The Times printed another one of it’s government service announcements the other day. The article was about the bond election that EPISD is considering.
The reporter told us that “State dollars finance school districts’ daily operations but construction is financed through bonds, which are paid for by property taxes”.
Firstly, I would enjoy meeting a property tax in person. Bonds are paid for by tax payers through their property taxes.
If somehow we could be convinced that construction can only be paid for with bonds, that leaves a question about why the upcoming bond request will include requests for money for busses, laptops, and remodeling.
Granted that I am not an educator, but I have to wonder about the wisdom of buying laptops at all, much less with borrowed money. Most people that I talk with tell me that they have switched over to tablets.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
Do bonds have to be for 20 years only? Laptops and such I believe can be purchased with shorter term bonds…5 years for instance.
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It could be that they are actually planning to buy tablets, but the administrators, the board and the people communicating all of this don’t know the difference between a tablet and a laptop. Really.
It still doesn’t make sense to be buying that kind of technology with long-term, high-interest debt.
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STEP ON DOWN! YOU’RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON THE EPISD’S THE PRICE IS RIGHT GAME SHOW!!!
So how does an otherwise extremely intelligent group of people like the EPISD Bond Advisory Committee settle on a Bond Amount the size of the Titanic?
Here’s the recipe:
1. The Bond Committee was nominated by the Board Members and Superintendent to do a job. In and of itself, having community input and representation is not a bad thing. They are, however, reliant on the data that is presented to them.
2. The Board and Superintendent hired an External Consultant who selling point is to “remove barriers” to passing the largest bond possible. It is her job to maximize the number of dollars and to rally a committee to accept it. Here is a link to her website: http://www.tmstrategygroup.com/services-and-experience.html
3. Allow the External Consultant to utilize tactics that would cause rationale people to vote for a $3 Trillion amount. Consultant Hughes turned the discussion into a “huge” Game Show/Board Game, complete with sound effects, and introduced competition and suspension of reality. This is the same tactic that Las Vegas Casinos have been using for years. When you eliminate actual money and use, in essence, play money, people begin to think they are playing Monopoly and lose track of the fact that they are playing with REAL MONEY. This is exactly how people lose their life savings at Casinos!! Here is the tactic, as described in the El Paso Times 6 days ago:
“As the tables’ results came in, they were broadcast real time on a floor-to-ceiling screen. A cha-ching sound meant a project was included. The sound of a wall being demolished meant a project was axed.
When all votes had been cast, a final total popped on the screen along with the image and sound of fireworks: $668,695,577.
The committee members, EPISD administrators and other on-lookers cheered.
The room then grew quiet as the list of projects scrolled on the screen.
The committee facilitator, consultant Michelle Hughes, asked if anyone in the room would veto the bond proposal.
The roar of thunder shook the room, but no committee members raised their hands.
“The absence of a veto means this committee has consensus of a bond referendum that you have produced,” Hughes said.
As committee members and administrators packed up to leave, echoes of “That’s a big number” could be heard.”
4. That last statement is called “BUYER’S REMORSE” and sounds like this committee needed to sleep on this and decide whether it is too much or not. Sounds like they verbalized this at the end but were maneuvered by the consultant to believe that if they voice opinion against it, they would somehow disrespect their own committee. Also, as covered by the the Times, any group that dissents, loses any financial impact at all for their school or schools. This was verbalized in the article 6 days ago by Spokesperson Melissa Martinez as the southside schools rebelled against being railroaded.
5. The Board then backs the Committee “Recommendation” because to not back it means insulting the committee.
Like sheep to the slaughter….
NOBODY WILL EVER SAY THE DISTRICT DOESN’T NEED A BOND. IT DOES! THE PROCESS HOWEVER, FOR ALL THE DEFENSE TO THE CONTRARY, IS MANIPULATIVE AND MACHIAVELLIAN. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE BOND CONSULTANT PROMISES ON HER WEBSITE, HOWEVER, SHE IS WORTH EVERY DIME THE BOARD SPENT FOR HER TO BRING FORTH THE LARGEST POSSIBLE BOND, NOW ADDITION TO HER LIST OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANCY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND, UNLIKE YSLETA ISD, HOWEVER, WHERE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT THROUGH ALL OF THIS?
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Well put. That is how it happened.
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But it’s “for the children”. Ever hear that before? Remember when it was the parent’s responsibility (gasp!) to provide ALL the student’s school needs, except the books? Jesus, I see it coming…soon students will be provided clothes(why not-they already get free lunches), cars(can’t ride the bus)…Our taxes keep going up, but the graduation rate goes down. WTF
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Items like laptops or tablet computers should be provided based on financial need. Many families can clearly afford them; others cannot. If a family can buy a kid a car, cellphone, video games, and expensive clothes, etc., as many do, they can afford to buy the kid a computer for school. Many already have them at home.
If a household has an income below a certain level, the district could provide the kid a computer. Maybe teens should be required to perform some work or community service to earn the computer. Or local businesses and individuals could donate if they wish to a special fund to help subsidize computers for kids who really need help. Special grant monies might also be available through foundations. The district needs to get creative instead of just asking for taxes to be increased.
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How can we trust them to truly care when they don’t even take care of their Central Office building? I went by there tonight, and it looks horrible from the outside, and almost as bad inside. I’ve been to both YISD and SISD’s main offices, and they look nice and professional. EPISD’s main office looks like a dump. Even worse, I used the restroom on the other side of the Planetarium. Second big mistake of the night! Not only were roaches crawling on the floor and walls, but one of the standing stalls is broken, while one of the toilets was unflushed and full. And there were no paper towels.
Then, when I was leaving, I noticed that they had their sprinklers on. There’s really no reason to be wasting water on their parking lot. Plus, if you look out towards Region 19 and to your left, you’ll see that one of the sprinkler heads is broken, sending gallons of water straight up for about 5 feet.
I went there giving them the benefit of the doubt about the bond, but if they cannot even take care of their “home” how can I trust them with my taxes?
Maybe they will take better care of their new building…oh wait, that’s not even mentioned in this bond. Instead, there’s been no news of their relocation for months. What happened? This guy loves to brag about being here for 3 years and making changes…that seems like it would be a big one. After all, I’m sure he’ll have a castle!
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What is the real price tag? Don’t you have to add interest on top of the $660 mil?
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