When everything is going right, we rarely question the operations and expenditures of our school districts.  There were many years when I simply baked cookies for the teacher appreciation luncheon, volunteered in my child's elementary school, served on various committees and wrote an annual check to the booster club.  I did not know the location of the central administration building of my school district much less the board room.  I had more than hope ... I had faith ... in my public school district.

Sometimes in life, our perspective changes without warning, sometimes so dramatically that we are moved to action.  

When our community began its public discussion of our district's budget "crisis" in 2003, I began asking Eanes ISD for basic public information that was not readily available from the district or in any other venue, seeking information to answer questions about spending and other topics, hoping to increase the public's awareness and understanding of proposed cuts to academic or other programs.  Many in our community questioned our district's abundant athletic spending and its apparent absence from the evolving lists of proposed budget cuts.  

Community members and teachers provided the ideas for my information gathering efforts.  Afraid of retaliation, many feared submitting their own requests to the district.   "Can you get the board minutes and agendas?"  "Are the coach's salaries and stipends public information?"  "Are disabled children appropriately identified and served in the gifted program?"  "Are we charging private athletic clubs to use our public facilities?"  "Who benefits from the money generated by the Jumbotron?"  "How safe are our school campuses?" "Does the district comply with federal law ... are our school facilities accessible as required by ADA ... playgrounds, stages, and restrooms?"  "Are emails between and among the superintendent and board members public information?"   "Have the board members completed required conflict of interest forms?"  As I reviewed documents related to the operations and expenditures of our district, I formed a perspective that was truly troubling.  I was also shocked by the inability or unwillingness of the district to provide information in an efficient and effective manner.

When my school district refused my offer as a volunteer to post the public information to the official district website, I created my own website and posted the public information without editorial comment.  Our community library supported open government and reserved a portion of the reference shelves for hard copies of the information.  The library also linked www.keepeanesinformed.com to their site for easy online reference.  I recognized that all who reviewed public information would have varying perspectives.  Information is the essential first step to action - all sorts of actions.  I hoped that others would use the site's information to learn, form, and then communicate their own opinions regarding the policy, practice and priorities of our school district.  

Almost immediately after I published my website, my focus was diverted.  In November 2003, the Eanes ISD board published my young son's confidential information including his medical information and released it to the public in writing during a board meeting.  As always, I first attempted to resolve this matter within the school district.  Eanes ISD retained an outside attorney to represent the district.  I represented my son pro se.  When the Eanes ISD administration and then board denied my complaint, I submitted a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.   Again, the district retained attorneys to battle my child's privacy rights.  I represented my son pro se.  In January 2005, when the agency ruled against the district and found that it did not comply with FERPA law, Eanes ISD could have simply complied with the federal law, protected children, and changed their policy and procedure - at no cost to the district.  Instead the district again retained attorneys to appeal the adverse finding.  Again, I represented my son (and therefore every other child whose records are maintained by public schools) pro se.  Again, in March 2007, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed its finding against Eanes ISD.   I did not sue the school district for damages.  Instead, I followed administrative complaint processes in an effort to convince Eanes ISD to comply with federal law created to protect children.  A point to ponder:  the district described the release of my child's confidential information as "inadvertent."  Yet our district leadership chose to retain tax-funded attorneys to battle my child's privacy rights.  Inadvertent?

I have learned much from my interactions with Eanes ISD.   The work was both difficult and profoundly illuminating.   When I enrolled my children in the Eanes ISD, I believed what I had heard - that Eanes ISD would educate and protect my children.  I did not question the status quo or the decisions of those in charge.  That was a mistake. 

Trust.  Confidence.  School district lingo.  "It's for the children."  When public school districts spend our tax dollars to retain attorneys and lobbyists to withhold our public information, and battle against our children's rights, trust and confidence is impossible and children are hurt. Taxpayers deserve value for each tax dollar spent by the adults in our school systems.  Teachers and parents have the right to readily access public information reflecting the priorities and operations of our school districts ... without fear of retaliation.  However, more importantly, all of our children have the right to be safe in school and fully access the district's facilities and programs.  We all have the right to trust those in charge. 

Dianna Pharr
www.keepeanesinformed.com

Published July 24, 2007