CISD Spends Nearly $10,000 at Glen Rose Resort in 21 Hours

CISD Spends Nearly $10,000 in 21 Hours at Glen Rose Resort
Print this page CISD's $9,828.05 One Night Stand at Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort A CISD superintendent and some central office administrators may be up a rough creek without a paddle if they try to justify their flagrant misuse of nearly 10,000 taxpayer dollars for a one-night retreat in Glen Rose uncovered by an August 16, 2006 Open Records request. Copies of all relevant documents have been made public at www.CleburnePolitics.com . In just 21 hours, CISD superintendent Robert Damron and central office administrators managed to spend $9,828.05 of taxpayer dollars for a Complete Meeting Package called “The Principals Academy” at Rough Creek Executive Retreat. In comparison, it took eleven of them four days to spend $9848.34 at the 2004 TASA/TASB convention at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas Texas. Was this meeting a pressing need, or was it just what it looks like - an overnight, end of the year, executive party / retreat for the central office administration disguised as a Principals Academy? It was held in June, and school was out for the summer. Of the 28 attending, only 14 were Principals or Assistant Principals. Thirteen were secretaries, coaches, administrators, etc. One was a mystery guest whose name does not appear on CISD's employee-payroll list at all. Taxpayers paid $1.1 million for the CISD administrators' plush executive headquarters at 505 N. Ridgeway, and then spent $1.2 million to renovate it. It is complete with conference rooms, audiovisual equipment, microphones, and computers. CISD also has the 1700 seat Performing Arts Center complete with stage and sound system that can be used for large meetings. Instead of using the facilities we already own, CISD administrators had to go 35.42 miles away to Glen Rose to have an overnight meeting starting at $8029. Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort's website says “ *It's easy to arrive but tough to leave.* No matter what your individual style, Rough Creek feels like a “have-it-all” place for our “want-it-all” guests. Always more than you expect, it is the essence of casual elegance. We promise days full of adventure, and to all, a good night.” Descriptions of their services or prices mentioned in this article can be verified on their website at www.roughcreek.com . Pictures of the opulent facilities are best seen at http://www.besthotelsresorts.com/roughcreek.htm . Here is the documentation obtained through Open Records requests: Document Set #1 – Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort contract The contract is dated June 18, 2003 requesting 31 deluxe rooms at $259 for a total of $8,029.00. The arrival date is shown to be June 3, 2004 at 6 p.m. and a departure date of June 4 at 3 p.m., which is 21 hours. As stated in the contract, a non-refundable deposit of $4014.50 must be made by 5/21/04 to secure the reservation. Chalk Mountain I and II are identified on the Rough Creek Lodge website as being 1700 sq ft conference rooms. Document Set #2 – A CISD purchase order # TR040284 and CISD check number 002533. The purchase order confirms the deposit for the Administrative Conference and the check verifies that on 6/02/2004 Rough Creek Lodge Executive Retreat and Resort was sent $4014.50 as a deposit for the meeting. Document Set #3 – Final CISD purchase order and CISD check number 002778 . The purchase order dated 6/24/2004 which has no number confirms the “Principals Retreat final amount” as $5813.55 and is paid by CISD check number 002778. Taxpayers, are you with me so far? If you add $4014.50 + $5813.55 you get a total of $9828.05 spent for 21 hours in Glen Rose, just about 35.42 miles away from Cleburne. Document Set #4 – Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort statement (4 pages) Page 1 \| Page 2 \| Page 3 \| Page 4 Charges throughout this document note four Restaurant Charges to Room ( page 3) totaling $1518.36, two long distance call charges for $4.01, three Gift shop charges for $186.82 and one Package charges - Second Person for $136.26. But the best expense is yet to come - the $330 spent for - are you ready for this - shooting clay pigeons. Document #4 has a notation on the bill on line 2 of page 1 for 5 Stand-SPT Clays (See Recreation on their website). I would personally love to hear our superintendent stand before every taxpayer in the city of Cleburne and justify spending $9828.05 for a one night stand at Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort and explain the educational value children will receive from central office administrators learning to shoot clay pigeons (make that taxpayers) in the back side. The Complete Meeting Package included the coffee breaks and beverages, conference rooms and materials both audio and visual, deluxe rooms and three meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So if meals were included in the $239/$259 per person price, then I would naturally have to question why the $1518.36 in Restaurant Charges to Room. Talk about a late night snack. Or was it a late night nightcap? My open records request was for six years back on retreat expenses for Rough Creek and Garrett Creek Ranch. The district sent only two years, 2004 and 2005, with no explanation why they did not include the other four years as requested. Are there more retreat expenses hiding somewhere? My next report will be on the $8,440 CISD spent for CMS Staff Development at Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center in Paradise, Texas. Taxpayers, we should not hold either Retreat Center responsible for the services they offer because their services are appropriate for corporations who use their own money but not for school districts using tax dollars or state funds. To shed some light on the scope of the problem, in Texas there are 1038 school districts which are apparently to some degree wasting state and local funds on unjustifiable expenses such as this. The problem remains because there is no real enforced accountability for school district expenditures. On Sunday September 10 th a Star Telegram article entitled “District Learns a Lesson” talks about a former Crowley school finance employee who questioned why the district should pay a $705 bill at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine only 40 miles away from their school. Several staff members attended the conference and the bill was for one night. ( CISD's superintendent Robert Damron, according to Open Records responses, has also attended a TAS/MUS conference at the Gaylord Texan) . The written complaint detailed examples of what she termed excessive costs for staff travel to educational conferences, improper meal payments and faulty accounting procedures that she said led to wasteful spending. Texas Education Agency auditor Linda Fredlund praised the finance employee and has contacted the district. Crowley school officials say they are currently adopting ruling changes and eliminating grey areas that allow these and other types of wasteful spending. I spoke personally to Mrs. Fredlund at the TEA and explained our situation about CISD's Rough Creek Executive Retreat trip and others. She informed me that the expenses certainly seemed inappropriate and unwise. Her suggestion to me was to file a documented complaint with the TEA for them to investigate. I am also sending copies of these expenditures to the Attorney General's office, Governor Rick Perry, The Legislative Budget Review Board (formerly called the Texas School Performance Review), Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley, Texas Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison, John Cornyn, Rob Orr, Chet Edwards and the U.S. Department of Education as a prime example of why school funding is in trouble in Texas. The key word in all this is Executive. Again Education Inc. has deceived itself into believing that they are a corporation run by a CEO. If they were a corporation stock holders would fire the CEO and all his central office executive administrators. Please note that I am not blaming the principals for this foolish waste because they didn't instigate it.. To the School Board president and respective members, the Texas Education Agency says you have the power to make new or amend current board policy, set limits on spending, and you can restrict the expenses of Education Inc. but you must set firm limits on the superintendent, giving him clear direction that you can go this far, sir, but no further. Public trust is earned, not forced upon the people. For the non-believers who will be told that this report is full of lies and that the facts have been twisted or distorted just to make the school district look bad, I have placed copies of the actual documents on the internet here, including a list of attendees. If you are still a Doubting Thomas, then you may call me at 817.641.6933 and I will be happy to let you inspect the actual documents. Harold Gentry ****** For more examples of how Cleburne ISD spends your money, go Here and Here.

CISD Spends Nearly $10,000 in 21 Hours at Glen Rose Resort

CISD's $9,828.05 One Night Stand at Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort

A CISD superintendent and some central office administrators may be up a rough creek without a paddle if they try to justify their flagrant misuse of nearly 10,000 taxpayer dollars for a one-night retreat in Glen Rose uncovered by an August 16, 2006 Open Records request. Copies of all relevant documents have been made public at www.CleburnePolitics.com .

In just 21 hours, CISD superintendent Robert Damron and central office administrators managed to spend $9,828.05 of taxpayer dollars for a Complete Meeting Package called “The Principals Academy” at Rough Creek Executive Retreat. In comparison, it took eleven of them four days to spend $9848.34 at the 2004 TASA/TASB convention at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas Texas.

Was this meeting a pressing need, or was it just what it looks like - an overnight, end of the year, executive party / retreat for the central office administration disguised as a Principals Academy? It was held in June, and school was out for the summer. Of the 28 attending, only 14 were Principals or Assistant Principals. Thirteen were secretaries, coaches, administrators, etc. One was a mystery guest whose name does not appear on CISD's employee-payroll list at all.

Taxpayers paid $1.1 million for the CISD administrators' plush executive headquarters at 505 N. Ridgeway, and then spent $1.2 million to renovate it. It is complete with conference rooms, audiovisual equipment, microphones, and computers. CISD also has the 1700 seat Performing Arts Center complete with stage and sound system that can be used for large meetings. Instead of using the facilities we already own, CISD administrators had to go 35.42 miles away to Glen Rose to have an overnight meeting starting at $8029.

Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort's website says “ It's easy to arrive but tough to leave. No matter what your individual style, Rough Creek feels like a “have-it-all” place for our “want-it-all” guests. Always more than you expect, it is the essence of casual elegance. We promise days full of adventure, and to all, a good night.” Descriptions of their services or prices mentioned in this article can be verified on their website at www.roughcreek.com . Pictures of the opulent facilities are best seen at http://www.besthotelsresorts.com/roughcreek.htm .

Here is the documentation obtained through Open Records requests:

Document Set #1 – Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort contract

The contract is dated June 18, 2003 requesting 31 deluxe rooms at $259 for a total of $8,029.00. The arrival date is shown to be June 3, 2004 at 6 p.m. and a departure date of June 4 at 3 p.m., which is 21 hours. As stated in the contract, a non-refundable deposit of $4014.50 must be made by 5/21/04 to secure the reservation. Chalk Mountain I and II are identified on the Rough Creek Lodge website as being 1700 sq ft conference rooms.

Document Set #2 – A CISD purchase order # TR040284 and CISD check number 002533.

The purchase order confirms the deposit for the Administrative Conference and the check verifies that on 6/02/2004 Rough Creek Lodge Executive Retreat and Resort was sent $4014.50 as a deposit for the meeting.

Document Set #3 – Final CISD purchase order and CISD check number 002778 .

The purchase order dated 6/24/2004 which has no number confirms the “Principals Retreat final amount” as $5813.55 and is paid by CISD check number 002778.

Taxpayers, are you with me so far? If you add $4014.50 + $5813.55 you get a total of $9828.05 spent for 21 hours in Glen Rose, just about 35.42 miles away from Cleburne.

Document Set #4 – Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort statement (4 pages)

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
Charges throughout this document note four Restaurant Charges to Room ( page 3) totaling $1518.36, two long distance call charges for $4.01, three Gift shop charges for $186.82 and one Package charges - Second Person for $136.26. But the best expense is yet to come - the $330 spent for - are you ready for this - shooting clay pigeons.

Document #4 has a notation on the bill on line 2 of page 1 for 5 Stand-SPT Clays (See Recreation on their website). I would personally love to hear our superintendent stand before every taxpayer in the city of Cleburne and justify spending $9828.05 for a one night stand at Rough Creek Executive Retreat and Resort and explain the educational value children will receive from central office administrators learning to shoot clay pigeons (make that taxpayers) in the back side.

The Complete Meeting Package included the coffee breaks and beverages, conference rooms and materials both audio and visual, deluxe rooms and three meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So if meals were included in the $239/$259 per person price, then I would naturally have to question why the $1518.36 in Restaurant Charges to Room. Talk about a late night snack. Or was it a late night nightcap?

My open records request was for six years back on retreat expenses for Rough Creek and Garrett Creek Ranch. The district sent only two years, 2004 and 2005, with no explanation why they did not include the other four years as requested. Are there more retreat expenses hiding somewhere?

My next report will be on the $8,440 CISD spent for CMS Staff Development at Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center in Paradise, Texas. Taxpayers, we should not hold either Retreat Center responsible for the services they offer because their services are appropriate for corporations who use their own money but not for school districts using tax dollars or state funds.

To shed some light on the scope of the problem, in Texas there are 1038 school districts which are apparently to some degree wasting state and local funds on unjustifiable expenses such as this. The problem remains because there is no real enforced accountability for school district expenditures.
On Sunday September 10 th a Star Telegram article entitled “District Learns a Lesson” talks about a former Crowley school finance employee who questioned why the district should pay a $705 bill at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine only 40 miles away from their school. Several staff members attended the conference and the bill was for one night. ( CISD's superintendent Robert Damron, according to Open Records responses, has also attended a TAS/MUS conference at the Gaylord Texan) . The written complaint detailed examples of what she termed excessive costs for staff travel to educational conferences, improper meal payments and faulty accounting procedures that she said led to wasteful spending.

Texas Education Agency auditor Linda Fredlund praised the finance employee and has contacted the district. Crowley school officials say they are currently adopting ruling changes and eliminating grey areas that allow these and other types of wasteful spending.

I spoke personally to Mrs. Fredlund at the TEA and explained our situation about CISD's Rough Creek Executive Retreat trip and others. She informed me that the expenses certainly seemed inappropriate and unwise. Her suggestion to me was to file a documented complaint with the TEA for them to investigate.

I am also sending copies of these expenditures to the Attorney General's office, Governor Rick Perry, The Legislative Budget Review Board (formerly called the Texas School Performance Review), Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley, Texas Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison, John Cornyn, Rob Orr, Chet Edwards and the U.S. Department of Education as a prime example of why school funding is in trouble in Texas.

The key word in all this is Executive. Again Education Inc. has deceived itself into believing that they are a corporation run by a CEO. If they were a corporation stock holders would fire the CEO and all his central office executive administrators. Please note that I am not blaming the principals for this foolish waste because they didn't instigate it..

To the School Board president and respective members, the Texas Education Agency says you have the power to make new or amend current board policy, set limits on spending, and you can restrict the expenses of Education Inc. but you must set firm limits on the superintendent, giving him clear direction that you can go this far, sir, but no further. Public trust is earned, not forced upon the people.

For the non-believers who will be told that this report is full of lies and that the facts have been twisted or distorted just to make the school district look bad, I have placed copies of the actual documents on the internet here, including a list of attendees. If you are still a Doubting Thomas, then you may call me at 817.641.6933 and I will be happy to let you inspect the actual documents.

Harold Gentry

******

For more examples of how Cleburne ISD spends your money, go Here and Here.