Children At Risk ranked our high schools this way for 2015:
2015-Texas-High-School-Rankings
There were 1,226 Texas high schools in the list.
Brutus
2015 High School Rankings
March 30, 2016
2 Comments | 
El Paso Independent School District | 
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Posted by Brutus
Required by the Times
March 29, 2016I have decided to subscribe to the print edition of the Times.
Going to their page http:offers.elpasotimes.com/SVV, I get to a page that ostensibly will allow me to select the level of service that I want.
When I click on the “Select” button the screen refreshes but does not allow me to enter any information.
I decided to use their “web chat” feature. Below is the transcript of what occurred:
New party (‘incapable’) has joined the session
Welcome to chat!
New party (‘Brittani’) has joined the session
Required?
I think not.
We deserve better
Brutus
9 Comments | El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
Extra! Extra! Lots Extra!
March 28, 2016The city recently awarded a bid for newspaper publishing services. Looking at the document below you can see that bidders were to base their prices on an anticipated volume of 5,300 lines per year. Using the numbers that the Times submitted that comes to about $43,000 per year.
Then why?
When it came time to award the business the city allocated $250,000 per year to the Times. The contract was for three years with an optional two year extension bringing the amount to $1.25 million.
This was the wording of the agenda item:
Discussion and action on the award of Solicitation No. 2016-450 Newspaper Legal Notices (Re-Bid) to Texas New Mexico Newspapers Partnership dba El Paso Times for an initial three (3) year term estimated award of $750,000.00. The award is to include a two (2) year optional amount of $500,000.00 for a total five (5) year award of $1,250,000.00.
Department: Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing
Award to: Texas New Mexico Newspapers Partnership dba El Paso Times El Paso, TX Item(s): All
Initial Term: 3 years Option to Extend: 2 years
Annual Estimated Award: $250,000.00
Initial Term Estimated Award: $750,000.00 (3 years)
Total Estimated Award: $1,250,000.00 (5 years)
Account No.: Various
Funding Source: Various District(s): All
This is a Low Bid, unit price contract. The Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing Department recommend award as indicated to Texas New Mexico Newspaper Partnership dba El Paso Times, the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Recommend Investor Publications, Inc. dba El Paso Inc be deemed non-responsive due to failure to bid on all items. In accordance with this award the City Manager or designee is authorized to exercise future options if needed.
Would the other bidder have placed a different bid if they knew what the real volume would be? Would other newspapers have placed a bid if they knew what the real volume was?
In the interest of clarity the contract is to be used to publish official notices. I don’t think that the city is actually paying the Times to publish its press releases as though they are news. I suspect that the Times does that for free.
We deserve better
Brutus
1 Comment | City government, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
Congressman
March 27, 2016This was in my mailbox the other day:
I Just Realized Something:
My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.
He has his food prepared for him.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He visits the Dr. once a year for his checkup and again during the year, if any medical needs arise. For this he pays nothing, and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep.
If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He receives these accommodations absolutely free.
He is living like a king and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who earn a living.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks ~
MY dog is a CONGRESSMAN!!!
7 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
2015 Middle School Rankings
March 26, 2016Children At Risk ranked our middle schools according to the chart below for 2015.
2015-Texas-Middle-School-Rankings El Paso
There were 1,802 schools ranked across the state.
Brutus
2 Comments | El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
elpasospeak 
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