Saturday, August 23, 2008
It’s official.
The Waco Independent School District botched the closure of G.L. Wiley Middle School.
Before Judge Jim Meyer of the 170th District Court granted a temporary restraining order that allows Wiley to reopen Monday, it was obvious that the decision only two weeks before the start of the school year was mishandled.
Meyer granted the restraining order based on violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act by the WISD school board.
Opponents of the 4-3 vote by trustees to close the East Waco middle school felt the WISD administration and school board had purposefully rushed the process to close Wiley in an effort to avoid community opposition.
East Waco community leaders formed a group known as Fighting to Save the Children. It sued, alleging that the school board was not specific enough in its notices of the July 24 and Aug. 7 meetings considering Wiley’s future.
Austin attorney Robert Notzon, who represented two parents of Wiley students and the Fighting to Save the Children group, alleged that Wiley’s closure was discussed at a school board committee meeting on July 15, but that the issue was not posted on the agenda for that meeting.
Plaintiffs also allege racial discrimination by the school board.
District officials who had to rush to assign Wiley teachers and students to other schools had to rush to send out new notices to parents that Wiley would open after all Monday. Computers and other equipment had to be moved back to Wiley. Instead of Wiley’s teachers, central office administrators who are certified teachers will greet those students who choose to return to Wiley on Monday.
Meyer will hold a hearing on his temporary injunction ruling Tuesday at 9 a.m. He may lift the injunction or he may decide to leave the school open until the lawsuit is settled.
The trustees and administrators who supported closing Wiley because attendance was too low and the costs were too high on a per pupil basis now have an even worse situation on their hands.
Schools are about learning. WISD trustees and administrators should learn they need to be more open and inclusive when deciding school issues.
Comments
By CM
Aug 28, 2008 7:19 AM | Link to this
First, I will start off by agreeing that the school board should not have made a "last minute" decision about closing the school. Yes, the school should have been closed due to declining enrollment and declining test scores, which not only hurt the district but also the community. But, the closing should have been decided at the end of the last school year. And Tribune-Herald editorial staff, get your facts straight. Judge Meyer granted the temporary restraining order against closing the school due to the vague wording on a school board agenda, and accusations of violations. Are you the judge and jury? You make it sound like the judge has found WISD school board guilty of violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act by the WISD school board.
Second, I will agree 100% with "Fair and Balanced" above. What kind of parents are these folks that just couldn't get their children to school on the first day? This isn't some function that you call and express your regrets that you cannot make it. This is the future of your children we are talking about. What kind of example are you setting for the children when you just can't your lazy butt out of bed to get them to school?
Third and the most important: Why does everything always have to be made into a race issue? The problem has nothing to do with racial discrimination. The problem is with the parents. Parents these days do not take the time to visit their child and teacher at school, or make sure their child does his/her homework. Take the initiative and go visit your child's teacher, see how they are doing in school. Don't wait for the teacher to request a conference, because by then your child is falling further behind. And Lester Gibson, you are nothing but a sleazy politician who has to see his name in the spotlight. If things are getting too quiet in the neighborhood, you have to go stir up crap, and make sure you are right in the middle of things. Quit screaming racial discrimination every time you don't get your way!
By null
Aug 27, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
There is no racial discrimination in the Wiley closing. The numbers of students have declined and it is costing more to keep that school open than other schools in a financially strapped district. The district has big problems updating many needs from buildings needs to technology needs and teachers have difficulty getting needed supplies and materials. Kermit Ward wants to keep his job and he and Lester Gibson have stirred up the community where parents don't participate in the school by claiming racial discrimination and filing a lawsuit. That is always Gibson's modus operandi. Gibson lives across the street from me in Conally ISD and has for 30 years. Keeps him in the news so it looks like he is doing something for the big raise that he gave himself. The whole thing is Bull.
By Fair and Balanced
Aug 26, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
"About 95 students returned to school at Wiley Monday and principal Kermit Ward expects that number to grow today.
ýWeýve already had some parents call and say they couldnýt make it today, but their kids will be here tomorrow,ý he said."
Well, that's pretty much the crux of the problem isn't it? What, they didn't know school was starting, or school starting is no big deal? Their car would no longer drive to Wiley now that it had been programmed to drive to some other school? At our house, the first day of school is a big deal.
By Fred
Aug 24, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this
It's all a Big Cosmic Joke.
By null
Aug 24, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this
The adminstrators have alot of free time. You can look at the WISD and know they do not do much..
The WACO ISD has bothched more than WIley, I am sure Dr. Sanchez is laughing now as his friend Roland Hernandez is under the spotlight.
By orbital
Aug 23, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
G.L. Wiley closure does not appear to be only thing botched by WISD.
The Board Briefs publication dated May 17, 2007, reported revenue exceeded expenditure by $2,627,174.
Nine months later, a Waco-Tribune article entitled Dropping enrollment costing WISD funding, dated February 12, 2008, projected a $1.5 million revenue shortfall, which amounts to over a $4 million loss from the previous May 17, 2007 report. The primary cause for this loss was attributed to a 227-student enrollment decline.
In this same article, school board trustee Pat Atkins stated that the district could close three schools just to keep pace with expected payroll increase for the coming year. Mr. Atkins added that this action would not provide a long-term solution.
The cost figures used by WISD, to justify Wiley closure, are suspect. The reported Wiley 2005-2006 cost per student was $6,616. The projected Wiley 2008-2009 cost per student is $9,435. If bussing 86 students into Wiley was a significant cost contributor, then the closure cost of bussing 130 students out of East Waco must also be taken into consideration.
Given the error in previous revenue reporting, the projected $800,000 savings from closing Wiley cannot be assumed. WISD should first provide specific cost line item details for every district student to substantiate any savings claim. Beyond Wiley, WISD should also be required to identify the two additional facilities being considered for closure, as referenced by Mr. Atkins. Pay attention people because your school may well be next!
By tlewis
Aug 23, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
OMG what a hoot. I feel sorry for the administrators, but not for the school board. If any one on the school board is a former teacher, they should step up and take a class until this suit is settled. Instead of the administrators having to take the classes and not being able to perform the jobs they were hired for, let the school board feel a little of the pain that they put on the G L Wiley community.
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