SCOOP: A Texas public school principal notified "all employees [that they] will be expected [by the superintendent] to vote for this Bond" to increase school funding by $992 million and that "Central Office will be monitoring"
I've obtained whistleblower documents 👇🧵
The leaked documents from the pricipal at the San Antonio public school suggest the superintendent found it "unacceptable" that "only 7% of NISD employees voted during our last NISD Bond" and that "all employees will be expected to vote for this year's Bond"
An April 28th email to the whistleblower shows the principal pointing out that "7 out of 49 employees have voted from our campus" and that "an updated list will be provided to me again next week"
internet archive shows the superintendent's weekly newsletter "strongly encourage" staff to vote
"We have got to focus on increasing turnout in the bond election"
"As many of you have heard in the staff presentations, we need to do much better with employee voter participation"
The bond proposal for the district is $992 million. Election Day is today, May 7th.
The union also emailed the employee (April 20th): "We recently received documentation from multiple campuses that indicate to us that district leadership is openly telling people how to vote in this bond, and telling employees that the district will be tracking employees' votes."
More from the union email: "Many employees have felt threatened and feel intimidated to vote for this bond. We want to be clear that telling employee voters how to vote, or forcing them to vote, is unlawful. We have addressed this with the district and are awaiting communication"
UPDATE: An email to staff (4/21) indicates the superintendent found previous low staff turnout "perplexing" and "a shame"
"If bond funds .. are not available to us, we will still have maintenance repairs .. To set aside millions .. would require budget cuts in our general fund."
UPDATE: A school employee reported that he and the principal registered students to vote and "we will also be running a shuttle from campus during early voting to take staff and/or students"
"Our early voting shuttles will happen 1st through 7th periods on Wednesday April 27"
UPDATE: It now appears that the school newsletter has been removed from the website.
However, a copy of the newsletter was saved to the internet archive saying "As per Dr. Woods, all employees will be expected to vote for this year's Bond."
UPDATE: "the teachers’ union for the district, said it brought the messaging up to the district’s leadership after several members brought it to their attention"
Union rep: "We are not totally sure how these issues have been addressed at a district level" kxan.com/news/texas-pol…
UPDATE: District communications conveyed that the $992 million bond would have "NO TAX RATE INCREASE"
However, this claim does not mean your *taxes* will not increase, and it is apparently based on their projections based on assumptions.
UPDATE: A teacher in the district (4/26 board meeting): "You care about us so much you are essentially threatening to reduce our current salary or go years without a raise if the current bond proposal doesn't pass.. you're pressuring our principals to try to get us to vote"
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BREAKING: Randi Weingarten’s teachers union contributed to "Defend Rural Texas PAC."
This PAC has contributed to two "Republicans" who voted against school choice: @BurnsForTexas & @Bailesfortx.
The union only publicly endorsed Democrats.
NEW campaign finance reports 👇🧵
Here is the contribution from "Texas AFT" to the "Defend Rural Texas PAC."
Texas AFT is the Texas affiliate of Randi Weingarten’s teachers union.
Here are the new campaign finance reports showing contributions from "Defend Rural Texas PAC" to DeWayne Burns (@BurnsForTexas) and Ernest Bailes (@Bailesfortx).
This is the PAC that received funding from the Texas affiliate of Randi Weingarten’s teachers union.
INBOX: A Texas school superintendent apparently met with district employees pressuring them to vote for the 16 Republicans who blocked school choice.
That sounds like illegal electioneering.
I just received the transcript AND audio of that meeting.
Buckle up. 👇🧵
My whistleblower says what follows is the transcribed audio from a Feb 7 staff meeting at Hargrave High School in @HuffmanISD.
Their superintendent, who pressured employees to vote for specific candidates, is Benny Soileau.
I will share the audio at the end of this thread. 🧵👇
.@HuffmanISD Superintendent Benny Soileau: "if we don't support those 16 representatives in the upcoming election, we roll into the next session almost assured that we're going to face a universal voucher bill that will change the face of public education for years"
NEW: Texas school district director and principal emails all staff telling them to vote in the Republican primary.
The email links to a website saying who to vote FOR/AGAINST.
Telling employees how to vote with district resources is illegal.
Whistleblower documents 👇🧵
EMAIL: "Here is a list of all candidates and whether or not the [sic] SUPPORT or OPPOSE Public School Education."
"Denton ISD will NOT be able to provide raises next year if legislation doesn't change!"
EMAIL: "we will provide coverage for all Borman employees to go and vote in the Texas Republican Primary."
SUPERINTENDENT: "If Texas educators do not come together & vote on the candidates that will support public schools, we are in trouble. We cannot wait."
SCOOP: A Texas public school superintendent sent a letter to staff railing against "a political ad attacking state Rep. Travis Clardy because of his opposition to school vouchers."
"I will not remain silent and must speak up"
I've obtained the whistleblower document 👇🧵
Gabriel A. Trujillo is the superintendent of Nacogdoches ISD.
Hey @NacISD why is your superintendent (@trujillo88) sending letters to staff attacking political ads?