Lynn Walsh

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

HISD gets $30M for teacher bonuses, despite study that says bonuses don’t help
Thursday, Sep 23, 2010, 08:30PM CST
By Lynn Walsh

The Houston Independent School District will receive more than $30 million in federal funds to help pay for teacher bonuses, the district learned Thursday — two days after a national organization questioned the impact teacher bonuses have on overall performance.

According to a study released by the National Center on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University, offering cash incentives to teachers for improving student test scores does not produce a major difference in overall academic performance.

Thursday, two days after the report came out, HISD announced it will receive a $31.5 million federal grant to help the district with its goal of having an effective teacher in every classroom.

The money will be used over a five-year period. According to HISD, almost half of it will fund ASPIRE, HISD’s performance pay program for teachers and principals.

At a press conference Thursday HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said the district’s own internal reviews of its bonus programs show that bonuses work.

“We have done our own studies where we have looked at teachers who have received ASPIRE awards and compared them to those who have not, and they are seeing results,” Grier said. “That does not mean that we will not study it or that we will not make tweaks, as this board has done and continues to do, that will strengthen and improve our program.”

Bonuses of up to $50,000 were available to some teachers involved in the Nashville study. No matter the amount of the bonus, the national research center found that classroom performance did not improve just because a teacher was eligible for a cash bonus.

HISD was one of 62 school districts across the country to receive one of the grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

The study focused on teachers in Nashville, Tenn., public schools and the effect financial performance incentives have on them. The study is being described by experts as the first scientific and rigorous study produced on performance pay in the U.S.

Do you think performance pay is the right way for HISD to reach its goal of an effective teacher in every classroom? Let us know. Message us on Twitter at @TexasWatchdog or @LWalsh, or contact Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

HISD gets $30M for teacher bonuses, despite study that says bonuses don’t help
Thu Sep 23 20:30:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

The Houston Independent School District will receive more than $30 million in federal funds to help pay for teacher bonuses, the district learned Thursday — two days after a national organization questioned the impact teacher bonuses have on overall performance.

According to a study released by the National Center on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University, offering cash incentives to teachers for improving student test scores does not produce a major difference in overall academic performance.

Thursday, two days after the report came out, HISD announced it will receive a $31.5 million federal grant to help the district with its goal of having an effective teacher in every classroom.

The money will be used over a five-year period. According to HISD, almost half of it will fund ASPIRE, HISD’s performance pay program for teachers and principals.

At a press conference Thursday HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said the district’s own internal reviews of its bonus programs show that bonuses work.

“We have done our own studies where we have looked at teachers who have received ASPIRE awards and compared them to those who have not, and they are seeing results,” Grier said. “That does not mean that we will not study it or that we will not make tweaks, as this board has done and continues to do, that will strengthen and improve our program.”

Bonuses of up to $50,000 were available to some teachers involved in the Nashville study. No matter the amount of the bonus, the national research center found that classroom performance did not improve just because a teacher was eligible for a cash bonus.

HISD was one of 62 school districts across the country to receive one of the grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

The study focused on teachers in Nashville, Tenn., public schools and the effect financial performance incentives have on them. The study is being described by experts as the first scientific and rigorous study produced on performance pay in the U.S.

Do you think performance pay is the right way for HISD to reach its goal of an effective teacher in every classroom? Let us know. Message us on Twitter at @TexasWatchdog or @LWalsh, or contact Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

HISD employee double-dips with contractor to earn $187K a year; Grier: ‘Probably an ethical issue’
Wed Aug 11 05:03:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

A Houston Independent School District administrator has had a lucrative side job for at least three years — running an education nonprofit that has a nearly $2 million contract with HISD, something Superintendent Terry Grier says is “probably an ethical issue.”

Ann Stiles’ job at HISD in recent years has been overseeing the school system program coordinated by her own group, Project GRAD Houston, which tries to prevent low-income children in HISD from dropping out of school. Project GRAD has a $1.86 million contract with the Houston district, which school trustees renewed in June.

As HISD teacher specialist for Project GRAD, Stiles is a full-time HISD employee, earning a salary of $67,318 this year plus benefits, district spokesman Norm Uhl said.

But that’s not her only source of income. Stiles is also the executive director for Project GRAD Houston, where, according to the group’s IRS form, she earned $120,201 in 2008 and listed an average 40 hours of work per week. The total paycheck for the two jobs comes to more than $187,000 annually.

Stiles’ moonlighting was revealed Monday by Grier to school system trustees and the public. “I want to bring it to the board’s attention as it is probably an ethical issue that should be discussed,” Grier, who took over as the school system chief last September, told the group. He didn’t elaborate.

However, school officials had previously known of Stiles’ two jobs, Uhl said, though he did not elaborate on how long the district had known.

Asked whether an HISD employee is allowed to also work for a nonprofit that contracts with the district, Uhl said in an e-mail, “there does not appear to be a violation of any policy and it was known that she worked for the district. I just don’t think the question of the possible appearance of a conflict had been asked until now.”

Project GRAD Houston’s IRS form and its Web site list HISD Trustee Paula Harris as one of the group’s board members. Her name appears on the group’s IRS form on the same page as the one identifying Stiles as executive director. Harris and another HISD trustee, Anna Eastman, had questioned Grier about Stiles’ dual employment at the Monday meeting, but Harris did not volunteer publicly that she is a Project GRAD board member.

Stiles has submitted a resignation letter to the school district, effective Aug. 31, Uhl said. A school district staffer told the trustees Monday that the resignation had been turned in, though it was unclear exactly when it was submitted.

HISD salary records show Stiles has been a district employee since August 1993. She was initially hired as a teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, Uhl said.

The first reference to Project GRAD in Stiles’ employee file at HISD is in 1997, Uhl said, where Stiles is listed as a math teacher at the now-closed Lamar Elementary serving as a “Teacher Trainer under Project Grad.”

She began working as Project GRAD’s teacher specialist for HISD in August 2000, earning a salary of more than $40,000, Uhl said. Salary records show her HISD pay increased each year, up to the $67,318 she earned last year.

It was not clear at press time when Stiles became an employee of the nonprofit organization Project GRAD. IRS forms for the nonprofit were available online as far back as 2006, and all three years’ forms describe Stiles as the executive director.

Texas Watchdog called the Project GRAD Houston office number, asking for Stiles. A receptionist said Stiles was in a meeting and took a message. As of print, Stiles did not return the phone call.

HISD’s headquarters at 1800 W. 18th St. is 8.5 miles away from the Project GRAD office at 3000 Richmond — a 25-minute drive in traffic, according to Google Maps.

According to its website, Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Houston is part of a national program that works to increase high school graduation and college attendance rates for low-income students. The national program grew “from a scholarship program which began in partnership with (the) Houston Independent School District in 1989.”

The group was founded by former Tenneco oil chief James Ketelsen and his wife, Kathryn; James Ketelsen is Project GRAD Houston’s president and board chairman, while Kathryn Ketelsen is one of Harris’ fellow directors. HISD named an elementary school after James Ketelsen in 2002.

In June HISD trustees approved a renewal of the contract between the Houston district and Project GRAD Houston. The agreement for the coming school year, for $1.86 million, includes work at three high schools — Jefferson Davis, John Reagan and Jack Yates — and five elementary schools, Thomas Jefferson, James Ketelsen, Adele Looscan, Clemente Martinez and Sidney Sherman.

The possible addition of a ninth site, Phillis Wheatley High School in northeast Houston, prompted Grier’s mention of Stiles’ dual employment at Monday’s school board meeting. The addition of Wheatley and the additional costs of $59,221 associated with it are up for approval by school trustees Thursday (agenda item D-4).

Do you think HISD should have a policy that prohibits an employee from receiving a taxpayer-funded salary from the school district while at the same time working for a business or nonprofit that contracts with the district?

Let Texas Watchdog know what you think. Contact Lynn Walsh, Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org or 713-228-2850. On Twitter, @TexasWatchdog or @Lwalsh, and follow #HISD for stories, meeting highlights and more on HISD.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

HISD trustees accept $3,000 in campaign donations from vendor CEP during debate on CEP’s contract renewal
Tue Aug 10 15:04:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

More than $3,000 in campaign contributions were made to Houston Independent School District trustees from individuals with connections to a district provider of alternative schooling during the months trustees were debating the renewal of the provider’s contract, campaign finance records show.
Houston ISD trustees Mike Lunceford and Larry Marshall each received individual donations from Randle Richardson, the founder and current owner of Community Educational Partners, and Phil Baggett, a chief executive at CEP.

CEP is a company based in Nashville, Tenn., that develops alternative school options for school districts across the country. In June HISD trustees renewed a contract with CEP of around $13.7 million for the 2010-11 school year. The renewal came after debates in the community, between trustees and a performance evaluation that was paid for by CEP.

Richardson donated $500 to Lunceford on Jan. 11, according to the campaign finance records. That same day, Baggett also donated $500. These were the only contributions Lunceford received during the January-to-June reporting period.

“I met with Richardson sometime between Christmas and New Year’s, and that is when he gave me the checks,” Lunceford said. “They are both involved with CEP, he (Richardson) told me about CEP, I did not know what it was, so I went out and looked at it.”

Lunceford said he was approached about the meeting with Richardson by Vidal Martinez, an attorney who represents CEP, sometime around October.

When asked by Texas Watchdog if he thought the contributions were meant to influence his vote, Lunceford said, “I don’t know what his intentions were, I am sure they were, but it did not sway my vote. I only vote for the kids.”

“I got contributions from lots of people who do business with HISD,” Lunceford said. Lunceford, whose district includes Bellaire High School, was elected to the school board in November.

CEP did not return a call for comment.

Richardson donated $750 to Marshall on Jan. 30, according to his campaign finance report. Five months later, on June 24, Richardson made another contribution to Marshall’s campaign, this time for $1,000. Baggett donated $750 to Marshall’s campaign on Jan. 30.

“History is there that shows they have contributed previously,” Marshall said. “I think it could be perceived a conflict if it were the first time they had donated.”

Marshall recently defended a consulting gig with CEP during an HISD board meeting, saying he had been a “consultant in Atlanta assisting them business development.” Marshall told Texas Watchdog that he made sure his consulting contract with CEP only included areas outside of Texas.

According to Marshall, he is no longer working for CEP and quit his position as a consultant the day a board conflict of interest policy was approved in 2004. The policy said the district could not “contract with a business entity in which a trustee or anyone related to the trustee…has any pecuniary interest” — in other words, a monetary or financial interest.

HISD law firms’ donations

Trustees reported other donations from companies doing business with HISD. Paula Harris’ campaign finance report lists a $500 contribution from the Bracewell and Giuliani PAC Committee in February and another $500 donation from Thompson and Horton LLP. Both law firms can represent HISD based on a list of law firms approved by the district.

Calls to Thompson and Horton and to Bracewell and Giuliani.

Accepting these campaign donations does not break any federal, state or local laws.

But if the companies had been vendors in a federal technology program, accepting some of those donations would have violated board policy. Under the new ethics rules for the E-rate program, the cap on campaign donations is $500 a year.

E-rate is a federal technology program that awards money to schools and libraries across the country. HISD had to pay $850,000 to settle a lawsuit with the federal government stemming from allegations of employees accepting gifts, meals and personal checks.

It was because of a federal investigation that HISD had to adhere to stricter campaign finance rules. But should a federal investigation be the only reason HISD trustees agree to campaign limits from vendors or contractors?

We want to know what you think. Contact Lynn Walsh at lynn@texaswatchdog.org or 713-228-2850. On Twitter: @lwalsh. Be sure to follow #HISD on Twitter for the most recent HISD updates from Texas Watchdog.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Public hearing to be held moments before trustees vote on $1.5 billion HISD budget, but public can share opinions now
Mon Jun 7 13:25:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh
HISD’s $1.5 billion budget for the 2011 school year is set to be voted on by trustees June 24.
calculator

But before Houston Independent School District trustees approve next year’s budget, they want to hear from you. Thursday afternoon at a board workshop meeting, HISD Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett presented an updated budget to the trustees. The public can offer opinions on the proposed budget beginning at 5 p.m. that Thursday night — just before the trustees are to vote on the budget. Garrett said by e-mail Friday that the net budget to date is $1.563 billion; the net budget for 2009-10 was $1.576 billion.

So, yes, you will have a chance to speak against or in favor, or ask questions, about any of the appropriations included in the proposed district-wide budget for next year. Perhaps you think the proposed $219,148 increase in the communications department is too small, or the proposed $192,000 increase in government relations too large. The question is, would it make a difference to speak out about it June 24?

Texas Watchdog raised this question to Garrett after noticing the quick turnaround between hearing from the public and approving the budget. HISD is allowing you time to talk, but will anything you or your neighbor say change what the budget looks like?

“That is up to the trustees,” Garrett said. “We have always done this it way.”

Due to tax rules and different advertising needs, the timetable for the budget approval process has always looked like this, Garrett said. And she pointed out that there are various other ways the public can weigh in on the budget.

“The public has had the opportunity to see it,” Garrett said. “The budget has been presented at many public workshops.”

Previous recommended budgets can be found online; but if you’re looking for the 2010-11 budget, you are out of luck. It is not posted online yet. It will be posted “most likely the morning of June 16,” said Glenn Reed, senior manager of budget operations.

Since April three board workshops, scheduled for 7:30 a.m., have included discussion of the proposed 2010-11 district budget.

Couldn’t make it? Had to work? There is a designated time for the public to speak during every monthly board meeting. These are held once a month in the evening on a Thursday.

Still doesn’t work for you? There is always e-mail. The trustees’ contact information is here. Rather talk in person? HISD trustees hold community meetings for their districts about once a month.
And the trustees will be all yours June 24.

Contact Lynn Walsh at 713-228-2850 or lynn@texaswatchdog.org. On Twitter: @lwalsh.

A story produced by Texas Watchdog:

Travel By Public Officials / TrentTV At 11:30 a.m. CST Tuesday
By Lee Ann O’Neal

Please join us at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for TrentTV. We’ll be talking about travel by public officials: what documents to look for, types of travel and funding sources, as well as showcasing a few story examples highlighting public officials’ travel on the taxpayer dime. Please tune in at newmediatv.org.

Trent TV is a free monthly webinar for bloggers, citizen-journalists, and the public — anyone who is interested in investigating government.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Elementary schools to be selected for pay-to-learn plan based on standardized test scores
Wed May 12 14:48:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Yesterday we wrote about a plan to pay students at certain HISD schools to attend tutoring sessions.
Superintendent Terry Grier said students struggling in reading and math could be paid around $8 per hour to attend sessions to catch up in those subjects. Grier said 11 elementary schools, as well as certain middle and high schools we listed in yesterday’s post, could be included in the plan.

The district will select those elementary schools based on how students did on the standardized tests taken earlier this year.

“Ultimately we won’t know until TAKS scores come out,” HISD spokeswoman Sarah Greer said. “We anticipate that it will be 11, but it could be more. We just won’t know until the results come back.”

Contact Lynn Walsh at 713-228-2850 or lynn@texaswatchdog.org.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Follow @texaswatchdog on Twitter for coverage of #HISD board workshop
Wed May 5 18:00:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Follow @texaswatchdog on Twitter tomorrow morning for instant coverage of the board workshop, and search #HISD on Twitter for the most up-to-date news on the Houston Independent School District.

Trustees are set to discuss ethics rules stemming from a scandal involving federal E-Rate funding for district technology projects.

Have an opinion on this? Or a specific question you want to ask HISD trustees? Contact Lynn Walsh at lynn@texaswatchdog.org, @lwalsh on Twitter or 713-228-2850.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Principals at low-performing schools eligible for five-figure bonuses next year
Thu Apr 29 21:22:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Some principals at Houston ISD schools could see $30,000 bonuses next year.

HISD Board of Trustees adopted a new performance-based pay model for principals at low-performing high schools and middle schools in the district. The new bonus program could cost the district $320,000 in the 2010-11 school year.

Principals at six Houston ISD high schools and five middle schools are eligible for the cash pay-out at the end of the year.

The schools affected are considered “priority” schools by the district, and the incentives should “encourage bold leaders to step up and increase student achievement,” Superintendent Terry Grier said.

District officials plan to fund the bonuses through a combination of federal Title I grant money and a local bonus program called ASPIRE.

Principals will receive the money if they reach goals such as decreasing dropout rates, increasing student enrollment, increasing math proficiency and increasing teacher performance.

Trustee Manuel Rodriguez said the first step is to make sure principals know what is expected of them.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Texas Watchdog’s Blog Chat: See our discussion about overcrowded Harris County jails and controversy at Houston Metro
Mon Apr 19 19:07:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Overcrowded jails in Harris County are causing a stir within the Houston blogging community and Metro is once again in the hot seat, and this time the federal government is getting involved.

These stories and more are featured in Monday’s Blog Chat. For all the details and to view the video discussion click the links below:

Texas Watchdog: Texas Watchdog team brings home Society of Professional Journalists Fort Worth Chapter award for online journalism

Grits for Breakfast: Harris jail crowding forces stop to arresting traffic violators

Off the Kuff: Solving the jail overcrowding is everybody’s responsibility

Houston Strategies: What to do if Metro fraud costs us $900 million Fed $

Houston Chronicle: Metro, city officials deny effort to mislead FTA

Texas Tribune: 2010: Perry 48, White 44

Rasmussen Poll: Election 2010 Texas Governor*

Star Telegram: Organizations pay big bucks to land Palin at fundraisers

Baker Institute Blog: Former JSC Director George Abbey on Obama’s NASA Speech

Houston Chronicle: Project will dredge up some history

Texas Tribune Event: A conversation with Deirdre Delisi, Chair of the Texas Transportation Commission

See an interesting story? Great video? Send it our way! @texaswatchdog on Twitter.

*The margin of error for the Rasmussen poll discussed today in Blog Chat is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.