FORUM
Editorial
Commentary and Visitor Opinions
To the Editor, Regarding Galveston ISD
by Nancy Kessling
October 31, 2006
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The
general public erroneous presumes that
their elected school board is paying
close attention to the administration's
handling of the school's business. We
read again today (October 31) that there
remain serious questions regarding the
financial accounting for the Galveston
I.S.D.'s handling of the 2003 bond
issue.
The reality is that no school district
in Texas maintains a reliable computer
data base that can generate ad hoc
reports for board members or interested
citizens -- even though this is a
requirement of the Financial
Accounting Systems Resoure Guide
which is mandated by the Texas
Administrative Code. A computer
software program that can extract data
from a computer data base would provide
any needed financial reports
or information in seconds. Publis
schools use overpriced and inefficient
computer software programs because they
don't want to be held accountable.
There can be no other explanation for
administrative hostility towards
following the FASRG.
The law
gives elected school boards the
authority to govern and manage the
lawful exercise of the school's
business -- but the law does not require
that they research the law. All they
are required to do is pay for attorneys
to represent them.
The
financial accounting standards that are
mandated by the Texas Administrative
Code are considered by the educrats to
be suggestions. Each year the local
school officials hire "independent
auditors" who are only invited back if
they find nothing wrong with the
handling of the books. Not much of a
future for "independent auditors" who
uncover abuse and fraud.
The public
is in danger of losing all oversight of
their governmental bodies when the
legislature convenes in 2007. The very
powerful and highly paid education
lobbyists will descend on Austin to
convince legislators to throw out what
is left of the Public Information Act.
They will probably present your
legislators with already-drafted
legislation. You have been warned.
Sincerely,
Nancy
Kessling
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- 1818 Church Suite 4, Galveston, Texas 77550
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