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A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. - Steve Martin
* Please download for best results in using this website.
Click here: Animator vs. Animation
To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. - Albert Einstein
All children deserve an equal playing field. - Ed Allen, Westlake Picayune April 2008
My vision for Eanes can't be seen on a Jumbotron ...
- Eanes ISD parent
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
A
Song for Mother's Day ... turn up the volume! ;)
William Tell Overture for Moms
"The truth is like the sun. You can block it out for a time but it ain't goin' away." - Elvis
If You Aren't Completely Appalled You Haven't Been Paying Attention
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure. - Mark Twain
Information is
currency for democracy.
-Thomas Jefferson
It's about
power and money and the law firms who control and run
the school districts.
- K.
Yeaman,
Mom
Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.- Albert Einstein
No man stands so tall as when he
stoops to help a child.
The best
protection of the Texas Public Information Act is
enforcement of the Texas Public Information Act.
- Dianna Pharr
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Community Update # 15
From:
S Bushart
March 30, 2006 Dear Eanes Friends, This week I've sent you three updates illustrating my attempts to access contracts, proposals, requests, and/or agreements, between the Eanes Independent School District and the Westlake Chap Club and/or Westlake Chap Club Inc. related to advertising income generated by the stadium signs, parking spaces and radio broadcasting. As mentioned in Eanes ISD Community Update #4, I have also asked for information relating to advertising income generated by the Jumbotron. Another Eanes taxpayer requesting similar documentation received a response from the EISD Records Management Coordinator on January 11, 2006 indicating that there were no documents held by the district reflecting advertising revenue from the stadium signs, gymnasium signs, jumbotron and/or radio broadcasting.* A letter was sent to our superintendent, Nola Wellman on March 23, memorializing the numerous unsuccessful attempts to access these financial records. This communication presented several questions and disturbing conclusions.** Nola Wellman has not responded. The quest for this information was expanded to an internet search. You can imagine my surprise to discover answers to some of these questions in an article published on the financial website Bloomberg.com. The article mentions Westlake Chap Club President Bill Orr and states: "Orr, president of Westlake High's Chaps Booster Club, says his best fund-raiser included a golf tournament and auction that offered a guitar from the rock band the Eagles and Elvis Presley records. It raised $68,000. The club raised another $80,000 selling corporate-sponsorship space on the electronic scoreboard. A donation of at least $1,000 delivers a reserved parking spot at 12,000-seat Chaparral Stadium on game days. There were 50 sold this year." *** Although this article claims the Westlake Chap Club raised $80,000 selling corporate-sponsorship space on the electronic scoreboard (Jumbotron), a document submitted to EISD by the Westlake Chap Club indicates only $52,416.68 was raised.**** Of that amount, the Eanes Independent School District received only $18,203.24 income. I don't have information clarifying what accounting fund EISD deposited the revenue into. Questions for consideration: -Why did EISD state on January 11, 2006 that the district had no documents relating to Jumbotron advertising income when they in fact had the Chap Club statement dated August 16, 2005? - Why did EISD expend public education dollars on legal fees attempting to withhold documents relating to the Jumbotron contracts, proposals, agreements and income associated with the Westlake Chap Club. - Why won't EISD and/or the Westlake Chap Club provide access to the agreement referenced in the August 16, 2005 statement?**** - Why didn't EISD provide any documents reflecting board consideration and/or vote relating to agreements with the Westlake Chap Club's association with the Jumbotron? - Why is there a difference of approximately $28,000.00 in claimed Jumbotron revenue between the internet article and financial accounting provided to our district? - Why is the Westlake Chap Club willing to discuss the organization's finances with reporters, yet unwilling to share the substantiating documentation with our taxpayers? Once again I encourage both the Eanes Independent School District and the Westlake Chap Club to provide easy access on their websites to information relating to the income and expenditures of public education funds allowing for clear understanding of our district's policies and spending priorities. Wishing all the best for our students, our parents, our teachers and our taxpayers, Susan Bushart
Questions relating to the revenue generated by the Jumbotron can be directed to: Nola Wellman Superintendent nwellman@eanes.k12.tx.us Susan Pulis Assistant Superintendent Business Affairs spulis@eanes.k12.tx.us EISD Board of Trustees trustees@eanes.k12.tx.us Westlake Chap Club Board of Directors (Co-Presidents) Liz Ann and Bill Orr sharyorr@yahoo.com ; billorr@orrholdings.com
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* See attachment EISD response to ORR #1228 ** See attachment letter to Nola Wellman *** Orr, president of Westlake High's Chaps Booster Club, says his best fund-raiser included a golf tournament and auction that offered a guitar from the rock band the Eagles and Elvis Presley records. It raised $68,000. The club raised another $80,000 selling corporate-sponsorship space on the electronic scoreboard. A donation of at least $1,000 delivers a reserved parking spot at 12,000-seat Chaparral Stadium on game days. There were 50 sold this year. The club recently raised $200,000 to buy equipment for the school's 4,000-square-foot (372-square-meter) weight room. Link to article here http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aaqG21AIhLvM&refer=us# **** See attachment Chap Club Jumbotron collections
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