Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Letter to the Editor
Well, I have done something that I have never done before. I have written a letter to the Editor of a newspaper. The email that I sent to the Spring ISD Board is the same letter that I sent to the Editor at the Spring Observer for them to publish in their paper. Well, I received an email back from them late last week thanking me for my community involvement and said the letter would appear in next week's printing. Here is the link to the online version. I hope that you all will write letters as well. Please don't be complacent and please don't think you don't have a voice. We All Have A Voice! http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/07/21/spring_observer/opinion/soletters.txt
Monday, July 13, 2009
New Questions for Former Special Ed Director
Ok, I have one more link to the ABC13 website. I feel that they are important and wanted you to have access to them and see for yourself the type of person that Ruth Watson is.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=6883043
New questions for former special education head
Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:25 AM
By Wayne Dolcefino
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There are new developments from a 13 Undercover investigation into spending at North Forest ISD. The results of an internal investigation about a special education scandal are revealed.
Ruth Watson just loves to see 13 undercover. At a Spring school board meeting, she tried to get me arrested just for trying to ask her new questions.
"He has sexually harassed me on many occasions. I have a card where he says he's going to come by and see me," Watson said. "ABC you have a sexual harasser here. His name is Wayne Dolcefino. Excuse me. Now you've harassed me. You're a sexual harasser."
It's the latest bizarre outburst from a member of the Spring school board. Of course, Ruth Watson was elected before 13 Undercover exposed her role in a special education scandal that's still haunting another Houston-area school district, North Forest ISD.
Now a North Forest internal investigative report obtained by 13 Undercover accuses Watson of mismanaging a huge federal grant for kids.
We exposed the family affair early last year, but this new report makes new allegations that Watson directed an employee to alter a government contract, and approved invoices that fail to provide any method for making sure the service was even performed.
Like the huge payments to Lester Houston's company: $285,000 in one school year for consulting parents. The invoices fail to provide the names of the parents or the kids served or even the name of the alleged consultant.
Lester Houston brought records to a grand jury more than a year ago, but the DA's office has yet to take any steps to recover any of the grant money misused.
The new investigative report alleges the slow-moving criminal probe gave someone at North Forest time to wipe a computer hard drive clean days before subpoenas.
Records that were recovered provide evidence some invoices by questioned consultants were actually created on a school district computer.
It's why North Forest has voted to not renew Watson's contract, but Ruth Watson doesn't want to talk about that.
"Do you have any comment on the non-renewal by North Forest," we asked Watson.
"Sexual harassment. Sexual harasser," Watson responded.
In a letter to North Forest, Watson offered to resign for $250,000. The district said no thanks, so for a few more months North Forest taxpayers will be paying Watson $7,000 a month to stay home.
The white Hummer in the driveway of Watson's home is registered to her, but look who was driving it to Watson's house a couple of weeks ago -- Lester Houston.
This may be the final chapter of the North Forest special education scandal. Watson has defended the hiring of her relatives and denied wrongdoing.
If the DA takes no action, a woman accused of misspending lots of school money will still be sitting on the Spring school board.
Does anyone, anyone at all, see anything wrong with this? Ruth Watson has the possibility of walking away from this corruption IF the District Attorney takes no action.
I am not exactly sure what it will take, or even exactly what needs to be done, but if you believe that this is not right and something needs to be done, then please call the district Attorney's office:
Patricia R. Lykos
District Attorney
713-755-5800
Jim Leitner
First Assistant District Attorney
713-755-5814
Be nice. Be polite. Let them know that you want them to take action against Ruth Watson and what she did while at North Forest ISD.
Ruth Watson does not deserve to walk away from the misuse of hundreds of thousands of dollars that were intended for special education students and she certainly does not deserve to be sitting on the board of Spring ISD.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=6883043
New questions for former special education head
Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:25 AM
By Wayne Dolcefino
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There are new developments from a 13 Undercover investigation into spending at North Forest ISD. The results of an internal investigation about a special education scandal are revealed.
Ruth Watson just loves to see 13 undercover. At a Spring school board meeting, she tried to get me arrested just for trying to ask her new questions.
"He has sexually harassed me on many occasions. I have a card where he says he's going to come by and see me," Watson said. "ABC you have a sexual harasser here. His name is Wayne Dolcefino. Excuse me. Now you've harassed me. You're a sexual harasser."
It's the latest bizarre outburst from a member of the Spring school board. Of course, Ruth Watson was elected before 13 Undercover exposed her role in a special education scandal that's still haunting another Houston-area school district, North Forest ISD.
Now a North Forest internal investigative report obtained by 13 Undercover accuses Watson of mismanaging a huge federal grant for kids.
We exposed the family affair early last year, but this new report makes new allegations that Watson directed an employee to alter a government contract, and approved invoices that fail to provide any method for making sure the service was even performed.
Like the huge payments to Lester Houston's company: $285,000 in one school year for consulting parents. The invoices fail to provide the names of the parents or the kids served or even the name of the alleged consultant.
Lester Houston brought records to a grand jury more than a year ago, but the DA's office has yet to take any steps to recover any of the grant money misused.
The new investigative report alleges the slow-moving criminal probe gave someone at North Forest time to wipe a computer hard drive clean days before subpoenas.
Records that were recovered provide evidence some invoices by questioned consultants were actually created on a school district computer.
It's why North Forest has voted to not renew Watson's contract, but Ruth Watson doesn't want to talk about that.
"Do you have any comment on the non-renewal by North Forest," we asked Watson.
"Sexual harassment. Sexual harasser," Watson responded.
In a letter to North Forest, Watson offered to resign for $250,000. The district said no thanks, so for a few more months North Forest taxpayers will be paying Watson $7,000 a month to stay home.
The white Hummer in the driveway of Watson's home is registered to her, but look who was driving it to Watson's house a couple of weeks ago -- Lester Houston.
This may be the final chapter of the North Forest special education scandal. Watson has defended the hiring of her relatives and denied wrongdoing.
If the DA takes no action, a woman accused of misspending lots of school money will still be sitting on the Spring school board.
Does anyone, anyone at all, see anything wrong with this? Ruth Watson has the possibility of walking away from this corruption IF the District Attorney takes no action.
I am not exactly sure what it will take, or even exactly what needs to be done, but if you believe that this is not right and something needs to be done, then please call the district Attorney's office:
Patricia R. Lykos
District Attorney
713-755-5800
Jim Leitner
First Assistant District Attorney
713-755-5814
Be nice. Be polite. Let them know that you want them to take action against Ruth Watson and what she did while at North Forest ISD.
Ruth Watson does not deserve to walk away from the misuse of hundreds of thousands of dollars that were intended for special education students and she certainly does not deserve to be sitting on the board of Spring ISD.
North Forest Special Ed Director's Contract not renewed - Why?
Hi again. Here is the link directly to ABC13 and the story about Ruth Watson not getting her contract renewed at North Forest. I have also included it below.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=6765992
13 Undercover
Special ed director's contract not renewed
Friday, April 17, 2009 6:37 AM
By Wayne Dolcefino
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The new school board of the North Forest Independent School District took its first move Thursday afternoon to end the special education scandal which has plagued the district. That means Dr. Ruth Watson will soon be out of a job. 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino exposed the scandal more than a year ago, and was there for the decision.
At North Forest ISD, Dr. Watson presided over a huge federal grant to help special needs children like one child we met, Imani. What we uncovered was a family affair.
One of the special education consultants had a relationship with one of the now ousted school board members. She was apparently the mother of one of his kids.
The state eventually threw out that school board and put in a new one. That's when an internal investigation of Dr. Watson formally began. Since the fall, she's been paid $7,000 a month to stay at home.
After an hour behind closed doors, the school board voted not to renew Watson's contract. That means she'll be paid $7,000 a month until June to stay home.
An internal investigation of the special education mess in North Forest ISD could be out next week. State auditors have questioned more than $300,000 in spending.
This is not right. It is not right for North Forest ISD, and it certainly isn't right for Spring ISD. I do not want this type of person representing me or my children sitting on the Spring ISD board and making decisions or having input on decisions that ultimately affect the livelihood and progress of our kids. Ruth Watson has lost all trust and credibility and needs to resign.
Do you agree or disagree?
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=6765992
13 Undercover
Special ed director's contract not renewed
Friday, April 17, 2009 6:37 AM
By Wayne Dolcefino
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The new school board of the North Forest Independent School District took its first move Thursday afternoon to end the special education scandal which has plagued the district. That means Dr. Ruth Watson will soon be out of a job. 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino exposed the scandal more than a year ago, and was there for the decision.
At North Forest ISD, Dr. Watson presided over a huge federal grant to help special needs children like one child we met, Imani. What we uncovered was a family affair.
One of the special education consultants had a relationship with one of the now ousted school board members. She was apparently the mother of one of his kids.
The state eventually threw out that school board and put in a new one. That's when an internal investigation of Dr. Watson formally began. Since the fall, she's been paid $7,000 a month to stay at home.
After an hour behind closed doors, the school board voted not to renew Watson's contract. That means she'll be paid $7,000 a month until June to stay home.
An internal investigation of the special education mess in North Forest ISD could be out next week. State auditors have questioned more than $300,000 in spending.
This is not right. It is not right for North Forest ISD, and it certainly isn't right for Spring ISD. I do not want this type of person representing me or my children sitting on the Spring ISD board and making decisions or having input on decisions that ultimately affect the livelihood and progress of our kids. Ruth Watson has lost all trust and credibility and needs to resign.
Do you agree or disagree?
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Beginning of a Quest
Hi there, and welcome to my blog! This is something that is new for me but I feel will be able to provide a great avenue in trying to get information out and keeping you informed.
I am creating this blog to let you know about the misdeeds of Dr. Ruth Watson, formerly of North Forest ISD and currently a Spring ISD Board Member.
I have sent the email below to all of the board members at Spring ISD:
I am mad. How can a person who claims to be an educator and work with children, take advantage of them? How can a person who has been in education for over 2 decades redirect money that is designated specifically for special education children and their needs and spend it on her needs and family.
Can you also explain to me why every employee of Spring ISD is required to read and sign a document that states they will abide and uphold their "moral terpitude"? Are SISD board members not held to the same standard as the other employees of SISD?
What makes this even worse is that we are talking about funds for Special Education students. These are students who have special needs. These are students who need special equipment. These are students who need extra help in their day to day activities. These students are no different than those that are “normal”, other than maybe they can’t talk, or walk, or play like a “normal” child. Is that why she took these funds from these students because they couldn’t speak up? Because they weren’t “normal”?
The person that I am speaking about is Dr. Ruth Watson. Dr. Watson was an employee of North Forest ISD before Channel 13’s Undercover Unit exposed her and her ‘family affair’ of her taking care of those family members and friends, but not the Special Education Students that she was hired to watch over. This woman was being paid over $7,000 per month, and when the North Forest ISD voted to not renew her contract, she offered to be bought out for $250,000. North Forest ISD chose to pay her the monthly salary for a few months.
What is wrong with this picture?
Dr. Watson was elected to the Spring ISD Board of Trustees in November 2007, about a year before the Undercover Investigation. She currently serves as chairwoman of the facility planning committee and is a member of the audit and finance committees. I don’t know about you, but I have a problem with this type of person being a part of any finance or audit committee. I have a problem with this type of person, who takes advantage of children and their needs, being in a position to make decisions for children. In my opinion, she has lost that trust.
Dr. Watson needs to either resign and keep what dignity she feels she has left, or she needs to be removed from the Spring ISD Board.
I am a taxpayer in the Spring ISD and have 2 children that attend Spring ISD schools. This has nothing to do with race, it has to do with what is right. It has to do with common sense. It has to do with re-establishing a standard within Spring ISD that all of our Board Members are held to a higher standard and genuinely care about the students that are within their district.
I look forward to hearing from each of you and doing whatever it takes to rectify this situation.
It is time for us to stand up and take action. It is time for us to take our district back and put people in there that have the children's interests at heart and not their own personal agenda.
It is time for us to get Ruth Watson off of the Spring ISD Board!
I am creating this blog to let you know about the misdeeds of Dr. Ruth Watson, formerly of North Forest ISD and currently a Spring ISD Board Member.
I have sent the email below to all of the board members at Spring ISD:
I am mad. How can a person who claims to be an educator and work with children, take advantage of them? How can a person who has been in education for over 2 decades redirect money that is designated specifically for special education children and their needs and spend it on her needs and family.
Can you also explain to me why every employee of Spring ISD is required to read and sign a document that states they will abide and uphold their "moral terpitude"? Are SISD board members not held to the same standard as the other employees of SISD?
What makes this even worse is that we are talking about funds for Special Education students. These are students who have special needs. These are students who need special equipment. These are students who need extra help in their day to day activities. These students are no different than those that are “normal”, other than maybe they can’t talk, or walk, or play like a “normal” child. Is that why she took these funds from these students because they couldn’t speak up? Because they weren’t “normal”?
The person that I am speaking about is Dr. Ruth Watson. Dr. Watson was an employee of North Forest ISD before Channel 13’s Undercover Unit exposed her and her ‘family affair’ of her taking care of those family members and friends, but not the Special Education Students that she was hired to watch over. This woman was being paid over $7,000 per month, and when the North Forest ISD voted to not renew her contract, she offered to be bought out for $250,000. North Forest ISD chose to pay her the monthly salary for a few months.
What is wrong with this picture?
Dr. Watson was elected to the Spring ISD Board of Trustees in November 2007, about a year before the Undercover Investigation. She currently serves as chairwoman of the facility planning committee and is a member of the audit and finance committees. I don’t know about you, but I have a problem with this type of person being a part of any finance or audit committee. I have a problem with this type of person, who takes advantage of children and their needs, being in a position to make decisions for children. In my opinion, she has lost that trust.
Dr. Watson needs to either resign and keep what dignity she feels she has left, or she needs to be removed from the Spring ISD Board.
I am a taxpayer in the Spring ISD and have 2 children that attend Spring ISD schools. This has nothing to do with race, it has to do with what is right. It has to do with common sense. It has to do with re-establishing a standard within Spring ISD that all of our Board Members are held to a higher standard and genuinely care about the students that are within their district.
I look forward to hearing from each of you and doing whatever it takes to rectify this situation.
It is time for us to stand up and take action. It is time for us to take our district back and put people in there that have the children's interests at heart and not their own personal agenda.
It is time for us to get Ruth Watson off of the Spring ISD Board!
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