What they really said...

We have received numerous complaints about the Fort Worth Star-Telegram this week.  More than usual.  A lot have to do with their lack of response, or fair reporting in the Tarrant Regional Water Board race. Some have to do with the editing of letters.  We've heard all these complaints for years.  Finally fed up?  Let us know.  We're working on it as fast as we can.  Here's one concerning the Birdville Bond Election.  For $183 million, you'd think it would get a balanced look.  Who are we kidding, this is Fort Worth. 

Kudos to all you Watchdogs out there.  Keep them coming.

Dear Star TeleGRAPH,
Disclamer: The lead-in  paragraphs submitted to the Star-Telegraph
 are solely my own and do not represent the opinion of any other group or individuals. 

The paper which used to offer news about Fort Worth, which was started by the civic minded Amon Carter, published their endorsement of the current  BISD Bond election. Unfortunately, they had neglected to contact the organized opposition to the Bond proposal. You know get both sides of the story before making up your mind, that sort of thing.

While they are entitled to their own opinion, person's in this community wanted to offer an opposing view covering facts and serious discussion of the real needs of the students in this community. After contacting the paper regarding their oversight the Editor, Mike Norman, offer a "guest editorial" from the Citizens for a Better Bond Committee.  Unlike a letter to the editor which is limited to 150 words or less this guest editorial was to be 600 words or less.GREAT! A chance to present the other side of the discussion in the public forum of the press. After much effort by members of the organization to double check all the facts presented and make sure it read well and covered the issue in a comprehensive manner it was submitted to the paper.

Keep in mind, this was with prior discussion with the paper's Editor. The members of the group waited anxiously for the publication.

Then came this reply,
" We received another column submission in opposition to the Birdville bond package and the closing of Richland Elementary. It was written by Councilman Goveas. We've decided to use his column rather than yours. I am sorry that we can't run both, but that would not  be fair since we've only had one from the pro-bond side. You're still welcome to write a 150-word letter to the editor if you wish. The deadline for that is Wednesday, May 1.
Mike Norman
Editorial Director
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

While it is nice to have an equal number of opposing views submitted and published, it certainly is reasonable to expect a continuing flood of letters to be sent in, which they have. Remember this was approved prior and it was submitted early in the discussion.  A number of others have been printed since.

What have we learned here? Alot! The leadership of the above unnamed paper has a real problem with foresight, decision making and following through with what they say.

Below you will find the complete un-invited "Guest Editorial"Thank you for your consideration

Sincerely yours
Ray Ecklund

The Star Telegram has offered an endorsement of the Birdville I.S.D. 2013 Bond proposal.

We must respectfully disagree with the Editorial Board’s conclusion. The realities of school finance, the school district's failing performance record and failure of the district to offer open and transparent leadership to the public were not noted in its editorial endorsement.

The BISD BOND proposal says some of our district schools are decades old and therefore must be torn down at the cost of millions of dollars. This is simply foolish logic. Great universities like Yale, Harvard, and Princeton boast buildings well over 100 years old. It is not the buildings which makes them important institutions, it is the education provided within those walls. BISD voters must not be distracted by the promise of shiny new school buildings. The BISD Trustees should be focused on the real priority, quality education for our children.

It may be economically beneficial for BISD to propose doubling the student population at select regional elementary schools, but is it in the best interest of the children? Many expert studies have established that academic performance in elementary schools declines as school size increases. We must not allow education of our children to fall victim to the ideas of cost savings.

Communities have long been centered on neighborhood schools. The quality of education and location of schools are determining factors for families choosing a home. This bond election proposes to demolish four neighborhood elementary schools and replace them with two large regional schools of 700+ students each. In addition, it proposes to demolish and rebuild two more elementary schools and one middle school. Elementary grade children will be taken away from their neighborhoods and bused miles away.

The main reasons families have moved to, or stay in, the cities that make up BISD is the perception of a high quality education. Unfortunately, in the past three years BISD has seen a substantial drop in the State of Texas overall academic progress measurement “FAST” ranking from the 76% percentile to 46% when comparing comparable Texas school districts. This catastrophic decline in district performance has nothing to do with building facilities. This Bond proposal simply is trying to solve problems we don't have, while at the same time ignoring the real problems we do have.

Superintendent Darrell G. Brown claims the district will save $15 million in operating costs over the next 10 years. His comment fails to mention that interest alone on the new proposed debt is over $73 million for the same 10 years. This $183.2 million bond proposal will actually cost district tax payers $321 million on top of the current debt of $358 million.

Voters should know this bond proposal, unlike any before it, is an “all or nothing” choice. The voters are not given a choice of how the $183million will be spent. There was no public hearing to allow BISD Trustees to answer questions from the public. Their decision was made on recommendation of a select committee appointed by the Trustees

The BISD Trustees are saying to the parents, teachers, property owners and voters, “Don’t worry, just trust us”. We are smarter than that. Voters must always hold their elected officials to the highest standard of openness and transparency. BISD has failed on both of those factors.

Voting against this Bond proposal will give BISD an opportunity to realign its priorities. Quality education for our children should be our number one priority. Responsible voters should vote against the BISD BOND proposal.

Ray Ecklund On behalf of “Citizens for a Better Bond Committee”