The Ellis County Press: Waxahachie ISD Former county treasurer top vote-getter Two incumbents ousted

Waxahachie ISD Former county treasurer top vote-getter Two incumbents ousted
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Editor on 05/08/2003 00:00:00


JOEY DAUBEN
The Ellis County Press
WAXAHACHIE- Voters here do not have a short-term memory.
Amid a controversial budget deficit, and a failed bond package, voters turned
out Saturday, May 3 and elected two new faces to the school board, ousting
nine-year board member David Walker and Linda Alvarez.
Mark Price, the former county treasurer who lost to Republican Chad Adams in
last November's general election, garnered 644 votes, or 25 percent, in the race
for three at-large positions.
John Colwell
and incumbent Joe Langley received 441 and 432 votes, respectively, capturing
the other two positions.
The WISD has come under scrutiny for their handling of a $2.5 million budget
deficit, which was later found out to be a miscalculation; Superintendent Bobby
Parker and Chief Financial Officer Dan Davis admitted there were problems with
the budget figures, which were not made public until after voters turned down a
$48 million bond package in February.
Trustee Bill Kelley said the district knew about the budget deficit even before
the bond election campaign, but the district kept it from the public; during his
campaign, Price said the taxpayers should be able to find out what goes on with
the district.
'It's their money, and they have a right to know where it's going,' Price said
after a recent candidate forum.
Teachers, who are afraid to come out publicly, said the district intentionally
tries to hide things by holding meetings at 7 and 8 a.m. on Saturday mornings,
and has even locked administration building doors during regularly scheduled
meetings, other examples of keeping things from the public, they said.