I Did What I Am Against

KISD Blog by Liz Ramos

4/2/2019

2 Part Blog

Part 1

As a new parent I had many frustrations the beginning of the school year. (Summer, prior to first day.) One of them was not knowing what school I was supposed to register with, when I was supposed to register, and smaller things like supply lists. KISD district was no help. Neither was the website. In order to find information one would already have to be familiar with the page or thankfully click on the correct 4-10 tabs to get to the information you needed. District zoning map was not very readable. Just a lot of issues from the get-go. Not very inviting to say the least. I was back and forth managing two households. No time to look through the paper and I figured if I am asking the district for the information and they don’t have it the paper sure won’t! For someone who just moved here they didn’t make it easy.

Hopefully with the new Director of Technology at KISD that information will be on the home page or one or two clicks away. This will again, hopefully be easier for new parents to the district or parents who have PreK or Kinder children and this will be their first year enrolling into a public school.

I got the opportunity as a concerned parent to talk to director. He is focusing on many ways of improvement in that department and one especially exciting is safety.

I will not quote him as this was a casual conversation. There are plans to have a system in place this school year (no date given) to have all schools on the same system for check-in and check-out procedures. Each campus had something different. Now they will all operate the same so there is no confusion. I signed in under Michael Jordan, Christopher Columbus, and other names because the system was so ridiculous. There was no actual accountability of who was on campus. I was looking forward to signing in as Cindy Lauper or Michelle Obama this year. I am more excited to have continuity between campus policies when it comes to visitors and campus safety! Look forward to that this upcoming year!

There were social media concerns over bullying this year, as I assume years in the past as well. KISD has plans to unroll an app attached to the schools for bullying. He explained that if a child has possession of a cell phone (kids in middle and high) they can download an app in their phone. If they are the victim of bullying or being bullied they can use the app to alert school staff up front to come and help them. The staff would be notified immediately!

I don’t know how this would work for those afraid of retaliation from telling (or ratting out someone), but it is a major step in the right direction for student safety. I am going to assume they have a “see something, say something” box or whatever for those who do not have cell phones. The box I am talking about is usually located up front in the main office, and SRO room, and/or the nurse’s office. You can drop in a note with an explination of what is going on such as bullying or anything really. This system allows for discreetness. Policies I am used to is that someone must check the box every hour on the hour and address that if needed. Do they already have something like this?

From my understanding they will be working on finding a way to start back up social media such as Facebook and twitter to get information out to more parents on that platform.

They will be working on the website as well, but give that time. If you come across any issues with the website, please give KISD a call!

There are good things happening at the district. Positive change and a move in the right direction as far as safety and communication is concerned is in the works!

Part 2

Speaking of bullying. I used to go after bullies in school. I would bully the bully to set their ass straight. Let me say this. I was a bully this week. I am not trying to make excuses. This is where I was coming from.

I have REALLY tried to be nice to KISD. I bite my tounge on a daily basis. I really do. I tried to go to the board to talk about how getting rid of certain administration in the past is putting a hurting on them today. I have the paperwork from open records request to back that up. I got two sentences out and they booted me from talking at the board meeting. I had every legal right to talk that night. I have tried to smile and be coridal to everyone sitting on the board of trustees. All I want is transparency. You would think that wouldn’t be too much to ask?

Then I sat at the board meetings to find out what is going on. I had no idea how much of a Telenovelas it would be. I write my blogs as I see them sitting in the room. I know more than half of it is a show. Most board meetings of any kind are. But as a new parent, me, or if anyone sat in the board room this is how they act.

I honestly have no ill will during these meetings. Again, I am mearly a mirror for them.

So I did the same thing to myself this weekend. I shined a light upon myself. Do I feel bad for saying what happened and how I have been treated by Corando Sr? No. Did I go pretty hard at him? Yes. I don’t believe anyone ever has! Maybe it is time he sees how he treats people! I have no idea to this date why he was so short and rude with me from the beginning. I have no idea why he would act a smart ass with those “have you ever thought” comment when he knows I will write about it. You guys need to know that this is how he was to me. It could have been you, or your friend, or your mom. We all deserve a little bit of respect, especially when you are a voter in the community.

He has my number, if not, I am not hard to find. He can easily look me up in the KISD system. He has the power to do so. Has he extended a hand out in good faith? No. I would love to sit down and talk to him! Am I out to get KISD? No.

I have my own opinions on what I think is important now and how I wish they would put aside the petty logos, police departments, and school lighting aside for a moment and focus on what really matters. Academics. Safety. Communication. Grievence process. Administrative support. Special education. Counselors. Fear of retaliation. Supplies. Spending. Grant writers. Etc, etc, forgetting a lot, etc, etc.

Did I bully him? Yes. Did I try to reach out to him? Several times. Was I being as immature as him? Probably. I tell my friends, if you can dish it, but not take it, then don’t do it.

On another note, the board will have a workshop July 9th at 5:30 to go over budget. That is about as transparent as the board gets publically. Even then I think it is a show. KISD will have a special board meeting on July 11th at 5:30. They will vote on staff employment. Should be interesting because Prado voted a lot of “no”s at the last meeting against principal positions. I wonder why...

Enjoy America’s Birthday!