| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n: o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| Conservative Commentary - Lake Travis ISD (Texas) |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| LTISD ORR's |
| WHY WERE LTISD PRINCIPAL HEIDI GUDELMAN'S LAS VEGAS VACATION PIX ON A LAKE TRAVIS ISD- OWNED & MAINTAINED LAPTOP ISSUED TO 10-YEAR OLD? |
| WHY AREN'T LTISD'S AGENDA & CHECKS ONLINE? |
| LOOKING INTO LTISD'S BUSINESS PRACTICES By Peyton Wolcott - Nov. 19, 2006 |
| LTISD USING SOFTWARE WITH AGENDA, CHECK REGISTER FEATURE By Peyton Wolcott - Nov. 19, 2006 |
| IN THE WORKS: A report on how Lake Travis ISD does its business (above, LTISD's seven elected trustees with their employee, superinten- dent Rocky Kirk, far right rear). Among my questions for all seven trustees: |
| Heidi Gudelman Principal-Lake Pointe Elementary School (Lake Travis ISD, near Austin, Texas) |
| When an elementary-school student was assigned a laptop, imagine the 10-year old's surprise to find photos of his principal, Heidi Gudelman. And they weren't just any photos. They were from her Las Vegas vacation. And the student was David and Melissa Lovelace's son. |
| WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT'S OK & WHAT ISN'T OK IN OUR SCHOOLS? By Peyton Wolcott - Nov. 16, 2006 Our First Amendment-- the instrument that grants us the right to shine sunlight on the affairs of our government --is under constant attack. Lake Travis ISD has sued a mom and a dad for filing public records requests--lots of them, and now, having lost , has decided to appeal. It's easy to see from these photos why parents would be wanting to know what's going |
| LTISD principal Heidi Gudelman (above) on school website |
| "Senior Girls are so Hot" (below left) garb worn by LTHS student; "I wet my bed this morning" T-shirt below right. |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
AASA - American Association of School Administrators ASA - Association of School Administrators CSD - Consolidated School District DOE - Department of Education ES - Elementary School HS - High School ISD - Independent School District JHS - Junior High School MS - Middle School MSM - Mainstream media NSBA - National School Boards Association NSPRA - National School Public Relations Association PS - Public School(s) SBEC - State Board for Educator Certification SD - School District Sup't - Superintendent TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills TASA - Texas Association of School Administrators TASB - Texas Association of School Boards TASBO - Texas Association of School Business Officials TEA - Texas Education Agency TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills USD - UnifiedUnited School District |
| GUIDE |
| FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of education issues vital to a republic. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Section 107 which states: the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright," the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use" you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
| QUOTES |
Separatists in India's north-eastern state of Manipur have shot six male teachers in the leg for allegedly helping students cheat in exams. Two women teachers were beaten with sticks for the same offence, the rebels of the Kanglei Yana Kan Lup group said. The teachers were abducted from their homes after an exam on Thursday. The rebels said the teachers took up to 5,000 rupees ($110) for helping students cheat and warned of further punishment if the cheating continued. The Kanglei Yana Kan Lup (KYKL) is one of many separatist groups fighting Indian administration in Manipur. It said it abducted the eight teachers from their homes in and around the state capital, Imphal, because of reports they had taken bribes. --By Subir Bhaumik - BBC |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2008 Peyton Wolcott |
| TO: KATHY COX-GEORGIA SUP'T OF SCHOOLS & CEO-GEORGIA DOE CC: DANA TOFIG- GEORGIA DOE PUBLIC INFO. OFCR. DATE: JAN. 22, 2006 Can you please send me the annual dollar amount for each school year (the five annual fiscal cycles 2000-2005) that the Georgia Public Schools DOE has spent with vendor Computer Consulting Services Corp., described as a consultant to Georgia's DOE. |
| Michael Freund The Jerusalem Post Oct. 17, 2006 "A Muslim journalist facing charges of sedition for advocating ties with Israel was recently attacked and beaten by a crowd in Bangladesh that allegedly included leading officials of the country's ruling party, The Jerusalem Post has learned. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, editor of the Weekly Blitz newspaper, an English-language publication based in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, was working in his office on October 5 when nearly 40 people stormed the premises. "The mob beat Choudhury, leaving him with a fractured ankle, and looted cash that was kept in the company safe. Choudhury was briefly hospitalized. "According to a statement appearing on the Web site of the Weekly Blitz, the attackers were led by Helal Khan, international affairs secretary of Jasas, and included Babul Ahmed, Jasas's secretary-general. Jasas is the cultural wing of the ruling Bangladeshi National Party (BNP). "During the assault, Ahmed is said to have shouted at Choudhury, labeling him an 'agent of the Jews.' "In a photo taken shortly after the incident that was obtained exclusively by the Post, Choudhury can be seen hunched over a table wearing a torn shirt while a Bangladeshi policeman dressed in blue chats with two BNP officials. Both officials took part in the attack. "No arrests were made, and police refused to allow Choudhury to file charges against his attackers. "As the Post first reported last month, Bangladesh is moving forward with plans to try Choudhury on charges of blasphemy, sedition, treason and espionage in connection with his articles critical of Islamic extremism and favorable to Israel. After several delays, his trial is due to start in Dhaka on Thursday. If convicted, Choudhury faces the death penalty. |
MY NEW BOOK PEYTON WOLCOTT |
| QUERY THE SUPE & THE PR GUY |
| STATUS: No response rec'd from Sup't Gray as of Nov. 20, 2006 |
The question is not how to measure excellence at public schools and education agencies. The question is how to measure competence. -- Dianna Pharr |
| CONTACT: Peyton Wolcott P.O. Box 9068 Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 peyton@peytonwolcott.com |
| "S'Mores" slot machine |
| Hand sign: UT "Hook'em horns"--or gang affiliation gesture? |
| 2 opened "Coors Light" beer bottles |
| $1.00 bill |
| Lever |
1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ------ Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified Dec. 15, 1791 "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. |
| QUESTION #2: HAVE YOU PAID YOUR LTISD PROPERTY TAXES ? |
| QUESTION #1: ARE YOU AND/OR YOUR SPOUSE AND/OR IMMEDIATE FAMILY DOING BUSINESS WITH LTISD IN ANY CAPACITY ? |
| QUESTION #4: WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH EITHER YOUR SUPE OR LTISD WHICH COULD BE CATEGORIZED AS QUID PRO QUO ? |
| QUESTION #3: HAVE YOU ACCEPTED ANY FAVORS OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MEALS, HOSPITALITY & BEVERAGES) FROM ANY LTISD VENDORS OF ANY KIND INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS AND CONSULTANTS ? |
| Good morning, LTISD Team of Eight. Just noticed this email address on Lake Travis ISD's "District Leadership" page. Thank you for providing this contact. Can you please tell me about LTISD's "Team of Eight" as regards board governance and LTISD's decision-making process? Also seeking information regarding any "Team of Eight" board trainings the board might have received--including participants and facilitators. NOTICE: THIS IS A MEDIA INQUIRY. IF LAKE TRAVIS ISD DOES NOT FEEL IT CAN ANSWER TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS WITHOUT REFERRING THIS INQUIRY TO OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW BEFORE YOU SPEND ANOTHER DOLLAR OF LTISD TAXPAYERS' FORCED PROPERTY-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR DISTRICT ON LAWYERS. BY USING BASIC DIRECT LANGUAGE, IT IS MY INTENT THAT THIS INQUIRY IS PHRASED SUCH THAT ANY LTISD EMPLOYEE WITH KNOWLEGE OF THESE TRAININGS CAN REPLY ON THEIR OWN. |
| QUESTION: Is Rocky Kirk playing gatekeeper to the school board? Rocky reviews corres- pondence first and then Rocky decides if a further response from the board is applicable? Perhaps I'm not reading this correctly. If I'm right, it appears to mean that the LTISD board has abdicated much of its responsibilities to the folks who elected them. Looking forward to a response from the "Team of Eight." |
| QUESTIONS FOR LTISD'S TEAM OF EIGHT RE 'TEAM OF EIGHT' CONCEPT By Peyton Wolcott - Nov. 19, 2006 |
| School Board/ Superintendent Team Team of 8 Concept The Board of Trustees and Superintendent of Schools comprise what is known as the "Team of 8" district leadership. Contact information for the Team of 8 : Email: teamof8@laketravis.txed.net Mail: 3322 Ranch Road 620 South Austin, Texas 78738 Phone: (512) 533-6020 |
| If you go to LTISD's home page, rather than finding a "school board" contact tab, you'll see "District Leadership." Once there, we find the "Team of Eight" photo, the one of eight smiling happy faces instead of the seven elected trustees you'd expect to find; here the district offers the following information: |
| Being an inquisitive sort, and because inquiring minds want to know these things, I sent the following email this morning to the above address: |
| To which came the following almost immediately: |
| AUTOREPLY You have emailed the seven members of the Board of Trus- tees and the Superintendent of Schools, who comprise the District’s leadership, Team of 8. Your message will be reviewed in the Superintendent ’s office. A reply, if applicable, will reflect a response from the Superin- tendent , or designee, or from the Board President. All seven Board members will also be receiving a copy of your message. Thank you. |
| Yes, it's true. Lake Travis ISD really is already using TASB's BoardBook software. While I am not advocating that districts purchase Boardbook or any other software or any other TASB product, it's encouraging that LTISD is using software which would allow them to post not only check registers online but also district agendas and other information. |
| LTISD dad David Lovelace (and defendant in LTISD's SLAPP lawsuit here) has prepared the following list. "Of the 1032 ISDs in Texas," says David, "186 have direct public access to their districts' BoardBook public section showing agendas and agenda meeting items; 45 ISDs have direct public access to the districts' public section of BoardBook but do not show any content." LTISD is among the 45 using BoardBook who have elected to not make the agenda and other information available to the public. |
| Texas ISD's using TASB's BoardBook with public access and content for public review: |
| Abilene ISD Alice ISD Allen ISD Alvarado ISD Amarillo ISD Anahuac ISD Anson ISD Anthony ISD Aransas County ISD Athens ISD Austin ISD Avery ISD Azle ISD Barbers Hill ISD Bastrop ISD Beeville ISD Belton ISD Big Spring ISD Bloomington ISD Blue Ridge ISD Borger ISD Boyd ISD Brackett ISD Bridge City ISD Brownwood ISD Burkburnett ISD Burleson ISD Burnet CISD Bushland ISD Caddo Mills ISD Calhoun County ISD Canutillo ISD Carrizo Springs CISD Carroll ISD Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Cedar Hill ISD Celina ISD Chapel Hill ISD-Smith County Chisum ISD Clarksville ISD Columbus ISD Comal ISD Como-Pickton CISD Coppell ISD CORPUS CHRISTI ISD Corsicana ISD Dallas ISD Decatur ISD Denison ISD DeSoto ISD Devine ISD Diboll ISD Driscoll ISD Dublin ISD Dustin ISD Eanes ISD East Chambers ISD Ector County ISD Edgewood ISD-Bexar County Edinburg CISD El Campo ISD El Paso ISD Fabens ISD Flour Bluff ISD Fort Sam Houston ISD Fort Worth ISD Gainesville ISD Galveston ISD Gilmer ISD Glen Rose ISD Gonzales ISD Goose Creek CISD Granbury ISD Grand Prairie ISD Greenville ISD Gregory-Portland ISD Groesbeck ISD Hale Center ISD Hamshire-Fannett ISD Hardin-Jefferson ISD Harlandale ISD Harlingen Cons ISD Hawkins ISD Hempstead ISD Highland Park ISD-Potter County Hillsboro ISD Ingleside ISD IRRA, INC. Jefferson ISD Jim Hogg County ISD Judson ISD Kaufman ISD Keller ISD Kemp ISD Killeen ISD Kirbyville Consolidated ISD Klein ISD Krum ISD LA FERIA ISD La Pryor ISD La Vega ISD Lake Worth ISD Latexo ISD Leander ISD Levelland ISD Lewisville ISD Liberty ISD Lindsay ISD Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD Lockhart ISD Lone Oak ISD Lorena ISD Lovejoy ISD Lumberton ISD Lytle ISD Manor ISD Martinsville ISD McAllen ISD McKinney ISD Medina Valley ISD Melissa ISD Midland ISD Midlothian Midway ISD Mineral Wells ISD My ISD Navasota ISD Nederland ISD New Braunfels ISD New Caney ISD Nocona ISD North East ISD Northwest ISD Paradise ISD Pearsall ISD Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Pine Tree ISD PLEASANTON ISD Port Neches-Groves ISD Quinlan ISD Rice Consolidated ISD River Road ISD Royse City ISD San Angelo ISD San Antonio ISD San Diego ISD San Felipe Del Rio CISD San Perlita ISD Santa Gertrudis ISD Schertz-Cibolo-Univers al City ISD Sealy ISD Seguin ISD Shallowater ISD Sharyland ISD Sheldon ISD Sherman ISD Skidmore-Tynan ISD Slaton ISD Socorro ISD Southwest ISD Splendora ISD Spring Branch ISD Stafford Municipal School District Stamford ISD Sulphur Springs ISD Sunnyvale ISD Tatum ISD Taylor ISD Terrell ISD-Kaufman County Thrall ISD Tornillo ISD Troup ISD Tuloso-Midway ISD Tyler ISD Union Grove ISD United ISD Uvalde CISD Valley View ISD-Hidalgo County Waller ISD Waskom ISD Weatherford ISD Weslaco ISD West Orange-Cove CISD Whitesboro ISD Winona ISD Ysleta ISD |
| Aldine ISD Channelview ISD Commerce ISD Conroe ISD Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Donna ISD Dripping Springs ISD East Central ISD Forney ISD Friendswood ISD Frisco ISD Garland ISD Grape Creek ISD Gunter ISD Henderson ISD Hidalgo ISD Houston ISD Hubbard ISD-Hill County Hughes Springs ISD Iraan-Sheffield ISD Lake Travis ISD Liberty-Eylau ISD Little Elm ISD Ballinger ISD Bandera ISD Mexia ISD Nacogdoches ISD Navarro ISD Needville ISD Pearland ISD Pflugerville ISD Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD Rankin ISD Robstown ISD San Elizario ISD Simms ISD Sonora ISD Spring Hill ISD Springtown ISD Sweetwater ISD Texas City ISD Tulia ISD Vernon ISD Webb CISD Wylie ISD |
| Texas ISDs with public access to BoardBook and no content for public review: |
| Special thanks to David Lovelace for compiling and sharing this list. David's new LTISD website: www.ltisd.info |
| However: Given that LTISD's tax- payers are already paying for use of TASB's BoardBook software, it's discouraging to realize that LTISD could--for no addi- tional monies--be posting all of its checks online plus agendas, board packets, a host of other information. THE BIG QUESTION: Why doesn't LTISD want transparency? |
| Texas school districts using TASB's BoardBook software |
| Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury Editor-The Weekly Blitz (Bangladesh) |
| RESPONSE RECEIVED AS OF TODAY: NONE. N-O-N-E. |
| Were the pix hard to find? Hardly. Here's the laptop C: drive directory: Photos - Card1, - Card2, - 2003 Las Vegas |
| My day in court By Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury Israeli Insider Nov. 14, 2006 As some of you are aware, Bangladesh is currently experiencing serious political problems, and on 13th November the entire country was under the 'Blockade' programs of a major political party. Naturally, there was no vehicle on the road, and in every other place, there was a large number of angry demonstrators chanting slogans. I woke up in the early morning to prepare for the court. By 8:30 am., I was already on my way. And, there was nothing on the road, except some bicycles and rickshaws. I had to walk for around 3 kilometers, before I could somehow manage a rickshaw (distance between my residence and the court is above 20 kilomemeters). Then the rickshaw was stopped at one point, almost two kilometers away from the court, by police, who put barricades on roads. Then I had to walk again. By the time I was inside the court building, I was sweating. Till now, winter has not been very much experienced in Dhaka. The Court picked up my case at 1:35 pm., and there was a hearing for around 10 minutes. The judge, Mohammed Momin Ullah, asked the Public Prosecutor to read the charge in front of me. He came and read, "By praising the Jews and Christians, by attempting to travel to Israel and by predicting the so-called rise of Islamist millitancy in the country and expressing such through writings inside the country and abroad, you have tried to damage the image and relations of Bangladesh with the outside world. For which, charges under section 295-A, 120-A, 124-A, 105-A and 108-A are brought against you. Are you guilty or not"? he asked. I replied, "I am not guilty." By advocating inter-faith dialogue, supporting relations between Bangladesh and Israel, I have not done anything wrong. Regarding the existence of Islamist radicals in this country, the matter is already endorsed several times by country's press, leaders, administration and judiciary. Continuation of this false case will open the doors for JMB criminals, whose death penalty issue is now in the higher court, in getting legal benefit. I firmly stand on my position'. Then my lawyers told the court that they will challenge this decision to the higher court. The angry judge, a radical, then asked the Public Prosecutor to call the witnesses on 22nd Janaury 2007. What a 'great New Year gift' from the radical judge! Isn't it? May I request you all to kindly consider the following points: - The government should end all forms of harrassments on me - The travel ban on Israel should be immediately withdrawn - Israeli news media should have access to Bangladesh (presently Bangladesh does not permit appointment of representatives of any of the Israeli media), - Bangladesh should immediately begin relations with Israel, - Provocative sermons (instigating people towards scalled jihad and bloodshed) in mosques and madrassas against Jews and Christians should be banned, - Demand immediate removal of radical judge Momin Ullah from the Metropolitan Session Judge's court, and sacked, - Legal proceedings should be immediately drawn against him for his alliance with Islamist radicals, - Government to ensure immediate security to me (police protection at my residence is not yet back, despite two letters to the President), - Radical leader Mufti Noorani, who exploded a bomb in our office in July and the attackers belongs to BNP's cultural wing, should be immediately arrested, - Cash US$ 3,000 and other valuables, which had been seized during my arrest should be immediately returned. Thus my day in court. |
| Choudhury (middle, in white) listens as a policeman talks to two officials who took part in the attack. |
| Background Choudhury was imprisoned for 17 months after being charged with sedition on November 29, 2003. The Bangladeshi journalist put himself in a highly precarious position by openly advocating relations between Israel and Bangladesh, along with all Muslim nations. (SOURCE--IsraeliInsider) |
| These Lake Travis High School students at left and below stopped for coffee en route to a "Senior Initiation Day" at their high school. Yes, they were dressed like this all day at school. Note the close-ups below. The shirt at left, was worn all day, with "Senior Girls are so Hot" written across the back. You can decide for yourself what her lower garment, wings and tights are about. Question: Am I alone in assuming LTISD has some rules for some folks and other rules for other folks? |
| on in their children's schools. This Vegas-vacation photo of a an LTISD elementary school principal at the slots (top) was found on a laptop assigned to David and Melissa Lovelace's ten-year old son last year by Lake Travis ISD in the Austin, Texas suburbs. |
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| Texas public records freedoms Friends, this page exists on my site because this district in the Austin, Texas suburbs has become ground zero for efforts by administrators to diminish the scope of the Texas Public Information Act. The precipitating incident is that unlike other districts where parents and taxpayers have filed at most dozens, or, in a handful of cases, hundreds of requests for public information in their districts, David and Melissa Lovelace have filed thousands of |
| requests at LTISD, such that the district claims the parents are harassing; the parents point out that this is public information. When I traveled to LTISD to attend the school board meeting at which LTISD decided to sue the Lovelace's, I urged the couple to (a) set up a website and post their findings so they could be shared with their community, which they'd not done previously. I also urged the Lovelace's to gather their community with them so as to present a united front. Although they have not organized other parents and taxpayers with them, David did run for school board last May, winning only a disappointing 33.5% of the vote. Further, although |
Developing . . . |