By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1E In 1878, high in the Appalachian hills, Randell McCoy looked upon the hog pen of his neighbor, Floyd Hatfield. One of those hogs looks familiar, he thought. Too familiar. Randell angrily accused Floyd of stealing the hog. The men argued the case in court; when Floyd won, Randell […]
Category: DMN | Education
State audit set for W-H; School leaders are corrupt, police chief tells grand jury
By Joshua Benton and Robert Tharp Staff Writers Page 1A Wilmer-Hutchins schools faced double scrutiny Tuesday: from the state, which announced a rare investigative audit into its finances, and from their own police chief, who alleged corruption among district leaders. “I can promise you that TEA will act decisively and will do the right thing,” […]
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W-H is ‘broke,’ official testifies; As district’s debts, problems grow, state considers intervening
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A The Wilmer-Hutchins school district is out of money, according to its chief financial officer, and the Texas Education Agency is considering intervening. “I talked to my accountant and we’re $100,000 in the hole right now,” the district’s business manager, Phillip Roberson, testified during a hearing Monday regarding a […]
School’s in session for everyone now; Freshmen, sophomores and juniors begin one week late at other sites
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 2A The year’s first school bell finally rang for the rest of Wilmer-Hutchins High School. Freshmen and sophomores reported for class Monday at Hutchins Elementary. Juniors started at the career and technology building on the high school campus. Officials had decided seniors would start school last week at the […]
Schools not worth saving, W-H told; ’02 study urged district to abandon poorly maintained campuses
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A Wilmer-Hutchins ISD officials were told two years ago that nearly all their schools suffered from such poor maintenance that they should be abandoned and razed, according to a consultant’s report. The August 2002 report, prepared by the Texas Association of School Administrators, said only 6 percent of classrooms […]
Texas’ worst schools; Wilmer-Hutchins’ recent woes are part of a long, dismal pattern
By Joshua Benton and Herb Booth Staff Writers Page 1A No one who has paid attention through the years could have been surprised by word that Wilmer-Hutchins High School was finally so neglected and dilapidated – roach-infested, full of rot, leaky roof – that it couldn’t open for weeks or even months. To those who […]
Making the grade and making money; As new SAT nears, business picks up for study classes, aids
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A Like accountants after a change in the tax code, test-prep companies thrive on anxiety. And the new SAT is creating enough anxiety to drive business through the roof. “This is the biggest growth year we’ve had in decades,” said Jon Zeitlin, general manager of SAT and ACT preparation […]
Column: Only time will tell on Moses’ legacy
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B When he took office in 2000, Dallas Superintendent Mike Moses said he wanted to be judged on his actions – the improvements he brought to the district and its children. But in a few years, how history views the Moses years will depend largely on what happens after […]
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Health plan fee angers teachers; Aetna charging up to $42 a year to run savings program
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 7B It may be only $42. But the newest cut in teachers’ paychecks has some of them fighting mad. “The amount is small, but it enrages our members far beyond the dollars involved,” said John Cole, president of the Texas Federation of Teachers. At issue is a change in […]
The scoop from celebrities: Your most valuable class
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 2J Most anyone who has been through school has one. Maybe it was that gifted teacher who inspired self-confidence in you for the first time. Or that first class in a subject that would become your lifetime pursuit. We asked some prominent Texans to tell us a story about […]
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