THE OLATHE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

A Presentation to the School Board

Michael Round

May 7, 2009

Good evening.  My name is Mike Round, and I live at 13234 Long Street in Overland Park.  My phone number is  515-3911.

(raising right hand) ... "I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth - to the best of my ability."

While watching the School Board debate on the internet prior to the election, I wondered how it was organizations affiliated with the district could endorse candidates.  I didn't think that right.  I became more outraged when I found out the ONEA did this while operating out of a district building - the North Lindenwood Support Center.  I since have heard many stories of politicing in schools, of the ONEA buying teachers' lunch  while campaigning, and of a well-orchestrated teacher phone-call campaign, and sometimes it's hard to separate fact from fiction, though these stories all came from reasonable people.  When I found out planning for these activities may have taken place in a district building, my blood began to boil.  I know many meetings were held in the building the month prior to the election - the staff told me.  When I asked Larry Spotts, he meekly confirmed, saying "we had meetings", and repeatedly to ask if I wanted to talk with the ONEA attorney.

I've heard not only was there a teacher phone-call campaign, but teachers were asked to read scripts prepared by the two of the three ONEA-recommended candidates themselves. 

OlatheSchools First was another organization I wondered about.  They, too, had endorsed candidates, and the same thought came to mind.  How could they do this?  Of course, I thought this because I believed they were affiliated with the district.  Why wouldn't I think this: it's literally the same name, the same logo - image and font. 

I filed an Open Records Request Act with the Election Office, and saw, in 2007, the second largest individual donor to be Amy Martin!  In fact, Ms. Martin had also loaned the organization a large sum that same year!  How could it be she was not listed on the site?

It turns out she was, but subsequent to her announcing her candidacy, her name was removed.

I called members of the steering committee.  Those who talked with me knew nothing about this.  Curious, I asked how the Organization Endorsement Process worked.  They said they knew nothing to do with it.  It sounds as though Ms. Martin endorsed herself!

And this brings me back to the debate.  You see, the moderator of the debate was also on the Steering Committee of OlatheSchools First!  He's also the treasurer for the organization.  He's also listed on Ms. Martin's page under "personal endorsements".  And he WAS to be the moderator!

And it wasn't until just prior to the debate enough of us heard about this obvious conflict of interest, and contacted the Olathe Chamber, who replaced him with a reporter for the Star.

How did the debate go, you might ask?

It wasn't really much of a debate.  Not long after this gentleman's removal, Amy Martin - called in sick.  Or she was in Texas - or she was sick in Texas.

I e-mailed Ms. Martin about communications with this gentleman regarding the debate - but have received no answer.

What was the Star doing all this time?  What was the Olathe News doing?  They didn't do much.

Maybe the burden is on us - the public - to do this.

Here's a report of me trying.

When I called - and e-mailed - Larry Spotts, following up on my above conversation, I got no response.

When I called - and e-mailed - two members of the ONEA Leadership Team, I got no response.

When I e-mailed Amy Martin about the OlatheSchools First issues and her Bond Task Force contradictions and the debate fiasco - I got no response.

When I e-mailed OlatheSchoolsFirst - I got no response - and a partial response (with no answers)!

When I e-mailed and called the gentleman in question about the debate fiasco, to get his side of the story - I got no response.

When I e-mailed the other ONEA-recommended candidate who provided a script, I got no response.

But I said only two of these candidates provided scripts, and the ONEA actually recommended three.  So I e-mailed the third, curious, asking about contacts they had with the ONEA.

Here, I got a response: Ms. Ashley told me this was between her and her campaign.

You're wrong, Ms. Ashley.  This is my business, too.  All of this is my business.  You're dealing with the education of my kids.  You're dealing with my money.  And you're telling me it's none of my business?

In the board meeting following the general election, Larry Spotts stood here and said elections and education were essential to our democracy.  Not a slight correction, Mr. Spotts, but our form of government is a constitutional republic, and there's a huge difference.  But if you meant to say our democratic process, I agree elections are important.  And all that I've sited above is an attack on that process. 

Open your books and your meetings, ONEA, and let the rest of us see what's going on!  Candidates: don't wait till year-end to release your campaign information - do it now! 

To the KC Star and Olathe News.  You're suppose to be our eyes and ears!   DO YOUR JOBS!  When obvious lies are spoken, correct them - and condemn the candidate.  But this is just due-diligence.  Report on serious issues as well, and when there's disagreement about the mere definition of terms - like reserves - needing clarity, clarify!  When one candidate says the contingency reserve automatically rises with the general budget, point out the reserve maximum is 6%, but it can be anything below that - and it was - a few years ago.  CLARIFY! CLARIFY! CLARIFY!

Likely taking this responsible journalistic stance, you'll be attacked by organizations who've endorsed candidates.  Report this, too.  Don't hide the issue - bring it out into the open.  Let all of us know the players on the scorecard, and the nature of the game they're playing.

Most of what I've read here was news to me.  I hope it's news to you as well.  I knew national politics was dirty - but local - this local?

To those of you who thought "Silence is Golden", and the best way to deal with my simple questions was to ignore me, I assure you you're mistaken.  To paraphrase the famous words of John Paul Jones, "I've not yet begun to fight", but while the context of his words was naval warfare, mine is more simple: the pursuit of truth, honesty, and integrity.