to see top level support for the notion that a supermajority of the money spent in schools out to be spent in SCHOOLS, not stadiums, administration buildings, and luxury resort hotels or conference centers.

If I'm lucky enough to earn a seat on the Lancaster board, I'll be working to get the budgets set to the 65% rule, whether the FIRST scores improve for the effort, or not.

Robert's Rules are Great

These are NOT officially part of the rules. There might be trustees who believe they are...

A Bill of Rights for Robert's Rules

by Samuel Ellenport


1. Point of Personal Outrage - A participant who becomes upset shall have the right to interrupt the speaker without recognition from the Chair. The interruption must be at a volume at least 20 decibels higher that required for normal conversation

2. Point of Irrelevant Interjection - Irrespective of the motion on the floor, a participant shall have the right to monopolize the meeting for not less than five minutes as he or she expostulates upon a point that is irrelevant. ...

More here