Katy Citizen Watchdog$

We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money.

Political E-Mail To Teachers Is Ok

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NOTE TO OUR READERS:  The following commentary was submitted to the local Katy papers.

Editor:

I am being criticized for sending a political email endorsing a NO vote on the bond and in support of Fred Hink and Tom Law to teachers in several schools, and I would like to point out that sending political advertisements and endorsements is perfectly legal and my right as a citizen! The school district cannot legally block such emails from going to employees.

The Katy school district rescinded their policy of twenty-five plus years of allowing candidates and partisan issue followers to place political advertisements within the school building. Such controlling and manipulating behavior leaves the candidates no other way to reach employees of the school district.

Each day for seven days the school district brings a movable ballot box to each of five or six schools which in my opinion has the appearance of pressuring teachers and staff and the parents of children at that school to vote. I'm sure that no one is suggesting HOW they are to vote. How can the opposition to the bond counter that kind of activity if we cannot contact employees in the same manner that the supporters of the bond are able to do?

I feel that employees need to hear both sides of the issues, need to know what events are occurring, and if enlightened and thoughtful voters, they should welcome the opportunity to hear and see both sides.

Our small town atmosphere in Katy doesn't mean that our issues are diminished and not important.

How and by whom our school district is managed and governed affects every single family in Katy. The education of our children is a very serious matter, and it deserves the attention and well-informed vote of all of us.

Mary McGarr

Katy ISD School Board Trustee 1991-1996

Member of the Katy Citizen Watchdog$

 

© 2006 by Mary McGarr. All rights reserved.

Mary McGarr, Katy Citizen Watchdog$

Date: 05/05/2006