I had the pleasure Tuesday night to listen to my daughter talk to the board about all the great accomplishments she and other students have made at Judson Middle School. I also had the pleasure of finally getting to meet the new principal at Judson Middle School William Houff. There was an open floor for discussion, but not wanting to take away from my daughter I did not speak, yet they all felt my presents. There were only two people who spoke to the board none included the dismissal of Dr. Wilcox or to find a full time superintendent. However after one of the community members came up to speak you could tell that is was getting under Dr. Troy Simmons (place 7) skin. He stated to the community that he was sick and tired of the board getting dragged through the mud, and that he challenged anyone to find a better district in our area that gives children the opportunities LISD does. During his running off at the mouth we did exchange some rather mean looks. I agree with him that we have great things to offer our children, and that LISD has great opportunities for children to learn, but the opportunities is not what is wrong with our district. It’s the management that is single-handedly destroying our district. Once again let us compare our district to a manufacturing facility. Let’s say we have a good name for ourselves from building past items that had great quality and care put into what is being manufactured. Then let’s put in a manager that has no clue to what to do or how to run the facility. As time passes the good name you made for yourself diminishes along with the quality and pride put into building a quality item. By saying this, improper management can run a great company into the ground. Does this mean we still don’t produce some great products? No, but we have more bad then well. Maybe the board is only being told the positive things involved in our district. So I ask you Troy Simmons Take a look at the management side and take time to talk with teachers and staff to see what problems can be fixed to create a better work environment and education for our children. How is it that I,a member of the LISD community can know more about what is going on behind the scenes at LISD then you? Because I took the time to ask and research our employees and see what problems they face that if fixed would help to make our district better. This falls directly into Wilcox lap in many schools he does not have proper management in place and the longer this goes on the worse it will get. Without quality teachers you can have the greatest facilities in the world but with no one to teacher you just have a facility. Find out why teachers are using our school as a stepping stone to move to other schools. Find out what we can do to hire and keep quality teachers and staff at LISD schools. I am a proud father of three extremely intelligent daughters and I will do everything I can as a father to push them to strive, but without quality teachers they will have the greatest facilities with no education. Once again thank you to all the teachers and staff at LISD. Keep your concerns coming and I will continue to be your voice so that the community can see just what you are facing. Thank You, Jason Bates