So, I've Been Asked This About Buna Schools.....It is Concerning......

 I had 3 different people come up with basically the same idea. 

And one of the people really understands politics and I've had serious political discussions with that person......And the thing is, the exact same philosophical thought came from two other people, actually a third, but they were a little more reserve in expressing their feelings concerning Buna ISD. 

You MUST remember Buna ISD is a political entity. It raising taxes. Has the ability to tax.  Is run by elected officials. 

Again, let me say this, the Board of Trustees( School Board) are elected officials.  

There are some of you out there who just do not understand that train of thought.  

Yes, they do not receive a salary. 

But often great expense is made to run for these elected positions.  

They often are in charge of a larger taxing, and spend more money, hire more people than the sheriff's office, the precinct road and bridge employees, county clerk's office, the DA's Office, ( Little known fact, the District Attorney himself is paid by the state, not the county.) judges, emergency services,( Here in Orange County, a port authority) etc. 

And we often overlook how much power and influence local school boards have. 

In the last school board election, there were so many people who ran as one issue candidates. And I was reminded by one of the people yesterday that they remember me talking about " One Issue" candidates in Government class, years ago. 

One issue candidates run to solve one problem that the government entity is having. ( I have often threatened to run as a one issue candidate, to do something in the Texas Legislature about "Day-Light Savings." Of course, I am never going to run. I'd be afraid I'd get elected and then, I'd try and do something about schools, like get rid of tests. And there is too much money involved and they'd throw me out on my ear.  )

There was no secret why so many people were running////It was to get rid of the former Supt. of Schools. A lot of people were saying it was because she was black, and yes, there are people that way. I get a lot of blow-back from people because my son is married to a Chinese girl  than I speak about. I have had people, mostly females who have told me, " He couldn't find a white girl?" ( Yeah Chinese girl and she fits the satirical mold that Saturday Night Live had in a skit during the election in which the late US Senator Bob Dole was running for President. Sen Dole was looking for his Vice-Presidential running mate in which he he said, " Yeah, I need a Chinese.....Hard working, smart, good at math..." And April fits all of those characteristics.....even though SNL meant it as satire.) ( I need to talk one day about the cute innocent girl, a relative of someone I know from Buna set my son up with for a few dates.....Innocent according to her parents...."She's seen more penises than a urinal at an Interstate 10 truck stop." As I was informed later. And as I was told..." Man, and they told me she was a "Good church girl.")

I am convinced it was because she was a Supt of Schools for a city or rich suburban school, not a small rural school. Sometimes people just are not one size fits all. 

And people were running to replace her. 

Well, she " Got the Hell outta Dodge" even before the election and wound up in a school district even larger than Beaumont ISD.   

Good for her, she was trained more for being Supt of Schools in Waco ISD than 3A Buna ISD. The culture is just different in rural East Texas, especially those of us in the Southeast Texas region.. We have a Cajun influx culture that even areas like Northeast Texas, while rural and really is farming area , well it's different than we are down here. 

But....I digress.....

The former Supt of Schools left long before the new board member took office and their one issue was solved....

And as one person wrote me.....They had nothing to fall back on. "And they've acted like they have not had a clue  what they are supposed to do."

Their words. 

And several who wrote me felt that way. 

I am sure I will hear from people saying the board has done, this or that or this.....But many of the patrons certainly don't see it that way. They feel like as one person put it..." They've lost control." 

If 3-4 ( The fourth did not come out and say, it, they just suggested)  feel that way, how many others feel that way, and have not said anything....I'll get messages from those in the next 24-96 hours. )

One of the biggest concerns should be ' How many teachers are in the district without teacher's certificates.' I know they are were bragging on Facebook about some of the faculty getting certified a couple a weeks ago, and my question is this...."Why were they hired in the first place?"  I know there were people with the correct certificate passed over for positions for people who did not have the correct certificate. I talked to the those certified people. And they even had experience in that teaching field. They were not even interviewed. And these were longtime Buna residents and graduates.

One of the things parent of kids in special education programs especially need to check and make sure their child's teacher is correctly certified. 

Heck, check all the teachers. 

And that can be done by clicking on the link to this site.......TEA Certificate Look-up.    

Want to see if it is working? Type in the appropriate slots......Thomas....Kerry......Don ( Mine should come up)

I wonder why this often isn't made available on all school district's website? 

It wasn't that long ago that teachers with certificates were a must before they were even considered.  

People, don't be afraid to hold the board members accountable. Got questions, go to a board meeting and ask questions. 

Vote in school board elections.

And if you really want to get involved, run for the board.  You never know. You may get elected.