Thursday, March 19, 2009

Fresh on the Net: a School Board Campaign Website

I don’t ever get news this fresh, but did today when an anonymous tipster hipped me to Position 6 FBISD School Board candidate Bruce Albright’s campaign website.

It is as bare bones as you can get, but if you look at the page buried here you get his story.

I haven’t been able to fathom the guy’s politics, which is usually a non-issue when it comes to school board elections – usually – but it looks to me like this guy is taking a page from Richard Morrison’s playbook.

No one will argue that Richard Morrison, a Democrat who ran in a slightly Republican-leaning Fort Bend Precinct 1 election for County Commissioner last year, was elected to the office because he “owned” the issue of toll roads in Fort Bend County. He got his name indelibly attached to the anti-toll road sentiment that has rolled across the county. A move that couldn’t hurt since his opponent’s name was indelibly attached to the pro-toll road sentiment that was waning in the same county.

Now I reported that Bruce Albright once addressed the FBISD school board on the issue of parking rules at Dulles High School. And that was it. Not because that is all there is to the guy, but because that is literally all I could find out about him.

But now we know more, don’t we? We know for instance, that Bruce Albright represents a “No vote” for the public who want to weigh in on whether they want the district to invest untold millions of dollars on a “Global Science and Technology Center.” He is against it, labeling it, as it has become to be known in the area as a “Taj Mahal.”

Bruce Albright wants his name to be indelibly associated with an “Anti Taj Mahal” movement in the district.

I think it is safe to say, no matter where you stand on the issue, Albright has staked out the turf that just might do it for him. Might just get him past the “anointed one” that has seemingly been hand-picked by some members of the BOT to succeed outgoing Trustee Steve Smelley.

Why? The timing of this issue could not be better for opponents to the Science Center, nor could it be worse for proponents of same.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I found this one too;

http://www.carloscain.com

Does Rodrigo have one? Let us know.

Anonymous said...

Way to go Bruce!

Anonymous said...

Bruce and Carlos will do what board members are supposed to do and that is keep an eye out for the taxpayers and families of the district, not the vendors.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone actually read this report on FBISD vendor PBK? It looks very much like the fast track effort being done with the Jenney's global science center. Is anyone looking into this?

http://www.woai.com/media/news/4/4/d/44dcc993-e1dc-4378-8349-b88e6486aec3/NEW_Judson_Report.pdf

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ei=uUnGSaSQDpKmsAPOzJDtBg&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=WOAI,+PBK,+FBI,+Judson+ISD&spell=1

Anonymous said...

Or this file:

http://media.mysanantonio.com/documents/Judson+InvestigationOK.pdf

Has the supt here gone golfing out of town lately?

Hal said...

Taking the high road on this issue, shouldn't the arguments for or against this issue be centered around whether building the Global Science and Technology Center is the best expenditure of funds, and not about the business practices of an architectural firm or any of these other "sideshow issues" that take away from the main considerations at hand?

I know we all like to run off barking at the shiniest object that runs past our view, but let's not lose sight of the main issue: how can we increase students' understanding of science.

Another thing I'd like to toss out there is this. We are all assuming that the funds to build this Center will come from taxes. Having lived here awhile, I am fully aware of the local attitude toward funding what others have argued to be a "white elephant." I wonder then, whether the intent is to tap other sources to fund this thing.

And if not, why not.

Anonymous said...

I understand your position Hal. In fact I recently met someone with children in a district in Louisiana with a similar facility. I was very impressed with the benefits their children were receiving from that facility. My concerns with the "Proposed" Science Center in FBISD are the financial impact and the timing. Additional concerns are the current budget deficit and the fact that our BOT just approves whatever Jenney wants to do. Shortages of basic supplies and teaching materials, lack of textbooks, broken or no computers (in this day and age), non functional security systems, freeze on spending (doesn't that tell you something). All the BOND MONEY, 1.5 Billion dollar Long Term Debt of FBISD. BOT and Jenney led around by the nose-ring the EDC has clipped to them, Developers calling and saying "HEY WE BOUGHT A COW PASTURE" - "NOW SEND US A FEW MILLION BUCKS, CUZ YOU NEED TO PUT A SCHOOL ON IT" - AND NOW... I go to this INFOMERCIAL with PBK in red letters at the end of the show.. so I google PBK.. and bingo what pops up --- FBI INVESTIGATING PBK AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICT.. now I'm not a Phi Beta Kappa - BUT FBI, PBK AND FBISD BOT is not what I want to see on CNN, FOX AND MSNBC... SO MY VOTE would be -- Maybe we should do some planning, get our ducks in a row and slowly work into a "SCIENCE CENTER" - besides, look at the 07 bond project list, you'll notice "SCIENCE/CLASSROOM LAB ADDITION at several schools - and one more thing - part of the speel at the "INFOMERCIAL" was we're not pumping out enough "ENGINEERS" due to lack of interest. My wife is from Asia. Bright kids, diciplined learning - strong desire to get Engineering Degree's - and guess what, NO MASSIVE BUDGET SCIENCE CENTERS! Education begins at HOME. Parents - Turn off the TV - Sit down with your kids - LOOK AT THEIR HOMEWORK, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY - FIND OUT WHY!! EDUCATION BEGINS AT HOME! A BILLION DOLLAR FACILITY WILL NOT IMPROVE GRADE SCORES. EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE IS WHAT BUILDS CHARACTER - SET GOALS WITH YOUR KIDS - REWARD THEIR SUCCESS - AND USE A BELT ON THAT BACKSIDE WHEN NECESSARY! WITHOUT THE FOUNDATION BUILT BY GOOD PARENTING NO AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE WORLD IS GOING TO CREATE THE DESIRE TO LEARN IN OUR CHILDREN.

I'M IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING THAT KEEPS KIDS OFF DRUGS AND IN SCHOOL - BUT WE NEED OUR HOUSE IN ORDER BEFORE WE BUILD A NEW ONE. AND HANDING PBK OR ANYONE A BLANK CHECK TO BUILD "JENNEY MAJAL" IS DEFINITELY THE WRONG WAY TO GET THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT THIS "PROPOSAL". In my humble opinion of course..

Thanks for opportunity to voice my opinion,
Kindest Regards,

CARLOS CAIN
832.859.5783
FBISDREFORM.ORG

Anonymous said...

Amen.

Anonymous said...

How do I volunteer to help with these campaigns?

Anonymous said...

"My concerns with the "Proposed" Science Center in FBISD are the financial impact and the timing. "--I agree Mr. Cain and I also noticed when watching the presentation at the meetings we saw mostly programs that already exist in or near our community. Unnecessary duplication is not a good rationale for projects like these. Improved education goes on in the classroom, not down by the central office for "wow" effect.

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous;

You may reach me at 832.859.5783 if you would like to volunteer to help. you may also e mail me at carlos.cain@hotmail.com or go through a link on my website www.carloscain.com

Mr. Albright has his contact information posted on his website
http://www.brucealbright.com/

Knowing the economy we are all forced to deal with and the limited funds most families have, a donation of time is very much appreciated and just as valuable as a monetary gift.

Thanks, Hope to see you soon

Carlos Cain

Anonymous said...

I can't understand why in this economy our local school system is pushing an idea like this and apparently owing a great deal of money too, but it seems to fit the MO of our politicians these days.