As a citizen! I find it discouraging that issues of past
boards are still present. I was voted in by the community, and sit as a Board
Member and Trustee only when in session -- as do all board members. Any
spokesman for the Team of 8 was voted in by all sitting board members as a
means to represent the board in whole on such matters – as of today that appointed
member is Louise Masters, who also happens to be President. It is the
responsibility of the Superintendent to speak for the Administration, the same Superintendent
that was appointed by the same board of seven. No Board Member holds, or sits, in a
higher esteem than any other board member; we are all equally elected officials
of the State. It is my duty to watch over the schools financial and administrative
responsibilities to the district in whole, as it is every board member’s
responsibility to do the same. Unfortunately, in this case it is Ms. Masters
who sits as the board appointed spokesman and board appointed President. It is Ms
Master’s responsibility for the coordinated release of information with the
Superintendent; which in this case turns out to be a double-edged sword.
Unfortunately, it is also the responsibility for Ms. Masters and Dr. Hindt to
release any responses to the press, even statements made about other board
members, such as the one made last night to the Dallas News.
As for this situation, I can't take the credit for divulging
any information on the topic, mainly because I was not present at the last
board meeting where any information on the topic would have been discussed.
Anything I know I got second hand and not in session, so what I know is what
everyone else knows. I'm sure Dr. Hindt is investigating the matter and will
let the public know what is going on beyond the scope of hearsay. I'm afraid
that our appointed spokesperson, and the administration, may have stepped
overboard a little bit when stating that I divulged confidential information.
In response to this reporter calling me, to which I stated I don’t know
anything other than what she has heard, mainly because I was not present in the
last board meeting, I receive a shocking call from the same reporter reading
the statement that was made by our appointed spokesperson. After my initial
call from this reporter I called Dr Hindt, out of courtesy and respect, to let
him know that there was a probe about Mr Payne. In return, what I get is a
press announcement slandering me as a private citizen for speaking out of line.
The thing that really irks me the most was that I didn’t even get a return
courtesy call to discuss what the reporter stated. I'm afraid we have a
situation whereas I, as well as other citizens of the community, am left
scratching head.
From what I can decipher there are certain prior board
members that think they are still on the board, and current board members that
do not believe in transparency, which is very disconcerting if true, especially
given the environment of politics today. This is typically the nature of
someone who cares very much what everyone else thinks about them, thus it
influences bad judgment or rash decision-making. In this case I warned the
district, and our appointed President, that they should not hold on to any such
information, but rather make a blunt statement and present any corrective
action that is being taken -- regrettably that was not the case. A mistake was
made and people jumped to conclusions. We all make mistakes; it’s how we handle
those mistakes after the fact that matters.
As I stated when I ran, I am not a politician, especially
when it comes to keeping the taxpayers abreast and the school children
protected. If any issue is presented to the board that has anything to do with
financial matters of the district, i.e. fraud, mismanagement or administrative
issues, I believe that transparency of those issues is paramount. By grasping
the concept of transparency you in fact shift the cause for the situation to
the person that created it. I was not elected to try and hide anything from the
community -- and will never try to do so. What I know is what you know, except
for items discussed in closed session. Frankly, I’m getting tired of those who
play politics with the districts well being, but I’m just one board member, a
board member who does not sit lightly when bad news is being hidden from the
public, or when I am being accused of something I did not do. Regardless, I
am well and not tarnished by such accusations and ask that the community allow
Dr. Hindt the chance to get to the bottom of whatever the district has
uncovered. I'm very confident he will do what is right for the district. It’s
just terrible that the community has to always find out what’s going on in this
way, especially when it comes to the welfare of our children and our money.
“It's those crazies that think they can change the world
that actually do.” (Steve Jobs)
