CISD Seeks to Hide TEA Report from Public

March 28, 2008 – CleburnePolitics.com submitted an Open Records Request to Cleburne ISD on March 12 for the contents of the Texas Education Agency Preliminary Report on their investigation into possible misuse of federal funds.

CleburnePolitics.com today received a copy of a letter from CISD’s attorneys addressed to the Attorney General. The letter, dated March 26, told the Attorney General that “CISD wishes to withhold from public disclosure information sought in the Request …”.

CISD’s attorney claimed that the week of Spring Break, the Easter Holiday and a Snow day did not count toward CISD’s allotted 15 days to respond. Fifteen school days from the date of the request is April 10. The letter said “…not later that (sic) the fifteenth business day after the day of receiving the Request, CISD will submit to the Attorney General written comments stating the reasons why the stated exceptions apply that would allow the information to be withheld…”

From Alden Nellis’ discussion with at least one member of the School Board, it appears that the School Board was told that CISD had already requested the Attorney General’s opinion and that it could arrive any day.

Superintendent Robert Damron all along has claimed that he and CISD are innocent of wrongdoing. If that is the case, why try to hide the TEA Preliminary report from the public? What good will it do to drag it out - except give retiring Superintendent Damron time to slink away and leave everyone else holding the bag?

It seems the School Board is still being misled.

A copy of CISD's lawyers' letter to the Attorney General is here. The letter is in Acrobat pdf format and is searchable and printable.