PUBLIC NOT BEING INFORMED OF SCHOOL DISTRICT INCIDENTS

Parents Creating Citizen Group to Demand Accountability

ELLIS COUNTY - With situations and events within local school districts now
seeping out into the public, it has many taxpayers and parents alike angry
- - and demanding more accountability.

Last week's drug search of 12 students at Waxahachie Junior High School was
the third so far this school year, but parents "had no clue" they took
place, according to Linda Gallegos, one parent who is now planning to sue
the district because of it.

Her case is just one of a string of incidents to plague Ellis County
districts, ones in which parents - and even some teachers - were not notified.

This has Gallegos and other area parents demanding more accountability, and
has even spawned the creation of a parent/citizen group.

Below is a listing of a few unreported or underreported incidents to have
been made public within the past week:

Ennis

After a string of suicides, the Ennis Independent School District held town
hall meetings to concede that there has been for numerous years, gang and
drug-related activity within schools.

Though many parents and taxpayers had known through rumors and
word-of-mouth, it was the first time the district went full-scale in
publicizing it.

Italy

At the district's only elementary school, parents complained about filthy
conditions, including puddles of urine and fecal matter scattered around
the gym floor.

Their repeated attempts to warn the school board were met with roadblocks,
until finally, members of the school board witnessed the situation themselves.

One trustee reportedly told school administrators, "someone needs to clean
this up now."

Midlothian

Midlothian's boys soccer team dominated their district the past four years,
but it was overshadowed by the revelation last week that the head coach was
let go after failing a drug test, reportedly finding traces of marijuana.

The incident occurred late last year, according to teachers at Midlothian
High School, who jokingly talked openly about the situation.

Additionally, a Spanish teacher at MHS was forced to resign last year after
administrators discovered an uncensored Jerry Springer video was shown to
students.

Red Oak

A special education diagnostician was issued a warrant for possession of
child pornography in November, but parents of children the suspected
employee taught were not notified until recently.

Superintendent Kay Wag-goner said she made personal phone calls to the
parents, and had only contacted the parents of the special education
students the employee taught. The information about Bruce Largent's
employment wasn't even made known until deep into a story in another
newspaper last week.

Waxahachie

When last week's drug search of 12 Waxahachie Jr. High students came to
light, school officials had told only one parent, Linda Gallegos, who is
now suing the district because no drugs were found on any student.

She's citing an unconstitutional search and seizure as the basis for her suit.

It had been, according to WISD officials, the third search this school year
so far.

In a separate series of incidents, the district's financial situation
wasn't made fully known until two former maintenance workers came forward
with 1,100 pages of documents two months ago, resulting in investigations
and a request for a state comptroller's forensic audit. Those two employees
have since been arrested on tampering with government record charges, and
followed the resignation of Finance Director Dan Davis.

And in another unrelated incident, a local newspaper, as well as the head
football coach, failed to mention the car wreck and arrest of Lane Rust
hours before WHS' prom. Rust, a standout running back for the Indians and
son of prominent real estate developer Joe Rust, was arrested and booked in
the Ellis County jail on vehicular assault.

These latest revelations, some say, are proof that more accountability is
needed from both appointed and elected leaders.

The parent/citizen group, as well as Internet activism in some towns, is
one start, Gallegos said.

"These [school districts] will get the message if 1,000 parents pulled
their kids out of school. I guess that's the only way to make them
[accountable]."