There is confirmation of our comments and stories regarding the TCU scholarships given to a handful of student including Jacinto Ramos' son. We formulated various theories and reasons why he may or may not have been deserving but we focused on the one where Ramos has influence and connections to make it happen.
So it happens that Tony Martinez, the Principal of North Side High School moved mountains to ensure that Ramos' son qualified for the TCU scholarship. He pulled a lot of strings at the request of Ramos bypassing many deserving students. Remember these are students who have great financial need and who have outstanding records. While the son may have a good record, financially they were not suffering regardless of the community they live in. Ramos has made enough money on the job he only works two hours a day and also from consulting and any other backhand money he gets.
So yeah we knew it was too good to be true. A Con Man exemplifying the example to his children that it's ok to cheat the system for your own good.
Recall when Scribner told principals that Karen Molinar would be the go to person for any concerns from them, etc.? Then Karen follows up with an email showing training dates that are the only ones available to teachers and not taking requests from principals. Teachers are complaining that the quality of the training is lacking. The sessions are a waste of time and were better last year. People are afraid to speak to upper management. So the purpose of Karen was to listen to the people on the ground, yet no support for the principals running the schools every day who know what they need.
So what happened to utilizing the people at central office to help the campuses? Dr. Sutherland, can we get some help on this, why are requests being denied? Scribner told us why he was moving resources around and it seems that schools are being left to burn and tend to themselves. They are not able to use money to get help at all and now the district doesn't help them either. Don't blame the principals for the failings come test time because they have made the requests and Karen has denied them.
So we read that the board has under consideration 1.4 million dollars for Racial Equity of which no specific plan has been presented to the community. The board President doesn't seem to know or care about detailing why they are spending that amount of money to help his buddies and himself as he is part of the "consulting group." How does this impact student achievement in relation to the district goals? Show us how you are are going to measure it and when we will hear any report on it. Is Scribner turning a blind eye to it?
Almost 4 years and Ramos has not done anything "free" to help with cultural and racial proficiency because employees are still being bullied and harassed at work. Students are not faring any better, so why this now?
Ramos is a presenter along with buddies Dr. Kristen Guillory and Quinton Phillips, all who have benefited.
We are witnessing the unraveling of what we have said over and over again:
Unethical conduct, Nepotism, Incompetence and much more on the board and leadership that has done nothing to correct anything.
The STEM/VPA school is a debacle from the beginning when the land issue came in play. Needham and cronies were involved to make a few bucks.
Now comes Scriber who was UPSET at the principal meeting and we did call around to verify some of the things we heard happened. In summary he is upset that he is being played by the board and was taken off course to do stuff for the city and not what he wanted to do (this is what he says). Now he is going to get rid of departments that are a waste. He has already told a few people that they are not coming back and we will try and find out the names. One for sure that we heard is Mia Hall, again we will find out. Remember that she wrote the plans for the Turnaround schools and it was a failure when the state rejected them and told the board to come to training. We told you so!
*The Department where Jerry Moore is working with Camp Community and using district resources to make Ramos' company richer needs to go. What is the purpose of the department? Show us the data where it has impacted student achievement.
*Scribner told the principals that board members have come up to him and told him he can't close such department because their children work there. We all know that, lots of family members from the board work in FWISD.
*The Department where Ramos' mentor and friend, Juan Garcia, created just for him, needs to go. This also goes to YAP where his circle of friends work.
*Can we dismantle the layers in departments. Why do directors of small departments need so many administrative assistants? Do away with assistant directors and have the directors do the job they get heavily paid for. Once that happens there will be plenty of savings.
*Let's look at revamping discipline department or area altogether. Sutherland posted an incident at SHS where a big fight happened and the complaint is that FWISD will not get rid (perhaps send to alternative) of the students. We have said this for the past 8+ years that there are not preventive measures nor anything to support emotional kids... That in itself is 50% or more of the problems in schools and there has never been enough support nor care by anyone.
*We heard that Cherie Washington, Chief of Secondary Schools, her husband has been hired as a sub principal. So how is that not nepotism? Cashing in folks!!
*Settle the Palazzolo case. Stalling will not make it go away. The case is going back to Wise County where it was won the first time years ago.
* We hear Cinto Ramos is out recruiting people to run for the board which of course are his own people. He is backed by the elite in FW as we are told and helping his own friends will only secure things continue as they are.
*Apparently Moss is not running again and someone will be running against Robbins. Can't wait!
*END achieve 3000 and Smarty P(ANTS)-waste of money and killing our students.
*We heard Needham is in a drug rehab place, very ill. She had a doctor's excuse for missing training.
*Tobi, our two hour bus rider, has already declared herself President of the Board come May.
So Scribner, if you have woken up, welcome! It is time to purge and cleanse FWISD or you won't get anywhere. Yes they will fight you but you by law are the one that runs the district and well you have a long contract so you have nothing to lose. You will get your money if they try to get rid of you. There are plenty of friends of board members working in the district- if you did tell a few its time then go ahead because plenty of ones that left and care for kids- are ready to return but the cronies are keeping them out. It is time to end the bullying of our workers.
***Anyone with more information email and we will update it here
We are not sure what the exact plan for improvement is since nothing has been revealed nor will it be. The plans will be kept secret and only given a summary of good praises at each board meeting. The set goal of 2025 for full improvement, while a goal, is by far out of reach without efficient and specific ways to do so. Tell us ADMIN how will you do that when you can't even get the current students the resources they need and you change programs every year. Unless Scribner is going to get a 10+ years contract then we will only have it changed yet again. And for sure we don't need him here if he has shown that in one year he is already incompetent.
Tell us at this point how the metrics look, what the data says on how so far we have met 2025 goals.
You see Board Members, it doesn't magically happen when the same people who got us here are still in power. You seem to hold onto the same people because they know the corruption and will sell you out. SO it's not because of the children, it's because of the nepotism and lack of ethics that abound in FWISD that we have problems. There is always someone else to blame and that will continue to show itself once results come out. You have no idea how to play in this accountability game because you are inept.
So now you are not ready nor will you be ready to improve anything for students. Scribner sold out in many ways, stopping the audit as a favor for Medusa and covered everything else. Just look at the people who are having to clean up after each mess. But why should you care, you have a hefty pay check each month.
Don't call what you have values and care for our children because you are all LIARS!
It would be great to have something new and better come to FWISD but so far nothing. We end up with the same crap just different incompetence.
So Principals were given a good talking to by Scribner prior to the break where he got mad at them for what he lacks from his cabinet. He said people must follow the chain of command to report stuff and not to board members. That there must be communication, blah, blah.
Funny he says communication when he failed to inform parents of the new Visual Arts school and how they are putting it off another year. Thanks for informing parents.
Principals have no support as Achieve 3000 and Smarty Ants have completely destroyed any type of accountability that makes sense for student learning. Scribner said he has made improvements in learning after he got his new contract and no data to present. So he is upset and tells principals that people are not prepared at board meetings when members ask for information. Ah, well that's nothing new, you kept the same people in place and that is the norm. Say things are good and nothing to show for it.
So back to Achieve 3000, Scribner, the program is differentiation for students who can read!!! So when you are trying to say the program will help students, no it helps them when they are able to read and it differentiates the reading and comprehension levels. Computers are not working well at the schools and can't get to the sites. The Spanish for Smarty Ants is nowhere to be found...
So your friends made some money on the backs of our students.. if it is working show us the data.
We have a some days left before going back.. but the nightmare is still there. We are screwed with no one to help us out. Scores will show for sure!!!
Principal Martinez
