Elected officials in Clear Lake who supports vouchers

October 9, 2023

Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. So who’s in favor of school vouchers? Teachers aren’t. The vast majority of parents aren’t. Their constituents aren’t but that doesn’t matter to them and for good reasons.

Senator Money Mayes Middleton has self financed his campaigns. He owes no one not even his constituents. he recently wrote an op-ed supporting vouchers claiming that parent know what’s best for their children (they don’t). He is all in for vouchers.

Representative Dennis Paul. Paul isn’t going to upset the apple cart for fear of being primaried. Abbott has him by the nose. he is a solid vote.

Representative Terri Wilson out of Galveston is exclusively funded by Texans for Lawsuit reform [sic]. She knows who butters her bread and it’s not teachers. She is another solid vote.

CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen. Corporal Chaos is too much in bed with the party to be against vouchers even though CCISD is clearly against it. Will he travel to Austin and testify? We will be watching.

Tony Buzbee. Tony is running for Houston’s city council and doesn’t know what the fuck he is doing. I threw him in because Scott likes him.

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Posted by johncoby

Houston elite private school ranked #5 in the US. The $35,000 tuition proves it.

September 27, 2023

The Houston Chronicle seems to be advocating for private schools via a voucher system.

Yesterday the Chronicle reported on a number of highly rated Houston private schools in the State as well as in the United States. What they forgot to report is how much these schools charge for tuition. This tuition, for those who can afford it, could be reduced by Greg Abbott’s voucher system. I’ll fill in the gaps in the Chronicle’s article. From the Chronicle:

Greater Houston has four of the top five best private schools in Texas, three of the top five largest public high schools, Texas’ most diverse private high school and some of the best schools for various religions in the state.

St. John’s School. At No. 1 in the state and No. 5 in America, St. John’s School is one of the highest-rated K-12 schools in the country. Tuition: $35,000/year. (that is not a typo)

The Woodlands’ John Cooper School. Third in the state and No. 27 in the U.S. Tuition: Prekindergarten: $25,460. Kindergarten: $25,460. Grades 1-5: $28,030

Awty International School. Fourth-best private high school in Texas and the 15th-most diverse private high school in America. Tuition: $33,000/year

The Village School. Fifth-ranked private school in Texas, the most diverse private high school in the state and Texas’ highest-rated boarding school. Tuition: $74,000/year

Strake Jesuit was rated the best in Texas [$25,000/year] , trailed by St. Agnes Academy (3rd,) [$25,000/year] Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart (5th,) [$26,000/year] Incarnate Word Academy (6th) [$18,000/year], St. Pius X. High School (7th) [$19,000/year] and St. Thomas High School (8th.) [$24,000/year]

So you can see how much Greg Abbott’s voucher system is needed for those who can afford to pay $25,000/year for a private elite education.

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Posted by johncoby

CCISD to hold public meetings on bond proposals

July 17, 2023

Along with many school districts in the State of Texas, CCISD is reaching an unprecedented financial crossroad. From crippling inflation costs to inaction by the Texas legislature failing to adjust the basic student allotment, CCISD is leaning on our community to ensure that our students continue to reach their full potential, while improving their learning environment at a minimal impact to taxpayers. CCISD is seeking public input on a proposed Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) and three Bond proposals options to address critical capital needs. The community is invited to attend one of the following public meetings to learn more about the proposals and provide feedback.

LEARN MORE: www.ccisd.net/electioncentral

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Posted by johncoby

Nominations are open for the CCISD Citizen of the Year award

July 13, 2023

The CCISD Board of Trustees is seeking nominations for the 2023 Citizen of the Year! This distinguished award is presented each year to honor an outstanding member of the community who champions the school district and devotes their efforts to the betterment of public education. The recipient will be announced at the Clear Creek Education Foundation’s Annual Gala on November 9, 2023. Submit your nominations by August 1: http://bit.ly/43onqCZ

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Posted by johncoby

CCISD must vote on allowing teachers to carry guns

June 29, 2023

“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”

Tell that to the parents of the kids killed in Uvalde. You have to be a complete moron to believe that stupidity especially after over 180 well armed, well trained, good guys with guns sat and listened to the shooter kill 19 children.

Well the morons in Austin has just approved a bill that would put more guns in school, allowing teachers to carry hand guns and getting paid to do so! The bill allocated $325 million for school safety, fortifying schools just short of building a brick wall around every campus but it does nothing to keep guns out of the hands of a bad guy.

According to testimony during the last CCISD board meetings parents called on the Board to reject arming teachers as an alternative to hiring security guards. The bill requires every school to have an armed guard paid for by our tax dollars, which could include a private security personnel, or to allow teachers to carry and to get a $25,000 stipend. What could possibly go wrong? From comments at the Board:

One thing that I cannot wrap my head around is the sudden “trust” in teachers. Where over the past few years we have witnessed a concerted effort to vilify and demean these educators. Across the country and across the state of Texas, we have had parents, school board members and elected officials, casting aspersions on our teachers, fostering a lack of faith in their abilities. And now these same people want to arm them? These highly trained educators, proficient in their fields, are not trusted enough to carefully choose a book, but are somehow trusted enough to carry a gun. Make that make sense.

If you think this will stop a bad guy with a gun from shooting your kids during recess, or when being dropped off, or exiting the bus, or practicing band in the parking lot, or practicing on the football field then maybe you should go look at your kids school. Also this $325 Million expenditure will not protect your kids at school, church, concert, parades, or Walmarts.

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Posted by johncoby

CCISD must vote on allowing religious indoctrination of students

June 28, 2023

OMG. Where are the “Save the children” people?

Senate Bill 763, filed by our own State Senator “Money” Mayes Middleton, will require CCISD to vote on allowing chaplains to provide counseling services to students. The analysis of this bill says the cost of these chaplains, to help the guidance counselors, will be paid with funds allocated for school safety.

So instead of tackling the real source of the problem concerning school safety, they are going to put a volunteer, unemployed, chaplain that can provide spiritual guidance even though they have no training in guidance counseling or any degree that is not based upon a book of fables. What could possibly go wrong?

The vote must come within 6 months of when the bill will take effect, September 1, 2023. The ACLU has filed suit to stop this stupidity. BTW every common sense gun bill failed including restricting the open carry of assault weapons at protests, parades, and outdoor gatherings. Raising the age to 21 from 18 to purchase a military assault weapon also failed as well as closing the gun show loop hole, safe storage of guns, etc etc etc. They all failed yet the easy access to guns is the real source of the problem.

I can’t wait for the first Rabbi, Dalai Lama, or Imam, is assigned to John F. Ward and watch the religious, wingers go nuts. Praise the lord.

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Posted by johncoby

CCISD Board to vote on Trustee Bowen’s grievance tonight

June 26, 2023

As has been said in the past “I consider this issue to be clooooosed!”

Unfortunately Bowen, in typical republican fashion, just can’t stop whining and claiming to be the victim something his buddy, Ted Cruz does very well. Bowen has posted a pre-board meeting response to the vote today claiming to be a victim, and the target of an attack on the Constitution, and blah-blah-blah, poor little me. Of course his comments on his Trustee re-election site is chock full of misinformation. I’m going to reluctantly respond to it below:

  1. As stated to the board, this entire issue was brought about by Bowen and Bowen only.
  2. No one claimed he violated the law. If I had I would have filed a complaint with the District Attorney’s office, not CCISD.
  3. The attorney hired did not STRONGLY agree to squat. She dismissed it because Bowen said a cute little statement after identifying himself as a Trustee of CCISD and representing the constituents of the district. “I’m here on my own time and own dime”. You can read the entire opinion here.
  4. No one said there was a violation of anyones 1st amendment rights. The complaint specifically stated he violated policy by identifying himself as a Trustee against a public education bill. Policy, not 1st Amendment. He does NOT have the right to represent the Board as per CCISD policy. The video is clear. Watch it.
  5. And it is so rich that Bowen talks about wasting money, when he supported the many re-counts by his buddy Christine Parizo who lost by 25 points and the lawsuit by Misty Dawson costing the district thousands in legal fees. I addressed the cost in my letter to the Board. Quit clutching your pearls Scott.
  6. And lastly he is whining about the Galveston News, much like all republicans do.

As I have written to the Board I consider this issue to be cloooooosed. Here is my letter to the Board concerning the vote tonight followed by Bowen’s whiny post on his Facebook site, followed by a link to the video of his testimony.

I say good day SIR!

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Posted by johncoby

CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen cleared in official grievance

June 15, 2023

Although I do not agree with the ruling I respect the decision.

And I am glad I filed this grievance against Scott Bowen for testifying at a hearing in Austin advocating for a bill, on OUR behalf, that would harm public education. Bowen identified himself as a Trustee, spoke as a Trustee, and stated that his constituents, you and me, were against everything the Texas Association of School Boards advocated for including eliminating racism in the class room and stopping vouchers which would harm our public schools. But don’t take my word for it. Watch the 3 minute video and make your own decision.

The presiding attorney concluded:

It is my recommendation that the grievance and written requested remedy that Trustee Bowen be sanctioned, reprimanded, or asked to resign be denied for the reasons stated herein. Trustee Bowen had a right under Texas law and the United States Constitution, First Amendment, to participate in the legislative process in his individual capacity, and he had a right to identify his title as trustee in doing so. I do not find that he crossed any lines or that he spoke or intended to speak on behalf of the CCISD Board of Trustees. 

You can read the entire report here. Maybe next time Bowen will think twice about speaking on behalf of his constituents when he doesn’t have the right to.

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Posted by johncoby

A deep dive: Defend Texas Liberty and the CCISD elections

June 7, 2023
From TheTexasVoice.com

This is some serious money and dirty influence.

The extreme far right Political Action Committee, Defend Texas Liberty attempted to influence voters in CCISD. CCISD voters didn’t buy it and for very good reasons. CCISD candidate Peter Lauzon accepted $5000 from this extremist organization which was the majority of his donations. Candidate Glencora Rodgers returned the $5000 they had donated. Most voters have no idea of who Defend Texas Liberty is or who funds them. Here are some details:

Defend Texas Liberty filed their first report with the Texas Ethics Committee in 2020. Since then they have raised nearly $12 Million mostly from two billionaires. Timothy Dunn donated $7.3 Million while Farris Wilks donated $3.2 million. These two individuals accounted for 88% of all the donations. Windi Grimes of Houston donated $571,000. Phillip Huffines donated $500,000, and Ken Fisher donated $100,000.

Timothy Dunn
Dunn has donated over $21 Million since 2004. His biggest donations were to Empower Texas (dissolved) for $7.7 Million, Defend Texas Liberty for $7.3 Million, Ken Paxton for $672,000, Shelley Luther for $1.7 Million, $407,000 to Tony Tinderholt and $275,000 to Bryan Slaton. Shelley Luther is known for being the hairdresser who refused to close her shop during COVID. She ended up in jail then ran for the House and then the Senate. She lost both. Tinderholt is a christian, conservative that has been married 5 times. Praise the lord. Bryan Slaton was removed from the Texas House by unanimous vote after he was found to have provided minors with alcohol and porked his 19 year old staff member. Lordy!

Farris Wilks
Wilks donated almost $15 Million since 2014. He also donated to Empower Texas for $2.4 Million, Defend Texas Liberty $3.2 Million, Ken Paxton for $776,000, and Bryan Slaton for $103,000.

Defend Texas Liberty
Defend Texas Liberty has spent $10.8 Million to various candidates and PACs including $160,000 to Representative Bryan Slaton pictured above. As I said, Slaton won his election and was recently removed from office by a unanimous vote in the Texas House for providing alcohol to minors and having unbridled sex with his christian, conservative, staff member who was 19 years old at the time.

Other notable donations:
Local State Representative Terri Leo-Wilson received $12,000 to add to her total, of which 94% came from out of district. State Representative Tony Tinderholt received $23,000.

Tim O’Hare, an extreme far right candidate, of Southlake Texas received $86,000 for his race for Tarrant County Judge in 2022. Texas Homeschool Coalition received $112,500.

Shelley Luther received $208,500 for her failed bid for Senate. Her claim to fame was.

And that is who attempted to influence the CCISD elections.

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Posted by johncoby

Texas Public School Finance 101.

June 2, 2023

I was going to write something about School Finance 101 but realized I knew nothing about school finance. The Friendswood Superintendent Roher gave a great 15 minute video on this subject. CCISD is mentioned with the second lowest taxes in the entire area. Take 15 minutes of your time to watch:

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Posted by johncoby

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