September 8th, WhosPlayin.com filed an open records request, and has received internal as well as constituent emails sent by, between, and on behalf of School Board members and the Superintendant, Dr. Jerry Roy.
A look at the emails that went back-and-forth on the matter provides a better picture of the situation:
August 27th 3:49 PM - The U.S. Department of Education Commissioner for Region VI emailed the district on August 27th about the upcoming speech, providing all of the details, including links to the broadcast and additional resources.
Tuesday, September 1st 1:06 PM - Conservative Blogger Michelle Malkin writes about President Obama's speech to the nation's schoolchildren. 2:25 PM - "Astroturf Blog", run by Robert Black, Head coach at LISD's Durham Middle School runs this blurb about the speech being "indoctrination". 5:18 PM - Board Member Fred Placke sends an email to Jerry Roy, Tom Kim, and Alan King entitled “A Black on Uncle Sam’s Plantation”, a forwarded email missive blaming social programs for the moral and spiritual problems, as well as the broken families of blacks in America. The forwarded email contained the redacted name and photo of conservative syndicated columnist Star Parker, whose entire article can be seen here. (The article is actually entitled “Back on Uncle Sam’s Plantation”) Presumably the forwarders had changed it to "Black" because Star Parker is a black woman. Placke’s comment: “Wo, does this hit home!”Update: See Placke's response in the comments below.
Wednesday, September 2nd 10:52 AM - K-12 Social Studies Supervisor Amy Harp emails Cherry Carter, Jerry Roy, and Penny Reddell a link to the Department of Education website explaining the speech, says “Let me know if you need any more information”. 11:18 AM - Cherry Carter emails Karen Permetti asking “Do we need to put something on our webpage stating that we will be making it available soon??????” 1:09 PM - Education Service Center, Region 11 emails information regarding the speech to the district. 2:54 PM - News station KTVT emails Permetti asking what the district’s plan for the speech is. 2:59 PM - Reddell emails Permetti and others Amy Harp’s email with the link to information about the speech. 3:05 PM - Permetti emails KTVT saying “We will not be participating,” and explaining that the district has “posted a statement on our website”.This is the first time the decision appears in the emails. 4:22 PM - Permetti emails the Board and others, copying Dr. Roy. She posits that it must have been a slow news day because WFAA will be covering LISD’s response to the speech because LISD was one of the first. Permetti also shares that she has received positive feedback from PR colleagues in other districts. 4:52 PM - Permetti emails all LISD Principals directing them to the website and stating "we will not be airing Pres. Obama’s speech during school." Permetti does not mention Dr. Roy in this email. (At this point, the plan had been to place a link to the speech on LISD’s website and that would be the extent of it)
Thursday, September 3rd 9:29 AM - Cherry Carter forwards Permetti another link and information about where to view the speech. 9:37 AM - local parent Celia Naples writes a letter to the Board and Dr. Roy expressing disapproval for the decision, and lamenting that once her house sells, she may not limit her search to another in the LISD. Placke writes her back, supporting the decision, and wishing her good luck selling her house. 4:18 PM - Penny Reddell responds to Amy Harp’s email from the 2nd, copying in all the principals, stating that Dr. Roy had made the decision on the Tuesday, the 1st. Reddell states that Dr. Roy’s expectation is for the speech NOT to be shown, as consistent with the website. (This is where the explicit ban on the speech comes in.)
Friday, September 4th: 3:06 PM - Dr. Roy emails the Board, reiterating the assertion that the decision was about timing only, and points to other schools with a similar policy. 3:08 PM - Board Member Tom Kim writes Dr. Roy, copying the rest of the board, and saying he supports the decision 100% 3:31 PM - Board Member Fred Placke weighs in with support for the decision, saying that he would have supported the decision even if it were Ronald Reagan speaking. Dr. Roy immediately responds “Thanks.” 4:02 PM - Reddell emails various staff members again stating that Dr. Roy made the decision on Tuesday not to show the speech, and reiterating the ban. 4:02 PM - High school Government and U.S. History teacher Melinda Jobe writes Dr. Roy and others, referencing an opinion that Coppell ISD has issued on the matter, and stating that government teachers can still follow the mandated TEKS by using the speech.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday – September 5th – 7th – Labor Day Holiday Weekend
Tuesday, September 8th: 8:53 AM - In response to a letter from retired LISD employee Virginia Marshall, Dr. Roy again defends his decision, sticking by his story that it was about timing, but he states “This may be one of the worst decisions ever made in the LISD”. Roy reveals that in various emails from parents, he has been called “a hero, a coward, and a politically biased racist”, labels for which he says he is undeserving. 10:25 AM - In an apparent response to some unnamed person, Permetti emails Dianne Aynes a clarification of the district’s policy, saying that teachers MAY use the speech in archived form, but saying also that teachers will allow parents and students to opt-out. 2:37 PM - Permetti emails Reddell an updated version of 10:25 statement, this time formatted for press release. Reddell thanks Permetti for the verbiage in a subsequent email. 3:02 PM - Permetti forwards the text to Nick Rooney, asking him to post it on the LISD website. 4:09 PM - Reddell emails Permetti again, adding more verbiage to the statement. 9:54 PM - Board Member Vernell Gregg emails Dr. Roy saying that his decision to allow teachers the opportunity to show the speech when they can is a wise decision now. Roy writes back the next day in thanks.
Wednesday, September 9th 7:38 AM - Principal Peter Taggart of McKamy Middle School emails Karen about the new verbiage, asking whether it was communicated directly to principals. 8:10 AM - Human resource secretary Cindy Green forwards to Permetti’s secretary, Lee Burns, an email from a citizen who states “I know it was a politically correct reason that was given, however, if I still had children in the district and you would have shown this piece of garbage, I would have kept my children home today.” Burns forwards the email to Permetti with the comment “Great email!” 8:11 AM - Permetti tells Taggart that Dr. Roy changed the district’s position “late yesterday afternoon”. 8:52 AM - Taggart responds to Permetti: “Are you, or is he, sending out that revision to principals? We are going to get phone calls.” 12:48 PM - Follow up email from Taggart: “Any word on this?”
Thursday, September 10th 3:48 PM - Dr. Roy responds to a citizen email opposing the ban, then forwards the response to the Board, stating that he has only received a couple of emails on this topic today. Says he “continue[s] to answer the ones that seem most upset” 4:54 PM - Vernell Gregg responds that things are slowing down, but thinks it will get better when people know that teachers will be able to use the speech. She reiterates that this was a wise decision.
We have requested further information and comment from Permetti, Placke, and Dr. Roy, and will update this post as appropriate when we receive that information. WhosPlayin thanks our volunteer email readers who helped sort through 700 pages of mostly duplicate emails to help us construct this timeline.
We’ll post the highlights and lowlights of the letters from parents and taxpayers this weekend. There were quite a few both in support of the ban, and opposed to the ban. We want to know what you think. Leave us a comment below!
Ok, I do not have much time gotta go to open house for Trae, but this first one puzzles me: Tuesday, September 1st 5:18 PM - Board Member Fred Placke sends an email to Jerry Roy, Tom Kim, and Alan King entitled “A Black on Uncle Sam’s Plantation”, a forwarded email missive blaming social programs for the moral and spiritual problems, as well as the broken families of blacks in America. The forwarded email contained the redacted name and photo of conservative syndicated columnist Star Parker, whose entire article can be seen here. (The article is actually entitled “Back on Uncle Sam’s Plantation”) Presumably the forwarders had changed it to "Black" because Star Parker is a black woman. Placke’s comment: “Wo, does this hit home!” WHAT THE HECK IS THAT ALL ABOUT?
I will be back! lol Marsha
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Anonymous
Posted: 2009/9/25 20:42 Updated: 2009/9/26 7:45
Re: More on LISD Speech Ban Decision
Marsha,
Did you actually READ the article? Do you think that Star Parker made it all up? It is real my friend, and the sooner people wake up and realize it, the sooner we can get back on track. Instead of being stagnant in the water. Do you think that because she is labeled a conservative, that what she saw and experienced is not real? Do you not realize that it IS about control? Did you ever have the oportunity to meet or get to know anyone that left Louisiana after Katrina? It might surprise you, or I would hope open your eyes.
Just the fact that you responded anonymous in itself speaks voulumes.
I choose not to read the article as the article itself is not what the topic is about. If you notice the subject is the fact that Fred Placke choose to forward such an email that he even commented on it and said in his email to Stephen that all he did was forward the email. Regardless of what the content of the what Star Parker wrote about that is not the issue I have. And yes I have a very good friend who came over here after Katrina, she is doing very well she works for Baylor hospital and is raising her children by herself and has a home in Plano. So do you think that every single black person who came over here from Katrina chooses to never make something of themselves? I will definetly go read the article now. And you obviously do not see that there are alot of black people who go to college and have their own businesses and do not follow the statistics.
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Anonymous
Posted: 2009/10/9 8:56 Updated: 2009/10/9 9:15
Re: More on LISD Speech Ban Decision
You know, if you hit post and you don't have an account, it automatically shows that the post was from "anonymous". It actually doesn't speak volumes that someone posted anonymously. I don't have an account because I don't post often but, if it bothers you that this will show up as being posted by anonymous, my name is Mary Beth Pinkerton. Knowing my name doesn't make my post any more or any less valid. By the way, I was not the original "anonymous" poster that you ragged on. The tone of your note just bugged me.
Below comment from one of our readers: Why did Placke send the Parker column in response to Obama's address to students? Aside from changing the title to reflect some kind of unclear commentary on race, it just seems incredibly stupid. What did one have to do with the other? Is he really just that partisan and simple minded?
We sent Board Member Fred Placke some questions, which he has graciously answered for us. My questions and his answers follow:
WhosPlayin: On September 1st, you sent an email to Jerry Roy, Tom Kim, and Alan King entitled “A Black on Uncle Sam’s Plantation”, a forwarded email missive blaming social programs for the moral and spiritual problems, as well as the broken families of blacks in America. Was this email related to the upcoming speech, or intended to influence Dr. Roy's decision either way? What was the purpose of the forward?
Placke: I receive so many E-Mails in the course of a week that I forward on to various people. I do not remember that one at all. It would have been one of several of my friends who sent it to me because it did not originate with me. I am pretty much computer illiterate, so anything like that was sent to me. I forward interesting commentaries, stories and publications all of the time to many people. How about sending it back to me so that I could read it again. Don't remember it at all.
I had no influence on Dr. Roy's decision. In fact, he had already made the decision as I was just hearing about the speech. After my Father's death in July, I have been spending most of any spare time in Giddings (3.5 hours away) helping my Mother in the many things she has to do, so I have been out of the loop in a lot of ways. Her health is not very good and she now lives alone. So I have tried to be with her as much as I can.
WhosPlayin: You were at the last school board meeting, but then were absent from the public portion of the meeting. I've heard several explanations for that - (sick kid, death in the family, hostile audience) - can you clarify?
Placke: Hostile audiences do not bother me in the slightest. My Mother needed someone to take her to the Scott and White Hospital in Temple Texas for a day long series of tests and needed to be there by 7:30 in the morning (Tuesday). I had planned to skip the meeting all together and drive through College Station to see my daughter, who was recovering from the Swine Flu. However, there happened to be several appeal hearings before the board that I was very impassioned about, so I decided to stay and participate for just those hearings. This was against my wife's wishes because it would cause me to have to drive 3.5 hours late at night. I left right after those hearings. I had given notice that I would not be attending the meeting two weeks prior to the meeting. I arrived in Giddings at 11:30 that night and had to get up at 5 the next morning in order to get her there by her appointment times. If anyone has a problem with that, then that is solely their problem. God Bless them anyway.
In the 12 years I have been on the board, I have only missed 3 meetings. Those have all been family related, hence I didn't feel bad about missing one more.
WhosPlayin: Dr. Roy later revised his instruction to allow teachers to show the President's speech in an appropriate class time and for the appropriate grade levels. Do you support that decision, or do you think that all materials from any partisan elected officials should be off-limits?
Placke: I taught Government at Marcus HS for three years. Most of my kids were seniors. I can give you hundreds of letters that I received from them that can give you a testament of their thoughts on my class. I would have absolutely wanted to show his speech to my class (WITHOUT all of the original handouts and lessons from the Department of Education that I had a severe heartburn over.) Why would I have wanted to show that speech? My class was age appropriate and subject appropriate. So yes, I was in complete agreement to Jerry's decision to later allow the speech heard in the appropriate classes at an appropriate time.
As to the last question concerning partisan materials given out in class, I believe that it should only be used in the context of appropriate curriculum. That would certainly be the Government classes, maybe a few English classes and maybe Journalism. I believe that if they are used, opposing ideas and or literature should be presented in order to give a "fair and balanced" view". Anything beyond that would not be appropriate.
I remember a very liberal teacher at Marcus who played ad-nauseum Al Gore campaign speeches in her class. Besides putting them all of the kids to sleep, that was absolutely inappropriate to her class and to her age group. Like wise, a very conservative teacher only played and provided materials from all of the conservative talk shows. That was also very inappropriate.
WhosPlayin: Dr. Roy said "This may be one of the worst decisions ever made in LISD". Is there anything you would have done differently?
Placke: He made the right decision. I supported it then and I support it now. I make no apologies for my right to speak freely. The last time that I looked at the Constitution's Bill of Rights under the First Amendment, I still have the right to my opinion and my beliefs. Those fortunately have not been mortgaged, ear marked or given away...yet.
Thanks, Steve for the opportunity to answer your questions. Contact me anytime.
Um excuse me but did Mr. Placke forget that he had this comment: Placke’s comment: “Wo, does this hit home!”
That just shows that he only answered to try and make himself look better with all of his woe is me crap. I guarantee you I will be helping who ever runs against him win that spot from the sounds of it he is ready to go anyways he has to much on his plate in the first place.
As I recall, Mr. Placke was not teaching at MHS in 2000, when Al Gore ran for President. Personally, I never heard of any teacher playing Al Gore speeches at MHS. That's not to say it didn't happen, but I'm skeptical. That kind of thing usually gets around.
I just put that in there as a timeline reference to show that there was indeed controversy (at least in the eyes of the right wing) at that time. I doubt he had anything to do with the decision.
I understand that but my point is he thinks like Glenn Beck! And he is coaching my son! Hell I have a problem with that.......lol. They say we are brainwashed when actually they are the ones who are brainwashed.
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Anonymous
Posted: 2009/10/9 8:52 Updated: 2009/10/9 9:14
Re: More on LISD Speech Ban Decision
Did anyone notice the time and day of the week that Coach Black posted to his blog? At 2:25 Tuesday wouldn't he be at school? Does he run his blog from school computers or just on school time? That should be looked into by his principal if not the school board. Having worked for the government in a different capacity, updating a non-work related blog on school time and using school equipment would be grounds for dismissal! [By the way, I would say the same thing for a liberal. Teachers are there to teach and not do things like update their blog even if it is during their off period.]
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Anonymous
Posted: 2009/10/9 9:38 Updated: 2009/10/9 9:47
Re: More on LISD Speech Ban Decision
Well I feel like this, I like Coach Black and just because me and him may not have the same point of views I wouldn't try to jeopardize his job. At first I freaked out about it but I realized that just like everyone else he is entitled to his opinion. And he certainly does not treat the athletes in different and that would be my concern. Although if you think about it like I had said is that the same way the Liberals did not want their childdren to listen to Obama's speech I would not want Coach Black telling my son any of the crap he has on his website! lol And who knows maybe he has an iphone of some type and did it on his phone thru his LISD log in? Just a guess. But honestly this type of thing happens all day long every where. He is still a human being and entitled to his opinion rather we agree with it or not. I admit at first I was a bit aprehensive but as long as he is not giving speeches about his views to the kids I am ok with it. Like the Pastor's going to the schools I understand their point but it is not the place to do it.
I'm just going to pop in here with a quick couple of comments:
1. The only reason I mentioned Coach Black's post was to point out in the timeline that there WAS controversy over the speech at that point - contrary to what Dr. Roy had said. 2. All we know is that this is Robert Black's blog, but we don't know if that was necessarily his post. It could have been his wife, or some other writer who posts at that blog. The timestamp could have been from another timezone, which is common in blogs hosted remotely from the owner. In fact this blog has some issues like that.
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Re: More on LISD Speech Ban Decision
