This is also what you get when you don't pay taxes equal to the demands of
the social system.
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August 29, 2004
Officials Unraveling Woes of Texas Schools
By LAURA GRIFFIN
HUTCHINS, Tex., Aug. 26 - While other pupils around the state settled into
the routine of classes, many Wilmer-Hutchins High School students spent
their first week back at school sitting idly in the cafeteria, playing
dominoes and taking naps.
Their long-dilapidated school, unusable since it was flooded in summer
storms, has become a symbol for what is being called the worst school
district in the state. Five of the district's seven schools are in such bad
shape that a state report recommends tearing them down.
Now, Texas education officials are trying to determine how the district's
financial situation deteriorated to the point that even with a $500,000 loan
this summer, it could not afford to meet payroll for some of its teachers
and staff members this week.
A grand jury looking into allegations of corruption in the district, which
serves a mostly disadvantaged area five miles from the gleaming Dallas
skyline, returned no decision this week but left the case open for further
inquiry.
Cedric Davis, the Wilmer-Hutchins school district police chief, took the
accusations of wrongdoing and graft to the Dallas County district attorney's
office this summer.
"They've mismanaged funds, and they're in the hole," Chief Davis said.
"Where'd that money go? It's not in the buildings or the students or the
teachers." On Monday, the Texas Education Agency will begin an audit to
determine what it will take to save the district. In connection with that
audit, state health officials will inspect the schools for environmental and
safety concerns, including air quality.
"They receive sufficient funds for operating a fairly well-achieving
district," said Dr. Ed Flathouse, associate commissioner for finance and
compliance at the education agency. "But when you look at other districts,
on the whole Wilmer-Hutchins comes up short every time."
Most agree something has to be done.
No matter what happens, education officials say the 2,902 children in
Wilmer-Hutchins schools are paying the price.
"Teachers and others may lose jobs, but a whole generation of youngsters in
that district may be lost," Dr. Flathouse said. Superintendent Charles
Matthews did not return repeated phone calls, but the Wilmer-Hutchins school
board president, Luther Edwards, said the problems were caused more by
decades of racial inequity and a lack of growth in the area than by the
actions of the board or the administration.
Ninety-five percent of the students are black or Hispanic and 63 percent are
economically disadvantaged.
"When they talk about mismanagement and poor leadership, why is it that it
always happens in predominantly minority school districts?" Mr. Edwards
asked. "It's a shame that in 2004 we're still grappling with the same
thing - racial tension - but indirectly now."
But using race as an excuse offends some other African-Americans in the
district. All along, they say, it has been a leadership issue. Chief Davis
says that district money has paid salaries of people who did not work,
contracts that should have been put out for bid but were not and for
improper travel and phone expenses by trustees.
He also claims that the district illegally used federal money intended for
instruction to pay bills, and he hopes to get the Justice Department
involved.
When Chief Davis took his accusations to district officials, he said, they
retaliated by disbanding his department. He and officers have sued for
wrongful termination, and a judge, granting a temporary injunction,
reinstated the entire department.
"I'm angry that the kids have to go through this mess," said Chief Davis,
who graduated from Wilmer-Hutchins in 1985 and whose daughter is a senior
there. Mr. Edwards, the board president, also blamed a lack of financing
from the state for the district's woes. But Wilmer-Hutchins gets more state
and federal money than any other district in Dallas County.
Mr. Edwards also said he hoped voters would pass a $68 million bond package
in September so work on the schools can begin.
Turmoil in Wilmer-Hutchins goes back decades. In the 1990's, the district
had four superintendents in less than five years and the state stepped in
for two years in the latter part of the decade because of low student scores
and money problems.
Johnny Brown, now DeKalb County superintendent in suburban Atlanta, ran the
district during part of that time when test scores, school ratings and
finances improved.
"All children can learn and excel, given the proper environment," he said.
"What's required of the adults is not rocket science - it's to provide a
quality education. I believe in local systems taking care of their own, but
there are times, and this is one of them, that the state needs to step in."
It is not that easy, according to the state education agency. A school
district must receive the lowest performance rating for two consecutive
years before the agency can take it over. Wilmer-Hutchins is currently rated
"acceptable" over all, despite low test scores among middle school and high
school students.
"This district has a record of having the lowest to next-to-lowest rating,''
said Debbie Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the state agency. "Right now,
they're O.K. on that front, so that makes it difficult. But we can impose
sanctions if there are financial problems."
Across the country, good school districts share a commonality - their
communities demand accountability and results.
That has not happened in Wilmer-Hutchins. Historically, few people have
participated in matters concerning the schools, local and state educators
said.
This time it is different, said Brenda Duff, P.T.A. president for the high
school and Chief Davis's mother.
"They haven't demanded anything in the past, but I do see some changes
coming," Ms. Duff said. "The community's upset."
Many parents are trying to figure out ways to change districts, short of
moving. And students say they are embarrassed.
"I'm afraid to claim this school, since it's the worst," said Reavis
Skinner, 14, a freshman.
A week before school was to start, the district announced that storm cleanup
of the high school would delay classes for a week.
To Chief Davis, that storm was heaven sent - without it, the problems may
have gone unnoticed.
"The storms just enhanced a problem that has existed for a long time," he
said. "I think it was an act of God to bring this thing down."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/education/29dallas.html?pagewanted=print&position=
--
During the last election cycle, while Frist headed the NRSC, the health care
industry increased its contributions to Republican candidates to just under
$ 4 million and became the largest industry contributor to the party.
"If you look at the money involved, it would be easy to say the medical
industry has bought itself a Senator and, now, a Senate," says Harleigh.
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_1470.shtml
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