Converted?

HAVE YOU BEEN CONVERTED?

January 2008

It's that time of year again. Signs on school property, the constant flow of newsletters and glossy mail-outs.

In addition to your already high property taxes, Eanes ISD leadership expects you to open your wallets and hand over

ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Eanes ISD is actively seeking to CONVERT YOU.

It's true.

Check this out: In an email to a district parent, Eanes ISD Board Member Paul Stone states:

<<< "In addition EEF (Eanes Educational Foundation) is doing a commendable job of converting the mindset of our parents from a "free" public school education to more of a private school mentality whereby parents expect to supplement the tax dollars with donations ... " >>>

At the same time ...

Eanes ISD refuses to post its check register or financial information online. Eanes ISD continues to retain private attorneys with our tax dollars in an effort to withhold our public information.

The Eanes "message" is that EEF donations fund teachers. However, EEF donations actually allow Eanes ISD leadership to continue to fund their "wish list" instead of prioritizing our teachers.

Before Eanes ISD attempts to "convert the mindset" of district parents, before Eanes ISD "passes the hat" claiming financial need, the district should tighten its belt, fund teachers instead of wish lists, post the check register, comply with state and federal laws, and stop using our tax dollars to retain aggressive private attorneys to battle our children's rights and withhold our public information. We know our students and our teachers are held accountable, but where is the accountability for the district administrators?

A continuing stream of money, provided through EEF, simply facilitates the district's priority on wish-lists and its intentional refusal to be transparent and accountable to taxpayers, teachers, parents and children.