VicMan

..and as a taxpayer that provides no justificaiton for building a new campus.

In Gregory-Lincoln's case, the rebuilding seemed somewhat questionable since the particular neighborhood gentrified. The deal is that there are a few elementary schools nearby (namely J. Will Jones, MacGregor) that could be closed in the future in order to expand Gregory-Lincoln's geographic area. This would justify the existence of the 4th Ward school.

As for whether to renovate or rebuild, I read an article about Pershing Middle School's new campus. Pershing MS's campus was justified, since the school is fairly popular with magnet school parents and that the neighborhoods served by Pershing remain as family areas (as in fairly wealthy family areas, i. e. West University Place, Bellaire, Braeswood area).

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=2007_4265447

"The $31 million school is one of the more expensive construction projects in an $808.6 million bond package for Houston Independent School District, approved by voters in 2002. Originally, Pershing was just going to be renovated, but contractors realized the work was much more expensive than forecast.

Building would cost a few million dollars more than renovating. So the district opted for new."

Also, here is an article from the Houston Press about the mess of HSPVA's rebuilding plans (which were later scrapped):

http://www.houstonpress.com/2004-12-30/new...-shaky-grounds/

So, why did HISD scrap HSPVA's building? This is my largest reservation against the new bond. If HISD stated that it would rebuild HSPVA and then forget about the matter after winning the battle to build the Gregory-Lincoln campus, why should I trust that the district would rebuild my high school (this was announced for the upcoming bond election)?

There's significant public backlash against HISD already. No one needs to spend any money on polls; private schools in Houston are thriving.

But you would have to find where the actual private school students come from and the reason for being sent to private school. Yes, there are lots of private schools within HISD's boundaries. Yet, there are also a lot of private schools within SBISD's boundaries. SBISD, by the way, has Memorial High School and Stratford High School, known academic juggernauts.

The problem, Toggle, is that many people do not operate on a "guilty until proven innocent" stance - they operate on an "innocent until proven guilty" stance. This is why evidence is needed.

Excellent condescension. Mother Superior couldn't have done it better.

I've seen HISD corruption up close and personal. It's not a stance.

You and Vic need to get together and apply for Marvin's job so you can uncover the proof; make sure to look through all the deleted emails. Not everything that's true can have a cute little URL attached as so-called evidence.

The solution to corruption is _______________________.

Depends on your politics kiddo.

HISD should check to see if there is a significant backlash against the bond proposal. If there is, HISD should at least seek the company that it hired for consulting to see if it needs to ask for less money and/or close more schools.

Anyway, relating to the previous bond, I can state a comparison between Gregory-Lincoln Education Center's old and new campuses.

1. The old campus is three stories tall and has no charm whatsoever. I could not get inside, but the outside looks sickening.

The new campus is two stories tall and looks smaller and unimposing. It seems like HISD knew that enrollment would drop at Gregory-Lincoln, and asked for a smaller campus.

Sherwood Oaks is in Spring Branch ISD.

Homes are zoned to the following schools:

* Sherwood Elementary School

* Spring Forest Middle School

* Stratford High School

Ms. Riddle is obviously a very self-serving individual, I can't imagine she had nothing better to do than to crusade for this. She should have been more focused on the education aspect of the schools and less on worrying about the lack of the word God in the Texas Pledge of Allegiance. Texas has more pressing issues to focus on than this sort of thing, shame on her and those that supported her bill.

That was the thesis of the letter I sent. If she replies, I will post the response here

that's what they did with no input from HISD

In other words, HISD did not look at the input of the firm, right?

Does HISD still have a chance to look at the input of the firm?

Which people?

By the public, musicman meant people like the passionate supporters of Jack Yates High School, who cried against closing Yates (Yates is a tradition in the Third Ward, and many alumni are passionate about the school). When HISD considered closing Yates, some men registered a website asking the public to save Jack Yates. See it archived here: http://web.archive.org/web/20050306112957/...ejackyates.com/

how does neutrality come into play here? if person is truthful and not neutral how would that be different? they would still be telling the truth.

Well, a friend of my dad told a story about when a random man threatened him in a parking lot and chased him around town (the man was later arrested).

My dad later added that the friend probably omitted a piece of the story; my dad believes that the friend probably insulted the random man, causing the random man to threaten him. My dad does not know for sure, but he knows the friend.

Vic ye of little faith. if your friends told you something would you believe them?

Depends on how truthful and neutral the friend is - I know some people who embellish stories about themselves because they feel their lives need more excitement.

But, if it's a person who I know and feel that he or she would tell the truth, then, yes, I would trust him/her.

start listening to talk radio. they had an HISD person on some station this afternoon. it appears HISD hired a firm to do the study and the board didn't have a chance to study the recommendations. don't you think HISD should have had some input?

I used to listen to a little bit of Sean Hannity just for fun, but, no, I do not listen to talk radio.

In that case, HISD should have hired an independent firm to provide some input on the size of the bond/which schools to close/etc.

Toggle, then I have no way of knowing if the events you described actually happened.

Why not get Wayne Dolcefino on HISD's case if such events are happening? He is more than happy to hear cases like this.

I'd rather not discuss my profession. I will confirm that any information I have posted regarding HISD has been from firsthand experience and can be verified.

VIC--just because it isn't in a dictionary or on the Internet, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Wise up young man.

Because when a school with a strong reputation has some open enrollment slots, there will be more applicants than slots. What I meant was that Memorial HS would have an attendance zone, but it would also have a few slots open to out-of-zone people. What would inevitably happen is that more out of zone people would vie for slots than there are slots. In other words, some of the people will have to be turned away. This would mean that there would still be a demand for those cheap apartment complexes. I doubt that property taxes would fall (unless there was a major riot and all of the parents pulled their kids out of SBISD) so long as the individual school's academics remain on par; Bellaire HS (even if it has social issues) has higher property tax values than Westbury HS.

"No one in SBISD wants there kids going to school with the Westchase Apartment District "students.""

In this arrangement, SBISD people could expect their kids to go to school with some Westchase Apartment District students, but they will not encounter Westchase Apartment District "students."

What I mean is that I said that the school would choose to accept or reject whoever it wants for the out-of-district slots (this is the same policy as SBISD's magnet policy). An apartment "student" who gets straight F's, has a record for shoplifting, and has no desire to improve himself would have no chance of getting into, say, Memorial High School. Then again, such a kid would have no interest in applying to MHS (unless his mom somehow makes him, but then he probably would not have had such a rap sheet if his mother had control) and go to his Alief zoned/home school.

SBISD's current, actual policy for Stratford (from what I can tell from the enrollment page) is like this. SBISD chooses who may go out-of-district, and it threatens to expel a student not performing in school.

"Vic, I doubt they will ever let the districts totally merge and/or an application process occur for the basic reason it would KILL property values in SBISD. People move there and pay more to live there for the schools. If anyone could go to a SBISD school from anywhere in there area, what would be the point of moving there? Taxable values would plummit as would educational funding. No one in SBISD wants there kids going to school with the Westchase Apartment District "students."

Anyway, I looked up the paragraph posted here and I found this thread on the Snopes forums: http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=3407&page=2

I was reading the latest about this story on the Chron.com, and I thought how TRUE this one Soldier's outlook about it is. I wanted to share it with you guys. I don't think it is his thoughts, mind you, I want to say I have read this elsewhere before, but he took the time to write it or paste it, so I pasted it from him.

"In_This_Twilight wrote:

SCHOOL 1976 vs 2006

Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking

lot with shotgun in gun rack.

1976 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car

and gets his shotgun to show Jack.

2006 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and

never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized

students and teachers.

_____

Scenario: Mark and Johnny get into a fistfight after school.

1976 - Crowd gathers. Johnny wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up

best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge

them with assault, both expelled even though Mark sta rted it.

_____

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1976 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.

Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.

2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for

ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

_____

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1976 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

2006 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear

nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation

is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and

Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curri culum. Pedro given

diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak

English.

_____

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts

them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.

1976 - Ants die.

2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic

terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers

confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed

to fly again.

_____

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee.

He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.

1976 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She

faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy"

Reefmonkey: I do not know where/if SBISD has this on its website, but one of my friends had her mother send an out-of-district application to Stratford High School. Stratford is allowing a number of kids in HISD that it chooses to attend the school for free. I heard that SBISD is not providing transportation. I do not know if the HISD kids are taken because they are in HISD or because they are simply out of district. I can tell that SBISD picks and chooses who (in terms of out of district) gets to attend Stratford.

EDIT: Here is its enrollment information packet: http://www.springbranchisd.com/admin/admin.../enrollment.pdf

In Stratford's case, call the school and ask about its out-of-district enrollment.

so why a Yay? you must not pay taxes

What I mean is that it will be easier to sell a bond if HISD agrees to streamline its operations by closing some campuses.

Yay! HISD listened and agreed to close schools along with asking for money.

I wonder why HISD has no plans to close Blackshear ES and Jones ES.

HISD should try to turn Cullen, Ryan, and Fleming into K-8 campuses.

I have been told that one of the terms under which Texas joined the Union was that we could elect to split into five states. Is that true? If so, doesn't that make us divisible?

This IS true.

Snopes talks about it here: http://www.snopes.com/history/american/texas.asp

This explains the debate about whether to split Texas.

I also notice that KingwoodUnderground needs a moderator to moderate the content: http://www.kingwoodunderground.com/topic.j...opicId=11070259

I love it when people start launching personal attacks. Then that means that I win the debate and they lose.

When someone starts a post as:

"VicBOY is not from anywhere near our area - because he is (or was) a student in Houston ISD (Lamar High School, I believe), he feels like he is an expert in all things "school". He also advocates the take over of Kingwood schools by Houston ISD! He is trying to stir this same pot over at kw.com.

violates separation of church and state - you keep stating this, but nowhere in our founding documents can you find separation of church and state. And that would be at a federal level anyway - this is a State issue. "

Why he or she is surprised to find "rude" PMs is beyond me...

"Let me tell you about "strict construction" and "loose construction."

It will be a cold day in August when I will let you tell me anything.

And by the way, your rude PMs are not going to get you anywhere, either. "

By the way, I frankly told this person that personal attacks are not going to get him anywhere, and that if he wants my respect, he will have to give me respect. I see that he doesn't want to do that.

I remember reciting this pledge in the early 90's:

"Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one and indivisible."

Is that the one?

Yep, that's it

often? how many times did you say it/day?

The pledge is said every morning on every school day. This was true from Age 3 to Grade 12.

that is horrible to hear.

The pledges of allegiance become mundane when they are often repeated. I feel that all of the color and feeling drips out of the pledges after a certain point.

1. I second Musicman's question

2. Your source is where?

The answer to your question is :::::drumroll::: YES! Just the tip of the HISD money malfeasance & misappropriation iceburg though.

Here's one example of corrupt HISD fiscal policy:

HISD was given a one million dollar grant (federal funds) for an arts program for 2006-2007. Ten middle schools were to receive 100,000 large apiece. (God only know why HISD thought that humongous amount of money was necessary for each campus but that another barrel of drunken monkeys). Dr. Saavedra created a brand-spanking new positon for Noah Wiley as head honcho of the money. WIley was given a shiny new office with staff (!) along with a nifty logo.

Where did the money go though? Not one middle school campus saw a dime.

HHHHmmmmm, vedy interestink.

Man, the debate on KingwoodUnderground.com about the very same issue is interesting, to say the least: http://www.kingwoodunderground.com/topic.j...opicId=11070259

I asked the supporters of the bill what benefit would come from the bill, they said nothing. I like the responses of the people opposed that contrast to the supporters.

When I debated, after a point JetSkiRider gave up and said:

"PLEASE put this posting on ignore for the good of all of us.

Vicman lives far from Kingwood, is promoting an agenda outside the will and GOD and would love to drag us into his battle.

PLEASE, let's ignore the postings from him."

I feel even more disgust.

I still cannot find a list of who VOTED for the bill (I see the authors and coauthors) - I notice that Ellen Cohen is not in the coauthors list.

Don't let faster cars goad you into doing over 60, Texanjoe. You are to go at 60 M. P. H.

How is this for an e-mail?

Should I send this in letter form too?

"Ms. Riddle, I am absolutely disappointed in your behavior and the behavior of all of the men who voted with you to add "God" to the Texas pledge.

Riddle, Texas faces many real issues, including funding issues with schools and infrastructure, economic issues, etc. You wasted my time, my neighbors' time, and the time of all Texan citizens by adding "God" to a pledge that did not need to be changed.

And, no, Riddle, it was not necessary. Very few Americans do not know of the Christian religion, since many churches are seen in Texas cities and towns. Why change a pledge that did not need to be changed? With that time, Riddle, you could have established state health insurance for the uninsured!

If you wish to support the Christian religion, Riddle, you could have done so on your own time and money by giving money to a missionary fund.

Because of your time-wasting conduct, I am politely asking the members of your district to not renew your term in the Texas House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

- "