Michael Steck, touted as a turnaround artist in previous small school districts, claimed (as did TEA overseers) that he had at least made a serious start there.
He left just before the paper was sold and I left.
His successor, Michael Seabolt, threw him under the bus already a small bit before I left, and even more when I made my brief, undercut return.
It didn't add up to me.
Steck probably did some spinning, but, Seabolt wasn't a first-time or even a second-time super. Surely, he'd seen spinning before. Probably done some himself.
Also, if Steck was outrightly lying, would TEA monitors risk their reputations and even careers by cosigning that? Highly doubtful.
So, Seabolt got pointed toward the exit door last summer. BUT, he chose to open that door and go through it himself.
That, in turn, led to a dispute over whether he's eligible for unemployment. The district fought him.
And he's now won a round in his battle against the district.
Meanwhile, the state-appointed board of managers is down to three.
Teachers fear/dislike the post-Seabolt administration.
And, the rumors are that the Texas Education Agency will stop the finger-wagging and finally close the district in six months if there's not real improvement.
Stop me if you've heard that before. It's the biggest district in the county. It would be tough for Rosebud-Lott, Chilton, Riesel or Bremond to swallow it. R-L is OK with vulture-picking transfer students in enough quantity to now be, I think, a bigger district by attendance. But, it doesn't want the whole district and the whole district's problems. Even smaller districts certainly don't.
Enter the city of Marlin.
The city has retained a former Waco superintendent to look at a city-run charter school. That said, he's "former" because of a misdemeanor pot bust, but says he's completed all legal hurdles.
The city still deserves better than the current school district, the mayor of a term back, and other things.
The county certainly deserves better than county attorney for life Jody Gilliam.
And, is a former denizen of the Dallas County Constables world (WHICH constable, given the amount of corruption exposed about them a decade ago), despite general police qualifications, an ideal police chief?
I wish I could do more from a ways away, but it's at least more than Ty Not-so Clevenger.
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Update, Feb. 11: At the request of Gilliam, the Rangers are investigating Seabolt.
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