With Regards for Children,

Lew Blackburn, Ph.D.

President, Board of Trustees

Dallas ISD 972-925-3720

Vision: Dallas ISO seeks to be a premier urban school district. Mission: Educating all students for success

From: Lew Blackburn [Iblackburn

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February 26,2013 10:10 PM

Sent:

Tuesday,

To: Nutall, Bernadette Cc: Miles, Mike; Bernadette Nuta!J; Reyna, Sylvia; Oberlton, Willie J; Sonya D. Hoskins (sonya.h@robinsonandhoskins.com); Harris, Denoris B; Castillo, Gina L; Blackburn, Lew Subject: Re: approaching EDs

On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 7:17 PM, Nutall, Bernadette <benutall@dallasisd.org>

wrote:

Superintendent Miles, I am responding to your email dated Monday, February 25 Thank you so much for articulating your concerns. I believe this provides me the perfect opportunity to clarify some misconceptions and inaccuracies that you have communicated to not only me, but also to other trustees, community members, parents, staff, and the media. First and foremost, your blatant mischaracterization of my communication with the ED's confirms what I have previously verbally articulated to you, that your actions and words as superintendent are often intentionally misleading and dishonest. Character means everything Superintendent Miles and you have not only questioned my character, but also my integrity through these false allegations.
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To be sure, I have spoken with three EDs and have simply asked them questions that my constituents, parents and community members have asked me. One of the conversations was initiated by an ED! These questions are the same questions that I have posed to you and have yet to receive an answer to. This is par the course for you, unfortunately. I have requested the SEls of schools in District 9, and a breakdown of principals placed on growth plans. This is in no way to intimidate, but to be informed about a process that should be fair, legal, consistent and absent of unethical and unfair targeting. I have never directed any staff to do any action, but have only asked questions about certain processes and procedures, for clarification and information so that I would have a better understanding. Information is something that you have routinely tried to restrict from certain trustees during your tenure with DISD. I say 'certain trustees' because you seek to demonize the actions of select trustees while condoning and facilitating the same actions of others. Your attempts to limit the information that trustees receive reveals a strategy of employee isolation in an attempt to limit your accountability to the board, and subsequently the citizens of Dallas. Your actions, Superintendent Miles, hurt this District. You place hubris above humility. I understand that I am not one of your 'favored and preferred' trustees, but I will not allow you to marginalize my constituents and students by playing favorites. For example, Trustees Bingham and Morath routinely speak with, and make requests of, your staff with impunity. To further highlight your biased actions, I look no further than you accommodating Trustee Bingham's request for funds for a project of a high school in her district. However, when I followed up regarding funds that were already promised by your staff for the culinary arts program at Lincoln, you essentially laid out the hoops and hurdles that I and. my constituents would have to navigate. This would not be a problem if every trustee had to do so, not just one who isn't part of your preferred circle. In the landmark case, Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education, the actions in question meant that separate but not equal was not only a legal injustice, but a moral one as well. Your actions to cater to a certain demographic of trustees and subsequently their constituents, is tantamount to separate but not equal.
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Perhaps the most arrogant and revealing aspect of your accusation is the use of the word intimidation. I, as trustee, must now really question whether you are absolutely clueless regarding your actions as superintendent since you arrived here? You have instituted a protocol in which employees of the district must inform their supervisor if they have communication with a trustee, is the epitome of intimidation. This is especially the case when you review section 2.7 of your employment contract regarding criticisms,' complaints and suggestions. By implementing your restrictive communication protocols, you have done nothing but try to mute the concerns of a workforce that you routinely intimidate. Superintendent Miles, I categorically deny and refute any characterization of my asking questions on behalf of my constituents, about the leadership of schools, as being intimidating. I do however, view your email as inflammatory and especially premature, because you did not reach out to me and ask me about my version of events. If you had done so, the resulting actions that I will take could have easily been avoided. I refer you to sections 2.1 of your employee contract, items (1), (p) and (q), in stating my belief that you have routinely acted in violation of your agreement. I am well aware of my role and duties as an elected official and a Trustee of the Dallas Independent School District, and operate within those parameters. Being questioned by a trustee on behalf of their constituents is not obstruction. It is not intimidation. It is not opposition. It is what concerned communities and parents do. I look forward to addressing this accusation and the tenor of your email. Please schedule immediately a meeting with the three referenced EDs so that I may hear directly from my accusers as to Illy conversation with them regarding the evaluation of any principal. Please advise as to the date and time of the meeting. I am asking that Board President Blackburn and the board attorney be present. And I fully expect appropriate sanctions of those staff members following the meeting for engaging in unprofessional and unethical behavior by misrepresenting the truth through these unfounded allegations. Trustee Bernadette N utall District 9
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