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Can “WE” trust this Aldine ISD?

As much as I hate to admit it, I must confess that before I started analyzing news and issues-- purely from a Black perspective-- I was just like most other reasonably political astute citizens who’re active in their community’s politics. And, like most other political active African Americans, I bought into the premises that when it comes to big business and power politics it wasn’t about the color of a person’s skin, but the color of his or her money. I’m sure you’ve used the old African proverb, “Money talks… b.s. walks,” yourself. Or, better still, haven’t you heard it said throughout your life that, “It’s all about money?”

Sure you have. And you, just like me, have also wondered, out loud, why people would spend money to win a seat on a school district’s Board of Trustees that ideally doesn’t pay them a dime? If you’re truly political astute, you probably concluded a long time ago that nobody is going to spend their time, energy and money so that they can work for nothing. So what’s the payoff? If you read Publisher’s News Analysis (in last week’s edition of African American News & Issues), you already know we asked three candidates for the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees those questions last week, when our editorial staff interviewed Maurice Parker, Sidney Brewer and Michael Harris on April 26. Emmett Hill, a past president of Aldine ISD’s Board of Trustees, on which he still serves, was also present.

Hill, who has proven to be “our Negro in the house,” rather than “a house Negro,” just might be one of those people who truly want the best for the kids in his community. And that’s why he is campaigning for Maurice Parker and Sidney Brewer, although the Aldine board is already a minority-majority, if you count board president Viola M. Garcia. However, when Garcia allegedly appointed Steve Mead during a closed meeting on Jan. 15, 2004, to replace a board member, Carlos Diaz, who was forced to resign because of residency requirements, the question that’s begging to be asked is “Can we trust Aldine ISD?” Apparently Hill, who was appointed to the board in April 1991and re-elected every since, apparently doesn’t think so.
The fact that Hill (a former Aldine G. W. Carver star athlete who went on to play on TSU’s only unbeaten, National Championship football team and worked in the district as a coach and teacher for 31-years) is working hard to get Parker and Brewer on the board, it’s fairly obvious that he agrees with the Citizens for Aldine’s 9, 524, 160 reasons why the Acres Home natives should be elected. Yes, and it’s all about money. Minority taxpayer’s money that’s being misused, according to the Citizen’s for Aldine’s Web Site (www.citizensforaldine.com), that reveals: “Citizens for Aldine has examined the school budget projections and bonus disbursements for Aldine I.S.D. for the 2002/2003 school year. What we found was appalling.
“The district reported a net loss of approximately $10 Million dollars for the 2003 school year, prompting a 10.4% increase in your residential property taxes. Ironically, district administrators and employees were paid $9,524,160 Million in bonuses, with the majority share going to Superintendent Nadine Kujawa and Deputy Superintendent Archie Blanson. The $9+ Million pay out exceeded the prior year total of $3,366,039.65 by more than 6 Million dollars, a 183% increase over 2001/2002. We think the current Board of Trustees should individually address the issue of these bonus payouts and explain why they supported it! Superintendent Kujawa was paid a bonus of $25K, on top of her generous salary and benefits totaling more than $229,545.00.
“Deputy Superintendent Blanson, the architect of the Aldine Incentive Plan was paid $12,500, while top level administrators were paid significant sums as compared to the teachers in the district. Citizens for Aldine do not object to competitive salaries, benefits and incentives for employees of the district – in fact, we encourage the use of incentives to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers; however, we do not support the inequitable distribution of district resources when the budget is out of control.
While the district has increased taxes by more than 10% on residential property, the district has dolled out “permanent” exemptions totaling more than $5 Million to some of the largest corporations in the world!

“At the top of that list is the Halliburton Company, who received exemptions from the district totaling more than $1.3 Million. Responsible incentives to promote business growth in the district is a good thing – but permanent exemptions is irresponsible at a time when school funding is experiencing crisis status in the State of Texas. It is time to change this board of trustees for a board that will be responsive to its electorate and who will work with all residents and businesses in the district to balance the budget, promote tax fairness and provide for an education that is second to none and once make this district the model for excellence.” Since the foregoing text didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, it was like the choir preaching to the preacher.
Even so, as an Aldine grad, who would love to see a true high school in the heart of Acres Home, I’m casting my vote for Parker and Brewer. Especially since the desegregation plan has been dismantled. If Aldine ISD’s hierarchy was misusing and abusing our tax dollars while the government was scrutinizing them, what do you think they’re going to do now that they can return to their racist, discriminating past. Do you think you can trust the incumbent Aldine ISD board to do the right thing? If not, you apparently remember how Aldine’s predominately Black schools were treated before they were forced to do the right thing. And you also should know why you must turn out in droves at the polls (see diagram), and vote for Brewer and Parker on May 15, 2004.