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An Open Letter To The Voters In
FWISD District 5
My name is Linda LaBeau and I am the opposition candidate for District 5 trustee, Fort Worth Independent
School District. I am challenging Ms. Judy Needham a 19 year FWISD incumbent.
It’s time for new ideas, transparency and fiscal oversight at FWISD. We need an across the board salary
and performance review for FWISD central administration by the school board to finally step up to their
fiduciary duty to taxpayers of Tarrant County. The ongoing financial losses are due in part to: poor
technology contracts; $2.3M of equipment sitting in a warehouse; overpayments to employees; $39M owed
to state and federal agencies due to attendance errors by FWISD central administration and poor oversight
by the current trustees.
Fort Worth ISD has lost sight of its purpose stated on the board website. The school board has ignored
their core beliefs: Every child is entitled to an education to include children of diverse backgrounds and
in partnership with teachers and parents and community – these have become just words, not principles.
These errors in oversight and loss in vision are the fault of the FWISD trustees – many of whom have
simply been there too long.
This election will shape the future direction of FWISD. We need a fresh perspective. In my role as District
5 trustee, I want to restore teacher, student and parent faith in the FWISD board of trustees by listening
to them. Hiring a new Superintendent with an MBA as well as Ph.D in education and with experience in
analyzing and reviewing all performance measures from central administration down to the classroom is
the first priority for Fort Worth.
Entrenched incumbents continue to offer the same excuses and ideas expecting different results. These
are not solutions. Needless legal battles continue to divert taxpayer money to the courtroom when those
resources should be directed toward the classroom.
Where restructuring is required, the new Superintendent with the guidance, review and oversight by
the new board of trustees will streamline central administration and direct all available resources back
to teachers and students in our classrooms in order to improve educational opportunities. Our teachers
should have an increased authority and focus on teaching basic skills and knowledge and not consumed by
teaching to the test.
It is imperative citizens of Tarrant County District 5 elect a trustee with the skill set and ability to work
with all FWISD trustees who are working in the best interest of children. Our diverse and ever changing
FWISD schools must provide a safe and appropriate public education. FWISD must assure our business
community we are providing an educated student population ready for entry level employment. We must
provide opportunities to all students whether they are bound for trade school or college.
I have the skill set developed over 25 years of working with state agencies focused on best business
practices as well as through development and implementation of collaborative relationships within the
business community, writing contracts and being awarded state contracts, and being successfully self
employed in facilitation and mediation with large school districts.
Our City, Our Community and Our Citizens deserve nothing but the best from FWISD.
Our children deserve a public education which enables them to realize their dreams
for the future. To accomplish this, FWISD needs new Board Leadership – NOT more of the same.
