OPINIONS
PAGE 4 ■ THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012
SEALY NEWS
Breaking the Silence LETTERTOTHEEDITOR Silence can be deafening, but in this situation it should provoke outrage. Sealy ISD Superintendent Scott Kana was suspended last week, indefinitely, in an unanimous vote by the district board of trustees. To date, no official reason has been given. This should provoke outrage with anyone who has an interest in Sealy ISD. Trustees called a special meeting with the sole purpose of discussing and possibly taking action to suspend Kana. This special meeting was called in the middle of the spring semester, and one month after trustees unanimously voted to not extend Kana’s current contract, which ends in a year-anda-half. If the board has its way, the public may never know why Kana was suspended. To add insult to injury, the board opted to not listen to the more than 60 people who took time from their lives to attend last week’s special meeting. Those who attended are teachers, administrators, staff, parents and community members. Many are voters. There was no place for public comments on last week’s agenda. Two of those attending the meeting were allowed to speak, after the meeting was closed, to those board members who wanted to stay around and listen. In short, the public crowd was dismissed, without ever having a chance to speak in favor of or against the suspension. You, trustees of Sealy ISD, are elected. Those positions that you fill are not appointed. The same people you opted to not listen to are the same ones who vote in the Sealy ISD board elections. They’re the same voters who will cast their ballots in less than two months. And in elections to follow. You, trustees, have been elected to act in the best interest of your constituents. Do you think it was in their best interest to not allow them to speak at last week’s meeting? Do you think it’s in their best interest to not know why the leader of school district was suspended, indefinitely? It appears trustees are holding Kana accountable for his actions. The same should be done to the board. More than 60 people made an effort to attend last week’s special meeting. You should have made an effort to listen. Maybe you’ll listen when the election rolls around on May 12.
Your Two Cents The Sealy News is posing the following question to our readers this week:
Do you think the public should know why Sealy ISD Superintendent Scott Kana was suspended? •Yes • No
Last week’s question was: Do you think Austin County should leave the position of county treasurer as an elected position or petition the state to make it an appointed job? •Elected 58% • Appointed 42% Total votes - 55 Log on to www.sealynews.com to let your voice be heard. We will bring you the results of this poll and a new question every Thursday.
WHERETOWRITE U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison 284 Russell Senate Office Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-5922
State Representative Lois Kolkhorst, Dist. 13 P.O. Box 1867 Brenham, Texas 77834 (979) 251-7888
U.S. Senator John Cornyn 517 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-2934
Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski 1 East Main Bellville, Texas 77418 (979) 865-5911
U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, Dist. 10 2000 S. Market St., Ste. 303 Brenham, Texas 77833 (979) 830-8497 Texas Governor Rick Perry P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 78711-2428 (512) 463-2000 State Senator Glenn Hegar, Dist. 18 P.O. Box 1008 Katy, Texas 77492 (281) 391-8883
WWW.SEALYNEWS.COM
Sealy City Manager Christopher Coffman 415 Main Street Sealy, Texas 77474 (979) 885-3511 Sealy ISD Superintendent Scott Kana 939 Tiger Lane, Sealy, Texas 77474 (979) 885-3516 The Sealy News 193 Schmidt St. P.O. Box 480 Sealy, Texas 77474 (979) 885-3562
LOWEST AND HIGHEST MOMENTS Dear Editor, After the March 7 special meeting of the Sealy ISD school board, I was reminded of a scene from the movie, “Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.” Admiral James T. Kirk and Spock have one of their many “logical” discussions - this time about the question of loyalty, faithfulness: “The needs of the many out-weigh the needs of the few (or the one).” Spock dies for this character-breaking principle. Yet, in “Star Trek III: Search For Spock,” Admiral Kirk and crew risk their lives, the USS Enterprise, and the Federation to find and help Spock (yes, I know I realize I said Spock “died“; if you don’t understand this, please see the two movies). Kirk and company are successful, albeit with great personal sacrifice for all, causing confusion for the half-Vulcan / half-Human Spock. Spock’s human mother explains to her logic-seeking son that his faithful friends felt, “the needs of the few (or one) out-weighed the needs of the many.” Simply stated: Kirk and company owed their loyalty and love to one who had been with them through good and bad times. Wednesday night’s special meeting was something of an oxymoron, a conundrum of sorts. I witnessed one of the lowest moments in Sealy ISD, as well as one of its crowning achievements; if you missed it, you missed a heck of a show, simultaneously wonderful and horrific. The horror: Scott Kana, superintendent of Sealy ISD schools, was placed on an indefinite suspension. The wonder: what may be an unprecedented turnout of school employees in support of a cause, in this case Scott Kana, SISD superintendent. Also felt was the parent / community support for Scott Kana, SISD superintendent, making that room of gloom bursting with tremendous power as teachers, parents, and community commiserated while awaiting its outcome. At this writing, the reason for the suspension of Scott Kana, SISD superintendent is unknown, a mat-
ter of personnel, making it sealed forever. Anyone would want this same treatment; it is protection for self; it is a good thing. What marred this wise decision to defer on the side of confidentiality was the “cloak and dagger” tactics utilized by some board members, not to mention the way the meeting took place. This “closed door policy” which, in recent America we have had slammed down our throats much too often by our national administration, only propelled Sealy educators to come alive and on fire. Only after begging the school board to listen to the voice of the educators did Sealy ISD school board president Bill Hermann “allow” their comments. The taxpayers, the educators we who cast ballots in the community, had to “beg” to be heard…Democracy: it’s a funny thing. Strange how at the previous “special meeting” of the Sealy ISD school board, comments were allowed before the meeting, no begging necessary. Scott Kana, superintendent of SISD, is the reason Sealy had an awakening on this rainy Wednesday evening. Who else has evoked, for good or bad reasons, the passion that was evident in support of a cause, a need, of the district? Why else did two Sealy teachers step to the podium and emotionally voice what we were all thinking? Something has happened to Sealy, changed Sealy, and it will never be the same…I hope. One day the definition to the word, “bittersweet,” will be updated in dictionaries. It will state: “The undefined suspension of Scott Kana, superintendent of Sealy ISD, which brought sorrow and outrage among the people and educators of Sealy, also linked the same people together by this common bond.” It felt surreal to watch this event being played out and yet, know that it was not a dream, but reality. We all get that a school board is intended to act as the “watch-dog” and keep a “check and balances” on the superintendent, faculty, etc. But just like the Electoral College, an antiquated entity set up when it was thought the population at
large was too ignorant to elect a president, it has run its course; at least on Scott Kana, superintendent of SISD. School boards are a necessity, but their elected representation does not have to last indefinitely. The best tool the disgruntled voter possesses is to change the complexion of the school board, carefully and systematically. In some cases, Sealy’s school board has places that are long, long, long overdue for new faces to occupy them. SISD is in dire need of fresh representation by individuals who are able to recognize the difference between a superintendent that “uses” the district for personal gain; runs it like corporate America; ignores the kids, educators, parents; looks only at reports and their bottom lines VERSUS a superintendent that is present on campuses; loves kids; is employed in education by choice and desire; is intelligent to know what is of value on paper and what can and should be accomplished in the classroom; and above all, is warmblooded with a human heart - sound like anyone you know? When the Sealy ISD school board approved Scott Kana, SISD superintendent, as the superintendent of the district in 2010, it was the best decision that has emanated from that body in years with regards to superintendent choices. The decision was not only right, it was comforting. The fog of the past two superintendents had lifted and now progress would occur and we could all move forward under a leader that had junior high TAKS scores “Recognized” during his tenure as JHS Principal. Just when Sealy ISD began to feel good about itself again, the bell rang and the dream of progress becoming a reality, is feeling as if it could slip away, like Camelot - only it’s the Sealy version. Did we not thank the school board enough? Did we not ingratiate ourselves enough to them? Did Sealy ISD really deserve having the dubious honor of Mary Hlozek placed as acting superintendent? Seriously? Never been an assistant principal, nor a
principal, and this is the alternative? Isn’t her job curriculum and isn’t that enough…and SISD is about to administer the first Star Test, correct? School board: this is what’s known as “painting yourself into a corner.” Will this be on the test? Aren’t we all trying to believe as Anne Frank, “… basically, despite everything, people really are good at heart?” Don’t we want to believe that the board has the best interest of students, parents, district, and community as their priority, and not their own personal agendas? Nonetheless, we keep being led down this same, tired, superintendent road over, and over again. We can’t just blame the school board - we must blame ourselves as well, for we the people have given them that right by voting for them. Now, we, the people, must decide that it is time, past time, and vote more effectively, each election every year, until the slate is clean and the cards restacked. Don’t cast your vote for a friend, especially if your friend is not representing your opinions. Otherwise, this mistake, this error, this failing of the future of Sealy’s youth, will continue to occur. Each new election year, make a vow to change the seating arrangement of the Sealy ISD school board - it will be a vote of confidence for our kids, and the Scott Kanas, of the future. “A little rebellion is a good thing now and again.” Thomas Jefferson It was a proud moment for Sealy and the school district last Wednesday for the show of comraderie and loyalty for one of our own. Despite the rain, the 60-plus people who were present in support of Scott Kana, Sealy ISD superintendent, were there because we are not “fair-weather-type” friends - we are devoted friends. One of the true tests of character is how much one is willing to stand up and support a friend in time of crisis…I would give Sealy ISD’s educators / parents an A+ for passing this test of character. “The needs of the one out-weighed the needs of the many.” Barbara Litzmann Sealy, Texas
STATECAPITALHIGHLIGHTS State, feds in standoff over women's health program Through the Texas Women’s Health Program, some 130,000 uninsured, low-income women ages 18 to 44 are provided with family planning exams, basic essential health screenings and birth control through Medicaid funding that is 90 percent federal and 10 percent state. On March 31, the program will lose its federal funding if the state of Texas and the federal government don’t work out related issues that have become heavily politicized. Federal and state law currently prohibit the funding of abortion services
ED STERLING Texas Press Association except in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment, but the state of Texas recently applied for a waiver of federal rules in hopes of operating the Women’s Health Program in a way that complies with a state law passed last year that eliminates abortion providers and their affiliates as qualified providers of the other women’s health services. But the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services did not express any intention to grant a waiver that would allow the state to pick and choose among qualified providers. Gov. Rick Perry reacted, saying it is his intent to protect women’s health but not to allow the Obama administration to violate “states’ rights” by blocking the enforcement of a Texas law. And Perry said the Texas Health and Human Services Commission “cannot ignore state law and allow taxpayer funds to be awarded to entities that perform or promote elective abortions or affiliate with entities that perform or promote elective
abortions.” Perry mentioned Planned Parenthood in his statement. State Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, in a March 6 news release responded to Perry’s statements, saying nearly half of the program’s clients receive services through Planned Parenthood, an organization that does not provide abortions at Women’s Health Program clinics. On March 9, the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin released recommendations to the federal government and to the state.
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