“Tell them about the dream”-- a teacher remembers - NSBA

"It was a good speech, but something was missing, retired teacher Harry Klugel recalled. Sitting near the front of the stage, Klugel, now 72, saw singer Mahalia Jackson implore Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to say something more. Klugel couldn’t hear her, but organist Yolanda Clarke could, and remembers distinctly what she said:

 “Tell them about the dream.”

Fifty years after the historic March on Washington, thousands of people returned to the Capitol Mall Tuesday to commemorate King's “I Have a Dream” speech and reflect on the work left to be done to ensure equal opportunity for all. Much of that work depends on the quality of our schools."

Click Here

National School Board Association - NSBA

Jim Schutze of the Dallas Observer falsely says black board member Carla Ranger "clicked her heels, saluted and fell into line"

"Black board member Carla Ranger had been a fiercely independent voice on the school board who often traded verbal blows with Blackburn and other black board members. But after Price declared Miles as Public Enemy No. 1, Ranger clicked her heels, saluted and fell into line." Hey, Mayor Mike: The School Thing Is Way Worse than a Simple Question of Personalities - Click Here - Unfair Park 

Well, let us see - "black board member Carla Ranger" - that is me. 

Just maybe I know more about this accusation than Jim Schutze.

Jim Schutze has invented the absurd fiction that Commissioner John Wiley Price influenced me to "click my heels, salute and fall into line."

What a falsehood.  

I was elected District 6 Trustee in 2006. I am now entering my eighth year as a Dallas ISD Trustee.

I have seen quite a bit in those years - good, bad and ugly. 

I know a little bit about the truth of what has occurred. 

Not once in my years of service as a Dallas ISD Trustee has Commissioner John Wiley Price or any other black elected official ever attempted to influence me in any way. 

Commissioner Price has never even spoken to me about any Dallas ISD educational matter. He has never called me. I have never called him.

Yet, without one iota of documentation, Jim Schutze has made a totally reckless accusation that is both wrong and dishonest.

I stand on my own decisions and every decision has been made by me and no one else.

Commit Executive Director Todd Williams - former Dallas ISD principal and executive director Eddie Conger opens charter school to teach in Chinese

Dallas ISD Trustees received the communication below from Commit Executive Director Todd Willlliams and Education Advisor to  Mayor Mike Rawlings regarding the opening of a new charter school headed by former Dallas ISD employee Eddie Conger.

The purpose is obviously to promote expanding charter schools.

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From: Commit! - Todd Williams [mailto:todd.williams@commit2dallas.org]
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013 3:59 PM
Subject: New Dallas-area charter school to teach in Chinese

Eddie Conger, former DISD Thomas Jefferson High School principal and Exec. Director over the TJ feeder pattern for first few months of 2012-13 school year, opened a new charter school network with focus on language exposure.  Per attached article, they accepted 2,900 students out of 6,000 applications in first year. Certainly highlights strong parental demand for this feature given enrollment for a brand new concept; this network is the same size as Harmony's footprint in Dallas County after multiple years and 4-5x larger than KIPP (which also expanded in Fall 2014).  As superintendents think about potentially growing schools of choice within districts across the area, this is a concept that certainly seemed to resonate with certain parents and students.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/texas/article/New-Dallas-area-charter-school-to-teach-in-Chinese-4755506.php

New Dallas-area charter school to teach in Chinese

GARLAND, Texas (AP) — Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams was so impressed with plans for students at a new Dallas-area charter school to be taught in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese that he traveled from his Austin office to offer best wishes.

Williams attended an open house Thursday for International Leadership of Texas school, which opens charter school campuses Monday in Garland and Arlington, The Dallas Morning News (http://dallasne.ws/12uy2OW ) reported.

"I came to praise the good in advance of you doing it," Williams told the audience that filled an auditorium. He saluted school leaders for their plans to make students multilingual and prepare them "for a world that might be a tad bit bigger than Garland, Texas."

International Leadership was one of eight charters approved by the State Board of Education last year. The charter school accepted about 2,900 students in kindergarten through 10th grade; it received about 6,000 applications.

Superintendent Eddie Conger, a retired Marine and former high school principal in the Dallas Independent School District, thanked current and former state board members for or supporting his school's proposal.

"If they had not voted for the merits of it, we would not be here today," Conger said.

Denise Toliver of Rowlett, a parent, said she was impressed by the school's diversity and mission.

"Leadership for a global world is exactly what we're looking for," Toliver said.

Charter schools in Texas are publicly funded but privately managed.

___

Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com

Dallas ISD teacher feels despised and not valued any longer

 

"2 Teach is 2 Touch Lives 4 Ever"

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"Before I go to sleep each night, I say a prayer that I won't wake up. I don't feel valued any longer. Whether I attend a faculty meeting or read a news story, I feel despised at the end.

by disdteacher 6:37 AM"

Comment

http://live.dallasnews.com/Event/Talk_DISD - Dallas Morning News

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Pay for performance promotes adult cheating for dollars and exploits children for money - Dallas ISD does not need another commission with a corporate reform bias

"We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)"

 "We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "pay for performance" has no place. Pay for performance is inherently corrupting and exploits public school children for the financial benefit of adults."

Pay for performance tied to student test scores should have no place in the field of public education.  

I have voted against pay for performance. I will continue to vote against it for reasons that are obvious:

• It is a part of the corporate education reform model to privatize public education.
• It exploits children. 
• It corrupts adults. 
• It promotes cheating for dollars. 
• It creates competition - not collaboration. 
• It places a dollar sign on student test success.
• It does not work in public education.

The primary motivation for the cheating schemes of adults in Atlanta Public Schools was to obtain pay incentives all the way up to the Superintendent.

Research has suggested that pay for performance does little or nothing to improve student achievement.

The Debate over Teacher Merit Pay: A Freakonomics Quorum - Click Here

"There’s just one problem: educators almost universally hate merit pay, and have been adamantly opposed to it from day one. Simply, teachers say merit pay won’t work.

"In the last year, there’s been some pretty damning evidence proving them right; research showing that merit pay, in a variety of shapes and sizes, fails to raise student performance. In the worst of cases, such as the scandal in Atlanta, it’s contributed to flat-out cheating on the part of teachers and administrators. So, are we surprised that educators don’t respond to monetary incentives? Is that even the right conclusion to draw? 

 http://carlaranger.blogspot.com/search?q=freakonomics

Pay for performance in public education (K-12) appears to result in a corrupting benefit for a few adults - but does little for the success of all children.
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Former Atlanta schools superintendent reports to jail in cheating scandal

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/02/justice/georgia-cheating-scandal 

By CNN Staff

updated 10:00 AM EDT, Wed April 3, 2013 

(CNN) -- The former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools was among the educators who surrendered to authorities Tuesday after being indicted by a grand jury in a cheating scandal that rocked the district and drew national attention.

Beverly Hall resigned from her position in 2011 after a state investigation into large, unexplained test score gains in some Atlanta schools. She has denied any role in the cheating scandal.

A Fulton County grand jury last week indicted 35 educators from the district, including principals, teachers and testing coordinators. They were ordered to turn themselves in by Tuesday, District Attorney Paul Howard said.

By 10:00 p.m., 27 of 35 educators had turned themselves in at the Fulton County Jail to face charges including racketeering, theft by taking and making false statements about their roles in an alleged plot to falsify students' standardized tests. Eight of them had been released on bond late Tuesday, the Fulton County Sheriff's office said.

In 2009, Hall was named the National Superintendent of the Year by the Schools Superintendents Association, which at the time said her "leadership has turned Atlanta into a model of urban school reform."

Grand jury indicts 35 in Georgia school cheating scandal

Cheating scandal hits Atlanta schools

First indicted educator turns self in

 

35 employees indicted in cheating scandal

But the indictment paints another picture of Hall, one of a superintendent with "a single-minded purpose, and that is to cheat," Howard told reporters last week.

According to the indictment, Hall placed unreasonable goals on educators and "protected and rewarded those who achieved targets by cheating." It also alleges she fired principals who failed to achieve goals and "ignored suspicious" test score gains throughout the school system.

Her bond was reduced from $7.5 million to $200,000, the Fulton County Sheriff's office reported.

Dallas Morning News Editorial Board again makes a false statement - Dallas ISD Trustees did not employ Superintendent Mike Miles by a unanimous vote

The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board continues to falsely report that Superintendent Floyd Mike Miles was hired by a unanimous vote of Dallas ISD Trustees. 

The vote was 8-1 with Carla Ranger voting 'No".
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DISD Board hires Mike Miles in 8-to-1 vote-WFAA News-April 26, 2012

"It took school board members more than two hours in closed session to agree on the terms of his contract. Trustees then voted 8-to-1 to hire Miles.
Carla Ranger said she had concerns and questions about hiring him. When asked later what those were, Ranger would not elaborate."

http://www.wfaa.com/news/education/DISD-Board-hires-Mike-Miles-in-8-to-1-vote-
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Yet, the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board again makes the following false statement in its latest editorial posted on Wednesday, August 7, 2013:

**************************************************************************  
Editorial: Miles’ public, private lives collide in decision to move family

"the same school board that unanimously hired Miles"

"And agree or disagree, who could want to start over with another superintendent search? It would be in the hands of roughly the same school board that unanimously hired Miles. And his departure under these circumstances makes the job exponentially less attractive to potential candidates, if any exist."
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20130807-editorial-miles-public-private-lives-collide-in-decision-to-move-family.ece

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What is stated here is simply false.

Thursday, April 26, 2012- Called Board Meeting

• The vote to employ Mike Miles - Carla Ranger voted "No".

• The vote on Mike Miles'  Employment Contract - Carla Ranger vote "No".

• The vote on Mike Miles' Interim Services Agreement - Carla Ranger voted "No".

Why does this serious misstatement of the truth continue to be repeated?

Again on Friday, June 28, 2013, the following statement appeared in another Dallas Morning News Opinion Blog written by Kevin Ann Wiley/Editor.

 "After all, Miles has made little-noticed progress on the majority of the goals the Board of Trustees laid out for him a year ago when they (unanimously) hired him." Disagreement or dysfunction at DISD’s board of trustees? - DMN - Friday, June 28, 2013 - Opinion Blog - Kevin Ann Wiley/Editor

http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/disagreement-or-dysfunction-at-disds-board-of-trustees.html

This statement is also false, "After all ... when they (unanimously) hired him."  The vote to hire Mike Miles as Superintendent was not unanimous.

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The recorded minutes of the Thursday, April 26, 2012, 7:00 p.m. Dallas ISD Called Board Meeting state the following:

• 5. Discussion and Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Employment of F. Mike Miles as Superintendent of Schools - It was moved by Trustee Adam Medrano and seconded by Trustee Edwin Flores to Approve the Employment of F. Mike Miles as Superintendent of Schools
• Motion passed 8/1 with Trustee Carla Ranger voting no.
• 6. Discussion and Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Employment Contract for F. Mike Miles as Superintendent of Schools - It was moved by Trustee Adam Medrano and seconded by Trustee Edwin Flores to Approve the Employment Contract for F. Mike Miles as Superintendent of Schools
• Motion passed 8/1 with Trustee Carla Ranger voting no.
• 7. Discussion and Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Administrative Services Agreement with F. Mike Miles for Administrative Services - It was moved by Adam Medrano and seconded by Trustee Edwin Flores to Approve the Administrative Services Agreement with F. Mike Miles for Administrative Services
• Motion passed 8/1 with Trustee Carla Ranger voting no."
• 8. Meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m."

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To the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board - Please stop reporting false information on the Thursday, April 26, 2012 vote to employ Superintendent Mike Miles.

The vote was not unanimous. 

One Trustee, Carla Ranger, consistently voted against the employment of Superintendent Mike Miles.

Voting "Yes" to employ Superintendent Mike Miles
Nancy Bingham
Lew Blackburn 
Eric Cowan
Edwin Flores
Adam Medrano
Mike Morath
Bernadette Nutall
Bruce Parrott

Voting "No" - Carla Ranger 

Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and Entity Board summer meeting - Houston, Texas

The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) hosted the Summer TASB and Entity Board meeting last week in Houston, Texas - from Wednesday to Saturday, July 24-July 27, 2013.

A packed agenda called for reports and action by Boards and committees, including: the Energy Cooperative  Board,  First Public, LLC, the Legislative Action Committee, the Local Government Purchasing Cooperative, the Lone Star Investment Pool Board, Risk Management Board and committees, TASB Benefits Board, and the TASB Board and committees.

Meanwhile, TASB staff members reported they are also wrapping up final preparations for the 2013 TASA/TASB  annual state conference, set for September 27 - 29 in Dallas.  Hundreds of School Board Trustees and school administrators from all over Texas will attend.

Our appreciation to President Viola M. Garcia, along with the Executive Committee, for leading TASB Directors and affiliates in an effective, efficient summer meeting.

Thanks to TASB staff who once again facilitated this well-planned, well-organized event.

The quality of service and work provided by TASB for Texas schools and public education helps validate why, for the fifth year in a row, the Texas Association of School Boards was selected as the Fourth Best of Top Places to Work In Central Texas among large companies by the Austin Business Journal.

Executive Director Jim Crow stated, "This is a great honor, as there were 250 nominations this year.  TASB staff is dedicated to service, and we know that if we are good and caring to our staff, they will be good and caring to our members. I am extremely proud of their commitment to excellence as they work to support Texas public schools every day."

We are grateful for the services TASB provides to school districts throughout the state of Texas.

Debunking the Myths of School Closures

In cities across the country, education officials are closing public schools en masse, impacting thousands of students, disproportionately those from communities of color or low-income families. Officials use a variety of justifications to defend the closures, citing everything from budget concerns to promises of better opportunities for students. But as this new infographic from the Opportunity To Learn Campaign illustrates, these justifications don’t hold up to scrutiny. Here is what the evidence from past and current school closures says: [Click here for more information and citations. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and Twitter!] Want to take action? Here's what to do: Read up on the alternatives. You can't improve schools by closing them – here is what we should be doing instead to support and turn around struggling schools. Find out if there's a local organizing group in your community fighting school closures. Contact the Journey for Justice coalition and Alliance for Educational Justice. Share this infographic on Facebook and Twitter. And view and share our previous infographic, "The Color of School Closures."
The National Opportunity to Learn Campaign 675 Massachusetts Avenue, 8th Floor | Cambridge, MA 02139 www.otlcampaign.org | 617-876-7700 Privacy Policy | Email Preferences ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper: More information Most students won’t go to better schools. The vast majority of students from closing schools are transferred to receiving schools that are struggling just as much as or worse than the schools that closed. A February 2013 report from Research for Action compares 32 schools recommended for closure or consolidation in Philadelphia with the 51 planned receiving schools. Overwhelmingly, the receiving schools posted similar or worse scores on the state math and reading exams and were in similar corrective action plans for failing to meet adequately yearly progress. A 2009 University of Chicago report on the effect of past closures in Chicago found that 40% of students from closing schools transferred to receiving schools that were on probation. 42 % transferred to schools with scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in the lowest quartile. Just 6% of students transferred to receiving schools with scores in the top quartile, most of them traveling well outside their designated attendance area to find a school with open seats. Closures won’t save the district big bucks. Closing schools is expensive. Officials have to pay to relocate and store inventory; transport students to new schools; renovate receiving schools to accommodate the influx of new students; reassess, fix up, and maintain or demolish closed school buildings. It can particularly difficult to sell closed school properties because they are often in economically disadvantaged areas with little investment, which forces the city to continue maintaining the properties. A 2012 audit of the closure and consolidation of 23 schools in Washington, D.C. in 2008 found that total cost of the closures was 39.5 million, roughly 4 times what the district was expected to save. A WBEZ Chicago report about the city’s current plans to close 50 public schools this fall notes that education officials have used the school district's $1 billion deficit as justification for the closures. Simultaneously, those officials are planning to put all the savings from the closed schools, plus an additional $329 million from new bond sales, towards improving the receiving schools. So not only is the district not saving money, it’s going further into debt. A 2011 report from the Pew Charitable Trusts examined the cost of past school closures in Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The report found that "no district has reaped anything like a windfall" from selling or leasing closed school buildings because they are costly to maintain and are often located in low-investment areas with few interested buyers: “As of the summer of 2011, at least 200 school properties stood vacant in the six cities studied – including 92 in Detroit alone – with most having been empty for several years…Milwaukee spends more than $1 million a year maintaining vacant buildings, Pittsburgh $2 million, and Kansas City close to $3 million.” These aren’t empty schools. In determining the optimal number of students in a given school, education officials employ a double standard in terms of classroom “utilization.” Despite the documented benefits of small class sizes, a public school with 15-20 students per classroom can be labeled “underutilized,” while private schools (to which many politicians send their children) and charters just a few blocks away can pride themselves on having small class sizes. In Chicago, an analysis by researcher Jeanne Olson and a WBEZ report both highlight that the city’s utilization formula assumes from the start that every school should have 30-36 students per class. Anything less and the school is deemed “underutilized.” Closures do have a big impact – on everyone. School closings impact and disrupt whole communities. Many receiving schools aren’t equipped for an influx of new students. Though the receiving schools may get some additional resources from the district, chances are it won’t be enough to accommodate the needs of the incoming students, most of whom are from low-income communities. This creates a cycle of struggling schools and sets up the receiving schools for future closure. Students from closed schools will have to travel across unfamiliar neighborhoods to get to their new schools. This is a particular concern in Chicago, where some students will be forced to walk through gang territory. During non-school hours, school buildings often house pre-K programs, health clinics and other community programs. Closing the buildings destroys this hub of community resources. School closures fit into a larger pattern of community disinvestment, declining public housing and unemployment. Many of the neighborhoods with closing schools have seen their hospitals and police stations closed as well. Want to take action? Here’s what to do. Read up on the alternatives. You can’t improve schools by closing them – here’s what we should be doing instead to support and turn around struggling schools. Find out if there's a local organizing group in your community fighting school closures. Contact the Journey for Justice coalition and Alliance for Educational Justice, or send us an email. Share this infographic on Facebook and Twitter. And view and share our previous infographic, “The Color of School Closures." Tags: National School Closures District of Columbia Education as a Civil Right Equitable Funding Streams Equitable Materials and Policies Threats to Public Education Illinois New York Pennsylvania ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Color of School Closures Posted on: Tuesday April 23rd, 2013 Mass school closings have become a hallmark of today's dominant education policy agenda. But rather than helping students, these closures disrupt whole communities. And as U.S. Department of Education data suggests, the most recent rounds of mass closings in Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia disproportionately hurt Black and low-income students. What can you do to end these discriminatory and unacceptable school closures? Share this infographic with your friends on Facebook and Twitter – start the conversation in your community! Send us your stories and data about closings in your district. Learn about alternatives that support students rather than close school doors on them. There is no evidence to suggest that school closures work. Despite what policymakers say to justify these mass closures, reports have shown that the majority of student who are affected do not get placed in high performing schools. And though closures are often touted as a way for districts to save money in tough economic times, those savings often fail to materialize and can in reality cost taxpayers millions in hidden costs. What is the alternative to closing schools? Evidence-based policies that provide students, schools and communities with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed, including: Wraparound academic, health and social services to help struggling students get back on track Recruiting, training and retaining high-quality teachers in every classroom Equitable school funding systems so that those who face the toughest hurdles receive the greatest resources Universal high-quality pre-K so that all students start school ready to learn Expanded learning time, including after-school and summer programming Turning schools into community hubs that provide expanded services to both students and community members For more information, check out this report from Communities for Excellent Public Schools, "A Proposal for Sustainable School Transformation." Here are just a few of the many groups organizing against school closures in the cities highlighted in the infographic. If your organization is doing anti-closures work, let us know and we'll add it! Chicago: Kenwood Oakland Community Organization New York: Coalition for Educational Justice Philadelphia: Philadelphia Student Union National: Journey for Justice Tags: National District of Columbia Education as a Civil Right Equitable Funding Streams Equitable Materials and Policies Threats to Public Education Illinois Pennsylvania -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFT President Randi Weingarten calls for "Reclaiming the Promise" of Public Education

"Public education is under assault." 

"They aren't in education to make a difference. They are in education to make a buck." -- Randi Weingarten

AFT
Reclaiming the Promise - Uniting for Public Schools

Published on Jul 22, 2013

In her speech at TEACH 2013 AFT President Randi Weingarten contrasts AFT's vision for "Reclaiming the Promise" of quality public education for all with corporate education "reformers" ineffective approach of cuts, competition and closings.

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Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles' comments violate the spirit of the Texas Public Information Act

On Saturday I posted the Office of Professional Responsibility 'Final Report' of the 'investigation' of 

"allegations made by the Chief of Communications, Rebecca Rodriguez, that Superintendent of Schools Floyd Mike Miles used 'undue influence' by pulling an agenda item from the June 13, 2013 monthly Board Briefing. Ms Rodriguez stated her concern was the agenda item was pulled because the vendor who was awarded the contract per Request For Proposal TH-204031 was not Mike Miles favored vendor."

I released the report because I strongly believe in open government. I believe in the Texas Public Information Act which clearly requires that public information be released to the public.

I also released the 'Final Report' because I knew an effort would be made to prevent public release of the information.

On Sunday Superintendent Mike Miles released a "lengthy statement" that confirms his desire and intention to prevent release of this Final Report of the Office of Professional Responsibility OPR).

In his public comments on Sunday, Superintendent Mike Miles stated "that this incomplete report should not be in the public domain."

In making this statement Superintendent Miles is expressing an arbitrary and self-serving viewpoint that disregards the clear requirements of the Texas Public Information Act.

On the second page of the OPR Report approved by Donald R. Smith, Jr., Chief Compliance Officer, it clearly states in plain English - 

"Type of Report - FINAL."

It is the final report of the investigation of the Office of Professional Responsibility. The statement of Superintendent Mike Miles that 

"this incomplete report should not be in the public domain" CLICK HERE-DMN 

is a false and untrue statement.

What does the Texas Public Information Act say about this?

Texas Government Code - Chapter 552. Public Information

"Sec. 552.001. Policy; Construction.

"(a) ... The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to implement this policy.

"Sec. 552.022. CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; EXAMPLES

"(a) without limiting the amount or kind of information that is public information under this chapter, the following information is public information and not excepted from required disclosure unless made confidential under this chapter or other law:

" (1) a completed report, audit, evaluation, or investigation made of, for, or by a governmental body, except as provided by Section 552.108 (Exception: Certain Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Prosecutorial Information)"

The comments of Superintendent Mike Miles violate the spirit of the Texas Public Information Act. He is a public servant and has no right to prevent public access to information about public business.

It really doesn't matter what Superintendent Mike Miles thinks or believes. He is obligated to support and follow the laws of this state.

What matters is what the Texas Public Information Act permits or requires regarding the public's right to know.

Dallas ISD OPR Report alleges Superintendent Mike Miles obstructed investigation

The Office of Professional Responsibility Report started with the complaint of former Chief of Communications, Rebecca Rodriguez.

"Superintendent of Schools, Floyd Mike Miles used 'undue influence' by pulling an agenda item from the June13, 2013 monthly Board Briefing. Ms. Rodriguez stated her concern was the agenda item was pulled because the vendor who was awarded the contract per Request For Proposal TH-204031 was not Mike Miles' favored vendor."

At some point the Office of Professional Responsibility appears to have added an additional item alleging obstruction of the investigation by Superintendent Floyd Mike Miles.

 Alleged Obstruction of OPR Investigation

• Contacting Potential Witnesses to Discuss Case Facts and Allegations
• Suspending the Investigation and Taking Custody of All Investigative Files

The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) report states on page 35:

On June 26, 2013 in a phone call from Mike Miles to Donald Smith, Mike Miles stated he had two concerns ...

"The first concern was talking about suspending the OPR report by going to Board of Trustee (BOT) president Eric Cowan. The Superintendent stated the BOT does not direct you and that "going to the BOT was bad form." The Superintendent stated that this was the second time doing it (reference to May 17th meeting concerning the merger of Internal Audit and OPR."

"The second concern stated by the Superintendent was "the manner in which OPR was conducting investigations." The Superintendent stated that DeeDee (the Superintendent's executive administrative assistant) was called in by OPR and the Superintendent stated, "I do not want that done." Cannot have a secretary called into an investigation as this is "not appropriate as she sees my coming and goings." Superintendent continued saying this is "overreach and not appropriate." He said maybe if criminal, yes." The Superintendent said that oversight of OPR "you need to see how I am going to run OPR." "No checks and balances on OPR." The Superintendent continued saying, " We need OPR from the beginning I have said no big brother and divisive to group." "Overreach of OPR not just because of this case." "Very disappointed must be on same page." "Chain of decision making - I (meaning Superintendent) am clear on organization chart." "You need to follow my guidance." He then stated that BOT Eric Cowan had spoken to him today at approximately 8:00am and stated the investigation was in "suspense for now" this will allow attorneys Jack Elrod and Lisa Ray to "look at it and read it.

"The Superintendent then directed me to give them (Elrod and Ray) all documents to read. The Superintendent then asked do you have any questions. I responded, "No sir." Superintendent then cautioned me to inform him if I call a BOT member other than for "Casual conversation." Superintendent then asked if I understood and I stated "yes."

 "At 8:55 I informed the superintendent that BOT Eric had requested a copy of the draft OPR report. The Superintendent responded, "Give to Jack for attorney client privilege." I explained to the superintendent that this was the first time OPR had ever given any documents to legal services while an investigation was in progress. The Superintendent stated that he and legal would interpret CAA (Local)."

Page 36 - "Because of the superintendent's second phone call I called Board President Cowan and stated that my independence in this investigation was very questionable from hereon as the Superintendent had already placed a tacit limitation on the investigation by requiring that the investigation be conducted in a discreet manner.  I asked for outside independent legal counsel work with OPR along with OPR's current attorney Robert Luna, P.C. I also requested that the direct intimation of Dallas ISD  General Counsel's Office and attorneys be excluded from any action in the personal investigation of the Superintendent as this legal service is a benefit not available to any other employee in the District regardless of position or title during an OPR investigation. I stated that this is a misuse of District resources and a means of intimation to OPR employees doing their job. I recommended that Board President Cowan call attorney Robert Luna for guidance. Cowan said he could and would get back with me."

 Referral to Outside Agency

"At the direction of the Dallas Independent School Board's President, Eric Cowan, the OPR investigation of Mike Miles will be referred to outside legal counsel for further investigation."

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This is the first time I have heard of the Office of Professional Responsibility alleging that an investigation has been obstructed by a Superintendent and further accusing the Dallas ISD General Counsel's Office and attorneys of intimidating OPR employees doing their job.

The OPR investigation had developed a significant  amount of information.

The report appears below.

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