Private Law Firms

 

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.    - Steve Martin

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Next time you save a box top, or write a donation check, think about this:   

One school district, one child, one parent at a time, 

Private attorneys retained by school districts get RICH, RICH, RICH ...

$58  million dollars.

The laws designed to protect our children are being manipulated by a cottage industry of private attorneys who have found a cash-cow opportunity to use the public's education tax dollars to enrich themselves by battling the rights of Texas schoolchildren.

In 06-07, according to the Texas Education Agency, Texas public schools spent more than $58,000,000 on private attorneys.  Fifty-eight million tax dollars that the people of Texas thought were going to educate children were diverted to private law firms.  

We must find a way to stop the flow of education dollars from public school districts, without limit or accountability, into the pockets of private attorneys who benefit while children suffer. 

This fiscal accountability issue affects each and every Texas taxpayer.

The average per pupil expenditures on legal expenses is $12 per student versus Eanes ISD $60.00 per student.

TEA Report of School District Legal Expenses - 06-07  

(only available online here)


  WHOA NELI

Parents and advocates of special needs children pay for this training and yet, are specifically excluded.


Walsh Anderson in the news ... and it isn't flattering.

Article cites Keep Eanes Informed website as resource.


Eanes ISD retains yet another private law firm, this time a legal "boutique"  ...

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Date:

January 28, 2009

Board Action #:

004/09

Subject:

Agreement For Provision of Legal Services

RECOMMENDATION:

It is the Superintendent’s recommendation that the Board authorize the Superintendent to engage Thompson & Horton, LLP as an additional firm to provide legal services to the District during the 2008-2009 school year.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

On an annual basis each September, coinciding with the District’s fiscal calendar, the District has implemented a practice of presenting the list of law firms providing outside legal services to Eanes ISD. At the Board meeting of September 2008, the following firms were retained to provide outside legal services to the District:

  1. Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P.
  2. McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P.
  3. Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.
  4. Feldman & Rogers, L.L.P., and
  5. Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Schulze & Aldridge, P.C.

Since that time, however, certain attorneys formerly associated with Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P. have departed from that firm and have formed a new law firm: Thompson & Horton, LLP. The firm of Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P. is not being replaced by this proposed action. Thompson & Horton, LLP is being added as a new, additional firm to provide legal services to the District.

A proposed engagement letter was provided to the District by Thompson & Horton, LLP so that the District may continue to use the services of particular attorneys, as needed, for the balance of the school year. Thompson & Horton, LLP will also be included in the list of law firms to be brought to the Board for approval in September 2009.


Eanes ISD - Education Tax Dollars   

The following is only a sampling of the district's 2007 and 2008 legal expenses:

70670      WALSH AN000 WALSH, ANDERSON, BROWN, SCHULZ R 10/27/2006          $600.00

71899      WALSH AN000 WALSH, ANDERSON, BROWN, SCHULZ R 12/15/2006       $11,430.44

      72473      WALSH AN000 WALSH, ANDERSON, BROWN, SCHULZ R 01/19/2007       $38,153.22

73541      WALSH AN000 WALSH, ANDERSON, BROWN, SCHULZ R 02/22/2007        $4,615.71

96824 07/12/2007        37,331.22     WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through May 15, 2007

07/12/2007                   68,207.05     WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services - May 1, 2007

97445 08/23/2007         1,857.71     WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services Through July 2007

96806 07/12/2007 17,025.00 STERN, WILLIAM PHD 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 as of 06-29-07 Legal Services -           Special Education Due Process

101326 01/24/2008 6,381.14 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through October 31, 2007

101368 01/24/2008 625.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services for October and November 2007


101368 01/24/2008 2,200.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services for October and November 2007

101463 01/24/2008 13,503.01 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through November 15, 2007

101574 01/31/2008 5,739.65 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services for November and December, 2007


01/31/2008 5,456.25 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services for November and December, 2007


01/31/2008 4,340.00 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services for November
and December, 2007


01/31/2008 4,346.07 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services for November and December, 2007

102541 02/28/2008 5,745.00 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES

102459 02/28/2008 2,875.20 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Expenses

102829 03/20/2008 735.00 LAW OFFICES OF SUE B 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Grievance Legal Fees

103239 04/03/2008 457.12 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through February 29, 2008


04/03/2008 4,821.90 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2008


04/03/2008 5,279.81 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through February 29, 2008


04/03/2008 2,443.75 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2008

103370 04/03/2008 4,956.45 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through February 15, 2008

103801 04/17/2008 9,900.48 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through March 15, 2008

103283 04/03/2008 50.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through January 31, 2008

103734 04/17/2008 400.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 Legal Services through February 2008

104719 05/22/2008 1,481.25 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL EXPENSE THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008


05/22/2008 225.00 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL EXPENSE THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008


05/22/2008 56.25 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL EXPENSE THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008

104912 05/29/2008 125.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008

104810 05/22/2008 14,364.24 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH APRIL 15, 2008

105630 06/26/2008 1,157.50 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008


06/26/2008 4,515.27 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008

105487 06/19/2008 700.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH APRIL 30, 2008

105826 07/10/2008 4,913.90 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH MAY 31,2008


07/10/2008 363.07 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH MAY 31, 2008


07/10/2008 78.00 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH MAY 31, 2008

105967 07/17/2008 977.90 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL EXPENSES THROUGH MAY 31, 2008

106102 07/24/2008 28,257.77 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 23 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH MAY 15, 2008

107281 09/18/2008 3,484.97 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES


09/18/2008 144.69 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 711 E 61 6211 00 940 0 99 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES


09/18/2008 1,889.06 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED 2007-2008


09/18/2008 6,718.18 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES


09/18/2008 278.93 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 711 E 61 6211 00 940 0 99 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES


09/18/2008 3,406.11 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES


09/18/2008 141.42 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 711 E 61 6211 00 940 0 99 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES


09/18/2008 2,648.74 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES

 
09/18/2008 109.97 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 711 E 61 6211 00 940 0 99 000 APRIL AND JULY 2008 LEGAL SERVICES

107281 09/18/2008 112.50 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED 2007-2008


107396 09/18/2008 1,151.50 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH JULY
15, 2008

107325 09/18/2008 1,650.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2008

107995 10/09/2008 2,954.80 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL EXPENSES THROUGH AUGUST
15, 2008


10/16/2008 38,607.99 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH JUNE 15, 2007


10/16/2008 11,657.07 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL FEES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15, 2008


108176 10/16/2008 2,000.00 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 224 E 11 6299 00 872 9 23 000 Denise Hays Inservice Training


108097 10/16/2008 150.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH 8/31/2008


10/16/2008 475.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH JULY 2008

108049 10/16/2008 4,067.53 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH AUGUST 2008


10/16/2008 112.50 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH AUGUST 2008


108746 11/06/2008 720.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES


11/06/2008 3,600.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES


109247 11/20/2008 275.06 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2008


108678 11/06/2008 4,911.47 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH 9-30-2008


109638 12/04/2008 8,322.77 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH Oct 15, 2008


110047 12/17/2008 18,854.42 WALSH, ANDERSON, BRO 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2008


109923 12/17/2008 9,275.09 FELDMAN & ROGERS, L. 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES RENDERED
THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2008


109525 12/04/2008 725.00 MCGINNIS,LOCHRIDGE & 199 E 41 6211 00 732 0 00 000 LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2008


RELATED LEGAL EXPENSES (only a sample) ...

101521 01/31/2008 500.00 TASB, INC 199 E 41 6499 00 732 0 00 000 TASB Legal Assistance Fund
109828 12/11/2008 500.00 TASB, INC 199 E 41 6495 00 732 0 99 000 LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND 2009
107552 09/25/2008 67.92 TASB, INC 199 E 41 6397 00 732 0 00 000 TASB LEGAL SERVICES PUBLICATIONS
101603 01/31/2008 140.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 23 6329 00 041 0 00 000 K. Sullivan Subscription
06/26/2008 140.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 41 6329 00 701 0 00 000 Legal Digest - Subscription Renewal
105476 06/19/2008 140.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 23 6329 00 001 0 00 000 Legal digest for principal
106348 08/07/2008 140.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 21 6329 00 872 0 23 000 renewal for C. Martin
103271 04/03/2008 15.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 41 6499 00 732 0 00 000 BOOK FOR DEPARTMENT USE
108730 11/06/2008 16.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 23 6329 00 041 0 00 000 Special Ed Guidebook
105666 06/26/2008 112.50 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 41 6329 00 701 0 00 000 Legal Digest - Reference Materials
106479 08/14/2008 57.50 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 21 6329 00 872 0 23 000 Response to Intervention for Anne Nelson
06/26/2008 150.00 JPMORGAN CHASE BANK 199 E 23 6411 00 001 0 00 000 JP Morgan - registration for TASSP Legal Digest conference
109506 12/04/2008 145.00 LEGAL DIGEST 199 E 41 6411 00 734 0 00 000 Registration: TASPA-Legal


       RETALIATION AGAINST WHISTLEBLOWER

8/8/8 - Abuse of tax dollars continues in protracted legal proceedings with Ft. Bend ISD.

August 8, 2008 - Unfortunately, abuse of school tax dollars and retaliation against parents and children is a pattern across our state.  The public school districts, their professional lobbyists, and all of the private “education” agencies (such as TASB) are quite effective in getting out the “great things happen every day in public education” message.  Unfortunately, children who are not served well in public school and are even harmed by attendance, and the parents who must face certain retaliation just for speaking up … are not so well represented.  And parents can’t access the public tax dollars that the public school administrators use (without limit or accountability) to retain private law firms to battle against the needs and rights of children with disabilities.

The stories shared by Greg Groogan are an important balance to the district’s message.  Unfortunately, too many children who don’t “fit the mold” are being damaged and/or pushed out of public school … while at the same time public school lobbyists and administrations tell the public that “all children matter.”   


RECKLESS BEHAVIOR?

Recently, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) investigated a complaint from an Eanes ISD parent who alleged that Eanes ISD and its agent, a private attorney from the law firm Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Schultze, and Aldridge (WABSA) disclosed a child's confidential information.  (2008)

The TEA found that:

" ... representatives of the LEA (Local Educational Agency - in this case Eanes ISD and its highly paid private attorneys) demonstrated what could be viewed as reckless behavior ..."

However, as usual, TEA let Eanes "off the hook" with a simple reminder:

" ... TEA again reminds the Eanes ISD legal representatives (in this case Walsh, Anderson, Brown Schultze and Aldridge) of their obligation to protect information related to student information."

 

This complaint and several others alleging continuing disclosure of confidential student records are presently under formal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. 

Eanes ISD has been found out of compliance with confidentiality laws (by TEA and the U.S. Department of Education) on a number of occasions in the past five years related to the district's repeated disclosure of confidential student records.  Each time, the district has retained private attorneys funded by school tax dollars to ... as some would say ... "defend the district against the indefensible."

Related information:

Trust and Confidence

* Note:  Italicized remarks added by KeepEanesInformed for clarification.


Before you hand another dollar to Eanes ISD or EEF, consider this link: $8,000 and counting

July 11, 2008 - Note:  The attached documents are only a SAMPLE of the legal expenditures associated with the district's certification complaint against the teaching license of this award-winning educator

Visit "Teachers" link to learn more.


EANES ISD BOND PRIORITIES

Is it possible to obtain Eanes ISD bond information

and then speak out regarding the expenditure of your tax dollars?  Link here.   


Texas parents and legislators are speaking out on behalf of the children with special needs ...

Link Here.


October 2008  - Follow the money

When you donate to EEF, the district can continue hiring private attorneys ... instead of teachers.


Here we go again.  Feldman & Rogers (also Eanes ISD private attorneys)

Failed and Bullied by Texas Public Schools - Christian Bennett's Story - $103,000 to Feldman & Rogers to beat this child.

"They bring out the big guns.  They bring out high dollar law firms to fight the parents."  The strategy is both simple and effective:  "We're scare the hell out of them and we'll keep them from getting into your wallet."  - Louis Geigerman, Advocate


Rethink special education

The current special-education system is an arrangement that only lawyers could love.  It creates rights that can only be enforced in court — if then. It creates conflict between families and schools. It is all about process and not about results. Adding vouchers to the mix changes all of that by giving families an alternative mechanism for getting what they need, reducing costs and conflict, and ensuring better results for all disabled students.

Introduction:  Rethink special education -  In a three-part series beginning today on our Op-Ed page, the authors of the report, Marcus A. Winters and Jay P. Greene, explain the effects of Florida's McKay voucher/special education program, and why parents view vouchers and special education as a good match — "more than 90 percent of parents participating in the McKay program report that they are satisfied or very satisfied, while about a third of them were similarly satisfied with their previous public school." In the third installment that will be published Thursday, the authors look at vouchers and special education through the lens of the federal government and presidential politics, encouraging "a fresh approach to school choice that would allow parents of disabled students to use federal special education dollars in any public or private school they see fit." 

Part 1:  Vouchers and special education - by Marcus A. Winters and Jay P. Greene April 29, 2008

Part 2:  Vouchers for special-ed students - by Marcus A. Winters and Jay P. Greene - April 30, 2008

Part 3:  The politics of special-ed voucher - by Marcus A. Winters and Jay P. Greene - May 1, 2008

 


Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Schultz and Aldridge (Eanes ISD private attorneys)

Link: Lawyers get rich on the backs of special needs kids  

Greg Groogan’s latest story on the school district attorneys and special education in public school:  It's become all too common for public schools and parents to fight over what should and shouldn't be done for a special needs child. FOX in Focus, Greg Groogan shows just how far one Texas district was willing to go to get its way.  Unfortunately, this story is all too familiar.

Share comments on Greg’s blog here:  http://community.myfoxhouston.com/blogs/Greg_Groogan


 

Walsh Anderson Brown Schultze and Aldridge benefits greatly from our public school tax dollars. 

Let the PARTY begin!

Having trouble obtaining a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for your child with disabilities?  *

Does your child need an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as required by federal law? *

  Apparently, your child's needs and rights are sometimes just a BIG JOKE.    

* FAPE, a federal educational rights for children with disabilities is a "Free Appropriate Public Education", not "Firewater, Alcoholic Potions & Elixirs" as our tax-funded attorneys like to joke, all in good fun of course.  

Bottom line:  Our education dollars are funding these attorneys (and their idea of FAPE) instead of funding FAPE for our children.  Cause for celebration?


Texas parents speak out: 

In POOR TASTE - Walsh Anderson Brown Schultze and Aldridge


And the FUN AND GAMES continue ... 

but this is no ordinary school play rehearsal.  A look behind the curtain:

Autism: The Sky is Falling! By Chicken Little

Click here to view script ...

Henny Penny played by attorney Nona C. Matthews  -- the same Nona C. Matthews who is employed by Walsh Anderson Brown Schultze and Aldridge?  "Her practice emphasizes representing school districts in special education litigation."

Loosey Goosey played by public school Special Education Director Pamela Carroll --- Lake Travis ISD Special Services

Duckey Luckey played by public school Lead Speech Therapist Bobbye Records --- Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

TIP #1:  Got Money For Good Attorney?     

TIP #6:  Courage to eliminate those who get in the way?     


Need a little extraordinary and entertaining reading? 

At taxpayer expense, of course ...

Click here to review the publications for sale by Eanes ISD private attorneys Walsh, Anderson, Schultze, Brown and Aldridge including these:

THE ADVENTURES OF ARD MAN: SEVEN STEPS TOWARD EFFECTIVE ARD MEETINGS  - ARD Man lays out seven critically important steps toward improving the Admissions, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee process in an extraordinary and enlightening DVD. (38 Minutes)

SECTION 504: LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES - Join Jim Walsh and his guests for a highly informative and entertaining excursion through the intricacies of Section 504. (47 Minutes)

 


WHERE ARE OUR SCHOOL TAX DOLLARS GOING?

Announcing:  The Eanes ISD Job Program for Private Attorneys

During the latter part of 2007, Eanes ISD retained private attorneys to submit a complaint against an award-winning physics teacher who had served our district well for decades.  KeepEanesInformed covered that issue and eventually the district agreed to withdraw the complaint (click here to learn if that ever happened.)  So, while working hard to win a complaint against this outstanding educator, the same law firm was busy at work "investigating" this site (while we were busy at work covering this issue - is there a connection here?)

The legal invoices below ($1200.00) characterize me as an "individual not affiliated with the district."  In truth, my affiliations with this district are numerous including parent, volunteer, and taxpayer. 

Further, Feldman & Rogers describes my site's email address as "deceptively similar to the district's email address."  Deceptively similar?  Are they joking?  So, to clear up any confusion:  Yes, the email address references the very same Eanes ISD that is the subject of this site, KeepEanesInformed.

Meanwhile, I appreciate the communications I received from Eanes ISD community members, employees, students, and other citizens from around Texas.  Happily, they were all well aware that the email address belongs to KeepEanesInformed related to this website since it began in October 2003:  eanes_isd@hotmail.com.  Every person who contacted this site also understood my "affiliation" with the district.  

And about this "Job Program for Private Attorneys" funded by our school tax dollars?   It's thriving all over Texas!  In October 2007, Feldman & Rogers was also hard at work suing a citizen in Galveston who maintains a site about the operations of her community school district.  Click here to see the letter that finally preceded the withdrawal of that lawsuit:  Attorney Responds to David Feldman's Demand Letter. They stay real busy helping school districts withhold public information from the public, too.  Maybe Eanes ISD should focus on the district's apparent inability to effectively manage bond projects instead.

And I'll let you know if I ever receive that $1200.00 letter.  In fact, I'll post it!  Visit this site's page on Private Law Firms to learn more about the "Job Program."  

 

Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Schultz and Aldridge (Eanes ISD private attorneys)

How much money have these districts deposited into the pockets of private law firms funded with our tax dollars to battle against the rights of children? 

During the summer of 2006, I recognized that the Lake Travis ISD leadership was violating the privacy rights of children in that district. 

BackgroundEanes ISD published and publicly distributed my child's confidential information including medical information ... yes, more than once. When the district denied my formal complaint "within" the district, I complained to the U.S. Department of Education.  That federal agency issued an adverse finding against Eanes ISD and how did the district respond?  By hiring private attorneys funded by our tax dollars to battle against my child's privacy rights.  Yes, the district appealed the adverse finding.  Still, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed the adverse finding against the district.  Want to learn more about the school district's reaction to open government and advocacy for a child?  Click here.

So when I discovered the Lake Travis ISD (also represented by private attorneys funded by our tax dollars) distribution of confidential education records of children on its website, I took action and submitted a formal complaint to the Lake Travis ISD Board.  

Like Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD retained a private law firm funded by tax dollars. 

Like Eanes ISD, the Lake Travis board denied my formal complaint "within" the district.  

Like Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD responded to my subsequent formal complaint with an outside agency by continuing to retain tax-funded attorneys to battle against the private rights of children.

Like Eanes ISD, when Lake Travis ISD received an adverse finding from the Texas Education Agency, the district continued to spend education tax dollars to retain those same private attorneys and continue to battle the rights of children.  

Like Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD lost its appeal.  I did not retain an attorney and yet, won both complaint against the two Central Texas districts and their tax-funded private law firms. 

Read more about the LTISD issue here ... the following excerpts courtesy of www.ltisd.info

Did you know that the LTISD was found to have violated student confidentiality?  Did you know that it was the Texas Education Agency (TEA) who found them to be in violation?  Did you know that the LTISD failed to submit the required corrective action plan material to the TEA? Did you know that Dr. Kirk and the district's attorney told the TEA that they did not have the authority to rule on this matter?  


 

The private law firm, FELDMAN & ROGERS, that profited from this lawsuit also benefits greatly from Eanes ISD education tax dollars.

Klein ISD sues mom over evaluation request
By Jennifer Radcliffe
 
Angela Harris acknowledges her relationship with the Klein school district is tumultuous. She's been fighting for years to get extra help
for her 12-year-old son, who has special needs. Still, she was stunned when she learned earlier this year that the northwest Harris County district was suing her.
 
Rather than pay for the independent evaluation that Harris requested, the district took her to "due process," a legal proceeding used to resolve special-education disputes.
 
"It's a very uncomfortable situation and it is not a cost-efficient way of doing things," said Harris, whose son, Marshall, was born with a type of brain injury called periventricular leukomalacia. "Klein has abused their authority to oversee tax dollars."
 
District spokeswoman Liz Johnson said the matter cost about $20,000 to $25,000 in legal fees. On top of that, the state spent roughly $13,000
to provide a judge and court reporter for the two-day proceeding, Texas Education Agency officials said.
 
A lawyer for the district estimated that it would cost a fraction of that — between $500 to $1,500 — to perform the test the mother requested.
 
While these cases are rare — 23 of last year's 341 due process hearings in Texas were filed by school districts — parents and advocates fear
that districts may increasingly opt to take parents to court to intimidate them, and others, from insisting on the services they believe their children need.
 
Feeling overmatched
 
It's another frustrating roadblock for parents of Texas' estimated 500,000 special-education students, said Louis Geigerman, a Houston-area advocate for special-education students. Parents in such situations, he said, often find themselves overmatched by school districts' high-priced attorneys.
 
"They would rather litigate than provide services. That's the theme," Geigerman said. "They need to look at a cost-benefit analysis when they
want to litigate, for $20,000 or $40,000, something that would cost less than $5,000."
 
She asked district officials to drop the case, but they refused, leaving her to represent herself. Feeling overwhelmed, she said, she sought legal advice from area nonprofit and advocacy groups. She was frustrated to find that no one could help her.
 
Harris' troubles with the district started when her son brought home straight F's in the first grade. Despite her pleas, she said, the district was slow to offer extra help.
 
After Harris filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency, Klein was ordered to provide Marshall more than 50 hours of extra tutoring for writing. He is still struggling in class and on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, however, which prompted Harris torequest another round of tests.
 
"The law tells you you're entitled to different things, but no one tells you what to do when it doesn't happen," Harris said. "I never thought advocacy could end me up in due process."
 
jennifer.radcliffe@chron.com
HoustonChronicle.com

Link to full article:  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/spring/news/5139670.html


In Wake Of Investigation, FBISD Board Fires Outside Legal Counsel

 Feldman & Rogers

Jan 10, 2006  FULL LINK HERE

The Fort Bend Independent School District board of trustees voted at Monday night’s meeting to terminate the Feldman & Rogers law firm, long-time outside legal counsel for the district. The motion passed 4-1-1 with trustee Cynthia Knox voting no and Sue Hauenstein abstaining.

David Feldman, Feldman & Rogers principal, interrupted the proceedings to demand an explanation for the firm’s termination. At one point, Feldman said, “you don’t have to fire us, we resign.” He later recanted and said, “No, go ahead and finish your vote and fire us.”

FBISD Investigation Reveals 'Extreme And Significant Problems

The report focused on several alleged improprieties by Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance Charles Dupre, and also found significant fault with actions by FBISD Superintendent Betty Baitland, inside FBISD counsel Bernadette Gonzalez, outside counsel David Feldman, and FBISD Risk Manager John Griffin.

SUMMER 2006 --- Eanes ISD hires Bernadette Gonzalez as inside counsel and David Feldman as outside counsel.

 


School district must divorce its lawyers   

Note:  Feldman   & Rogers is also an Eanes ISD private law firm.

- Published February 24, 2008

Excerpt:  

Galveston school trustees should find a new law firm. At issue is the revelation that Superintendent Lynne Cleveland used the district’s firm, Feldman and Rogers, in October to file a divorce petition.

Nichols is describing the good-old-boy system. Never mind that the legal advice often is bad and always is more expensive; I do you favors from time to time.

Nichols doesn’t even understand who his client is. It’s not Cleveland, who got the favor, nor is it the school board. It’s the legal entity called Galveston Independent School District. Nor does he understand that doing favors from time to time for your client’s employees is by definition “giving a benefit to someone to induce them to give you something.” That something being the district’s lucrative legal business.

For the record, David Feldman repudiated Nichols’ comment, saying the firm does not do favors for clients. The public record says otherwise, however.

The taxpayers deserve better than this firm appears equipped to provide. 

Click here to read FULL ARTICLE.


Feldman & Rogers, again ...

Officials with the public school district have blamed high legal costs on lawsuits, open records requests, an epic federal desegregation lawsuit and personnel issues. Under the recommendation of Feldman and Rogers, trustees also sought, then dropped, legal action against a blogger they accused of defamation.

Galveston public school district in 2006-07 paid Feldman and Rogers $99,639.67, according to school district records.

This year, the district has paid almost $150,000 to the firm. Earlier this month, administrators attempted to almost double the district’s legal budget, but the attempts were met with skepticism by Mytelka.

Mytelka, who is an attorney, refused to vote in favor of a budget amendment that would increase the budget for the firm by $117,500 from $150,000 to $267,500.

“I think we need to exercise a little more control,” Mytelka said then. “I would like to approve the bills before the check is cut.”


Feldman & Rogers (Eanes ISD private attorneys)

UPDATE: GISD and its private attorney David Feldman (also an Eanes ISD attorney) have apparently backed off from their threats after receiving this powerful letter from a local attorney who is representing Ms. Tetley pro bono:

November 2007 - Sandra Tetley's Attorney Responds to David Feldman's Demand Letter.

Link:  District May Sue Web Site for Defamation

Citizen Sandra Tetley responds here

Katy ISD Watchdogs response here:    Let me clue all of you into something; taxpayers in this state are angry and they are getting angrier every single day.  Our ranks are growing daily as more and more taxpayers begin to come out of their apathetic stupor and begin to realize what is REALLY going on in their school districts.  We are tired of wasteful, irresponsible and sometimes fraudulent school district spending.  We are sick of “blank check” bond initiatives that only encourage wasteful, irresponsible and sometimes fraudulent school spending.  We’re tired of school districts operating deficit budgets.  But most of all we are really weary of school districts “passing the hat” before they have made absolutely sure that their own economic house is in order.

David Feldman:  “It’s like you’ve been figuratively raped,” he told the newspaper, somehow failing to add “But then again, it’s obvious I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about.”

Galveston ISD Threatens to Sue Watchdog Group  Thu Oct 25, 2007  Houston Press blog comments here.  

 


 

The Effect of Special Education Vouchers on Public School Achievement:

Evidence From Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program

Comment: This report shows some clear evidence that vouchers do not negatively impact students with disabilities that remain in the public school system vs. taking the vouchers to attend private placements.  In fact, the report indicates that the students in the public school system showed significant progress academically because of the option for school choice. And this report breaks down data by area of disability. 

“Our results from evaluating Florida’s McKay program provide additional evidence that rather than being harmed, public schools respond to the challenge of exposure to school choice by improving the education they provide. These findings are consistent with most previous research, which demonstrates school-choice policies’ positive effect on public school achievement.”

by Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters

Executive Summary