Beau Rawlins was the lone filer in District 6 so he will be the new District 6 School Board Trustee come November!  Let me be the first to congratulate him!  We didn't get to really hear any sort of platform from Beau but he has served on several GISD committees and worked hard to do what was right just to watch the administration turn their back on the committee's recommendations.  He created the on-line petition against the reconfiguration.  He helped ensure that Ball High got a good Principal. He has promised to work hard to improve all aspects of GISD.  When he sets his mind on something, there is not much that moves him from that goal.  I've voiced my concerns to him and we know where each other stands.  I've known Beau for a long time now and he has my full support as he jumps from the frying pan into the fire.

Many of you contacted me to run for this position but it was not the right time for me.  I appreciate your vote of confidence and, although I feel somewhat remorseful for not running, I will put my faith in Beau that he will be a man of his word and work for all the children of the district, clean up the financial mess we are in and bring GISD back from the brink of disaster.  I personally ask the Galveston Community to rally behind Beau.  Together, we will continue to shine the light on this Board and administration's idiocies and bring transparency and truth to the Galveston tax payers who support GISD. 

Now for the District 5 race - Rockhind vs. "Where're the Books?" Mytelka. 

Mr. Rockhind has been here before.  He was on the Board during the Lynn Hale reign of terror.  I've spoken with Mr. Rockhind and he realizes that school district administrations don't always have the best interest of the children at heart.  He vows to correct the problems at GISD and be a better steward of the district.  He can really say, "If I knew then what I know now..."  He knows the district. He knows the issues. He knows the players. He knows what needs to be done.

On the other hand, there is the incumbent Andy Mytelka.  Mr. Mytelka's soul reason for running for Trustee three years ago was because his son did not have text books to bring home for homework.  Three years later, where are the books?  In fact, where are the schools?  He's closed 2 of them down and is looking at closing a third. Who needs books when there are no schools?

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, "ARE YOUR SCHOOLS BETTER OFF NOW THAN THEY WERE THREE YEARS AGO?"  

And how about the Grand Reconfiguration of which Mr. Mytelka supported - well, he didn't vote for it actually.  In fact, here's an e-mail from one of his constituents:

From: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 8:55 AM
To: Sandra Jones Tetley
Cc: alskjf;adkjf;alkdjf;lakdjf

Subject: Re: OPTION 3 PASSES!

Thanks Sandra for keeping us all informed.

For all those folks in Andy Mytelka's district.  Be weary.  Andy managed to satisfy his constituents by voting against Option 3 while letting the board and administration know that he was very much in favor of Option 3.  Very nice job of covering your ass Mr. Mytelka.  So for those folks in his district who vehemently opposed Option 3, don't be fooled by his vote.  He voted against Option 3 to appease his district knowing all along that it was going to pass.

I hope you remember that when his term comes up for re-election.

Enough said.     

I throw my complete support behind Barry Rockhind!!

I ask all of you to work to get Barry elected and to support Beau!! 

Remember, in November 2009, we have a chance to get 3 more Board Members elected to the Board!  Then things might change for the better. Perhaps then I can stop calling them the Lack of Trustees and the Circle of H'Eight!