March 07, 2023 Patron Presentation, Damon Barone
Greetings, Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus
The school board and district leadership consistently preach about wanting to maintain local control but you all do not want full accountability for the results of your decisions and actions.
You all continue to discriminate in the districts practices, and implementation of policies and procedures.
During each board meeting you allege that patron presentation speakers are not allowed to say district employee’s names, that the board allegedly cannot respond to, or deliberate on any subject that is not included on the posted agenda, and that speakers should express concerns or complaints through the formal written grievance processes; Board policies GF (Local), and DGBA (Local).
There were three patron presentation speeches during the February 21, 2023 school board meeting.
Damon Barone spoke first and mentioned the Superintendents name (Anthony Mays) during his speech. He was immediately stopped by President Darlene Breaux, and his microphone was turned off until President Breaux fully reprimanded Mr. Barone.
Ronald Kotts spoke second and also mentioned the Superintendents name (Dr. Mays), and was not interrupted.
Nina Williams spoke last, to discuss girl scout cookies. She also mentioned the Superintendents name (Dr. Mays), mentioned the Business and Community Partnership Coordinator by name (Dee Jones), mentioned the Public Relations & Board of Trustees Administrative Assistant by name (Carmalita Battle), and she was not interrupted either.
In fact, the Superintendent thanked Ms. Williams for giving you all girl scout cookies, and asked if the board could have their cookies now? President Darlene Breaux stated that she wanted thin mint girl scout cookies from Ms. Williams.
During the boards 7-minute break to take photographs with the newly hired administrators, Vice President Lily Truong walked up to Ronald Kotts and expressed her pleasure for Mr. Kotts patron presentation speech regarding his desire for Alief ISD to consider going to a 4-day work week.
Maybe Damon Barone’s voice will start mattering to you all when I unenroll my daughter from school here in the district, or sell my house that I have owned for 24 years here in Alief, and move to a district who actually practices the things that they preach in their mission statement, core values, and board goals.
Just because you do not like what Mr. Barone, or any other parent or community member says during their patron presentation times does not mean that we need to file a written grievance to express our concerns; especially, when the districts grievance processes are inequitably stacked against the person filing the grievances. Then this school board refuses to ever have a hearing for our grievances once they make it to a level three before the board.
Tonight, as you all discuss equity, please define what the word equity looks like and sounds like to the school board, and give us some quantifiable measures that we can hold you all accountable for as parents and community members.
Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus