February 07, 2023 Patron Presentation, Damon Barone
Greetings, Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus
On January 24, 2023 the district released a statement that you all were in a 19-million-dollar deficit.
Excluding tonight’s meeting, there have been 18 school board meetings in the first six months of this academic school year.
· 8 special called school board meetings
· 3 school board workshops
· 7 regular school board meetings
During the August 24, 2021 school board meeting, when responding to Damon Barone’s comments during the public participation portion of the district’s budget and proposed tax rate presentation, Master Trustee Rick Moreno stated, “I just have one quick comment and thank you for the report and the process. And for the people who are watching at home or listening from the audience this is not brought to us in one piece of paper and this is the first time we have seen it, this is something that we see weekly, something you know two or three times a month, every meeting we are discussing the budget, we get information, so you know it is very well thought out. A lot of meetings, a lot of planning involved and so forth.”
If this be the case, then why at no time during these 18 public school board meetings has there ever been a discussion or an inclination that the district was in a 19-million-dollar financial deficit; yet, Master Trustee Rick Moreno alleged that the school board sees the district’s budget three times per week, alleged that the school board views the budget two or three times a month, and alleged that the school board discusses the budget during every board meeting?
Also, within the January 24, 2023 communication regarding the 19-million-dollar budget deficit the district asked parents and community members to:
· Make phone calls, send texts, and encourage students to come to school whenever they are well
· Encourage state legislators to fund schools based on enrollment versus attendance
· Advocate with state legislators for an increased dollar amount for each student (also known as the basic student allotment)
· Be proud advocates of your public school and community
Why does the district consistently promote Alief ISD parents and community members to advocate everywhere but here in Alief ISD where you all have local control?
In my seven years of sitting in these board meetings and witnessing the ways which this board, and district leadership has treated parents and community members who have expressed concerns and sought remedies, for things as simple as asking the district to publicize and announce board meeting dates and times in the same manner that you all robo call, email, text message, and post on social media when you want something from us, I can completely understand why parents are unenrolling their children from the district, while continuing to reside within the school boundaries of Alief ISD.
Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus