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Posted November 25, 2008 Oops she did it again. and again and again and again ... And this time? The parents hired an attorney. However, this scenario is a terribly familiar one. Closed session audiotapes gone missing on Nola Wellman's watch (how does a superintendent LOSE an executive session board tape?) and transfer of "paperwork" on certain public property to the Chaps Club (where it can be safe from the public's prying eyes ... so clever) and then there's the recent "voice mail" strategy ... she's on a roll ... more on that here. Really, the examples are endless. Meanwhile, I am sure that Wellman is resting easy. No doubt she has more than one private law firm working on this ... and they are funded by our dollars ... and that's nonsense. This is not a new problem: Eliminating the Eanes ISD paper trail Did the Dog Eat Your Homework?
EISD accused of violating Public Information ActNovember 25, 2008Exerpt from November 25, 2008 Westlake Picayune article: “To the contrary, EISD personnel, including EISD’s superintendent, actively concealed or attempted to destroy requested public information in violation of the Public Information Act,” Smith claimed in his Nov. 19 letter. In his correspondence to the AG’s Office, Smith characterized a deeper problem. He said that the PIA is very clear in its intent that Eanes superintendent Nola Wellman is obligated to make public information available for public inspection and obligated to carefully protect public information from loss or unlawful removal. “EISD’s superintendent intentionally purged relevant e-mails, voice mails and audio recordings from her e-mail account immediately after their creation and did not produce this information promptly upon request,” Smith stated in his letter. “In fact, EISD only produced the information when challenged with knowledge of its existence. Until challenged, EISD had made no effort to secure or produce the requested e-mails, voice mails or audio recordings, apparently in an attempt to conceal their existence.” Read full article here: Link to November 25, 2008 Westlake Picayune article
UPDATE - December 8, 2008 Austin American-Statesman Eanes superintendent accused of violating state information lawParents say superintendent withheld audio recordings; now Wellman herself will hear complaint, rule on case.Having the superintendent preside over the hearing is "the most astonishing thing I've ever seen," Smith said. "I've been a lawyer for more than 20 years, and I have never seen a case in which the accused is the judge, the jury, the witness and the investigator."
Destroying a
record that
is subject
to the Texas
Public
Information
Act, which
gives the
public the
right to
access
government
information,
is a Class A
misdemeanor
punishable
by a fine of
up to $4,000
and up to
three days
in jail.
Travis County Attorney David Escamilla said that his office is reviewing the Evanses' complaint. If Escamilla decides the complaint has merit, his office could file a lawsuit against the school district in district court. The last formal complaint against a school district that Escamilla could recall came about two years ago and was also against the 7,300-student Eanes district, he said. Link to December 8, 2008 Statesman article Link to parent's complaint UPDATE - December 12, 2008 - Westlake Picayune link to article
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