September 14, 2009

Third Address to School Board on Single Member Districts

Mr. President and Trustees, thank you for serving. My name is Alden Nellis.

Since the topic of Single Member Districts was not on the agenda tonight I take that to mean the Board is not interested in having the whole district represented on the Board. It appears that the Board is happy to have the “Clique of Six” from the Southwest Quadrant of town ruling the district.

Harold Gentry and I have been criticized for “causing the TEA investigation.” I wish to remind you that Mr. Gentry and I and others all addressed the Board about misspent funds months before the TEA investigation began. We were ridiculed and told there was nothing wrong so the Board and Administration were not going to take any corrective action. At that point we had exhausted our local remedy so we sent our findings to the TEA. CISD had first chance at policing itself.

Once again we are giving CISD first chance – this time to correct the lack of equal representation on the Board for all neighborhoods in the district. We are requesting that the Board take action now so we can elect our Board from Single Member Districts in May, under our schedule rather than under a court order.

I have brought this matter before the Board three times and requested a meeting with Board President Stu Madison – all to no avail. We have exhausted our local remedy.

Thank you,

Alden Nellis