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If
Mayor Mattie Parker went after Abbott and his voucher lovers instead of FWISD’s super, maybe the district would finally thrive.
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
It was almost two years ago exactly that we announced the arrival of Dr. Angelica Ramsey, who was the lone finalist in Fort Worth ISD’s search for a new superintendent. In what feels like the blink of an eye, the board and Ramsey have agreed to part ways. Ramsey’s buyout is just shy of $1 million as she was signed for a five-year contract the board is paying her not to fulfill.
METROPOLIS
Academic data paints our local district as lagging behind other comparably large urban districts like Dallas’ and Houston’s, though any seasoned educator knows you can interpret data to paint any tale that you’d like it to. Ramsey’s departure is not a surprise.
In late August, Mayor Mattie Parker posted an open letter challenging the district and school board to improve. Through a bulleted list that included audits, goal-setting, the “strategic allocation” of existing bond funds, and other partially actionable jargon that teachers themselves are familiar with because it’s garden-variety b.s., Parker cc’d a list of local and civic leaders who pledged their resources and support to make Fort Worth the best urban district in the nation.
We all want to believe Parker has good intentions, and while she didn’t directly call for Ramsey’s dismissal, the public disappointment of the district caused the board to kick the scapegoating of the then-current super into overdrive to prove they were doing something. Congratulations. Y’all spent a million bucks to stop someone from working. The board just named an
Almost any school district could improve with fewer restrictions on teachers, better funding, and more community support.
interim, former Deputy Superintendent Karen Molinar, by unanimous vote, so now the formal search process has begun, and there’ll be a new official boss by the next school year to blame for failures of our state and community.
Parker telling the district to make improvements is a bit like someone who owns a Tesla calling Elon Musk and demanding the product and stock prices improve. Oh, in this scenario, the superior to whom the awkward man-child EV enthusiast answers is the governor of Texas, who won’t help build any infrastructure for electric cars or give you any tax breaks, but you can’t threaten to quit because you wouldn’t be able to pay for
your own house and keep your livelihood. It would seem a little disingenuous, right? Gov. Greg Abbott, who endorsed Parker, hasn’t been shy about holding increases in educational funding at gunpoint. (See what we did there?) Because Republican legislators will sue to let you carry a firearm at the State Fair but won’t allocate a massive budget surplus to public education, Texas public schools have been hamstrung. Abbott continually fails to pass his educational voucher agenda while prostituting himself to out-of-state donors to funnel public funds to Texas’ private and religious sectors. Parker, if acting in good continued on page 7
faith, should be pressuring the governor to release those funds to districts for better teacher pay, materials, and facilities, as well as requisite security enhancements to campuses, but we understand why she doesn’t, because if the mayor publicly called out the governor for continuing the well-documented Republican agenda of dismantling public education, she’d be Ramsey’d and looking for a new job herself.
Many rural GOP lawmakers who held the line with Democrats against Abbott’s vouchers were subject to fierce attacks by the governor in their midterms as retribution for thinking about their constituents instead of his theocratic priorities of lining his personal campaign checkbook for Jay-zus. Forgive us if the mayor’s ultimatum to the district feels hollow, but it’s akin to walking into your house at the end of the day to find a ransacked living room and your spouse crying on the floor. It would probably just be best to hug them and start picking things up rather than explaining in cold legalese the state of the house and posting on Facebook the problem you’re going to help with rather than just doing it.
In a recent interview, Parker said she’d talked with master teachers in the district who were frustrated with the administration and bureaucracy surrounding their
instruction. Guess what? Administrators jump through the traps and red tape set by the politicians, who pay millions to evaluate our public educators based on testing and
performance data. Parker also pointed to schools that are under-enrolled and may require consolidation, and that it is on the board, as well as city leaders, to figure
out how to utilize facilities to the greatest benefit of specific neighborhoods. This is all politician-talk, but truthfully, if Fort Worth ISD is failing, it’s symptomatic of a failing city whose residents have spent too long judging from afar, insulating themselves from certain neighborhoods, and blaming those who are actually doing the hard and thankless but most important work.
Almost any school district could improve with fewer restrictions on teachers, better funding, and more community support. Parker and those who challenged the district to improve can help with all of those but primarily by exercising their political influence with those they share rooms with that others are not privy to. It’s only marginally important who the next superintendent of Fort Worth is, because they’ll inherit all of the same problems that Ramsey — and everyone else — cannot solve. Parker, as well as our state representatives, will have a chance to really support the students, families, and communities they represent in Austin starting in January. Will they? Probably not, but there’s a distinct chance they’ll vote next legislative session for wealthy parents patronizing our local private schools to receive a tax-break handout they don’t really need.
This column reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not the Fort Worth Weekly To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@FWWeekly. com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.
In a recent interview, Mayor Mattie Parker spoke politically, while, in plainspeak, she along with other civic leaders and the entire community are why Fort Worth schools are failing.
Haunted?
Yes. Miss Molly’s Hotel is “one most active paranormal sites in Texas.”
By Living Local
Situated above Fort Worth’s Star Café in the Stockyards, visitors to Miss Molly’s Hotel (109 W Exchange Av, 817-626-1522)
climb a staircase to another era with period furnishings, furniture, and many stories about unexplained happenings provided with first-hand accounts by the owner. Miss Molly’s is considered one of the most haunted properties in Fort Worth and one of the most active paranormal sites in Texas.
Established as a boarding house in 1910 and called the Palace Rooms, it went through the prohibition period, being called The Oasis and later, in the 1940s, as a bordello, when it was called the Gayatte Hotel. Miss Molly’s is the oldest bed and breakfast in Fort Worth. Just old enough to have caught glimpses of the Wild West and America’s speak-easy and bordello days, the hotel’s long history as a boarding house has included many residents. Apparently, some have decided to extend their stay into the afterlife.
The eight themed rooms in the hotel share stories of paranormal activity, with the Cattlemen’s and Cowboy rooms having some of the more famous sightings of apparitions. Most of the sightings have involved former working girls from the hotel’s days as a bordello. According to a former owner, one housekeeper quit because she kept finding coins in rooms even though there had been no guests in that room. “She had just finished cleaning, only to return and find the coins where she had just cleaned.”
In the current owner’s private rooms (numbers 8 and 9), visitations have also occurred from a young girl who is considered a former hotel tenant. The phenomena at Miss Molly’s include full-bodied apparitions, unexplained scents, items disappearing and reappearing, lights turning on and off and toilets flushing on their own, cold spots, unlocked doors refusing to open, and a variety of unidentified but entertaining sounds.
Miss Molly’s has been visited by several paranormal investigation groups and is listed with Texas Christian University’s paranormal activity class, which regularly visits to record the phenomena. Copies of unusual photos, tape recordings, investigator statements, and results are kept prominently in the common living area. To make a reservation and check it out yourself, visit MissMollysHotel.com/ Our-Rooms/.
For more promotional features, see our Living Local section on FWWeekly.com.
All the Dollys on the staircase at Molly’s.
Courtesy Miss Molly’s Hotel
While they no longer serve a morning meal, Miss Molly’s is still considered the oldest bed and breakfast in Fort Worth.
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ANIMAL RESOURCES
DON’T FORGET TO FEED ME
nurse from her mom, Bibi. The Zoo’s care team had to step in and figure out how to feed her, what to feed her, how to keep her warm, and how to manage critical care 24/7 while juggling other daily responsibilities. Come meet Fiona this summer! Read more at CincinnatiZoo.org.
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HEALTH TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS
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SPAY / NEUTER
Need a FREE Spay/Neuter? Texas Coalition for Animal Protection has clinics near you. Schedule an appointment today. TexasForThem.org Call 1-833-636-1757
DOGGO FRIENDLY DINNER + DRINKS
FORT BREWERY
Try the Mutt Menu! Many different offerings for your pet including the Doggy Day Spa fruit dish and the Mini Muttballs. Yappy Hour every Thurs & Fri with discounts and drink specials for your Pawents. 2727 Tillar St FWTX 817-923-8000
LIBERTY LOUNGE
Always pet-friendly inside and out. Beautiful outdoor patio and treats for your pets. Voted Best LBGTQ+ Bar since 2021 by the Fort Worth Weekly. Located at 515 S.Jennings in the Near Southside.
POURING GLORY
On the back patio, you’re sure to spot a four-legged friend. PG hosts numerous pet-friendly and pet adoption events throughout the year, and their patio is always open during regular business hours for your kid to enjoy. Join fellow pet lovers in the Near Southside, and don’t forget to ask the Chef about special pet dishes. For more info, check out their Weekly ad or follow them on social media. Located in the Near Southside. 1001 Bryan Ave FWTX 682-707-5441
ROGERS
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Enjoy great craft brews and amazing grub with your pet on one of the largest patios in Fort Worth. Make sure to get a pic of your pet and add to their ever growing Furry Friend Wall. 1616 Rogersn FWTX 817-367-9348
SHAW’S PATIO
BAR & GRILL
Life is meant to be enjoyed outdoors. Shaw’s Patio Bar & Grill welcomes dogs on their patio and even provides Shaw’s swag for your furry companions. They proudly support and serve as a drop-off location for the DF2FM Pet Food Bank. 1051 W Magnolia Open Tue- Sun
GETAWAYS
CINCINNATI
ZOO = FIONA!
Fiona the Hippo is famous for surviving! She was born 6 weeks before her due date and was too small to stand and
According to the New York Times, the following companies have said they would cover travel expenses for employees who need reproductive health services not available in Texas: Airbnb, DoorDash, JP Morgan Chase, Levi Strauss & Co, Netflix, Patagonia, Reddit, Starbucks, Tesla, and Yelp. Additionally, NowThis has listed the following companies also offering the same assistance to employees: Amazon, Apple, BuzzFeed, Citigroup, Comcast, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lyft, Mastercard, Meta, Microsoft, Paramount, Sony, Tesla, Walt Disney Co, Vox Media, and Zillow. (JMB, FWW)
HAVE A LITTLE FAITH
CELEBRATION COMMUNITY CHURCH
Located at 908 Pennsylvania Av (817-335-3222), CCC has services on Sundays at 10am. Want to check out a nonjudgmental, inclusive church at home before attending in person? All services can also be viewed on YouTube (@CelebrationCommunityChurch130).
POTTER’S HOUSE
Join the Potter’s House of Fort Worth (1270 Woodhaven Blvd, 817-4461999) for Sunday Service at 8am and Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm. For more info, visit us online: www.TPHFW.org
HEALTH
& WELLNESS
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HOME RESOURCES
AC TUNE-UPS
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GENERATORS
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PUBLIC NOTICES
TDLR Complaints
Any Texans who may be concerned that an unlicensed massage business may be in operation near them, or believe nail salon employees may be human trafficking victims, may now report those concerns directly to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) by emailing ReportHT@TDLR.Texas.gov.
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SUBMISSIONS
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EMPLOYMENT
National Operations & OpEx Manager, Technical Services USA, sought by Spark Power (USA) LLC, Fort Worth, TX to dvlop key corp OpEx processes & initiatives to facilitate growth, etc. 10% US travel. Applicants exp’d w/power industry ops & leadership including Low/ Medium/High Voltage Construction & Commissioning, etc. Send resume to nadia.fortino@sparkpowercorp.com & must refer to “NOOM”
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FLEA MARKET
4445 River Oaks Blvd
Every Sat & Sun 9a-5p
All your favorite vendors and friends will be there with hundreds of antiques, unique paper items and collectibles.
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HEDONISTIC PUNK VATOS 10/10
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios (Denton) with Zativah Kid and Klockwork. $10 cover.
HISTORIC RIDGLEA THEATER
THE RIDGLEA is three great venues within one historic Fort Worth landmark. RIDGLEA THEATER has been restored to its authentic allure, recovering unique Spanish-Mediterranean elements. It is ideal for large audiences and special events. RIDGLEA ROOM and RIDGLEA LOUNGE have been making some of their own history, as connected adjuncts to RIDGLEA THEATER, or hosting their own smaller shows and gatherings. More at theRidglea.com
I CAN FIX IT FOR YOU!
Handyman available for projects in Tarrant and Parker Counties. Household repairs, painting, yard work etc, I CAN HELP!
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MAXIMUM CAPACITY!
LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS ARE AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY NOW! If you have room in your heart and home, please consider adoption. If you take a shelter or rescue pet, it makes room for another to be saved. Be a HERO!
PLEASE ADOPT. DON’T SHOP!
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