Five Friends of Wharton Speak at HISD Board Meeting

June 12, 2008

Tonight five friends of Wharton spoke at the HISD board meeting.  Below you'll find the text and/or talking points.

Speech 1

I am here as the father of a child zoned to Wharton elementary to voice my concern and disapproval of HISD’s proposal to close the school.  I am disappointed and angry by the method HISD has chosen to reach its conclusion.  It’s been a farce.  Being born and raised in Cuba, I know a sham process when I see one.  If anyone needs a refresher here is how it goes:
• First, out of touch officials make decisions behind closed doors and disregard the community’s wishes
• The officials put on a show by publicly announcing “a proposal.” 
• They waffle on portions of “the proposal” hoping to discourage action by the community they claim to represent.
• If pressed for concrete facts they are not forthcoming, but set up “community meetings” to get “feedback”
• The officials diffuse responsibility and distract the community by engaging an intermediary as a message taker.
• Finally, the officials release the predetermined decision, go on to emphasize the fairness of the process, and quickly vote on it.

Sadly this is how the Wharton consolidation process has gone so far.  Only out of touch officials would make a decision to close a high performing school that has a specialized curriculum and shows continuous improvement.  The process has been a show.  We have been asking HISD for concrete facts since we first learned of Wharton’s consolidation status in 2007.  We were told that answers were forthcoming.  HISD has stalled and ignored our requests.  HISD then went on to engage a consulting firm as an intermediary.  The consultants held “meetings” and sought our “feedback”.  They showered us with massaged “data” but were unwilling to provide us with the sources.  We pressed for answers; they said that they would get back to us.  They did not.  Personally I have sent numerous emails requesting information.  They have all gone unanswered.  All of us have had similar experiences. 

Now here we are, days before the Wharton decision.  None of our concerns have been addressed.  You will announce your recommendation on Tuesday and quickly vote on it the following Thursday.  This gives the community less than a week to respond. 

Please redeem this shameful process and make fairness and transparency the goal of HISD.  At best Wharton should be taken off the disposition list immediately.  If not, then move the final vote to give the community time to articulate a proper response.  This being said, you should not underestimate what our community can do in the short time that remains.  We will not give up Wharton without a very loud and very public fight.  Thank you.