Comments on: Eanes school board eyes district’s TexPool investment strategy

By: Agree

Agree — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:37:24 +0000

This board has been so afraid of “micromanaging” that they have failed to manage at all and have become trustees for the superintendent, not the public.

By: Don't ask...don't know

Don't ask...don't know — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:03:29 +0000

It seems incredible to me that any public school trustee would say that is it is micromanaging to understand the investment strategy for the district’s money. It is not only the board’s responsibility to set policy; they are charged with making sure that policy is followed as well. When someone with Paul’s experience, in a few moments, says that the investments are “not conservative” then the rest of the board should perk up immediately and say “get those people in here to explain themselves” because the POLICY is to only invest in conservative instruments, not “oh, I’m sure all is okay.” Our board does not understand the role of a policy maker at all: once you set it, you have to enforce it. As long as we have people like Ellen and Mike on the board, we will have administrators who exploit the fact that the guarders of the henhouse are totally asleep. Thanks Paul for being awake. And please, let’s get new people on this board.

By: Need New Trustees.

Need New Trustees. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:54:11 +0000

Yes, Kallison has been disappointing for those who hoped for a board member with the desire to help the children in this district who are currently left (way) behind. He’s a place warmer and supporter of the status quo. And Monnig? Another Yes Man for the administration. If it doesn’t involve the fire department or sports, he is silent as a stone. And Balthazar? “Labor of Love?” Really? Rather disingenuous because as board member of an organization (Any Baby Can) with a mission of helping at-risk children, you could not be less of an advocate for the children in this very district with special needs.

By: Agree

Agree — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:41:56 +0000

The board is a clique. They annoint someone to run when a seat opens up and then put all of their energy behind that candidate. If someone runs who is not part of the clique, forget it. They have no chance to win. There have been some excellent candidates over the years who haven’t won election because they are not part of the in-crowd.

By: A labor of love

A labor of love — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:22:30 +0000

One has to question how Balthazar, who has a day job as the executive director of Any Baby Can, could so consistently vote in ways that continue to allow EISD to avoid its responsiblity to children with special needs. If her labor of love is to continue to allow the Administration to ignore its legal obligations with respect to ADA, and to support the administrations continuing efforts to remove services from children who need them, then perhaps she either has the wrong day job, or she leaves her concern for the disabled at work. We need someone who won’t rubber stamp, we need someone who can’t wrap her head around the obligation to overesee the district’s investments. Stop Ellen. Please stop now.

By: What can we afford??

What can we afford?? — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:00:36 +0000

It is interesting that Kallison says we have limited resources and wants to preserve them when he is pushing for a new Elementary school that we do not need and cannot afford to operate.

By: lawyermom

lawyermom — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:01:34 +0000

The job of school trustees is due diligence–to ask questions. Anyone who doesn’t have the stomach for that, especially if they’ve had no children in school in years, should retire. What “work” does Monnig have left to finish? If he hasn’t accomplished it by now (especially since agreeing with the administration seems to be his most outstanding role–he rarely makes any comments at board meetings), maybe he, too, should ride gently into the night. Both are great people and volunteers, but it’s time to let parents of current students serve on the school board. What has Kallison done since his appointment? Nothing of any signficance. Maybe degrees don’t necessarily translate into action. We need new, energetic trustees who are dedicated to their role and representing us, the voters of this district and the children of this district.