GSR Requests Formal On-The-Record Interviews With Key Katy ISD Administrators

The following letter will be delivered to Katy I.S.D. administrators on Tuesday, January 20. That is the first business day following the District’s observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.

As the letter notes, this is not a request made pursuant to the public information request. It is a formal request to interview key administrators that are addressed. The letter will also be delivered to Steve Stanford, an official of the communications department of the District.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

George Scott Reports
George Scott
GeorgeScottReports.com

Alton Frailey, Superintendent of Katy I.S.D.
Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Freda Corbell, Assessment, Accountability and Research
Dr. Linda Menius, Secondary Instruction

Dear Mr. Frailey:

This letter serves as my formal request asking you to conduct an on-the-record interview with me in my role as publisher of George Scott Reports.  Moreover, I am asking that you give Dr. Clark, Dr. Corbell and Dr. Menius the explicit authority to conduct on-the-record interviews with me.

I will tape record all interviews.  The District would be encouraged to tape the interviews as well.

Over the last two months, I have sought and received information from the District pursuant to the Public Information Act of Texas.  Of course, you have direct access to all information that has been provided to me.  In one instance, I am waiting for the final production of data.  However, I expect delivery of that very soon.

The subject matter of my interviews with you and each of your key administrative leaders cited will be District-hosted or sponsored training for classroom teachers in Katy I.S.D.  The questions will deal with recent training sessions as outlined in my requests to receive public information data.  One involved the removal of certified classroom teachers during the instructional day.  The other did not. However, the full issue of training will be included in the interview.

The three individuals that I seek to interview (other than yourself) all have administrative positions and management oversight that make them the primary officials in Katy I.S.D. to be able to fully explain the District’s rationale for the training, the effectiveness of the training, and the objective standards of performance review for the training.

I am specifically requesting that the date of the interviews be scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2009.  Logically, it would make sense to interview the three administrators at the same time while scheduling a second interview with you. I would expect the interviews to last no more than 30 minutes.

The last time I asked you to set a formal on-the-record interview, you simply refused to respond.  Of course, I can’t make you respond to this request, but it is my hope that one of two things will transpire:

1. You will accept the request and schedule a time for the interviews, or,
2. If you decline, you will respond in writing.  ”No” will be sufficient in that case.

I know that you understand that since this is not a request pursuant to the Public Information Act, you do not have to take 10 days to respond.  Courtesy might indicate a more prompt answer.

I have a long track record of dealing with all three of the administrators (other than you) included in my request. They know that all of our past interactions have been cordial and professional despite any disagreements that we may have upon issues.  Each would know that any interviews will be conducted with the highest standard of professionalism as would the one with you.

George Scott - George Scott Reports - GeorgeScottReports.com