Follow this link for more:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/27/35211
or
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6237233.html#none
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
FBN: Another FBISD Administrator Accused Of Misconduct
Another FBISD Administrator Accused Of Misconduct
January, 2009 | by John Pape, Fortbendnow.com
Even as Fort Bend ISD remains under fire in the wake of allegations of misconduct against the district’s police chief and claims school administrators interfered in a police investigation, it has now come to light that Director of Facilities Michael Johnson had his personal pickup truck serviced at a district maintenance facility.
A photo of the truck being worked on by district personnel has also surfaced.
The information came to light when district insiders, troubled that Johnson was using district resources to do maintenance on his personal pickup, reported the incident to FortBendNow. The information also appeared on an Internet blog called “Fort Bend ISD Employees” (http://fortbendemployees.blogspot.com.)
Get the full story at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/22/35047
January, 2009 | by John Pape, Fortbendnow.com
Even as Fort Bend ISD remains under fire in the wake of allegations of misconduct against the district’s police chief and claims school administrators interfered in a police investigation, it has now come to light that Director of Facilities Michael Johnson had his personal pickup truck serviced at a district maintenance facility.
A photo of the truck being worked on by district personnel has also surfaced.
The information came to light when district insiders, troubled that Johnson was using district resources to do maintenance on his personal pickup, reported the incident to FortBendNow. The information also appeared on an Internet blog called “Fort Bend ISD Employees” (http://fortbendemployees.blogspot.com.)
Get the full story at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/22/35047
FBS: Reports On Potential Cover-up By FBISD Administration!
Visit this link for the full Fort Bend Star article:
http://www.fortbendstar.com/012109/n_Hang%20on%20to%20your%20shorts%20for%20this.htm
"Well, to make a very long and disgusting story short...the school administrators would not give up the teacher who owned the car. At the campus level or the Administration Building...the cops were told to leave. Yep, you read that right, cops were never allowed to even talk to the teacher...school administrators said so. However, we all know the kids are snagged on a regular basis after a dope dog just wanders through the parking lot or past a locker. With even less probable casue than this incident. Ahhh, evidently now teachers are exempt. Can’t be hav’n that pesky bad publicity, you know.
But wait, there’s more!Insiders tell us that a new policy is on its way down allowing teachers to enjoy a higher expectation of privacy than students. Hello, if you bring dope on campus ... you need to go to jail, teacher or student!
Hey, FBISD Admin... step up to the plate and be the kid’s hero ... keep dope out of their schools, any way it gets there.
Got doubts about all this, call your School Board representative and ask about emails and phone calls to the police department from the administration building last week, oh, and don’t forget the Director of Safe and Secure Schools. Your jaw will drop." FBS
See related:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/21/35006
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/21/34984
http://www.fortbendstar.com/012109/n_Hang%20on%20to%20your%20shorts%20for%20this.htm
"Well, to make a very long and disgusting story short...the school administrators would not give up the teacher who owned the car. At the campus level or the Administration Building...the cops were told to leave. Yep, you read that right, cops were never allowed to even talk to the teacher...school administrators said so. However, we all know the kids are snagged on a regular basis after a dope dog just wanders through the parking lot or past a locker. With even less probable casue than this incident. Ahhh, evidently now teachers are exempt. Can’t be hav’n that pesky bad publicity, you know.
But wait, there’s more!Insiders tell us that a new policy is on its way down allowing teachers to enjoy a higher expectation of privacy than students. Hello, if you bring dope on campus ... you need to go to jail, teacher or student!
Hey, FBISD Admin... step up to the plate and be the kid’s hero ... keep dope out of their schools, any way it gets there.
Got doubts about all this, call your School Board representative and ask about emails and phone calls to the police department from the administration building last week, oh, and don’t forget the Director of Safe and Secure Schools. Your jaw will drop." FBS
See related:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/21/35006
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/21/34984
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
FB Star: Racial discrimination alleged in FBISD hiring
Click the following link for the full piece:
http://www.fortbendstar.com/011409/n_Racial%20discrimination%20alleged%20in%20FBISD%20hiring.htm
http://www.fortbendstar.com/011409/n_Racial%20discrimination%20alleged%20in%20FBISD%20hiring.htm
Thursday, January 15, 2009
FBN: FBISD Trustees Mum On Call To Investigate District Police Chief!
FBISD Trustees Mum On Call To Investigate District Police Chief
January 15th, 2009 | by John Pape, Fortbendnow.com
Fort Bend ISD trustees are remaining tight-lipped over calls from a local taxpayer group call to investigate the school district’s police chief.
After district Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson said the district would not comment on a call from the Fort Bend ISD WatchDogs for the district and the Texas Ethics Commission to investigate allegations surrounding Police Chief J.L. Campbell, Fort Bend Now left messages requesting comment from all seven school trustees and Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney.
None of the trustees responded to the request for comment.
Jenny forwarded Fort Bend Now’s request to Simpson, who re-stated the district’s position that the issue was a “personnel matter” and no comment would be forthcoming. . .
. . . As with the call for an investigation, the district also refused to comment on the actual allegations.
Dr. Jeff Hathaway, a communications specialist who advises companies on crisis communication issues, said the district needs to, at the very least, assure the public that they will not stand for misconduct by district employees. Absent some sort of assurance, the public may well get the impression the district is more concerned with covering up misconduct than correcting it, he said.
Hathaway, who also teaches crisis communications, said calling the issue a personnel matter is “a stretch.”
“The call for an ethics investigation is much, much more than ‘a personnel matter.’ I’m very surprised to hear them use that as a reason to not comment,” Hathaway said. “All they’re doing is making people think they’re hiding something.”
Hathaway said he counsels his clients to address allegations of wrongdoing with strong assurances that any such claims would be taken seriously.
“In this case, it sounds more like the school district and school board are more interested in finding a reason to duck comment than address a potentially problematic situation,” Hathaway said. “Whoever is recommending this course of action to them is not serving the school district well.”
Hathaway added that a sophisticated public no longer accepts a simple “no comment” when difficult or potentially embarrassing questions are raised.
“That sort of response was the standard at one time, but that time has long past. People are more sophisticated, better educated and more demanding, especially of public servants,” Hathaway said. “If any organization wants to win the respect and confidence of their customers, in this case the taxpayers in the school district, they’re going to have to learn to embrace a greater degree of transparency in their corporate communications.”
Get the full piece at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/15/34837#comment-454
January 15th, 2009 | by John Pape, Fortbendnow.com
Fort Bend ISD trustees are remaining tight-lipped over calls from a local taxpayer group call to investigate the school district’s police chief.
After district Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson said the district would not comment on a call from the Fort Bend ISD WatchDogs for the district and the Texas Ethics Commission to investigate allegations surrounding Police Chief J.L. Campbell, Fort Bend Now left messages requesting comment from all seven school trustees and Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney.
None of the trustees responded to the request for comment.
Jenny forwarded Fort Bend Now’s request to Simpson, who re-stated the district’s position that the issue was a “personnel matter” and no comment would be forthcoming. . .
. . . As with the call for an investigation, the district also refused to comment on the actual allegations.
Dr. Jeff Hathaway, a communications specialist who advises companies on crisis communication issues, said the district needs to, at the very least, assure the public that they will not stand for misconduct by district employees. Absent some sort of assurance, the public may well get the impression the district is more concerned with covering up misconduct than correcting it, he said.
Hathaway, who also teaches crisis communications, said calling the issue a personnel matter is “a stretch.”
“The call for an ethics investigation is much, much more than ‘a personnel matter.’ I’m very surprised to hear them use that as a reason to not comment,” Hathaway said. “All they’re doing is making people think they’re hiding something.”
Hathaway said he counsels his clients to address allegations of wrongdoing with strong assurances that any such claims would be taken seriously.
“In this case, it sounds more like the school district and school board are more interested in finding a reason to duck comment than address a potentially problematic situation,” Hathaway said. “Whoever is recommending this course of action to them is not serving the school district well.”
Hathaway added that a sophisticated public no longer accepts a simple “no comment” when difficult or potentially embarrassing questions are raised.
“That sort of response was the standard at one time, but that time has long past. People are more sophisticated, better educated and more demanding, especially of public servants,” Hathaway said. “If any organization wants to win the respect and confidence of their customers, in this case the taxpayers in the school district, they’re going to have to learn to embrace a greater degree of transparency in their corporate communications.”
Get the full piece at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/15/34837#comment-454
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
FBN: Superintendent Gets Raise Despite District Budget Crisis!
FBISD Board Trustees Grant Superintendent 3% Raise; Buy Background-Check Package
January 13th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow
Fort Bend Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney received a 3% raise, approved by the district’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday night. . .
. . .Starting with a $240,000 salary just over two years ago, the superintendent now will be paid at an annual rate of $254,616.
Chronicle related: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6208180.html
&
http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/01/fbisd_chief_get_1.html
January 13th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow
Fort Bend Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney received a 3% raise, approved by the district’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday night. . .
. . .Starting with a $240,000 salary just over two years ago, the superintendent now will be paid at an annual rate of $254,616.
Chronicle related: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6208180.html
&
http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/01/fbisd_chief_get_1.html
Teaching Grant Awards Made Available-
Fort Bend ISD Gets $4.5M In Grant Money For Teacher Excellence Rewards
January 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow
Fort Bend Independent School District has received more than $4.5 million in grant money that can be used to reward deserving classroom teachers, mentors, principals or other campus employees.
The money - $4,519,368, was identified in an FBISD board meeting agenda item as District Awards for Teacher Excellence Program.
According to district Chief Financial Officer Mike Seale, at least 60% of the money “will be used to reward classroom teachers that positively impact student academic improvement, growth and/or achievement.”
Full story: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/12/34721
January 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow
Fort Bend Independent School District has received more than $4.5 million in grant money that can be used to reward deserving classroom teachers, mentors, principals or other campus employees.
The money - $4,519,368, was identified in an FBISD board meeting agenda item as District Awards for Teacher Excellence Program.
According to district Chief Financial Officer Mike Seale, at least 60% of the money “will be used to reward classroom teachers that positively impact student academic improvement, growth and/or achievement.”
Full story: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/01/12/34721
Friday, January 9, 2009
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Jan. 12 - Regular School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
Jan. 13-16 - Semester Exams
Jan. 15 & 16 - Early dismissal High School (11:45 am); Middle School (12:45 pm)
Jan. 19 - Holiday/Martin L. King Day
January 26 - Regular School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
January 29 - Upcoming Board Meetings
Jan. 12 - Regular School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
Jan. 13-16 - Semester Exams
Jan. 15 & 16 - Early dismissal High School (11:45 am); Middle School (12:45 pm)
Jan. 19 - Holiday/Martin L. King Day
January 26 - Regular School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
January 29 - Upcoming Board Meetings
Monday, January 5, 2009
FBN (just in): FBISD Has No Comment On Call To Investigate Police Chief!
FBISD Has No Comment On Call To Investigate Police Chief
January, 2009 | by John Pape
The Fort Bend ISD does not plan to issue a statement on a call from a local taxpayer advocacy group to investigate the school district’s police chief.
According to Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson, the district will not comment on a call for the district and the Texas Ethics Commission to investigate allegations FBISD Police Chief J.L. Campbell used district time and resources to mount two campaigns for Galveston County Sheriff.
Campbell, while employed by the school district, ran unsuccessful campaigns for Galveston Sheriff in 2004 and 2008. A number of district insiders have claimed Campbell “ran the campaigns from his office” at the school district police department.
A number of school district police officers brought the allegations forward in a series of interviews with FortBendNow following the November election. In the interviews, the officers suggested the district check the chief’s computer for proof of wrongdoing.
The district did not respond to the allegations.
The group FBISD WatchDogs issued a public statement late last week asking both the school district and the state ethics commission to investigate. The group also asked that allegations Campbell pressured police employees in an effort to find out who was providing information to FortBendNow.
The WatchDogs’ letter was sent to Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney and all members of the school board. It was also posted on the FBISDWatchDogs website, http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com. . .(follow the link below for the full story)
http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/fbisd-has-no-comment-on-call-to-investigate-police-chief/
January, 2009 | by John Pape
The Fort Bend ISD does not plan to issue a statement on a call from a local taxpayer advocacy group to investigate the school district’s police chief.
According to Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson, the district will not comment on a call for the district and the Texas Ethics Commission to investigate allegations FBISD Police Chief J.L. Campbell used district time and resources to mount two campaigns for Galveston County Sheriff.
Campbell, while employed by the school district, ran unsuccessful campaigns for Galveston Sheriff in 2004 and 2008. A number of district insiders have claimed Campbell “ran the campaigns from his office” at the school district police department.
A number of school district police officers brought the allegations forward in a series of interviews with FortBendNow following the November election. In the interviews, the officers suggested the district check the chief’s computer for proof of wrongdoing.
The district did not respond to the allegations.
The group FBISD WatchDogs issued a public statement late last week asking both the school district and the state ethics commission to investigate. The group also asked that allegations Campbell pressured police employees in an effort to find out who was providing information to FortBendNow.
The WatchDogs’ letter was sent to Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney and all members of the school board. It was also posted on the FBISDWatchDogs website, http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com. . .(follow the link below for the full story)
http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/fbisd-has-no-comment-on-call-to-investigate-police-chief/
Friday, January 2, 2009
FORTBENDNOW.com UPDATES FBISD INVESTIGATION!
"The only response given by the school district is that the district does not discuss “personnel matters.” MaryAnn Simpson, Communications Office
School Watchdog Group Calls For Investigation Of FBISD Police Chief
January 2nd, 2009 | by John Pape
In the wake of allegations against Fort Bend ISD Police Chief J.L. Campbell that surfaced in a series of recent FortBendNow news stories, the FBISD WatchDogs organization is calling for an investigation by the school district and the Texas Ethics Commission.
The WatchDogs sent a letter dated Jan. 1 to all members of the school board and FBISD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney formally requesting the investigation. The letter was also posted on the organization’s website, http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com.
The allegations against Campbell include his conducting his two campaigns for Galveston County Sheriff from his FBISD police department office, as well as using district time and resources to run for office.
Campbell ran unsuccessful campaigns for Galveston Sheriff in 2008 and 2004. He was serving as FBISD police chief during both campaigns.
Campbell has also been accused of bringing pressure on school police personnel following the publication of the stories in an attempt to identify which employees were providing information to FortBendNow.
Campbell has not responded to requests for comment.
The only response given by the school district is that the district does not discuss “personnel matters.”
Get the full FBN story at:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/school-watchdog-group-calls-for-investigation-of-fbisd-police-chief/
School Watchdog Group Calls For Investigation Of FBISD Police Chief
January 2nd, 2009 | by John Pape
In the wake of allegations against Fort Bend ISD Police Chief J.L. Campbell that surfaced in a series of recent FortBendNow news stories, the FBISD WatchDogs organization is calling for an investigation by the school district and the Texas Ethics Commission.
The WatchDogs sent a letter dated Jan. 1 to all members of the school board and FBISD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney formally requesting the investigation. The letter was also posted on the organization’s website, http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com.
The allegations against Campbell include his conducting his two campaigns for Galveston County Sheriff from his FBISD police department office, as well as using district time and resources to run for office.
Campbell ran unsuccessful campaigns for Galveston Sheriff in 2008 and 2004. He was serving as FBISD police chief during both campaigns.
Campbell has also been accused of bringing pressure on school police personnel following the publication of the stories in an attempt to identify which employees were providing information to FortBendNow.
Campbell has not responded to requests for comment.
The only response given by the school district is that the district does not discuss “personnel matters.”
Get the full FBN story at:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/school-watchdog-group-calls-for-investigation-of-fbisd-police-chief/
Thursday, January 1, 2009
FBISDWatch ISSUES CALL FOR INVESTIGATION!
Sonal Bhuchar, FBISD BOT President
Steve Smelley, FBISD BOT Vice President
Dr. Tim Jenney, FBISD Superintendent
Laurie Caldwell, FBISD BOT member
Bob Broxson, FBISD BOT member
David Reitz, FBISD BOT member
Susan Hohnbum, FBISD BOT member
Dan Menendez, FBISD BOT member
January, 2009
Dear FBISD Trustees & Dr. Jenney,
We just wanted to let you know how much FBISDWatch appreciates the hard work and dedication you all have displayed for much of this past year, realizing how little compensation you do receive for your efforts. Further, we are confident, that during this current budgetary crisis, that you all will continue to honor and represent your constituents in your fiduciary obligations as our elected officials regarding educational over-site and restraint.
This being said, it has come to our attention that during much of 2008 the FBISD police chief, J.L. Campbell, was reportedly absent from his job and may have been using district resources in an out of county political race. This quote was obtained from a local media source and has been verified.
“Following the election, several Fort Bend ISD police officers contacted FortBendNow and accused Campbell of using his school district office to run his campaign and district administrators of turning a blind eye to the use of district resources and time for a political race.” FortBendNow
Additionally, several internal sources reportedly have undergone unwarranted pressure from police administration after these stories began, this according to the same sources.
It is our sincere hope, that as our elected representatives and district administration, that these allegations will be thoroughly reviewed by the board and later the Texas Ethics Commission. This is our formal request that the school board review and report to the public on this situation upon its earliest opportunity.
We sincerely appreciate your attention to this very serious matter.
FBISDWatchDogs
***********
FBISDWatch
fbisdwatch@yahoo.com
http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/
FB County-FBISD
Steve Smelley, FBISD BOT Vice President
Dr. Tim Jenney, FBISD Superintendent
Laurie Caldwell, FBISD BOT member
Bob Broxson, FBISD BOT member
David Reitz, FBISD BOT member
Susan Hohnbum, FBISD BOT member
Dan Menendez, FBISD BOT member
January, 2009
Dear FBISD Trustees & Dr. Jenney,
We just wanted to let you know how much FBISDWatch appreciates the hard work and dedication you all have displayed for much of this past year, realizing how little compensation you do receive for your efforts. Further, we are confident, that during this current budgetary crisis, that you all will continue to honor and represent your constituents in your fiduciary obligations as our elected officials regarding educational over-site and restraint.
This being said, it has come to our attention that during much of 2008 the FBISD police chief, J.L. Campbell, was reportedly absent from his job and may have been using district resources in an out of county political race. This quote was obtained from a local media source and has been verified.
“Following the election, several Fort Bend ISD police officers contacted FortBendNow and accused Campbell of using his school district office to run his campaign and district administrators of turning a blind eye to the use of district resources and time for a political race.” FortBendNow
Additionally, several internal sources reportedly have undergone unwarranted pressure from police administration after these stories began, this according to the same sources.
It is our sincere hope, that as our elected representatives and district administration, that these allegations will be thoroughly reviewed by the board and later the Texas Ethics Commission. This is our formal request that the school board review and report to the public on this situation upon its earliest opportunity.
We sincerely appreciate your attention to this very serious matter.
FBISDWatchDogs
***********
FBISDWatch
fbisdwatch@yahoo.com
http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/
FB County-FBISD
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