Friday, June 14, 2013

Managing RISD's $250 Million Budget

Question: What qualifications and experience do you have to oversee the RISD's $250 million budget?
Rachel Chumney: The best thing that I can do in this role is the fact that I'm a good researcher, I'm wise, and I'm fiscally conservative, and I'll research the dickens out of something.
A runoff election for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees will happen on June 15 (early voting June 3-11 at Richardson Civic Center). The runoff is between incumbent Lanet Greenhaw and Rachel Chumney. I endorsed Lanet Greenhaw in the joint election on May 11. I endorse her again in the runoff. The question above is one reason why.

If you think that someone whose qualification for managing a $250 million budget is that she will "research the dickens out of something" might not be ready to be put in charge of the RISD budget, then you might want to look beyond Rachel Chumney for a better candidate.

Look, Rachel Chumney is a nice enough person. She's just not qualified for school board. Don't rely just on the quote I found telling. Listen to Chumney's whole answer (starting 51:00). Then, compare with Lanet Greenhaw's answer (starting 49:45). No contest. Vote for Greenhaw.


See also:

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Advocacy for Public Schools

Question: An important role for a board member is legislative advocacy on behalf of all of the children of RISD. Give an example of your efforts over the past year or two.
Rachel Chumney: The first thing I do is I vote. I have voted since I was eighteen years old. I stay on top of things. I am committed to using my vote.
A runoff election for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees will happen on June 15 (early voting June 3-11 at Richardson Civic Center). The runoff is between incumbent Lanet Greenhaw and Rachel Chumney. I endorsed Lanet Greenhaw in the joint election on May 11. I endorse her again in the runoff. The question above is one reason why.

If you think that someone whose resume of legislative advocacy highlights the filler "I vote" might not be ready to be school board trustee, then you might want to look beyond Rachel Chumney for a better candidate.

Look, Rachel Chumney is a nice enough person. She's just not qualified for school board. Don't rely just on the quote I found telling. Listen to Chumney's whole answer (starting 40:43). Then, compare with Lanet Greenhaw's answer (starting 39:33). No contest. Vote for Greenhaw.


See also:

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

6th Grade: Elementary School or Middle School?

Question: Do you support or oppose moving sixth grade out of the elementary schools and into a more traditional middle school environment?
Rachel Chumney: I oppose it. Middle school is awful and children need to be in middle school as little as possible.
A runoff election for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees will happen on June 15 (early voting June 3-11 at Richardson Civic Center). The runoff is between incumbent Lanet Greenhaw and Rachel Chumney. I endorsed Lanet Greenhaw in the joint election on May 11. I endorse her again in the runoff. The question above is one reason why.

If you think that someone who thinks middle schools are "awful," whatever that means, might not be a good fit for school board trustee, then you might want to look beyond Rachel Chumney for a better candidate.

Look, Rachel Chumney is a nice enough person. She's just not qualified for school board. Don't rely just on the quote I found telling. Listen to Chumney's whole answer (starting 35:12). Then, compare with Lanet Greenhaw's answer explaining why she opposes moving sixth graders into junior high (starting 37:06). No contest. Vote for Greenhaw.


See also:

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Review: 86: A Collection of Poetry

86: A Collection of Poetry
Amazon
From 86: A Collection of Poetry, by William Gordon:

Hart  
Open quote 

I've much too much to ever tell --
My feet have chilled on steps from hell,
My lips are blue and frozen shut --
I now carefully skate when I used to strut,
Working my way out of a very dark place --
Step by step with the wind to my face,
I walk on ice in fear but soundly --
A deep cold frost on those around me,
Trudging onward in spite of my doubt --
A relentless search for the one way out,
In pursuit of the warmth of the setting sun --
Lost on a journey I should have never begun"

Poetry by Richardson's own William Gordon. My review, after the jump.

Monday, June 10, 2013

5 Broken Cameras (2012)

IMDB
5 Broken Cameras (2012): Documentary of Palestinian village resisting Israeli settlements. Important history. Not compelling filmmaking. C+