ATTENDEES TO THE KSOD IN 2014:

Through an open records request after the 2014 Bond Election in which I asked for "the list of those invited to the State of the District address," I received several lists of those who were invited to attend Alton Frailey's State of the District address.  Unlike in 2012, the District would not indicate who actually attended, stating that they didn't keep that record. 

District photos show that there were nowhere near the "hundreds" in attendance that was proclaimed in their press releases that were printed without investigation by the sorry news media outlets that serve the Katy area (with the exception, of course, of www.Covering Katy.com ).

I'm guessing that those invitees who came, like last time, were school district employees who felt obligated to come!

Here are those invited:

The following are the people who were on the "First" list as I received it from the District.  Note the number of KISD employees and KISD cheerleaders! They are printed here just as they appeared on the list. My comments are in brackets.

Miss Hayley Abbott, Mr. Joe Adams, Dr. John Alawneh, Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt Alexander, Mrs. BJ Alvarez, Mr. Peter Alvim, Mr. Rob Bamford, Ms. Tammy Banks, Pastor Tim Barker, Ms. Angel Bateman, Ms. Erin Baumgardner, Ms. Sanee Bell, Mr. Rick Blan, State Representative Dwayne Bohac, Ms. Carol Bonaccorso, Ms. Becky Bracewell-Tucker, Executive Pastor Robert Burdett, Mr. Kelly Burnett, Ms. Sharri Butterfield, State Representative Bill Callegari [and note that they DID NOT invite Katy's newly elected Republican State Representative Michael Schofield who I hope will remember this slight when KISD comes begging for a vote on something down the road], Mrs. Denisse Cantu, Mr. Charles Cardiff, Mrs. Linda Cardiff, Mr. Keith Carmichael, Dr. Christine Caskey, Ms. Gina Cobb, Dr. Freda Corbell Creech, Ms. Emily Craig, Mr. Rom Crespo, Mr. Lee Crews, Ms. Chris Crockett, Jr. James Cross, Mrs. Cindy Cruz-Davis, United States Congressman John Culberson, Mr. Kenneth Cummings, Ms. Ashly Darnell, Ms. Debbie Decker, Mr. Henry Dibrell, Mr. Paul Dickens, Ms. Mindy Dickerson, Ms. Christy Dodd, Pastor Tim Douglas, Mrs. Courtney Doyle, Mr. Juan Duenas, Ms. Yolanda Edmond, Mr. Mark Elkins, Mr. George Etier, Ms. Kerri Finnesand, Ms. Carra Fleming, Mr. Phillip Fontenot, Mr. Marcus Forney, Mrs. Rebecca Fox, Mrs. Anissa Frailey, Mrs. Laura Freeman, Ms. Janine Gorell, Ms. Marysha Bernice Goss-Smith, Mr. Richard Grassau, Ms. Linnea Griffith, Mr. Mark Grisdale, Dr. Andrea Grooms, Mr. Thomas Gunnell, Ms. Maria Hardegree, Ms. Kristin Harper, Ms. Rhonda Henderson, Dr. Tory Hill, Mrs. Julie Hinson, Dr. Charmaine Hobin, Mrs. Bonnie Holland, Mrs. Denita Holmes, Chief Mark Hopkins, Ms. Shannon Hopkins, Dr. Anita Horton, Ms. Deb Hubble, Mr. Rick Hull, Ms. Lisa Johns, Mr. Steve Jones, Ms. Mitzi Jones, Ms. Jacki Keithan, Ms. Jacqueline Keithan (who is, I'm guessing, the same person as Jacki Keithan), Mr. Troy Kemp, Mr. David Kendler, Ms. Yvonne Kershner, Ms. Judy Krimmel, Ms. Elizabeth Kuyle, Dr. Ann Lalime, Mr. Scott Lamarr, Dr. Jacob LeBlanc, Ms. Lisa Leethem, Dr. Jim Leggett, Ms. Alene Lindley, Mr. Frank Lombard, Ms. Carrie Lowery, Mrs. Leah Marchione, Ms. Michelle Mason, Mr. Don Massey, Ms. Shani Matheson, Dr. Allison Matney, Ms. Kathy McDonald, Mr. Peter McElwain, Ms. Josephine McGill, Mr. Gary McHatton, Mr. Scooter McMeans, Ms, Fran McTigrit, Miss Macy Medford, Dr. Imelda Medrano, Dr. Linda Menius, Dr. Leonard Merrell, Mr. Bryan Michalsky, Dr. Kris Mitzner, Mr. Ronnie Mosher, Ms. Heather Mulcahy, Ms. Karen Muller, Mr. Lance Nauman, Sheriff Troy Nehls, Ms. Melissa Nixon, Ms. Julia Noeldner, Major Chad Norvell, Ms. Sharon Nowak, Mr. MIchael Ouellette, Mrs. Patricia Paetow, State Senator Dan Patrick, Dr. David Paz, Ms. Cecilia Perez, Ms. Sofia Peruzzi, Ms. Donna Pittenger, Mr. Damien Polansky, Ms. Cathy Prudhomme, Mr. Steven Pustejovsky, Ms. Kerry Rampelli, Ms. Karen Raymond, Ms. Reed Neil, Ms. Reina Kayce, Mr. William Rhodes, Ms. Kelly Ricks, Ms. Stacy Ricotta, Ms. Olga Riffle, Dr. Steve Robertson, Mr. William (Mike) Robinson, Ms. Malyinn Rodriguez, Mrs. Rhonda Sadler, Ms. Eve Schaefer, Ms. Terry Schaub, Mrs. Diana Schauer-Tran, Mr. Fred Shafer, Mrs. Patti Shafer, Ms. Linda Shepard, , Ms. Cindy Shiffler, Jr., Mr. Joe Simmons, Ms. Lisa Simmons, Mr. Ethan Sims, Sheriff R. Glenn Smith, Mr. Christopher Smith, Ms. Jacqueline Lucci Smith, Ms. Ingrid Smith, Mrs. Susan Smith, Ms. Leslie Smuts, Mr. Stan Stanley, Dr. Cazilda Steele, Ms. Melissa Steger, Ms. Nona Stewart, Mr. Jeff Stocks, Ms. Jennifer Stockstill, Ms. Tracy Stroud, Asst. Chief Deputy Marlin Suell, Ms. Yvette Sylvan, Ms. Janet Theis, Ms. Elena Thrun, Mrs. Lindsey Tigert, Mr. O. D. Tompkins, Mrs. Claudia Tucci, Ms. Lucy Underwood, Mrs. Ashley Vann, Ms. Stephanie Vaughan, Mr. Downey Vickery, Mr. Ted Vierling, Mr. Rigo Villarreal, Ms. Terri Walker, Ms. Rhonda Ward, Dr. Anna Webb-Storey, Ms. Tammi Wilhelm, Ms. Heather Williams, Mr. Tom Wilson, Mrs. Lillie Wilson, Mr. [sic--they didn't put Mrs.] Ray and Jamie Wolman, Mrs. Jamie Wolman [they put Mrs. Wolman down twice], and Dr. Lorena Zertuche.

Notice that the list totals up to about 142 people (including duplicates and couples).  Then there's ANOTHER list, and I'm guessing these are the people who may be an afterthought, but who nevertheless bolster Mr. Frailey's list of invitees:

(And yes it's odd that the second list begins with three people with no alphabetical connection.)  Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes, Dr. Susan Rice, Ms. Christie Barker, Ms. Debra Barker, Ms. Shona Begg, Mr. Chris Borreca, Ms. Dustine Bulawa, (No title) Ed Emmett [but perhaps the Harris County Judge], Ms. Jo Ella Exley, Ms. Margo Faulkner, Mrs. Cheryl Fawvor, Mr. Kerry Gilbert, Ms. Janette Gill, Mr. Michael Griffin, Mr. Charles Griffin, Ms. Beth Grimet, Mrs. Grace Lanier, Ms., Sharon Lory, Mr. Mark McCord, Ms. Carol Moore, Ms. Stephanie Morrison, Mr. Benjamin Rolens, Ms. Jaime Shipley, Ms. Maria Tademy, Ms. Nikki Williams, Ms. Katherine Williams, and Ms. Pat Wright.

So that's 28 more, and the count is up to 170 but still not at the "hundreds" as proclaimed.

Now we come to the third list that they sent me in the Open Records request of November 21, 2014.  If one is not on the "First" or the "Second" list, he might start to wonder how significant he really is in the scheme of things.

Mr. Tad Adams, Ms. Joanne Aldridge, (No title) Jennifer Anderson, Ms. Tiffany Bates, Judge Glenn Beckendorff [who was no longer the County Judge --Trey Duhon was, and he wasn't invited], Ms. Kay Beckendorff-Sword, State Representative Cecil Bell, Ms Alma Blakemore, Dr. Margie Blount, Mr. Dan Boggio, Ms. Carol Bonaccorso [duplicate], Ms. Mary Bordeaux, Mrs. Eve Bowman Schaefer, Mr. Daryl Brandt, Ms. Michelle Braud, Chief Chuck Brawner (who as a Katy City Councilman should be addressed as Councilman instead of by his job title), Dr. David Bright, Ms. Angela Brown, Pastor Donald Burgs, Jr., Mr. Rene Cano, Mr. Melvin Cerny, (No title) Christa Clifton, Mrs. Melissa Colihan, Councilman JB Collins, Mr. Scott Coneby, Ms. Anjannette Conner, (No title) Charles Cooper Raines, Mrs. Laci Costagliola, Mr. Ken Courville, Mrs. Perri D'Armond, Pastor John Davis, Mr. Jay Elder, Ms. Ana Esparza, Mrs. Erin Fair, Ms. Lynn Farmer, Pastor Marlin Fenn, Mr. Michael Fielder, Ms. Melissa Fitzgerald, Ms. Evelyn Follis, Ms. Glee Fossier, (No title) Anthony Francis, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin and Cathy Franz, (No title) Wendy Freaney, Ms. Jamie Freels, Mr. David Frishman, Ms. Teresa Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Gill, Ms. Lindsay Glaser, Mr and Mrs. Eric Golbow (Guess he doesn't know Mrs. Eric Golbow's given name), Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Golbow (same as previous), Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Golbow (same as previous), Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lee Golbow (same as previous), Ms. Claudia Gonzalez, Ms. Paulina Gonzalez-Nossa, (No title) Stan Goss, Ms. Stephanie Gowan, Mrs. Ada Griffin, Ms. Jeannie Griffith, Mr. Aaron Groff, Mrs. Kelly Hammons, Mr. Byron Hebert, Judge Robert Hebert, Senator Glenn Hegar (who should have been addressed as State Comptroller Glenn Hegar), Ms. Gayla Henderson, Ms. Brandy Hitt, Mrs. Ann Hodge, Ms. Nicole Holmes, Ms. Diana Holson, [State] Senator Joan Huffman, Ms. Susi Jackson, Ms. Sara Jackson, Ms. Susi Jackson (looks like another duplicate), Mrs. Diane Jacobson, Mr. Ken Janda, Ms. Emily Jones, Ms. Debbie Kallina, Ms. Machele Keppler, Ms. Lisa Kinzel, Councilwoman Tricia Krenek, Ms. Down Kress, Pastor Ryszard Kulma, Mayor [Fulshear] Tommy Kuykendall, Mr. Lance LaCour, Father Tom Lam, (No title) Rick Lawler, Mrs. Sandra Lawler, Mr. Bill Lawton, Ms. Manya Leach, Mr. Oliver Lee, Mrs. Susan Lee, Ms Jennifer Little, Mr. David Loesch, Ms. Dianne Loftin, Ms. Shantania Loving-Leggins, Ms. Laura Lowe, Ms. Cynthia Mally, Ms. Rachel Martinez, Mrs. Sara Martinsen, Mr. Clark Martinon, Mr. Jim Mavity, United States Congressman Michael McCaul, Mr. Don McCoy, Mrs. Dixie McDonald, Mr. Randy McDonald, (No title) Kevin McMeans, (No title) Joli McMeans Jink [sic], (No title) Donna McMeans Lee, Pastor Roy Meadows, Mr. Jimmy Mendez, Jr., Dr./Mrs. Linda Merrell [?], Mrs. Dana Mersisovsky, Councilwoman Tajana Mesic, Commissioner Andy Meyers, Mr. Bradley Miller, Ms. Mary Ann Miller, Mr. Larry Moore, Mrs. Ida May Morton, Mr. James Morton, (No title) Keith Morton, (No title) Lee Morton, (No title) Michael Morton, Ms. Lori Moss, Ms. Alma Muniz, Representative Jim Murphy, Ms. Janell Navarro, Ms. Linda Nichols, United States Congressman Pete Olson, (No title) Donna Ortiz, Ms. Ota Kindra, Ms. Lindsey Palmer, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Ms. Cassandra Parks, Ms. Linda Patterson, Mr. Randy Petty, Mr. Steve Pierson (who would probably prefer to be addressed as Katy City Councilman like all the other Councilmen on the list), Reverand [sic] Dean Pogue, Mr. Jeffrey Poole, Ms. Rachel Prejean, Ms. Shelley Rajagopalan, Ms. Cheryl Rankin, Ms. Sharon Rhodes, Mr. John G Rhodes, Ms. Cassie Richter, Mr. Edward Riffle, Ms. Katie Roberts, Councilman Jeff Roberts, Ms. Tie Roberts, Mr. Bill Rogde, (No title) Kent Rosenberger, Mr. Jon Ross, Mr. Tony Rylander, Ms Rula Sa, Dr. Monica Saenz, Ms. Amanda Salas, Mr., Wilson Salazar, Ms. Amy Scarborough, (No title) Sam Schulze, Ms. Tina Seaman, Ms. Matheson Shani (cleverly hidden and a duplicate), Mr. Kevin Shipley, Mr. Matt Shivers, Ms., Leslie Simank, Ms., Selene Simmons, Ms. Maureen Singleton, (No title) Jamey Smith, Ms. Margaret Spieldenner, Ms. Ursula Stephens, Ms. Autumn Stewart, Ms. Susan Stormer, Mr. James Strickland, Ms. Regina Stumpf, Ms. Kathy Sutton, (No title) Jason Tice, Ms. Karen Truong, Mrs. Claudia Tucci [duplicate], Mr. Brad Upshaw, Mr. Mike Van Hoozer, Ms. Kristin Vigeant, State Representative Hubert Vo, Ms., Marla Warren, Pastor G. F. Watkins, (No title) Kenneth D. Welch, Ms. Donna Welling, (No title) Mark Welshimer, Dr. Randy White, (No title) Richard White, Mrs. Patsy Williams, Ms. Tracy Williams, Mr. Garry Willis, Ms. Portia Willis, Ms. Tara Wilson, Mr. Maurice Wolfe [who is 90 years old and lives in McAllen,Texas], Mrs. Christianna Woods, (No title) Bill Woolsey, Ms. April Young, Mr. Gerald D. Young, Ms. Michelle Zamora, Mr. Mike Zanghi, and The Honorable Dr. John Zerwas [so why aren't all the other elected officials not addressed as "The Honorable" as they properly should be?]

That's 176 more for a total of 346.  I guess that qualifies as "hundreds" who were invited, but obviously most of them declined the honor. When Mr. Frailey slights more than he invites, when he leaves out people who would obviously be interested in a genuine appraisal of the District's status (like all the elected former Katy ISD School Board members, or perhaps the presidents of the PTA's and PTO's and PTSO's), as well as other issues that go unaddressed year after year, when he has to invite his wife to fill up the room, when he has to send out press releases that no one believes anymore, how can anyone say that our school district has credible leadership?

I have to ask the obvious, and I'm certain others can think of more who were omitted, but why was Don Elder not invited? How about former school board members Nick Alexander, Ken Burton, Terry Huckaby, Garry Weiss, Eric Duhon, Judy Snyder, Bill Proctor and Stanley Thompson?  Anyone else note that Brenda Ritter, the president of the Katy Retired Teacher's Association wasn't included?  How about Carol Adams who does so much for the City of Katy?  How do former Taylor baseball coach Melvin Cerny and former Taylor tennis coach Jim Mavity get invited, but not Bubba Fife, Mike Johnston--or, Coach Joseph?  Where is Bill Bryant, the Fine Arts Director? Where is Steve Hotze, Katy's political mover and shaker? Where are all the other owners of architectural firms? Where are all the reporters and publishers of the local media?  Did they just get a press release instead of an invitation?  What about perennial bond committee members Robert Carpenter, Dr. Tommy Harrison, and Harry Herzog who carried the water to pass bonds in the past?  Did these people just get dumped on?  And of course there's Robert Willeby--the one who made himself the District's biggest cheerleader--the one who does the District's bidding no matter how unpleasant.  How rude not to include him.

One of my friends has made the point in a recent conversation that Mr. Frailey appears to be so desperate for an audience that he declares his speech an event that requires an invitation list--forced attendance, as it were. His list actually eliminates most of the people who pay his exorbitant salary. Why not, as my friend suggested, just announce that there will be a State of the District speech on such and such a day with a listing of the time and place and have faith, because of one's record over the last seven years, that a respectable number of employees, civil servants as well as parents, students and clamoring media types will fill up the place to the rafters? 

Instead it appears that Mr. Frailey has absolutely no confidence in his own ability to draw a crowd.  What kind of leadership is that? 

Another concern that I keep expressing and am inclined to mention with this matter has to do with ethnic and racial representation on Katy ISD committees, at meetings, et cetera.  When our minority school district has a composition of 9.6% African-Americans, 34.4% Hispanics, 41.7% Whites and 11.6% Asians in its student body (as of 2013-- the last statistics available), wouldn't one be correct in assuming that the Superintendent would make every effort to mirror that student composition whenever he convenes any group?  To not do so smacks of bias and prejudice.  Surely as many times as I've brought this matter up over the years, you'd think the Superintendent would fix this perennial problem.

I want our KISD students to get a good education in the basics so they can go on and do whatever their intelligence and ambition allows them to do.  When our superintendent spends more time trying to undermine his critics than improving academics; when he resorts to calling his critics names ("village idiots" and 'thorns" in his side); when he won't follow the dictates of the State Board of Education and change the KISD curriculum to mesh with and adhere to the TEKS, I think it's time to replace him!