Three high-ranking officials at Beaumont Independent School District have told The Enterprise that BISD has never considered deleting new high school science labs at West Brook High School from the menu of projects approved by voters in last November's $388 million bond issue -- and that rumors circulating among teachers are baseless.
Last week, a source inside West Brook High School said a school official told teachers the 6 new science labs wouldn't be built because they were more expensive than BISD expected.
Hogwash, says BISD. Assistant Superintendent Terry Ingram, Bond Manager Bob Menefee and Science Curriculum Director Patsy Magee all say nobody has ever talked about -- much less announced -- any plans to quash the new labs.
"[Science labs] have not been removed from the schedule and they are being designed and will be built on schedule," Ingram told reporter Christine Rappleye.
So the rumor is, officially, untrue. But reader reaction to the rumor's existence suggests BISD has a big credibility gap -- no, more like a canyon -- with taxpayers and its own employees. More honesty and openness, better leadership on issues and consistent accountability will go a long way toward bridging the canyon.
In the meantime, a policy of "trust ... but verify" is probably the taxpayer's safest approach.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Damage Control: BISD denies rumor it squelched science labs
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
12 Gator-baiters:
yeah right. they got caught.
i will never trust that gang.
Y'all better keep an eye on them. Or they may scale them down to almost nothing like the ones in Silsbee's High School. The High School I attended back in the late 70's had more space and equipment for science then this "new" one. - Barbara
As a WBHS science teacher, all I can say is several of us were told by an official in the loop that the bond manager was trying to scrap our science labs because they were "too expensive". They are doing damage control now... and I will bet if this wasn't brought to the attention of the bayou and questions weren't asked, I can bet we would have had to deal with what the official "in the loop" told us several days ago. We've got classrooms... we need our labs. While I may not be in the decision making loop, I am one of several who can confirm what the bayou originally posted.
Thank you Gator for printing the real story. I'm happy to see the truth was told.
Before BISD is completely let off the hook, it might be interesting to learn if those science labs have been pared down so as to allow for more seating in the new football stadium.
As one who has a deep and abiding distrust of school officials, I concur with The Gator that a modicum of trust might be in order. But, alas, from BISD’s ethical vantage point, "Trust but Verify" has the moral equivalency of "Trust but Prevaricate."
I am also a West Brook teacher and I will confirm that one of the people on your list conveyed to us that the science labs were not going to be built. It seems that the story has now changed and the party line is that everybody else is wrong. That is typical of the BISD management.
It is good news that the science labs will be built as voters approved. Thank you for shining light on this situation.
Gator, I could not agree with you more on verifying. Perhaps you should see when your reporter interviewed BISD. I believe it was the day before your blog.
Anonymous 7:01: The Blog item was posted on Friday (1/25) at 12:42 p.m. As a result of that post (and sharing the tip with Enterprise editors) reporter Christine Rappleye called the BISD officials I named later that afternoon. Their responses came after the blog and many of the reader posts were published.
Rumor my ass.There's a history of this sort of behavior in SE Texas. PN-G did it with their school buses that were supposed to have seatbelts but the board decided to put in DVD players instead until the public learned of that secret little adjustment. And Port Arthur did it with their auditorium that was never built and they actually went back and got a whole new bond issue after spending taxpayers money on something else. If you don't watch these crooks they will steal every penny you got. Bisd is not different and may be worse. Thomas should go and maybe Beaumont will be able to trust Bisd again.
If I read the postings between this blogg and the one posted on friday , it seems that three wbhs teachers all confirm the original story.
Sounds like someone in the loop did an about face. Did all three of the teachers make this up? What did they have to gain?
Gator, I hope the teachers,parents and staff of BISD will keep you posted on the progress on the other bond projects. Public scoren might we the only way we get what we are paying for. It is sad, but when we re-elect the same people we get the same story different bond.
I am glad BISD is doing the right thing this time(rumor or not), but trust me we are watching.
Improving the schools is critical to keeping our housing market appreciating. Good schools are a top priority for relocation families considering the move to our area. Bayou keep on reporting and uncovering information so the truth comes out. The teachers are always in the know and its good to see they are willing to speak up.
So what's going on in the schools in San Antonio, "Gator" ...?
Post a Comment