The "Queen of Persia order" ― Dr. Lewis appears to get humble

You teachers and other LHS staff have already seen this. I would obviously like your impressions from the inside.

Second, I am strongly considering running this, with my response, as my editorial column for the Nov. 23 issue of Lancaster Today, assuming my boss is OK on this.

Having already spoken about the theft issues at LHS, though not at Houston, I would like to mention what I've heard about the JROTC firing range, the culinary arts dishwasher that can't be used, the cosmetology class that won't pass state inspection, etc.

All information will be presented as "I have heard," "sources have said," etc. That includes information about construction flaws, district management flaws, high school management flaws and high school departmental management flaws.

But, I want approval of you who have supplied me with this information before I run it.

Please let me know by Friday evening.

And, with that said, for those of you NOT familiar with this letter, it follows below the break. (I have slightly changed the name of the document as it was given to me, as a bit of cover.)

And, I hope you all understand that I have asked Teri Wilson to verify the authenticity of the letter.

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Dear All,
As you know, we lost the last bond election by 267 votes. Over 6,700 votes were cast by Lancaster voters for or against the bond proposal. The election was our second defeat in as many tries since passing the February 2004 bond program. I would like to get input on the election from all stakeholders and/or staff members. Please answer the following questions with information from family, friends or interested parties. All information will be appreciated. Feel free to pass this email on to parents, community and/or organizations.


Committed to Children First
Dr. Lewis

Question 1 – Why do you think the bond failed? Or Why did voters vote against the bond?

1. As a taxpayer of Lancaster, it was never proven that our taxes would not increase dramatically.
2. It was too soon after the last bond.
3. The amount was too far into the future to prove that money would be spent as detailed by you.
4. We do not trust you (Dr. Lewis) to do what you say you are going to do. You are perceived as a used car salesman who wants to be in front of the camera but your word is not trustworthy.
5. The present construction money was not spent as you said it was to be spent.
6. The excuses were rampant as to the inability of the builder to complete the project as it was spelled out.
7. Once the project was done, the things promised to the staff as to the equipment and supplies needed to run our programs were not kept.
8. Money was spent more on athletic programs than on academic programs.
9. Buildings were torn down which could have been renovated instead of building new buildings.
10. Look into the mirror-the vote was as much against you as against the buildings. You treat people of all colors with little to no respect and if they disagree with you then you put them down. You refuse to acknowledge that African-Americans are not all one flavor.


Question 2 - What do you think we need to do to pass the bond?

1. Use the two wings that are presently not being used at the old junior high school and the old Westridge campus before you try to pass a bond.
2. Sell the old administration building.
3. Treat teachers with respect and they might be more willing to help.
4. Don’t threaten teachers and abuse them and you might have more willingness to promote the bond.
5. Wait for at least a year before you push through another election.
6. Quit wasting money on elections that have no chance of passing.
7. Set your sights on more reasonable goals. If the community won’t pass a 90 million dollar bond, why in the world would you think they would pass a 215 million dollar bond?

Question 3 – Do you have any other suggestions as we move forward?
1. Put more money into the classroom and not on more administrators and then people would be more willing to help with buildings. We are tired of seeing our taxes spent on you going to Vancouver, and other places instead of into the teachers’ classrooms.
2. Get rid of some of these coordinators. A coordinator does nothing to help the classroom. It is just one more level of bureaucracy.
3. Quit bringing in people from Dallas and get rid of unqualified administrators. Excellence is not built on people who have had their certification stripped and a Director of teaching and learning that does not even have a mid-management certificate. It is my guess that you surround yourself with people who are not qualified and then you can legitimately complain when they screw up because they weren’t qualified in the first place.



Question 4 – Would you like to work on a precinct team or bond committee for the upcoming May 2007 Bond Program?
1. I have already done this and you did not listen to us the first time, so why bother when you will do it as you want to anyway.
2. The only reason to answer this questionnaire is to air the feelings of the community, and not because we have any hope that it will be given any credence at all.