Fort Worth school trustee mad about district's response to story

Board member Carlos Vasquez said superintendent Melody Johnson hit a "new low" when the district issued a press release responding to this weekend's story about the release of a management letter. Trustee Ann Sutherland made a public records request to get the letter. She, Vasquez and trustee Juan Rangel were critical of administration for not releasing the letter sooner while other trustees said they wanted the district's new CFO to have more time to review the letter's findings before bringing it to the board.

Monday district officials issued a press release stating they were "setting the record straight" and contended that the letter was not withheld. Vasquez took issue with the response in a letter sent to Johnson, fellow board members and the media.

"Several Board Members were quoted on the story referenced on this release. Who are you 'Setting the Record Straight' with? Who lied for this to have to be set straight? I feel like you have attacked us and that you are calling us liars," he wrote.

District spokeswoman Barbara Griffith said Johnson was still out of the country on vacation and unreachable for comment. She declined to comment on Vasquez' e-mail. Griffith said the press release was a response to a headline in the Star-Telegram that read "Letter that detailed woes kept from board." Griffith said, "We felt the headline of the story did not mesh with the rest of the story."

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Comments

[Judge Bill]

Will Melody Johnson, join the congo line of DFW Government employees departing after serving only a few years?

[Michael Eaton]

The news release is not only appropriate, it was necessary, and is about as flawless a defense of the situation as one could possible make. Why is it that moronic school board members always try to point fingers when nothing has happened?

[Patrick]

Melody Johnson is going to need a facelift after this one. sad, real sad.

[LarryB]

This was a bad move on the part of the district's. Trying to fight a battle like this in the newspaper will only cause hard feelings and shows a disrespect for our board members. The downtown administration staff would not permit a teacher or other "underling" to take their disagreement to the public like this, they should hold themselves to the same standard. Work through the system first and take your argument public as a last result.

[Darkershadow]

It is important to try to be objective and try to research who is selling misinformation. If the bottom info is true then at best this one board member is not presenting a clear picture. Which one board member has gone out his way each and everytime to disrespect hard working honorable staff. Don't believe me just watch archived footage of past board meetings. Don't lets other think for you, investigate with available information.

The Management Letter is a written report by the District’s external auditors outlining findings of the 2008-2009 financial audit. Those findings were initially presented to the Board of Trustees in the January 26, 2010 Special Meeting. Anyone may view the video record of that meeting at http://fortworthisd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=398&meta_id=17696

In subsequent Board meetings, Trustees asked Chief Financial Officer Hank Johnson to take the time needed to resolve issues raised by the audit. Such specific guidance was provided even as recently as May 25, 2010, by then Board Vice-President Christene Moss. An audio recording of that meeting has been available on the District web site, http://fortworthisd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=600&meta_id=21792, since May 26th, 2010.

Additionally, the management letter and the audit have been posted on the TEA Web site since early March, shortly after being received. Those documents may be viewed at http://tuna.tea.state.tx.us/audit/Drop/2008/220905/financial/220905Aother12008.PDF