Magnolia ISD’s school board supposedly signed a resolution against implementing CRT in the district. The resolution does not appear anywhere on the district’s website for public viewing so it will not be presented here.
A public information request was filed with Magnolia ISD asking for the contract that the district has with Imagine Learning. Imagine Learning is an educational program steeped in Critical Race Theory (CRT), it was discovered the district agreed to spend $907,000.00 to implement CRT in the district’s elementary and intermediate schools. So much for the resolution the board supposedly signed.
If you go to Imagine Learning’s website it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discover the company’s goal is to change a student’s attitude, values, beliefs and behavior with their Social Emotional Learning program. Social Emotional Learning incorporates CRT in it’s teaching pedagogy.
There are various buzz words that validate the incorporation of CRT in an educational program, such as Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Culturally Responsive Teaching, etc. CRT came straight out of Critical Legal Theory of Germany’s Frankfurt School. CRT is Marxist to the core.
Sadly, our supposedly Magnolia ISD’s Conservative, Christian school board has bowed to the Marxist agenda, once again. In 2016 they implemented the United Nation’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program costing taxpayers thousands. The International Baccalaureate Program was modeled around IB’s first director general, Alec Peterson’s secular humanist (anti- God) beliefs. IB promotes the UN’s Agenda 2030 plan, diversity, equity ad inclusion.
Sadly, we American’s are ultimately funding our own demise through our public schools.
By law every Texas School District is required to form a School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). This SHAC Committee is made up of a minimum of 5 members. The majority have to be parents/community members not employed by the district. The Committee is responsible for assisting the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district’s health education instruction.
During the 2021/2022 school year Magnolia ISD Magnolia ISD’s Science Director, Sheri Gallemore has served as chairperson of the Magnolia ISD’s SHAC Committee. This is in violation of Texas Education Code 28.004 calling for a chairperson to be a parent of a student in the district and not employed by the district.
According to all Magnolia’s SHAC meeting minutes for the 2021/2022 school years Ms. Gallemore has served as the chairperson.
The question remains is the chairperson chosen within the committee or by the school board? You will find all minutes and audio of Magnolia ISD’s SHAC Committee minutes HERE.
Thursday, September 5th, Magnolia ISD’s Transportation Director, Cindy Mooneyham called a meeting of all district bus drivers. The paid hour meeting took less than 20 minutes. What was so important that the district needed too pay 40+ bus drivers instead of sending an email?
Shockingly , the district chose to reward one bus driver who had picked up an impaired adult with a bus full of children and drove her to the school. The reward consisted of a Magnolia ISD ball cap and a $50.00 gift card. So we have a driver that has placed children in danger and they are rewarded? You can’t make this stuff up.
The other very important aspect of this meeting was to instruct the drivers to stonewall parents who are upset with the bus routes by continuing to direct them to transportation. Drivers were informed stonewalling the ruckus will die down sooner or later.
I have no doubt that this meeting was prompted by school administration.
Make your voices heard at Magnolia ISD’s next board meeting Monday, September 9th @ 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at Celeste Graves Education Building @ 31141 Nichols Sawmill Road, Magnolia, TX 77355.
If you plan on speaking you must arrive by 6:15 to sign in.
Magnolia ISD lost their TAX HIKE ELECTION August, 14, 2018 known as a Tax Ratification Election (TRE). They are humbly claiming that they did not message for the taxpayers their TAX HIKE correctly. Let’s us take a look at their messaging.
1) They held a clandestine public hearing on this Tax Hike at 7:30 am on a school morning. Not a single taxpayer was in attendance other than the board and school administration. I am in agreement with the district that is TERRIBLEMESSAGING.
2) The district had a professional video made promoting this TRE election claiming that there would be NO TAX HIKE and the TRE passed teachers would get raises, funds for curriculum needs and security. Note: The Security Needs was already being funded and voted on in Commissioners Court. They claimed they were just doing a “penny swap” from to one account to another though there were no pennies involved. This was all smoke a mirrors and taxpayers started waking up to this fact.
Who saw this video? The district made sure their teachers and staff watched the pro TRE video prior to summer break encouraging them to vote YES. In essence the district used the teachers as guinea pigs in hopes of winning this election. The video was then removed from public view until few weeks prior to the election. The district has zero information on the TRE election until a few weeks prior to early voting. As a matter of fact many received and mailed back their mail in ballots prior to the district posting any information regarding the election.
TERRIBLE MESSAGING (there was none)
3) The district decided to hold the election in the dead of summer while many taxpayers may have still been on vacation, giving no thought that the district was holding a TAX HIKE election. The exception was teachers and staff were starting in-service at this time just prior to school starting. (do not think that is not planned)
TERRIBLE MESSAGING!
4) School Board member, Kristi Baker takes to social media insinuating that taxpayers are just “poor unsuspecting people” and are basically incapable and lack the intellect to figure out the district is scamming. If not for a few activist working for three weeks including myself worked to get word our about the election. And the ones that were spending their time informing the taxpayers were LIARS according to Baker.
TERRIBLE MESSAGING
5) The district fails to tell the taxpayer’s that they are throwing wasting thousands on a UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM International Baccalaureate (IB) that does not value American values or Exceptionalism.
IB World Schools endorse the UN Earth Charter which contradicts our Constitution as well. Earth Charter promotes redistribution of wealth, same sex marriage, pantheism, and military disarmament. The district also just build a 6 Million dollar Event Center to rent out. That is right they used our tax money and built an event center to compete with the private sector.
TERRIBLE MESSAGING
6) This is probably one of my favorites. School Board members after taxpayers were learning the truth posed for their own personal video in an attempt to rebuttal the truth that the TRE election was indeed a TAX HIKE. Board Member, Joe Duncan stated that the “any claim that after the TRE should pass we are going to IMMEDIATELY increase the I&S is simply not true”. So they are going to do it but not immediately? How thoughtful.
TERRIBLE MESSAGING
7) School Board member, Kristi Baker within the “apology” video attempts to make the case claiming the ballot language is what confused taxpayers and that is the reason it did not pass. What she is not saying is that there is a “TRUTH in TAXATION LAW”. The ballot can’t lie. So she is apologetic to the taxpayer that ballot has to be truthful. Seriously? So is she actually saying the district would have worded the ballot in order to trick the taxpayer to vote for the TAX HIKE?
TERRIBLE MESSAGING
Truth-in-taxation is a concept embodied in the Texas Constitution that requires local taxing units to make taxpayers aware of tax rate proposals and to afford taxpayers the opportunity to roll back or limit tax increases.
Do not think for one minute the district actually thinks this election failed due to their poor messaging. Their messaging was intentional but failed this election. Thanks to the taxpayers getting out and voting.
Texas State Senator Paul Betterment is working to inform the taxpayer of these clandestine TAX HIKE elections.
Thank you Sen. Bettencourt.
Magnolia ISD’s School Board need replaced. We have three board members whose terms are up this spring.
Charlie Riley band member, School Board President, Gary Blizzard.
The overburdened Magnolia tax payers beat the educrats that wanted to permanently hike up property taxes in a summer time election. They were hoping to ambush the tax payers with an August election no one was aware of but them. But they didn’t get their way, tax payers showed up and fought back.
But we have a problem….Magnolia ISD is in denial about the election results.
Even though the vote tallies are in and the tax payers won by 88 votes, the votes do not count and the election is not complete until the votes are canvassed. State law REQUIRES Magnolia ISD to canvass the votes no later than the 11th day after the election. That day is SATURDAY, August 25th.
There were many things to be concerned about during this election, getting the word out, the school district putting the ballot box in the teachers lounge, the mandatory staff meetings about the election, and the shortened early voting hours. But this is the worst by far, an UNDENIABLE VIOLATION of state election law.
Magnolia ISD officials are going to have to face the facts, the voters didn’t want to give them any more of their hard earned money. They were so stunned by this fact that they also didn’t show up for the advertised budget hearing on August 20th.
I have made several attempts to pry the canvass date from them. They refuse to set a date to make their election results officials, the deadline is fast approaching. Please contact them today, before it’s too late for them to comply with the law.
Contact the Magnolia ISD board members and demand officials do their mandatory duty. Canvassing the votes is unavoidable.
By not complying with state election law, they are setting a bad example for the children that have been entrusted to their care.
Magnolia ISD Administration Office: 281-356-3571
School Board Members:
Kelly McDonald
Sonja Ebel
Gary Blizzard
Kristi Baker
Joe Duncan
Travis Moffat
Chuck Addox
You can also email the superintendent’s secretary, Mrs. Hinkelman, and ask her to forward your email to all seven school board members chinkelman@magnoliaisd.org
Until the votes are canvassed, the results are unofficial. Magnolia Independent School District needs to obey the law. The denial process must end. We need your help to make that happen. There is still time for them to the right thing, but the clock is ticking….
Texas school district, Magnolia ISD held a Tax Ratification Election (TAX HIKE) Tuesday, August 14th. The district lost the election by 88 votes. 1598 voted for the Tax Hike with 1686 voting against. The election results are unofficial until Magnolia ISD’s governing board canvasses the vote. According to Texas Election Code 67.003 the board must canvass the vote by Saturday, August 25th. This canvass must be a public meeting with notice posted 72 hours prior to the meeting.
As of the evening of Wednesday, August 22nd Magnolia ISD has failed to post a notice of the vote canvass? Many have called or emailed the district asking when the canvass would be held. The district has refused to respond to any request for this information.
Magnolia ISD plans to hold their regular board meeting Monday, August 27th @ 6:30 pm. If their plans are to hold the canvass at that time is still up for question.
Due to school bullying we have seen a large number of students across the country taking medication for depression with many committing suicide or carrying it the extremes with school shootings. The constant barrage of bullying tactics by classmates is a sad issue and should never be allowed. Another alarming situation is the growing number of adult bullies. I was never more aware of this until I got involved as a taxpayer in fighting my government and their abuse of “WE THE PEOPLE” and their non-stop theft of our money through taxes. In our world today taxpayers and citizens can’t fight government encroachment and their policies without their hired employees (teachers & staff) behaving like high school bullies on social media, The constant berating and bullying of those who have chosen to fight government taxation and encroachment has skyrocketed.
They have taken their hatefulness and vengeance onto the social media platform for the world to see with no concern of their immaturity or who views it. What is even sadder our school district allow such behavior from their employees.
I am a taxpayer and a political activist I have a huge disdain regarding the abuse of government including the massive political machine of Texas School Districts. They have seem to acquired a large amount of power and are not accountable to anyone. This abuse of power must be reigned in.
Magnolia ISD held a clandestine” public hearing at 7:30 am May 21st, on a school morning regarding a Tax Ratification Election (TRE) a financial maneuver the district refers to as a “penny swap”. There was not one individual from the public in attendance. As as a taxpayer I pay 67.3% of my property taxes to the school district and I am not amused with this TAX scam Magnolia ISD is pulling over the taxpayers eyes. I have seen the frivolous wasteful spending on behalf of this school district and I am working to educate voters about this TAX HIKE SCAM ELECTION. With that said many of the teachers who have been promised a 4% raise if this passes could careless how this will effect the taxpayers as a whole. They want their raise and they want it NOW!
The rest of the post I will will just post some of the comments by many of the Magnolia ISD Staff and their display of childish bullying tactics and let them speak for themselves.
First we have Magnolia ISD’s Digital Learning Coordinator, Mona Johnston and friends, many being teachers. Mona also called in her mommy for assistance, Rhonda Young Pavlock. NOTE: These are in no particular order just random barrage of harassing posts.
Trust me when I tell you this is not an exhaustive list of posts where Mona, her mom and friends have taken to social media with such childish behavior. It has been constant for 3 weeks while we the taxpayer are informing others of the TAX HIKE election.
It is apparent that school district need to have bullying conferences and courses for their hired personal regarding bullying. What poor examples they are for the children they teach.
I have to admit the following Magnolia West High School teacher Katelyn Owens did make me laugh.
Kimberly Bryant is the Schools Day Coordinator for the Texas Renaissance Festival.
Nichol Sawmill first grade teacher, Kim Hotaling found it her responsibility to steal form her neighbors canvassing materials informing them of Magnolia ISD’s election.
The following peach, Ashley Axelson is the daughter of Cindi Havron. Ms. Havron was a debate coach at Magnolia High School.
School districts will NEVER have enough money, that is according to them. Magnolia ISD held a planned clandestine PUBLIC HEARING on May 21st at 7:30 AM regarding their TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION aka “penny swap”. With the room completely empty with the exception of elected school board members and Magnolia ISD administration they unanimously passed a TAX HIKE ELECTION to be held August 14th while families are off for summer break.
Of course school districts are masters of deception when it comes to passing their tax schemes unbeknownst to voters. The districts prepared a pro TRE video and showed it to teachers and staff prior to summer break and then the district removed the video from the district website. Teachers are promised raises and curriculum needs if this passes and encourages them to get out and vote YES. The district uses teachers as guinea pigs in order to pass their TAX HIKES by threatening them with no raises, cutting various services and curriculum needs. This method of operation has been utilized by school districts as long as I can remember in order to pass their tax hikes. Unfortunately for teachers they will NEVER be paid what they are truly worth and that is planned as well. If teachers were paid top notch salaries they could not hold elections over their head. As Magnolia ISD’s Superintendent, Todd Stephens makes 250,000 in salary and benefits (See Contract) and the district pays it’s administration quite well (see below) the district will threaten teachers with no raises if they do not march to the beat of their drum in voting YES on their tax hikes.
NOTE: The district claims that they are not going to raise your tax rate they are just going to move 10 cents from the I & S sinking fund to the M & O account. What they don’t tell you is the their own NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING states they need a tax rate 1.4560 to keep up with their current spending and tax debt. So to claim that we are not going to raise your tax rate is dishonest at best. They also did not tell the teachers or the public that they can come back and raise the I & S side they are planning on stealing from anytime without voter approval.
This is a TAX HIKE SCAM.
While threatening teachers with no raise in the event the TRE fails the district is currently putting the finishing touches on their new SIX MILLION DOLLAR conference center to compete with the private sector. Yes, you heard it right. They are using our TAX MONEY to build a Conference/Event facility to rent out. I was under the understanding ISD’s were to be about the business educating children not creating for profit businesses within the district using our dime to compete with the private sector. What a waste of TAX PAYER FUNDS. And the poor district claims they have no money for teachers. GIVE ME A BREAK!!
Another HUGE waste of Magnolia ISD’s government spending is the United Nations MARXIST International Baccalaureate Program that the currently two high schools are using for a handful of students. There is NO high academic criteria for a student to enter this program. It is very costly and a waste of TAX PAYER FUNDS. If their is any arbitration on a students scoring it is held under Swiss Law. If you notice both of the High Schools flaunt their IB WORLD SCHOOL EMBLEMS on the outside of the buildings. I often wonder why a global school is desired. What is wrong with an American School? Currently the district pays 11, 650 per high school just to be IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM. More about IB here. Teachers must be trained under the IB program and many are leaving the district and the district has to pay to have new ones retrained. This is not a cheap endeavor and it is another unneeded waste of tax money. Below are two former teacher comments.
Unfortunately our Texas education system has changed radically in the last decade and not for the better. A good classical education has been replaced with technology and a progressive teaching pedagogy of social emotional learning in order to change a child’s attitudes, values and beliefs and behavior. We are seeing that played out across the county with a rapid decline of allegiance to our country or God.
In 2013 I discovered a curriculum system within over 90% of our Texas schools called Cscope (Common Core). Cscope encompassed the progressive pedagogy mentioned. In addition Cscope was found to promote Islam, Communism and globalism. In 2013 a Senate hearing put a damper on the program itself but the transformation of our classrooms continued at a rapid pace. Though Magnolia ISD had not purchased the actual Cscope program they had implemented the same teaching philosophy. Read HERE.
April 9, 2012 the Magnolia ISD school board unanimously signed Texas Association of Schools Board’s (TASA) resolution promoting the progressive transformation. At the time Commissioner Charlie Riley sat on the board and signed up for this. Why? Honestly, Riley was working his way up the ladder to be Montgomery County Commissioner of PCT 2. If he had known what he was signing up for he would not have taken a stand against it making waves with the administration voting block of Magnolia ISD and jeopardize he win as Commissioner. Instead in reality our children today are guinea pigs in this experiment of changing the American society to a more global one with global values not American values.
Eleven reasons not to give Charlie Riley a second term.
Voted for Toll Roads
Voted in favor of homosexual and transgender adoptions.
Voted for Common Core education transformation
Voted to limit bow hunting rights for hunter.
Is under indictment.
Is currently under Grand Jury investigation for abuse his office.
Violates Ethics laws and uses School District to campaign.
Voted himself a pay raise making 160,000+
Violated nepotism laws creating a position for his wife Deanne in Constable Hills office.
He lies to protect himself.
Bonus Refuses to call out his tribe of supporters for their abusive actions and behavior.
Unfortunately our Texas education system has changed radically in the last decade and not for the better. A good classical education has been replaced with technology and a progressive teaching pedagogy of social emotional learning in order to change a child’s attitudes, values and beliefs and behavior. We are seeing that played out across the county with a rapid decline of allegiance to our country or God.
In 2013 I discovered a curriculum system within over 90% of our Texas schools called Cscope (Common Core). Cscope encompassed the progressive pedagogy mentioned. In addition Cscope was found to promote Islam, Communism and globalism. In 2013 a Senate hearing put a damper on the program itself but the transformation of our classrooms continued at a rapid pace. Though Magnolia ISD had not purchased the actual Cscope program they had implemented the same teaching philosophy. Read HERE.
April 1, 2012 the Magnolia ISD school board unanimously signed Texas Association of Schools Board’s (TASA) resolution promoting the progressive transformation. At the time Commissioner Charlie Riley sat on the board and signed up for this. Why? Honestly, Riley was working his way up the ladder to be Montgomery County Commissioner of PCT 2. If he had known what he was signing up for he would not have taken a stand against it making waves with the administration voting block of Magnolia ISD and jeopardize he win as Commissioner. Instead in reality our children today are guinea pigs in this experiment of changing the American society to a more global one with global values not American values.
Eleven reasons not to give Charlie Riley a second term.
Voted for Toll Roads
Voted in favor of homosexual and transgender adoptions.
Voted for Common Core education transformation
Voted to limit bow hunting rights for hunter.
Is under indictment.
Is currently under Grand Jury investigation for abuse his office.
Violates Ethics laws and uses School District to campaign.
Voted himself a pay raise making 160,000+
Violated nepotism laws creating a position for his wife Deanne in Constable Hills office.
He lies to protect himself.
Bonus Refuses to call out his tribe of supporters for their abusive actions and behavior.
The so-called “Charlie Riley Band,” with Riley’s Precinct 2 County Commissioner campaign logo on the bass drum, performed for parents and students at Nichols Sawmill Elementary School on December 18, 2017, in what was clearly a campaign event for the embattled Commissioner running for re-election. Riley is in the vest playing lead singer. Magnolia Superintendent Todd Stephens is playing the yellow guitar at the left.
Magnolia, December 20 – Conservative Republican muckraker Ginger Russell caught Precinct 2 County Commissioner Charlie Riley using his so-called “Charlie Riley Band” for a political campaign event at Nichols Sawmill Elementary School on Monday, December 18, 2017, where a school official photographed Riley’s band playing with his campaign logo on the bass drums in place of the less political logo the band previously used. A photograph of Riley’s political campaign logo, identical to the new logo on the drums, follows.
Campaign logo of Precinct 2 County Commissioner Charlie Riley who is running for re-election and using his band to campaign at schools in the Magnolia Independent School District.
Russell said, “The political corruption between Commissioner Charlie Riley and Magnolia Independent School District is out of control and must be stopped. Besides being unlawful, this is is unfair to anyone else who would like to run a fair race as commissioner. Superintendent Todd Stephens has overstepped his role as a Superintendent and works with Commissioner Riley to make sure he has plenty of face time in front of the school district and its parents.”
As for the new logo on the bass drums of the band, Russell said, “Riley and his band have branded themselves with his ‘CR’ logo, which is on his campaign signs, his campaign shirts, and now it’s on his drums. Obviously, the Charlie Riley Band is nothing more than a campaign tool.”
Longtime Republican Precinct Chairman Joseph Sager prepared this photograph to show the comparison of the two logos directly.
During the morning of Tuesday, December 19, Russell called the switchboard of Magnolia ISD to ask where the “Charlie Riley Band” would play next. After the receptionist recognized Russell, she transferred the call to Superintendent Stephens’ personal secretary who asked Russell, “Do you have children that go to the school?”
Russell responded, “No. I just want to know when they’re playing.”
Stephens’ secretary then retorted rudely, “Well, then you don’t have a reason to know when they’re playing.”
Russell then said, “I’m a taxpayer.” The secretary then hung the phone up on Russell.
Russell told The Golden Hammer, “I’m a taxpayer of the Magnolia ISD. I’m entitled to know when they’re holding political events for their favored politician. No one should be treated as rudely as I was.”
A Montgomery County Grand Jury is currently investigating Riley, Stephens, Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal, and possibly others for the following allegations, among others:
For the past several years, Riley and Doyal have stored their barbecue trailers they use during political campaigns on County property in the Precinct 2 Commissioners barnyard in Magnolia behind a locked and gated fence. Riley and Doyal have not paid the County anything for the use of that storage space.
Precinct 2 employees, past and present, have confirmed that Riley and Doyal have had County employees provide automotive repairs and vehicle maintenance to members of Riley’s and Doyal’s families at no charge to them.
Riley and Doyal had the Building Maintenance Department install plumbing and electrical connections at the Precinct 2 barnyard so they could cook there for their political campaigns.
On September 14, 2017, Riley admitted in writing, “As far as the County yard storing my personal cooking trailer, that is correct.”
On October 13, 2017, Riley, his wife Deanne who is a County employee in the position Riley established for her, and several County employees spent a large portion of the County work day making preparations for his political campaign kickoff the next day.
On October 14, 2017, Riley, Stephens, and at least two Magnolia ISD maintenance workers loaded a Magnolia ISD truck at the Magnolia ISD Administration Building with Riley’s personal band equipment stored at the Administration Building for free. The school district employees then transported the equipment to the site of Riley’s political campaign kickoff, unloaded the equipment, participated in Riley’s campaign presentation, loaded the equipment back onto the school district truck, transported it back to the Administration Building, and unloaded the equipment with Riley and Stephens there to help with the unloading and re-storage of the equipment.
On October 14, 2017, Riley utilized some County-owned electrical carts as a “train” to carry passengers attending Riley’s campaign kickoff from where they parked to the site of the event. On October 15, 2017, the carts were back in the Commissioners Precinct 2 barnyard behind the locked and gated fence.
Comments Off on Conservative Republican muckraker Ginger Russell blasts Magnolia Independent School District for continuing to allow Commissioner Riley to use his “band” for politics
Montgomery County “For Sale” (Part 9): Precinct 2 Commissioner Riley, MISD Superintendent Stephens Set New Employee Matej Up For Date With Grand Jury
Image: Magnolia Independent School District Director of Finance Garrett Matej, whom Precinct 2 County Commissioner Charlie Riley and District Superintendent Todd Stephens threw into the Montgomery County Grand Jury hot seat on Thursday, November 9, 2017.
Conroe, November 9 – The Montgomery County Grand Jury’s investigation into the use of government property, services, equipment, and storage facilities by Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal and Precinct 2 County Commissioner Charlie Riley will take a bit of a different direction today, Thursday, November 9, 2017, as the Grand Jury and District Attorney’s Office will explore Riley’s use of Magnolia Independent School District (MISD) property, personnel, and equipment for his political campaign.
Confidential sources inside MISD have confirmed to The Golden Hammer, Montgomery County’s leading daily newspaper, that Director of Finance Garrett Matej, only two months into his new job, received a subpoena to testify first thing on November 9 with respect to his involvement in the preparation of a questionable invoice to Riley created after this newspaper and Republican political activists Ginger Russell and Kelli Cook uncovered the corruption related to Riley’s October 14, 2017, “campaign kickoff” where he utilized MISD vehicles, equipment, storage facilities, and personnel.
Early in the morning on Saturday, October 14, 2017, Russell and Cook observed, photographed, and video-taped Riley, Magnolia ISD Superintendent Todd Stephens, and at least two Magnolia ISD maintenance workers loading a Magnolia ISD truck at the Magnolia ISD Administration Building with Riley’s personal band equipment stored at the Administration Building for free. The school district employees then transported the equipment to the site of Riley’s political campaign kickoff, unloaded the equipment, participated in Riley’s campaign presentation, loaded the equipment back onto the school district truck, transported it back to the Administration Building, and unloaded the equipment with Riley and Stephens there to help with the unloading and re-storage of the equipment.
On October 14, 2017, as he introduced members of the “Charlie Riley Band” standing among the band’s privately-owned equipment to the sparse crowd during Riley’s campaign kickoff, a political event, and standing in the Unity Park Pavilion, Precinct 2 County Commissioner Charlie Riley of Montgomery County announced,
“We ended up trying to get to places where we had to have some help, so Dr. Todd Stephens [Magnolia ISD Superintendent] gave us or let us borrow a couple guys from Magnolia ISD…maintenance guys who help us load this equipment, and move it around from place to place…and one of them’s missing, but we’ve got Mr. Louis Bennett. He’s our roady!”
Riley openly admitted that, for personal and political campaign purposes, Riley and Stephens use Magnolia Independent School District maintenance workers to help them load, unload, transport, and store their equipment.
During the October 14 Riley “campaign kickoff,” Riley also utilized some County-owned electrical carts as a “train” to carry passengers attending Riley’s campaign kickoff from where they parked to the site of the event. On October 15, 2017, the carts were back in the Commissioners Precinct 2 barnyard behind the locked and gated fence.
On October 16, 2017, Russell submitted a formal request under the Texas Open Records Act to the Magnolia ISD for any purchase orders for the use of the school district truck, equipment, and personnel and any invoices.
After waiting for eleven (11) days, the school district finally responded by October 27, 2017, letter to Russell (shown above). In the response the school district told Russell:
“Enclosed please find documents responsive to your request for public information dated October 16, 2017, a copy of the Accounts payable sent/or to be sent to the Charlie Riley campaign regarding the use of ISD equipment.” (Emphasis added.)
Unbelievably, the Magnolia ISD couldn’t even just provide the letter that was “sent.” Instead, they admitted that the invoice was “sent/to be sent”!!! Obviously, someone in the school district created the invoice after Russell sent the Open Records Act request!
Cook, who serves as the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty and is a close associate of Dr. Ron Paul, the former Congressman and presidential candidate, said, “It appears Magnolia ISD has fabricated a truck rental invoice further implicating them in their gross display of political favoritism. Is this why we pay exorbitant school taxes, so they can funnel money to their favorite political candidate?”
Political activist Kelli Cook.
Russell, who is a Republican Precinct Chair and a renowned expert in public education, told this newspaper:
“Magnolia Independent School Superintendent Dr. Todd Stephens should have been fired immediately by the school board for violating school policy and law for using district vehicles to assist Commissioner Riley with his campaign event. In my opinion the Magnolia ISD School Board is an epic failure and has definitely failed the taxpayer. At this time they are spending taxpayer money on an outside attorney to represent the Superintendent. Why? We now know that the invoice created to cover for Commissioner Riley is a fake. Its creation I am sure came at the request of Dr. Stephens. One wonders how long this collusion and deception has been in play. My hope is the District Attorney puts a stop to these activities once and for all.”
The details about the creation of that invoice have begun to surface. Around approximately October 18, MISD Superintendent Stephens approached Matej and told Matej, “We need an invoice to charge Charlie Riley for the vehicle we let him use this past weekend.” Matej told Stephens that the District does not invoice private individuals like that. Stephens instructed Matej to create an invoice and provide it to Denise Meyers, MISD’s Public Information Officer (who had already received Russell’s Open Records Act request).
Matej, just beginning his second month in his job as Director of Finance, was very uncomfortable with Stephens’ request but feared that there would be reprisal if Matej didn’t accede to it. Matej created an invoice, numbered 8101, in the amount of $100 and provided a copy of it to Meyers.
Phony $100 invoice Director of Finance Garrett Matej created after MISD Superintendent Todd Stephens requested Matej to make it.
There are some interesting facts surrounding Matej’s creation of the phony invoice obviously created to make it appear as though the school district intended to charge Riley for the vehicle and services Riley received for his “campaign kickoff.”
First, Matej has told several people inside the school district that he greatly fears for his job and also has concerns that Stephens forced him to commit an unethical or illegal act. In response to a request to interview him for this article, Matej very politely responded, “Mr. Yollick, Good evening. Hope this email finds you well. While I am flattered that you would reach out to me. I must decline as we have no comment at this point in time. Thank you. Garrett Matej.”
Second, in response to an Open Records Request from conservative activist Kelli Cook, MISD’s Meyers has confirmed that there are no invoices with numbers surrounding the infamous “Invoice 8101” shown above. In correspondence on November 8, Meyers noted, “There are no documents responding to your request” for invoices 8096, 8097, 8098, 8099, 8100, 8102, 8103, 8104, or 8015.”
Third, Matej has admitted to several close associates that there are not invoices similar to the one he created for Riley upon Stephens’ request.
Fourth, Louis Bennett, the MISD Maintenance worker whom Riley recognized as the “roady” for the October 14 “campaign kickoff” event for Riley’s Precinct 2 County Commissioner re-election campaign received 5.27 hours of overtime compensation for working for the school district that weekend. It’s unclear whether the 5.27 hours of overtime would exceed the $100 invoice amount.
It’s genuinely sad that Riley and Stephens would place a young employee in a new position in such a precarious spot. An important question is why Stephens chose not to do his own “dirty work” and create the invoice in his office at MISD since he has administrative staff available to him.
The Grand Jury will hear from Matej, Stephens, and others with respect to Riley’s and Stephen’s use of MISD government property for private and political uses.
The Grand Jury has investigated the following abuses among others:
Under Doyal’s personal direction, a County employee regularly prepared his campaign reports at the Precinct 2 office.
Under Doyal’s personal direction, a County employee prepared political program ads during work hours at the Precinct 2 office.
Under Doyal’s personal direction, a County employee prepared and mailed political checks during work hours and worked on political fundraisers during for Doyal during work hours.
Other county employees in Precinct 2 worked on campaign activities and fundraisers for Doyal during work hours.
The Precinct 2 mechanics shop built platforms during work hours for Doyal’s political fundraisers.
Operations Manager Charlie Riley purchased food for Doyal’s political fundraisers during county business hours.
Doyal approved of the use of County materials, equipment, and time to work on his campaign.
Riley instructed a County employee to “do what you need to do to get it [Doyal’s political campaign reports] finished” including taking a county printer to the County employee’s home.
For the past several years, Riley and Doyal have stored their barbecue trailers they use during political campaigns on County property in the Precinct 2 Commissioners barnyard in Magnolia behind a locked and gated fence. Riley and Doyal have not paid the County anything for the use of that storage space.
Precinct 2 employees have confirmed that Riley and Doyal have had County employees provide automotive repairs and vehicle maintenance to members of Riley’s and Doyal’s families at no charge to them.
Riley and Doyal had the Building Maintenance Department install plumbing and electrical connections at the Precinct 2 barnyard so they could cook there for their political campaigns.
On September 14, 2017, Riley admitted in writing, “As far as the County yard storing my personal cooking trailer, that is correct.”
On October 13, 2017, Riley, his wife Deanne who is a County employee in the position Riley established for her, and several County employees spent a large portion of the County work day making preparations for his political campaign kickoff the next day.
On October 14, 2017, Riley, Stephens, and at least two Magnolia ISD maintenance workers loaded a Magnolia ISD truck at the Magnolia ISD Administration Building with Riley’s personal band equipment stored at the Administration Building for free. The school district employees then transported the equipment to the site of Riley’s political campaign kickoff, unloaded the equipment, participated in Riley’s campaign presentation, loaded the equipment back onto the school district truck, transported it back to the Administration Building, and unloaded the equipment with Riley and Stephens there to help with the unloading and re-storage of the equipment.
On October 14, 2017, Riley utilized some County-owned electrical carts as a “train” to carry passengers attending Riley’s campaign kickoff from where they parked to the site of the event. On October 15, 2017, the carts were back in the Commissioners Precinct 2 barnyard behind the locked and gated fence.
Magnolia ISD Superintendent, Todd Stephens can’t seem to abide by the district’s own policy and has made the local news lately due to Stephens using district vehicles on a Saturday to assist local Commissioner, Charlie Riley with his campaign event. You can read about it here. One would think the Magnolia ISD school board would immediately address the issue at hand due to Stephens violating district policy. Instead one of their school board members, Secretary Kristi Baker seeks to divert community attention to an unnamed individual (Me) claiming the children in the district are being “pursued, antagonized and exploited” on social media (post below). If these allegations were factual one would think the district would immediately alert parents of this so called abuse.
Upon being alerted of of Ms. Baker’s post on social media I filed an opens records request asking for any and all documentation alerting parents of this “suggested” abuse and how to assist their children through such abuse. Interesting enough Magnolia ISD has not addressed these allegations. Why would a district ignore such claims by a school board member and fail to alert the parents? The reason Baker thinks nothing of putting out lies and propaganda under the disguise of “These poor baby children”.
Why Magnolia ISD allows this unacceptable behavior by Ms. Baker is questionable. The board may want to get back and do their job address the issue of Stephens not only utilizing district vehicles to assist with a political event but allowing the Charlie Riley band to practice at the administration building.
Commissioner Charlie Riley and Magnolia ISD School Board Member, Kristi Baker.
Magnolia ISD Superintendent, Todd Stephens can’t seem to abide by the same ISD policy expected of his district employees. The Magnolia ISD policy employee policy states the following:
This past Saturday evening, October 14, 2017 Commissioner Charlie Riley held his campaign kickoff event at Unity Park in Magnolia. Entertainment was provided by none other than the Charlie Riley Band during the evening. In setting up for the band’s performance Riley and Magnolia ISD Superintendent, Todd Stephens utilized a couple of district employees and a Magnolia ISD Maintenance Truck to transport equipment.
Stephens, Riley the maintenance truck, another cargo van and were seen exiting the Magnolia ISD the Celeste Graves Education Support Center @31141 Nichols Sawmill Rd around 2:00 pm. The vehicles proceeded to drive down Unity Drive to Unity Park. The vehicles pulled into the park and backed up to the stage area to unload equipment. After unloading the Maintenance vehicle was then relocated to the administration building until the event was over. In relocating Stephens followed the vehicle back to the administration building and picked up the driver (district employee, Louis Bennett). They then returned to the event in finishing the setting up and practice.
Around 4pm Stephens and 3 other men returned to the Administration building prior to their band performance. The gentlemen were the only ones in the building for 1 1/2 hours. One could surmise they took the 1 1/2 break to watch the OU and Texas Longhorn game before preforming. Just prior to the end of the 4th quarter with OU leading the game Stephens exits the building to retrieve a change of clothes for the event. Within minutes all 4 men exited the Magnolia ISD administration building to return to the Charlie Riley Campaign event.
Once the event was over at 8:00 pm (1 hour early due to poor attendance) the maintenance vehicle was picked up and brought back to the park to reload the band equipment. It returned to the administration building where Superintendent Todd Stephens and some other band members along with MISD employee Louis Bennett unloaded the equipment. Louis Bennett then returned the vehicle to the maintenance yard and locked it up. He left in a vehicle that remained on the property for the day’s duration registered to Commissioner Charlie Riley.
Will the our elected Magnolia ISD elected School Board do anything about this district violation and abuse of taxpayer funds? I seriously doubt it. School boards no longer represent those that elect them they are “yes” people and rubber stamp the schools agenda.
The bigger question is will the Montgomery County District Attorney, Brett Ligon stop this taxpayer abuse or will he once again turn a blind eye to it?
In the video go to 4:20 minutes. Commissioner Riley admits to the audience that they were using Magnolia ISD equipment and employees.
This past week the Texas Education Agency took the school accountability system to a new low, releasing a “what if” letter grade tabulation for each school and school district in the state of Texas. This report has sent shock waves across virtually every public school district in the state. The report was a “what if” because the letter grades are not official. It was only released to let all the public school officials, teachers, parents and students know what their school and school district would receive if the official results were released this year. The letter grades are based on the 2015-2016 school report card and other factors. I say other factors because to figure out all the other factors and understand them, you could be eligible to work at mission control in NASA. Yes, it is that complicated. I have looked at the formulas and, trust me, I feel pretty stupid right about now. I’m not going to bore you with the details of how each grade was determined in this article, but I am going to try and make sense of it (or nonsense).
Here is a little background to bring everyone up to speed on what all of this means. To begin with, Texas did not invent the A-F system. The first state to use it was Florida, under Governor Jeb Bush. It is now in at least 15 states. In early 2016 the Texas Legislature under House Bill 2804, established guidelines for a new state education assessment and accountability system. The purpose of the new program was to conform to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that had previously been passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Obama in December of 2015. HB 2804 also established a commission to review the bill and make recommendations before anything became official. This review board was called The Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessment and Accountability. They met in Austin seven times with each meeting dedicated to hearing from “experts” in the field testifying about what the research and practices demonstrate about each phase of the bill’s mandates. At some of these meetings the Commission allowed public testimony. I went to Austin and testified in one of these meetings so I got a first hand look at how it operated. Here is the TEA website where you can read about the Commission and pull up the Commission’s Final Report to the Governor: http://tea.texas.gov/2804Commission.aspx
In the Commission report is the recommendation to approve what had already been written in HB 2804 regarding using an A-F grading format for schools and school districts. Consider the language used in the Commission Draft Report under Long Term Vision, item 6, page 10.
6. Align the state accountability system with ESSA requirements. Align the state and federal accountability systems to ensure that the results are consistent and share common goals. When the federal regulations regarding ESSA are released in fall 2016, Texas will be able to use the guidance provided by the specific federal regulations as it develops the A–F accountability system. An A–F accountability system to identify underperforming schools in Texas is scheduled to be implemented in the 2017–2018 school year (Texas Education Agency, Next Generation Assessment Accountability, 2016, p. 10).
To note the importance of the first sentence is to state the obviously ridiculous. The move to change the accountability system for schools and school districts to an A-F format is a federal requirement. Once again, as I have stated time and time again, Texas is but a mini-federal U.S. Department of Education. This is why we cannot seem to get away from doing what the federal government wants us to do when it comes to education policy. The loss of all sovereignty occurred when each state came under the federal waiver to get out from under impossible mandates of No Child Left Behind. Texas applied for and received their waiver in 2013. Here is the link where you can read the entire waiver request if you so desire. file://localhost/Users/huff_fitness/Downloads/TEA_Final_ESEA_Waiver_091613 (2).pdf
(You may get a warning on this website since it comes from my documents. Don’t worry, it is safe to open).
If you are interested in how we moved from No Child Left Behind into ESSA and some how fell under Common Core, even though the Texas Legislature passed a law saying we would never come under Common Core, it’s all in this waiver application. Please note, College and Career Ready Standards are the Common Core Standards. Also in this application is where schools fell under Priority and Focus categories. The federal Annual Measureable Objectives (updated Adequate Yearly Progress) is also in this waiver request.
Let me now turn your attention to the most important part of this article. Superintendents across the state are decrying the issuance of the A-F ratings. Rightfully so, I might add, they are putting out memorandums and videos that denounce these ratings and point to the unfairness of reducing a schools overall worth to a letter grade. Yes, it’s true, a school cannot be judged based on the outcomes of a standardized test given once a year. Here, though, is the issue. Where have the superintendents been on the outcry? This has been going on since the early 90’s and with more high stakes involved since 2002 with the passage of No Child Left Behind. Schools cannot be judged as Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable, Met Standard, Unacceptable, or Needs Improvement based upon the yearly given standardized test. It is a flawed policy and it increasingly affects schools negatively who have high percentages of low socio-economic students. It discriminates with sanctions and endless shaming of the students, the teachers, the administration, the parents and the community where the school is located. It is unacceptable that this horrid accountability system continues. Now with the A-F system the lobbyist controlled congress (both state and federal) implements their latest in a long series of heavy handed tactics to demonstrate their disdain for the education system. I mention lobbyist because education is an industry that makes billions of dollars every year off the backs of our children, and more specifically, by off the backs of our children in Title One schools. Everyone knows this, everyone discusses this issue; but nothing gets done. Our students are but guinea pigs forced to swallow the latest magic bullet curriculum program that the school district purchases for thousands of dollars. I mention disdain by the legislators because I have been in the committee meetings, and I have testified before both the Texas House and the Texas Senate Education Committees only to be told my time is up and thank you very much. Senator Larry Taylor did allow me more than the customary three minutes to speak, but my recommendations fell on deaf ears, just as every recommendation that came from a public speaker. The only recommendations that were followed were those that came from the invited speakers, many of which came from the corporate sector. The Education Committees in both houses of congress and the State Board of Education in Texas feel as though it is their duty to save public education. The Lt. Governor and Governor feel the same. To them, teachers can’t be trusted to teach the students. Principals can’t be trusted to lead and manage. Superintendents can’t be trusted to organize and implement the best, most trusted method of instruction. No, it is the state and federal governments, the lobbyist, and the corporations that must be in charge of teaching our students. After all, as Senator Taylor said to me when I testified to his committee, before the legislators took control students were graduating that could not read. There was a crisis in the nation. The government had to step in and take control. I told him that students are still graduating that can’t read. We don’t like it, every teacher is working to keep that from happening, but that is what happens in a free and democratic society. A student can choose to fail if they so choose. We don’t like it, but it is always going to be that way in a free and democratic society. We have been under this system of accountability for going on three decades and what do we have? We have a failed system where the controllers have their boot on the throat of every teacher, principal and superintendent and the pressure is increasing with each new phase of the accountability system.
So now we have the A-F system of school accountability. Let me give you some examples of how some school districts did around the state. The grading system of schools is broken down into four domains. There will be a fifth added next year, but for now we will just discuss the four. They are broken down as:
Domain I: Student Achievement (how all the students performed on the STAAR test)
Domain II: Student Progress (evaluating student progress in 10 student subgroup categories, broken down into 7 ethnic groups, Special Education, and English Language Learners, and their progress from the previous year’s results).
Domain III: All tests from all grades results in the economically disadvantaged student population only (These scores are compared with those from the previous year and judged by improvement or regression).
Domain IV: Post-Secondary Readiness (Elementary evaluated on absentee rate.
Middle Schools evaluated on absentee rate and dropout rate.
High Schools graded on a number of indicators, including absentee rate, graduation rate, dropout rate, career and tech programs offered, AP and IB courses offered, and a few other indicators).
Of course this is a simplified version and no mathematical statistical formulas are given to determine the outcome, so keep that in mind as I run down these results. Keep in mind, also, that these results in no way indicate the worth or value of the education the students are receiving in these school districts. Any comparison needs to be made with the understanding that the district with the most challenges have the most difficulty with this very flawed system that needs to be eliminated.
SCHOOL DISTRICT
DOMAIN I
DOMAIN II
DOMAIN III
DOMAIN IV
ALDINE ISD
D
D
B
C
AMARILLO ISD
C
C
B
F
ARLINGTON
C
B
B
D
AUSTIN ISD
B
B
C
D
BEAUMONT ISD
D
C
D
D
BROWNSVILLE ISD
C
A
A
C
CONROE ISD
B
A
B
C
CY-FAIR
B
A
B
C
DALLAS ISD
D
B
B
B
EL PASO
C
B
B
D
FORT BEND
B
A
C
D
HIGHLAND PARK
A
A
–
C
HOUSTON ISD
C
B
B
D
KLEIN ISD
B
B
C
C
LEWISVILLE ISD
B
B
D
C
MAGNOLIA ISD
B
C
D
D
PORT ARTHUR
F
C
D
D
ROUND ROCK
A
A
C
C
SAN ANTONIO
F
C
D
F
SPRING ISD
D
C
D
C
SPRING BRANCH
B
B
D
C
TOMBALL ISD
A
A
B
C
I hope that I have represented each district’s scores accurately. My apologies if there are any errors.
Of course, this list is very brief and only represents a small portion of the school districts in the state. They are, however, all large school districts with the exception of Highland Park. Highland Park was included in this list simply to point out the disparity of the system. This is not a slam against Highland Park. They are a very good school district. They do, however, have zero economically disadvantaged students. At least none show up on the school report card. This is why they did not receive a score in Domain III. Highland Park received a “C” in Domain IV only because they went down in their Post Secondary Readiness Index from 96 in 2015 to 92 in 2016. The score of 92 in Domain IV is an excellent score, but because Highland Park went down from a score of 96 in 2015 (the target score for Domain IV is 57 for high schools), they were shamed with a grade of “C”. So, the public assumes Highland Park is just average in Domain IV, yet they had a very high score of 92.
Looking at the list provided in this article, I’m sure, makes you scratch your head and wonder how a district received the grade it did in each of the domains. Some of the grades you can understand and others you can’t figure out how the grade could be what it is. Due to the ramifications that go along with a letter grade, and the impressions it makes in the eyes of the public, you can see why the school officials are yelling from the rooftops that this is an unfair system and in no way reflects their districts quality and worth. Yet it has been this way from the beginning of the Accountability System. Those of you who have followed my articles and read my book, The Takeover of Public Education in America: The Agenda to Control Information and Knowledge Through the Accountability System, know that the central theme I keep repeating is the unjust nature and discriminatory practice the accountability system is for the entire nation, not just Texas. But Texas is my state, so I concentrate on Texas, where I live and work.
Superintendents of the great State of Texas, I put this situation in your hands. I think this is personal to you now. Before, the old system of “met standards” or “needs improvement” didn’t quite have the sting of a letter grade. Everyone identifies with a letter grade. The Congress of Texas thinks this will motivate everyone directly involved with student testing outcomes to improve. What Congress doesn’t realize is that school officials and teachers have been doing everything in their power to get the scores up, yet with little effect. This is because no matter what program is brought in, or what guru is provided to help teachers teach better, the same demographic factors are almost impossible to overcome. This, also, has nothing to do with ethnicity. Nothing! The schools success rises or falls with the percentages of students in Eco-Disadvantaged, English Language Learners, and the Mobility Rate for the school and school district. The Mobility Rate indicates the number of students that arrive after school begins and/or leaves before the school year ends.
Superintendents, I call on you to organize. Organize not around TASA. In my opinion, The Texas Association of School Administrators has not served you well. They have kept you in the status quo. You must have an independent voice in order to get the attention of the state legislators. Yes, the federal government wants this A-F system, but they have also said they want states to have more autonomy in determining their accountability systems. Use this as your leverage point. Apart from the parents of the state, whom the legislators have already demonstrated they do not listen to, the superintendents of the state are the only hope for reversing the A-F grading system, and the entire accountability system. The whole system is flawed to its core and needs to be eliminated. Let’s all come together and speak in one voice to eliminate the A-F grading system first, then the entire accountability system.
Dr. Patrick Huff is the author of “The Takeover of Public Education in America: The Agenda to Control Information and Knowledge Through the Accountability System”, 2015. The book can be found at http://www.aphuff.com. Dr. Huff is a retired middle and high school principal with 34 years in the public education profession. He currently works as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He lives with his wife, Connie, of 35 years in Tomball, Texas and can be reached at aphuff51@gmail.com
Texas school district, Magnolia ISD, has made national news within the last couple of weeks due to the violation of “parental rights“. Their “NEW” policy prohibited parents from walking their children home from school in the name of “safety'” (I assume they did not think parents would be concerned with their own child’s safety and needed help from the “STATE”).
Magnolia’s new Bear Branch Elementary Principal, Holly Ray, informed parents that there would be no walkers at the beginning of this school year. Since making the news after parents had been issued “trespass warnings” and threatened with arrest the Magnolia ISD administration is now denying there was ever a “no walker policy”. The district claims parents have always been free to walk their children home although we have found no notice stating this fact up until the district released this statement on April 6th. As expected, the district diverts blame for their actions onto the parents. Labeling them as being “verbally and physically” abusive and disrupting school procedures. This diversion technique is a common tactic utilized among Texas School Districts when portrayed in a negative light in the news.
The new walker policy was pulled out of thin air once this news story broke. Parents may now walk their children home twenty five minutes after school dismisses if the car rider line has made its way through the parking lot and possibly a longer if not. (More of “I” am in control). So where does the TRUTH lie?
Principal, Holly Ray
Parent, Robert Zeck provided this statement and a copy of the schools “CAR RIDER RULES” that specifically states “Students will NOT be dismissed to people on foot”. Notice the bold word “NOT” in this one rule. Seems Ms. Ray wanted to make her point quite clear there would not be walkers. So why all the confusion?
MISD released the following comment to Fox 26 April, 15th stating “We are happy for parents to walk their children home”. I would say we have some major contradictions here. Where in the world are the board members in all of this?
Holly Ray became the new principal of Bear Branch Elementary this year. Parents upset with the new policy have followed the district’s administrative channels in hopes of reaching an amicable agreement. Unfortunately, Ray and MISD Superintendent, Todd Stephens dug their administrative heels in and would not budge. One father met with Ray during the fall to discuss revising the new policy. With no agreeable consensus he left Ray’s office voicing his opposition to the “no walker policy” and said he would be at the next school board meeting. The meeting with Ray was held at 9:00 am on Sept 4th. At 4:00 pm the same day a Constable placed a “TRESPASS WARNING” in the father’s mailbox with no explanation as to why it was issued. Upon visiting the constable’s office asking for any and all documents pertaining to the warning, he was told there was nothing. Yes, that is right NO POLICE REPORT.
I would have to surmise that Ms. Ray, as Bear Branch’s new principal, did not want the father to address the first school board meeting of the year voicing complaints directed at her school policies.
Magnolia ISD has since come out claiming the warrant that was issued in the fall was due to the father attempting to be “verbally and physically” abusive to a staff member at Bear Branch Elementary though there is no police report backing up such claims. Fox 26 asked the district the following regarding the superintendents statement.
It is their understanding? WHAT? Do they not have any facts? Now not only has this father, a school volunteer, been portrayed as possibly “verbally and physically abusive”, the district is now claiming his behavior has been an on going problem although there is no report of it. Hmmm, interesting?
The district also claimed there was no police report. Well after filing a Public Information Request the Montgomery County Attorney’s office released the police report that doesn’t exist. See below. I would like to mention that the superintendent, Todd Stephens claims in his press releases that a father has continually been a “verbal and physical” danger. Though the police report has zilch information pertaining to this or why a trespass warning was issued. Interesting. Again Magnolia ISD where is the truth?
Superintendent, Todd Stephens was emailed by the parents asking once again to be allowed to walk their children home as well as having the “Trespass Warning” removed. His response below specifically states there will be no “bike rider or walkers” at Bear Branch. In regards to removing the “Criminal Trespass Warning”, the superintendent left that up to the Ms. Ray, the principal. WHAT? Let’s look at this objectively. We have a man that the district claims is, and has been, a “physical threat” to staff at Bear Branch Elementary prompting them to call Constable, David Hill’s office to invoke a criminal trespass warning. Now the school principal, Holly Ray is qualified to determine when this father is no longer a threat in order to remove the warning? You can’t make this stuff up.
We also have two moms that walked to the school and picked up their children at the close of the school day in March and returned home. Within the hour Ms. Ray calls for a constable from Constable David Hill’s office to serve them papers at their home, in front of their neighbors and children. The constable informs the moms that if they walk their children home again they could either be charged with a class B misdemeanor or arrested. SERIOUSLY?
Asked by Fox News Reporter, Andrea Watkins if the district will apologize for the excessive force and intimidation tactics. The district now claims these moms have been a continued disruption to the dismissal procedures. More blame shifting and intimidation on behalf of Magnolia ISD district.
The following paper was distributed to parents at the beginning of the year. The policy states “If you need to come inside the building after school, please remain in the car rider line until you have picked up your child and then park in a designated spot and check in at the front office.” I can see no other reason for that policy except to show the parents of Bear Branch Elementary that she is the boss and will control the parents and children and how they behave at “her” campus. Why else would you want someone to wait in the rider line, pick up their child, park, and then enter the building rather than park and enter the building where their child already was, do your business and return to you car and leave?
Texas State Rep Cecil Bell is now caught in the fray after posting Magnolia ISD’s response to Fox News on his Facebook Page. From all appearances it appears that Rep. Bell supports the Magnolia ISD School District over the parents in this situation and has yet to speak to them (his constitutents) regarding the matter.
I will end by asking Magnolia ISD where is the truth?
The days of having a school board that represents voters is OVER. Believe me when I tell you that behind the scenes the powers at be work in recruiting and maintaining board members that will not rock the status quo. School Boards do not want to be transparent. They are “NOT” forthcoming with parents, taxpayers or the community of their agenda’s or the progressive curriculum they are implementing. School Districts on a whole at the top are just another corrupt government bureaucracy run amok , sadly.
Magnolia’s ISD’s 2016 School Board election is this May and it appears they have roped another establishment candidate to replace Steve Crews for Place #1, local realtor, Kelly McDonald.Kelly will be the 3rd realtor to sit on the board which I find interesting. Have school boards now become a smaller version of the liberal “chamber of commerce”? Is serving on the school board truly about education any longer or business?
Kelly is a huge proponent in implementing the United Nations Marxist Curriculum, International Baccalaureate in Magnolia schools giving no thought to how or will effect our children and country. Kelly took to the podium the past fall at one of Magnolia ISD’s school board meeting to promote the program.
Kelly also served on the Magnolia ISD’s bond planning committee and starred in the following video to get voters out to vote in favor of the bond.
Unfortunately, across the United States we are witnessing the overreach of governmental authorities at various unconstitutional levels. One that hits a little closer to home is the utilization of government power to violate and intimidate parents and their “parental rights” when raising their own children as they see fit. This violation is happening by a greater scale on a daily basis with parents seeking legal council to fight this infringement.
Presently in the Texas school district of Magnolia ISD we are witnessing this government encroachment and intimidation with moms being threatened with arrest and class B misdemeanors. Their crime you may ask? Walking their children home from school. One would think this is a fabricated story but unfortunately it is not. Magnolia’s Bear Branch Elementary new principal, Holly Ray implemented this new walker policy this school year prohibiting parents to walk their children home even if they live within walking distance.
Mom’s Heather Burke and Lindsey Simmons live within .2 miles of the school and after numerous attempts to work with the school and their administration on their absurd “no walker” policy brought their complaints to the Magnolia ISD April school board meeting.
You can view the video of their complaints below.
Heather Burke
Lindsey Simmons
ParentalRights.org has released the following video, OVERRULED highlighting the government invasion of parental rights
Magnolia ISD has been working quietly the last few years to implement the United Nations, International Baccalaureate Program (IB), paid for with our tax dollars. The IB program is promoted as a “prestigious & valued” program taken by students seeking college admittance and scholarships. Hidden is the history of it’s creation and mission of changing American Society. IB is no friend to the Christian faith or America’s western values.
Magnolia ISD is no longer an American School teaching American Exceptionalism, but a Global School with a Global Mission. You can read more about the history and mission of the IB program at the following post, Magnolia ISD Implementing “Marxist” Curriculum.
IB has a World Magazine which is published twice a year. The current issue promotes the practice of Buddhist Meditation called “mindfulness” by students and teachers. You can view this article in full on pages 11-19 of the March issue.
I have pasted a few excerpts from the article below. Please take the time to read the above mentioned blog post and the IB article.
If you are a Christian and value America and it’s freedom please make your voice heard and call the
Magnolia ISD Administration office and tell then we do not want this in our schools. Phone: (281) 356-3571.
Magnolia ISD has hit the news media by storm this week over a new policy restricting parents from deciding on how best to pick up their children from school. Parents who have walked to the school to pick up their kids have been served papers by the Montgomery County Precinct 5 , David Hill’s Constable’s office for doing so and informed if they did it again they would be arrested. Yes, I would say this was by far an overreach of governmental power and intimidation.
Parents have set up meetings and personally met with Magnolia ISD’s Superintendent, Todd Stephens, Bear Branch Elementary Principal, Holly Ray and spoke at a school board meeting regarding the new restrictive policy with no satisfactory resolution.
It was not until news of this story hit the media that Superintendent, Todd Stephens publicly addressed with the following statement to parents. \Superintendent’s Letter to Bear Branch Parents
I find some of Mr. Stephens statements questionable. One being the count of how many students that have withdrawn from Bear Branch Elementary this 2015-2016 school year.
One parent filed a Public Information Request with the district in October requesting a head count of students that have withdrawn from MISD elementary schools.
We also have two moms that walked to the school and picked up their children at the close of the school day in March and returned home. Within the hour Ms. Ray calls for a constable from Constable David Hill’s office to serve them papers at their home, in front of their neighbors and children. The constable informs the moms that if they walk their children home again they could either be charged with a class B misdemeanor or arrested. SERIOUSLY?
