The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V29

This Website Is Full. Starting With The December 25, 2000 Newsletter, All Future Editions Will Be Posted In The Llano Ledger 2, Found By Clicking http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2.

*************February 28, 2000*************

Recently, I received the following letter from LISD Superintendent Jack Patton:
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Llano Independent School District
200 East Lampasas
Llano, Texas 78643

February 23, 2000

Mr. Tim Chorney
Rt. 2, Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Texas 78609

Dear Mr. Chorney:

I am responding to your letter dated February 18, 2000, inquiring about our recognized schools billboards. As I previously stated, there are currently only two billboards concerning our recognized schools displayed in this county. Your second question was concerning the funding of these billboards. They were both paid for by Chuck Fields of Fields and Associates in Austin, Texas.

Mr. Chorney, I have a few questions for you and I would be grateful if you would respond to the following:

1. Are you against publicizing the great job our students do on a daily basis?

2. Are you against attracting perspective residents to move into our school district causing our tax base to grow as opposed to no growth or possibly decreased population which would reduce our school revenue and possibly result in raised taxes?

3. Are you aware that of the $1.47 M&O tax rate, 17 cents must be sent to the state in the form of recapture which means our district is operating on $1.30 tax rate? This is higher than we would like but still lower in comparison than other area and state schools.

I encourage you to make a point to visit our facilities. For the most part, they are well maintained but very inadequate, over crowded and old. I welcome your input on ways to improve our schools.

Sincerely,
Jack Patton
Superintendent
JP:gs
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Public thanks to the Superintendent for quickly responding to my letter of Feb. 18. Yes, Jack. I'd be quite happy to fully respond to your questions, and the rest of your letter. ... Then, I'll have a few for you.

First, I have no objection to "publicizing the great job our students do on a daily basis", -- provided the taxpayers are not looted to do so. LISD already receives free publicity courtesy of KHLB and area newspapers. Should this publication become one, you'll certainly receive it here.

Sadly, both LISD billboards, however, have absolutely nothing to do with publicity for our students. The advertising is no more than a self-serving pat on the back for you, other administrators, and your cronies on the Board. Indeed, where is your judgement?

How can you accept such sponsorship when taxpayers suffered an outrageous increase in taxes this past year? Why not give taxpayers a break and ask Mr. Fields to partially defray the cost of teachers' salaries, instead of supporting self-serving billboards benefiting management? ... Or is that not in Mr. Field's best interest?

Readers should understand Mr. Patton knew his letter would be published. He had the opportunity to thoroughly set the record straight, and again chose not to. Why? Extracting information from our bureaucrats is akin to pulling teeth. As usual, the Superintendent's incomplete response has generated numerous additional questions requiring investigation such as the following: Has LISD used taxpayer dollars to promote or encourage population growth? Who is Chuck Fields? Is he a publicist? If not, what does his firm do? What is the nature of his relationship to Patton and his cronies on the School Board, or to other county officials? Indeed, what is his interest in LISD? Has he ever received financial renumeration from LISD or any other County officials?

Mr. Patton asserts: "As I previously stated, there are currently only two billboards concerning our recognized schools displayed in this county." Were there any others displayed earlier? If so, where and who paid for them? Are there any currently or previously displayed OUTSIDE this County? If so, where and who paid for them? The questions could go on and on. Again, the Superintendent's response is sadly lacking and incomplete. ... This is Llano County, isn't it? ... It's also NOT the end of the matter....

Ever bother to think of the taxpayers, Jack? Instead of questionably using leftover bond funds on new projects, why not do something truly novel and return the loot to the taxpayers? Remember? It DID come from the people, didn't it? ... Wouldn't hear of it, would you?

In response to your second question, Mr. Patton, since when has growth EVER paid for itself? It certainly hasn't here. I've owned property in this County since June 1984. For the last 16 years, and along with other taxpayers, we've only seen our taxes increase, -- despite phenomenal growth. The problem is indeed county-wide.

I resided in Austin for years. Indeed, growth never paid for itself there either. Nor has it any where else I've lived in the country. On the contrary. Increased growth has ALWAYS resulted in skyrocketing taxes, -- usually in direct proportion to one another. Your question is disingenuous, my friend, and based on theory never seen in reality. Sadly, such theory, however, is directly responsible for urban sprawl and egregious inner-city problems. Want it here?

More pointedly, why doesn't growth pay for itself? Simply put, because of the endless greed of school administrators, other public officials, and selfish special interests who never get enough. Regardless of population growth or the lack thereof, our taxes WILL rise. Count on it. Again, since when have they not? Our corrupt officials will have it no other way. Just as pointedly, it continues because we tolerate it. The current LISD budget is some $15,225,384. Our officials spend approximately 40% more per student than the national average at private schools. Why? Simply put, it's the egregious waste and corruption.

In response to your third question, Jack, I'm well aware of "recapture" or what is more commonly known as "Robin Hood." If you had taken the time to read this publication, you would have seen it pointedly criticized numerous times, -- as early as the April 12, 1999 edition.

As repeatedly stated on this website, our area was declared a property-rich school district due to the egregious over-appraisal of properties all along the Highland Lakes' chain from Tow to Horseshoe Bay. ... Deliberately, by our illustrious Chief Appraiser Gary Eldridge as well as his predecessors. Why? The Lakes' Area is the cash cow for the rest of the County. Now, we're not only shafted and looted by the County, but by the State as well, -- to the tune of some $2,271,306 yearly. "Robin Hood." Aren't we lucky? Thanks, Gary.

Interestingly, LISD School Board member Bill Kirkman and two of his cronies were reportedly appointed directors to the Appraisal District Board last year. If true (and figuratively speaking), isn't this a bit too "incestuous" as well as clearly NOT in the best interest of the taxpayers? ... Don't think Kirkman or his friends will pressure Eldridge and the "Boys" to end their egregious gouging of the Lakes' Area, do you? All joking aside and most pointedly, Kirkman and other LISD officials would be placing intense pressure on our Chief Appraiser if they were in fact truly concerned about Robin Hood or the gouging. They're not. As his first two questions, the Superintendent's third is just as disingenuous.

Having fully answered your questions Mr. Patton, I indeed have a few for you. Think Microsoft, Intel, Dell, IBM, or any other employer cares whether our students have lighted tennis courts? Readers are reminded taxpayers were recently legally looted some $26,600 for this outrageous project. Think it will make our kids any more employable after graduation? What about the related windscreen project? Readers certainly wouldn't want our little darlings to miss a serve due to a gust, would we? What did it cost, Jack? Again, will it make our graduates any more employable? As the erudite elite might say, "Tennis, anyone?" Why stop with the tennis courts, Jack? Let's build a health spa for our little darlings. ... Why not? ... Wouldn't want to legally loot the taxpayers? -- Never stopped you or the Board before.

What about LISD vendors? Are they required to be bonded? Apparently, one was not. Remember the duplicate $32,000 payment for the press box? Credible sources last year alleged the contractor was unbonded. Falling ill and then divorced, he declared bankruptcy, leaving the taxpayers holding the bag. What about it Jack? If untrue, care to set the record straight?

Sadly, Mr. Patton, there are many other unanswered questions. I certainly accept your invitation to visit our school facilities. Would you kindly personally conduct the tour? Besides clearing the air, it will give us a chance to chat, and more importantly, for you to answer numerous remaining questions regarding the egregious waste.

Interestingly, the Superintendent called for input on improving our schools. Sadly, I could write a book. Although not an "educator" with some twenty years of experience as Mr. Patton, I spent several years employed as a substitute teacher while attending graduate school. -- A baptism of fire on the secondary level in the overcrowded, underfunded "blackboard jungles" of the Northeast. ... Certainly an unforgettable learning experience, no? All joking aside, many of the problems currently experienced here had their origin some 25 years ago on both east and west coasts. Sadly, the rest of the country failed to benefit from the lessons learned.

Then as now, the roots of our educational problems are two-fold: 1. Too many parents who couldn't care less and have no time for their children. 2. Bumbling school administrators who are little more than governmental bureaucrats, sadly too enamored with their comfy, cozy, highly-paid positions. More pointedly, these "educators" are guided only by their own narrow self-interests and over-inflated egos. Equally pointedly, they've sadly lost touch with reality. -- To say nothing of the taxpayers' best interests. Between uncaring parents and worthless administrators, our teachers don't stand a fighting chance. More have left the profession nationwide due to frustration with both, than inadequate salaries or poor public image.

Why aren't administrators forced to spend half their professional time teaching in the classroom? Several problems would be immediately solved. First, principals and other higher level officials such as our Superintendent would have a far better understanding of current problems facing teachers.

Second, they would have far less time to spend generating endless paperwork. Third, they'd be harder-pressed to find new ways of egregiously wasting taxpayer dollars. (Less time and energy. Trust me.) Fourth, there would be far less opportunity to harass students on petty matters such as pierced ears covered by a child's hair. Jack, be sure to take a look at Reader Letters V2 for a complaint lodged by Rebecca Ervi against one of your cronies. -- Apparently, this bumbling bureaucrat has nothing better to do. Fifth, with administrators spending time in the classroom, fewer teachers would be required, saving taxpayer dollars. ... Wouldn't want that. Right, Jack?

More pointedly, how can you improve our educational system when you can't even keep the kids in the classroom? Readers should understand students were dismissed shortly after noon Friday, Feb. 25. Why? So our little darlings could be bussed to Kingsville for a 6pm girls varsity basketball game. Indeed, what comes first, Jack? Education or sports? Think any employer truly cares whether students excelled athletically? As current business leaders might say, "It's the academic skills, stupid."

Why aren't these distant games scheduled only on weekends? While sports and other extracurricular activities are truly important to development, they come second to the classroom.. ... Years ago, they certainly did. Apparently, no longer. Yet, our employers justifiably constantly complain of inadequately educated employees. Interesting, isn't it? Time for our "educators" to finally wake up.

Worse yet, both the elementary and middle schools were also dismissed early. Why? -- Bus scheduling problems due to the trip to Kingsville. A loving grandmother, frequently babysitting her 8-year-old grandson while at work herself, informed me this happens routinely whenever there is a distant athletic event. Why? What about it Jack? Care to confirm it? If untrue, I'll certainly publish your response.

_The Ledger visitor count stands in excess of 8400. Sadly, there continues to be no financial support, despite snowballing readership. .... Why pay for it when you can get it for "free"? Right? With growing public interest, our cowardly area businesses will sooner or later take advantage of the market represented by this expanding readership. While I can certainly understand the fear and subsequent reluctance of businesses to advertise, it is the failure of the readership to financially support this publication that disturbs me most. Indeed, WHERE is YOUR courage and generosity? When will you do your part, instead of selfishly taking what you can get? If this publication is apparently good enough to be read by so many, why isn't it being financially supported? Damned pitiful.

As repeatedly asserted, the pop-up and banner advertising belongs to Maxpages. _The Ledger receives no income from either, and remains non-profit. As always, this publication needs and appreciates donations from readers. Sadly, no other publication is willing to challenge corrupt and abusive officials. Readers can expect continued aggressive, relentless, officious, tireless pursuit of our most egregious offenders. -- Figuratively speaking, a "take no prisoners" approach, regardless of whose toes are stepped on, feathers ruffled, tail feathers plucked, or beak tweaked. Things CAN change in our community. Be part of it. Help me to help you. Support this publication.

Tim Chorney, Publisher



Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609

llanoledger@mailcity.com

Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:25pm EDT