This is another post that we received when we made a call for other authors.
The author asked that I attribute it to DUSTY.
I got a note this past Sunday inviting me to a meeting about EPISD. The note is posted below, followed by my reasons for not going to it. Instead we stayed home and watched old reruns of the TV show THE FUGITUVE starring David Janssen.
THE E MAIL INVITATION…..
Sorry to intrude on your Sunday.
Seems Monday afternoon was the consensus for us to convene. I’ve arranged to meet at the Federation of Teachers’ Union office located at 4024 Trowbridge at 5:30 PM. SBOE Rep Martha Dominguez has stated she doesn’t feel it necessary to meet with us. Susie Byrd has stated she is not available to meet as well. However, current EPISD trustee Isela Castañon Williams, and former trustee, Rocio Benedicto have tentatively agreed to meet with us. State Representative Marissa Marquez will be sending a representative as well. It would benefit us to include Bob Geske, Chuck Taylor, and other individuals interested in this effort—please forward this invitation to them, since I don’t have their contact information.
I was encouraged by the fact that TSTA representatives have expressed interest in getting involved as well. Their inclusion would certainly exhibit a unified show of community. I will be calling them to notify them of this meeting.
We’ve got a former superintendent, with connections to the US Department of Eduction that will be providing insight and some guidance as to how to proceed.
The primary goal is to craft a letter requesting to be included on the August agenda to discuss the following:
* The Board of Managers’ superintendent search process and community input
* The request to move Public Forum to the beginning of school board meetings; in addition to removing speakers’ limitations
I look forward to our collaboration, and the action-oriented plan we derive.
End of E mail
Initially I was intent on going and even took the day off in order to attend. My wife and I re-read the above E mail and began to question why we should go. The only reason I wanted to go was to tell off, in person, the former EPISD board members who were scheduled to attend. Other than that, I couldnt think of a single reason to go. My wife has been to many meetings over the years concerning EPISD and she said it is pointless because they do not listen, but rather promote an agenda that is already in place. Sort of like an infomercial.
MY REASONS FOR NOT GOING…..
Reason number 1 is obvious.
Why on Earth would we want to talk with Isela Castanon Williams and Rocio Benedicto? They were part of the obscure the truth campaign that came out of EPISD Headquarters when the public started getting a whiff of what has been going on in our schools. How can someone who was part of the problem be part of the solution?
Reason number 2 is simple.
The current appointed board lead by Dee Margo has no interest in community opinion. That is why they needed to be appointed in the first place. It’s doubtful that any of the current appointed board of managers for EPISD could be elected to anything today. So why would they care what voters think?
Reason number 3.
Begging someone like Dee Margo to do the right thing is pointless. You saw how he voted in the Texas House for his 1 term. He voted against what his constituents wanted and got blown out of the water after one 2 year term. I would never grovel in person or in writing to someone like him. It would be like all those people who lined up to speak against the ball park in order to convince John Cook to do the right thing, it’s pointless and a waste of time.
Reason number 4.
The search for superintendent is supposedly already a done deal. Allegedly the appointed board wants Joe Wardy. The writing was already on the wall when Dee complained about the candidates that it’s search firm had found. I was initially encouraged when he said that, but I should have known a candidate was already chosen and now its just window dressing until the great announcement is made.
Reason number 5.
The time of public comment and the amount of time per issue is meaningless when the board doesn’t listen anyway. What’s the point? The most honest thing I have ever seen in El Paso politics was Steve Ortega and Beto O’Rourke playing with their cell phones while citizens were speaking on an issue. They didn’t care and didn’t pretend to care. Neither does the EPISD board…appointed or elected.
Reason number 6.
Asking the state of Texas to get involved was a mistake. The only thing that might have helped was asking for federal intervention. When the one former superintendent with connections with the DOE is not asked about how to get the feds involved in a takeover of the district, what’s the point? That is what we as a community should be asking for. At least with the feds it’s possible to get non El Paso political and politicallyconnected people involved in resolving the issues. That would make it possible to do a real investigation that would name names and not try and protect certain people. I am not saying it would happen, but at least it’s possible. The state of Texas has already shown with its initial TEA audit how lame and toothless they are.
Reason number 7.
An article written earlier this week on this site stated it perfectly. Know thy place. We are not a power player in El Paso and therefore our voice has no influence on policy.
DUSTY
Posted by Brutus 
elpasospeak 
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