“There’s really no e-mail to send you my questions?” Nope, she said, you’ll have to fax them. Fax?! No e-mail?!?
state agencies
Posted in
Public Education
Re-Educating Austin
Austin ISD chief Meria Carstarphen talks bluntly about the poisonous politics between the state and the district over the bungled “repurposing” of Pearce Middle School (spoiler alert: she blames the state) and how it informs her efforts to reform the city’s failing schools.
Posted in
Higher Education
Skipping the Beach
Members of the UT-Austin University Democrats said goodbye to a Spring Break filled with fun in the sun… and hello to the vacant stares of congressional staffers today.
Posted in
Public Education
The SBOE vs. Itself
When no one was paying attention to the State Board of Education, the theory goes, the reelection of incumbents was virtually assured, just as it is in any down-ballot races. Now that its controversial doings are the stuff of national headlines, change is in the air. Or is it?
Posted in
State Government
Driven to Repeal
The Driver Responsibility Act, which levies hefty surcharges on minor offenders, has cost 1.2 million Texans their licenses, and most of the fees that were supposed to be collected have not materialized. At the direction of state lawmakers, the DPS is trying to get people to pay up and square things with the law. But critics want the program ended altogether.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Thevenot on the non-stop wonder that is the State Board of Education and its latest efforts to set curriculum standards, E. Smith’s post-election sit-down interview with Bill White at TribLive made some news and got the November pugilism started, Ramshaw on whether it makes sense for the state to call patients and remind them to take their pills, and on the state’s botched attempt to save baby blood samples for medical research, Hamilton’s interview with Steve Murdock on the state’s demographic destiny, M. Smith on whooping cranes, fresh water, and an effort to use the endangered species act to protect them both, Grissom on potties, pickups, and other equipment purchased with federal homeland security money and Stiles’ latest data and map on where that money went, Aguilar on the “voluntary fasting” protesting conditions and treatment at an immigrant detention facility, Kreighbaum on football, the new sport at UTSA, and Philpott on Rick Perry and Bill White retooling their appeals for the general election. The best of our best from March 8 to 12, 2010.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Skinner Asks Perry for Reprieve
Lawyers for death row inmate Hank Skinner sent Gov. Rick Perry a letter yesterday asking him for a 30-day reprieve from Skinner’s scheduled March 24 execution. The lawyers also asked Perry to order DNA testing on evidence that Skinner says could prove his innocence.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: SBOE = State Beatniks of Education
State Board of Education conservatives stand up for the sex-and-drugs Beat Generation, but still can’t stomach the sex-and-drugs Hip-Hop generation.
Posted in
Higher Education
“We’re Outnumbered”
At Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting, as conservatives had their way with social studies standards, voting to limit the discussion of race and gender issues and to challenge the notion of separation of church and state, Democratic members were left to sulk and seethe — and walk out.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: SBOE Rejects Church-State Wall (Updated)
America never barred “the government from promoting or disfavoring any particular religion above all others,” according to board conservatives.
