Longview ISD administrators and trustees are considering converting property near downtown into a Montessori charter school to serve first- through fifth-grade students. They also are weighing the option of making the new Montessori campus at U.S. 80 and U.S. 259 a charter school. Should the district decide to move forward with the establishment of charter schools, the campuses would be the first operated by an independent school district in East Texas. A charter school is a type of public school. Charter schools are subject to fewer state laws than public schools, according to the Texas Education Agency; however, they still are held to fiscal and accountability standards. Their students take state-mandated tests, and the campuses are subject to accountability ratings. Should Longview ISD redesignate the new campus as a charter school, it would become available to more grants, Wilcox said. Should Longview ISD choose to move forward with the establishment of charter schools, it would require a public vote by the district's trustees. According to the state, a school board can grant a charter for a new campus. If a school already is in existence and wants to become a charter, it requires a petition signed by a majority of the parents and teachers at the school and a vote by the school board. Why would we consider doing this if our districts schools now are in turmoil? We should focus our time and money on our current infrastructure in order to improve our current schools in our district before we expand and build more schools in our district. Seems to me that Wilcox only concern is more grants. So far this year our board has worked on getting teachers and staff a pay raise, which is good, but without fixing the true problems in the district all you are doing is making money the only reason teachers and staff want to stay. The organization of our schools is horrendous Teachers and staff are already being treated like trash and it is only the 2nd week of school. Fix our current administration and problems in our current campuses before we spend more tax dollars on another building that will be nothing without good quality teachers. In order to be a successful business you must first build up a strong infrastructure and have quality work and a good reputation before you expand otherwise you are wasting our money and giving parents false hope. I am not against expansion of our schools and offering a great education to our children, but fix what is broken first. Spend money were money is needed and stop ignoring the true issues that if corrected first would not only make our schools a better working, and learning environment, but would have more support from parents, staff, and teachers to expand our children’s education. Stop putting Band-Aids on the problems our teachers and staff face every day to just get by. We are tired of just getting by we want to be allowed to give our children a great education and bring back the pride of being a LOBO. First thing to start on to fix our district is to hire a full-time superintendent, get rid of all the assistant superintendents so that you have one superintendent, and one assistant superintendent. Second item that needs to be focused on is getting rid of useless positions at our ESC office. Then focus the attention on our teachers and staffs needs in order to educate our children. When creating a better work environment and proper management in place our teachers and staff would stay and be proud to say they work for LISD. Let us work together as a community and make a difference in our children’s lives. Dr. Wilcox stop blowing sunshine up our skirts and hiding behind your smoke and mirrors, Stop worrying about the next blog I write and do what is best for our children, teachers, and staff Leave our district. The people in the community and the teachers and staff in your district have spoken and despite the board members not listening to the people that voted them into office we want you gone! Since my petition has started teachers have been told not to sign or they would lose their jobs , but I can tell you this I spend the time to listen to our teachers and staff and find out what their needs are, and you sir don’t care. 96% of the faculty at LISD that I have talked to want you gone. What does that tell us as a community? I have one more message to send to you the LISD school board, and Dr. Wilcox. If I am voted into district one you can guarantee I will not rush anything through and will be the voice of the teachers, staff and parents in my district. We as parent in the district have spoken in board meeting and asked that Dr. Wilcox be fired. You continue not to listen and believe this part-time criminal can run our school district, but looking back his track record speaks for the true character that he is. Thank You, Jason Bates