EPISD bonds–the Times

August 9, 2016

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

8 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Re-runs

August 1, 2016

This came in from a reader the other day:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/episd/2016/07/30/whos-who-episd-cheating-scheme/87618624/

One would think that the Times would add something to the story … not just rehash it. This isn’t “award-winning” work, How about doing some real investigation and find out what did or did not happen at Austin? Appears that Moore is working on commission for the federal prosecutor.

2 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

EPISD bonds–the kids know what is important

July 28, 2016

According to an article in the El Paso Times the other day, EPISD convened a group of high school students from all EPISD high schools to consider the current bond initiative.  The Times wrote:

The students said programs and teachers were more important to them than school buildings, and they also supported creating pre-K-8 schools.

I guess that none of them are in the construction or real estate businesses.

We deserve better

Brutus

5 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

EPISD–bond bomb

July 26, 2016

According to the El Paso Times the consulting firm that EPISD awarded their bond management consulting contract to has “walked away” from the bond project.

The Times article said the consulting firm “reviewed data on enrollment, facilities’ needs, capacity, programs and more.  They then presented recommendations for school repairs, construction and closures to the EPISD Bond Advisory Committee over a few meetings.”

Hard to believe

Now we learn that “EPISD refused to enter into a contract for the services”.

Where does that leave us?  The facilities advisory committee has evidently been working with numbers that no one can be held responsible for.

Is a new study coming?  The committee has already made recommendations that were evidently based on unpaid work done by the consulting company.  Do they start over now?

Why?

What happened here?  Is the district’s new finance chief responsible for derailing this contract?  Does she have a favorite in mind like she seemed to when she was over at the city?

Or are we seeing the able hand of our new board president at work?  Could it be that things are rotten in Denmark and that the plug needed to be pulled?

Do over

Is it time to re-start the bond process from the beginning?

We deserve better

Brutus

11 Comments | City government, El Paso Independent School District, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Sad times

July 17, 2016

This came in from one of our astute readers:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/videos/news/local/el-paso/2016/07/15/87158468/

It’s amazing. The Times keeps posting propaganda on its website. I have not seen a single video supporting Allen.
This is “breaking news,” one woman verbally disagreed with the Chief.
Escobar gets 10 minute video to explain herself. They even produce the video to help her address specific complaints against her position.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/media/cinematic/gallery/87115194/photos-el-pasoans-gather-for-police-prayer-vigil/
Only coverage that could be considered to be pro=Allen. Despite tons of social media support the chief got.
Hard to take this paper seriously.
***************************************
Brutus

14 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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