It must be so since the LTISD says so and they say “Lake Travis ISD lauds community support for use of Raptor visitor management system.” So it must be true?! Yeah, right!

“And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth. ‘Who controls the past’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’”

-George Orwell, 1984

If we look more into the question:

“Was this a problem in need of a solution, or was it a ’solution’ in search of a problem?”

If this solved a “real” problem, why then did Raptor Technologies, Inc. need to employ a lobbyist, Bradford T. Shields in order to get the state officially sanction, through legislation, the use of Raptorware?

(You can read more about Bradford T. Shields in “Connecting the Dots – Education … Attorneys … Lobbyists“)

The Texas Ethics Commission web site lists Bradford T. Shields as a lobbyist for Raptor Technologies, Inc. during the following years, they also include his reported “remuneration” for “services rendered:”

2005:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Amount: Less Than $10,000.00
Client – Start: 04/20/2005    Term Date: 12/31/2005

2006:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Amount: Less Than $10,000.00
Client – Start: 01/18/2006    Term Date: 12/31/2006

2007:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 – $49.999.99
Client – Start: 01/05/2007    Term Date: 12/31/2007

2008:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 – $49.999.99
Client – Start: 01/24/2008    Term Date: 12/31/2008

2009:

RaptorWare
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716

Shields, Brad II   (00056074)
208 West 14th St  Austin, TX 78701
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client – Start: 01/15/2009    Term Date: 12/31/2009

Shields, Bradford T. (00012135)
P.O. Box 162925  Austin, TX 78716-2925
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 – $49.999.99
Client – Start: 01/15/2009    Term Date: 12/31/2009

Let’s see, using the numbers that were submitted to the Texas Ethics Commission, Bradford T. Shields made $75,000 – $170,000 to lobby the Texas Legislature on behalf of RaptorWare, aka Raptor Technologies, Inc.

Why does Raptor Technologies, Inc. use the name RaptorWare and an Austin address?

RaptorWare, P.O. Box 162925,  Austin, TX 78716

Isn’t Raptor Technologies, Inc. a Houston based company? Their own web site gives the following contact address:

631 West 22nd Street, Houston, Texas 77008

Also very interesting is the way in which Raptor Technologies, Inc. has registered themselves on the Internet. Here is a result of a “whois” query of “raptorware.com:”

I remember making a Texas Public Information Act Request asking the following:

“Any contracts, invoices, and payments between the LTISD and Raptor Technologies, Inc.“

Interesting, but the documents “responsive” to my request^TPIA do not include an actual “contract” between the LTISD and Raptor Technologies, Inc. Why not?

Does the district have a contract with Raptor Technologies, Inc?

You would think that the terms of:

Privacy, just who is responsible for the protecting the privacy of the information collected by Raptor Technologies, Inc? Don’t count on the LTISD for this!

Data use, just who will use the data and what will they be doing with it? Also, specifically, what data is collected and what justifies the use of each item collected?

Data ownership, just who “owns” the data that is collected?

Liability, just who is liable if and when the data is compromised? Raptor Technologies, Inc? LTISD?

Don’t you want to know the answers to these and other questions before you blindly turn your personal data over to a stranger?

Shouldn’t the district be required to spell out the terms of the data use, like every other government agency that holds your personal data?

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has not seen the terms of the contract before they let their personal information be harvested.

Just because “the school district says it’s ok” is reason enough to be suspicious, especially the LTISD with their checkered history.

Next we will look more into the Texas Legislature’s sanction of Raptor Technologies, Inc. with SB9 and the relationship of Bradford T. Shields, Raptor Technologies’ lobbyist.

Perhaps we should “follow the money” on this … straight from your tax payments.

We ultimately have to ask ourselves: “Was this a problem in need of a solution, or was it a ‘solution’ in search of a problem?”

Finally, look at Texas Education Code § 38.002 and read what it really says:

“Sec. 38.022.  SCHOOL VISITORS.  (a)  A school district may require a person who enters a district campus to display the person’s driver’s license or another form of identification containing the person’s photograph issued by a governmental entity.

(b)  A school district may establish an electronic database for the purpose of storing information concerning visitors to district campuses.  Information stored in the electronic database may be used only for the purpose of school district security and may not be sold or otherwise disseminated to a third party for any purpose.

(c)  A school district may verify whether a visitor to a district campus is a sex offender registered with the computerized central database maintained by the Department of Public Safety as provided by Article 62.005, Code of Criminal Procedure, or any other database accessible by the district.

(d)  The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a policy regarding the action to be taken by the administration of a school campus when a visitor is identified as a sex offender.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1372, Sec. 12, eff. June 15, 2007.”

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. The law says that the district may require a visitor to DISPLAY their driver’s license. Note that no requirement to scan or archive their driver’s license information is mentioned.
2. The school district may establish an electronic database or the purpose of storing information concerning visitors to district campuses but § 38.002(b) neither specifies the storage of “driver’s license” data nor the storage of personal data.
3. § 38.002(c) says that the district may access the sex offender registered with the computerized central database maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Why don’t they? Why do the need to pay Raptor Technologies, Inc. for the privilege?

This request brings up many questions regarding our district’s use of Raptor’s V-SOFT.

Just what can the company, Raptorware, do with the data? Seems like they can do a lot if you read Texas Transportation Code 730.007.

Just how much of your personal information are you allowing Raptorware to use?

Doesn’t the district owe us all a copy of the terms of just what is being disclosed and how the data is being used BEFORE you give out your personal information?

Just who is responsible for the collected data? The LTISD or Raptorware? We already know that the LTISD has a history of incompetence with regard to confidentiality.

Let’s also look at some issues raised by this “Request for Attorney General Opinion:”

“TEX. TRANS. C ODE § 730.013(b) states that ”[a]n authorized recipient of personal information may resell or redisclose the information only for a use-permitted under Section 730.007″¹
Furthermore, TEX. TRANS. CODE § 730.013(b) states that “[a]ny authorized recipient who resells or rediscloses personal information obtained from an agency” must maintain for a period of not less than five years records as to any person or entity receiving that information and the permitted use for which it was obtained.” Similar language can be found in Title 18 U.S.C. § 2721(c) which states “[a]n authorized recipient of personal information…may resell or redisclose the information only for a use permitted under subsection (b).”² Title 18 U.S.C. § 2721(c) also requires an authorized recipient to maintain a record of “the permitted use for which [personal information] was obtained.” These provisions appear to limit redisclosure of a driver license photograph to a person who is permitted to obtain the information under TEX. TRANS. CODE § 730.007 and Title 18 U.S.C. § 2721.”

-RQ-0799-GA

Aren’t we entitled to review the terms, in simple English, regarding just what happens to the data used by Raptorware when your driver’s license is scanned and just who is responsible for the retention and security of the data?

Perhaps we should ask the district for a copy. Stay tuned …

I even have a copy of the invoices for many of these vehicles.^TPIA

Also, why do we need a new “bus barn?”

Here are excerpts from LTISD written policy FFF (REGULATION) STUDENT WELFARE: STUDENT SAFETY, Raptor Visitor Management System Procedures.^TPIA

Don’t try to find this on-line, it’s not there.  Of course you won’t find this on the district’s worthless web site. But you can get it here.^TPIA

Some interesting items to note:

“All campus staff will receive training on visitor check-in procedures to ensure that all persons who are not assigned to the campus have a visitor’s badge or LTISD photo ID card visible. Any person who does not have a campus visitor badge with the current date displayed or a LTISD ID badge should be immediately escorted to the office.”

Do you think that the LTISD follows this policy consistently and/or without discrimination? I for one have certainly not witnessed this policy being actively let alone evenly enforced.

“There may be situations where certain visitors can be flagged as posing a danger to students or staff. One of the features of the Raptor is the ability to program customized alerts, specific to the students and faculty at the campus. These alerts seek to help school personnel identify and avoid dangerous situations.

Examples of persons that can be entered into a Private Alert are:

• Non-custodial parents or family members
• Parents or other family members with restraining orders banning contact with a student or staff member
• Parents with very limited visitation of students
• Expelled students
• Students from rival campuses
• Persons who have threatened students or faculty members
• Persons who have committed crime on or near a campus”

Just who enters this data and what are the parameters for this data and its updates?

Here is the really interesting one:

“District administrators will have the ability to add private alerts. If a private alert is added, please ensure the following:

1. File a copy of the court order, restraining order, legal document or communication from law enforcement/administrators which supports the alert. Send a copy to the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services who will communicate the alert to all other appropriate administrators and the Director of Technology.
2. Review the campus emergency procedures that address hostile persons on campus.”
   

Which administrators have this authority and what are the exact criteria for these “private alerts?”

Do we trust a school district who does not even know what privacy means, let alone when a member of the Board violates confidentiality, the district’s general counsel, Susan Bohn, doesn’t even have a grasp of the basic tenants of Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a fundamental Federal law regarding student and family privacy and worst of all, the district doesn’t know where all of its records are located and they don’t even when to know if they still have custody of private records (more on this later)!

Just who is in charge of this ship?

“WAR IS PEACE.

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.”

- George Orwell, 1984

Imagine that, the LTISD violating a parent’s civil rights?!

I guess that when they do the suing, that’s OK, but when they are getting sued, they cry “persecution!”

But hey, if you don’t think you have a case, go out and try to spin a good story. The district is good at that.

It would seem that the LTISD implements the Raptor system in a discriminatory manner.

Just ask yourself, how many times have you seen parents in the hall ways who were not wearing a Raptor sticker?

Why did the school insist that these parents be scanned and not “every” parent?

Why isn’t this system being implemented uniformly in all of the district’s schools?

Well … It would appear that these parents just might have a case.

Security systems are only as effective as they are consistently and uniformly implemented. Discriminatory and piecemeal application of a system with questionable returns is a hallmark of the LTISD.

The LTISD Minister of Disinformation, Marco Alvarado spun a press release saying: “Lake Travis ISD lauds community support for use of Raptor visitor management system.”

Marco and his press releases remind me of the infamous Iraqi Information Minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf (aka Baghdad Bob).

“Baghdad Bob” made ludicrous statements such as:

“I have detailed information about the situation…which completely proves that what they allege are illusions . . . They lie every day.”

I really loved when “Baghdad Bob” said:

“Lying is forbidden in Iraq. President Saddam Hussein will tolerate nothing but truthfulness as he is a man of great honor and integrity. Everyone is encouraged to speak freely of the truths evidenced in their eyes and hearts.”

I could only imagine the LTISD Disinformation Minister Marco Alvarado (aka: “Lake Travis Louie“) saying:

“Lying is forbidden in the LTISD. His Superintendency Rocky Kirk will tolerate nothing but truthfulness as he is a man of great honor and integrity. Everyone is encouraged to speak freely of the truths evidenced in their eyes and hearts.”

We still need to answer the question, just “who supports the district” in this law suit?

I asked for any proof that could be used to support their audacious claim about just how much “community” was mobilized in their support. All they could give me was two emails they received in support against those who persecute the poor ole LTISD.^TPIA

Funny, but I don’t think two emails constitute community support. Of course we need “written proof” since the LTISD has been known to be confused by verifiable facts and in this case, “community support” seems to be a figment of their imagination. Once again, not surprising.

I did find two comments supporting the district on the Lake Travis View web site and one comment opposing the districts position.

One of the district’s supporters, wrote in the comments section of the article in the Lake Travis View:

“Enter my name into the DOJ site- and you’ll see I’m a registered sex offender living in New Jersey. And let’s hope I’m not coming from Nevada, because their site is down.”

-Lake Travis View, comment by Richard Kerr, December 4, 2008.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of databases such as the Raptor system. It would seem that errors such as that described by Mr. Kerr would prevent him from endorsing the use of such a system.

Next, says:

“One needs to worry LESS about their identity being stolen and MORE about protecting ALL CHILDREN! Stop the INSANITY!”

-Lake Travis View, comment by Melissa Leger, December 4, 2008.

Does Melissa know about all of the district’s privacy violations, including one by Susan Tolles, President of the LTISD Board of Trustees? I would assume that Ms. Leger is unaware of the past history of the LTISD regarding this matter or she might not write what she did.

I could only guess that Lake Travis Louie will be out to discredit the dissenter’s comments with another great quote from “Baghdad Bob:”

“Just look carefully, I only want you to look carefully. Do not repeat the lies of liars. Do not become like them. Once again, I blame al-Jazeera before it ascertains what takes place. Please, make sure of what you say and do not play such a role.”

Reminds me of Heidi Gudelman, Principal of Lake Pointe Elementary School, who under oath  said: “it was not true in reality.”

It certainly has not been for the lack of material.

I have a lot of catching up to do.

Here is a small list of posts that I plan on uploading in the  very near future:

1. Did you know that Susan Bohn claims to be aware of the privacy provisions of FERPA, yet turns around to provide documents that would appear to violate FERPA? Not only that, but since we only pay her $130,000 per year, they still had to employ an outside law firm to help her out in this matter? Just why did Rocky hire her? It must be for her expertise in eminent domain matters? We will just have to see what the TEA and FERPA have to say about this latest blunder. Remember what the TEA said about Susan Tolles violation of student confidentiality?
   
2. Did you know that the OCR found the LTISD in violation again?!
3. Did you know that Rocky got another pay raise! Even after saying that he was going to make the LTISD “the most exemplary school district in Texas!” The Austin American Statesman even made comments on Rocky’s outrageous “compensation.”
4. Did you know that the LTISD is trying to shore up their image with television commercials?
5. Did you know that your taxes went up again? Do you think that the “brain trust” is going to ask for a vote on raising our taxes in May? Did you ever wonder what Mayo thinks about tax increases in light of the fact that he owes Travis County and the LTISD so much in property taxes?
6. Did you know that I did not spend my 36 hours of time for TPIA requests this year? Did you know that once again, Susan Bohn messed up and can’t seem to keep an accurate count of time. Imagine that!
7. Just what is the growth rate in our school district. Looking at some real estate sales data, we can see some noticeable decreases this year. Wonder if the “brain trust” is going to ignore the data and ask all of us, except Mayo,  to pay more taxes for the burgeoning student population?

These and other articles coming very soon.

I really got a kick out of Nola Wellman’s comments in a recent Austin American-Statesman’s article. (Laura Heinauer, “Parents: Eanes isn’t ensuring access for all,” Austin American Statesman, March 13, 2008, Page A1 and “Eanes parents want campus disability projects fast-tracked“)

The Eanes ISD supposedly passed a bond to take care of the issues pointed out by the article. Now Nola and the Eanes Board complain that they don’t have any money to take care of all the issues, which I might note are required by both Federal and State laws.

Do you think that the Eanes ISD might take a page from the LTISD play book and sue anyone who files a complaint for “abuse of governmental processes?”

Well, Eanes is not the only one with accessibility troubles. Our own LTISD has been found to be in violation and a complaint regarding many of the same issues with the LTISD’s playgrounds is currently pending before the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

This unfortunately seems to be a pattern of “inadvertent” management lapses. What other safety inspections and preventative checks and maintenance’s have been overlooked?

FYI: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says: “The owner of the elevator or related equipment must obtain an inspection every 12 months and submit the inspection report along with all required documents and fees to the Department to obtain a certificate of compliance.” Not only that, but 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 74.70(Mk) states: “The building owner must display the current Certificate of Compliance”

Here are pictures of what I saw during my visit to the LTISD Administration Building on January 10, 2007, March 3, 2006 is a long time for even an “inadvertent” oversight. How many more, and potentially very dangerous oversights lurk within the confines of the LTISD?

Your welcome LTISD! I am happy that you found the information on my web site and I am glad to be of service to the community.

Image of repairs made to the water damaged ceiling and the repair and removal of the questionable material found on the ceiling.

When the discovery was made known to the LTISD, they denied that the building could possibly have mold. They even declined to accept my offer to take someone and show them what I had found.

Not being a mold expert myself, I don’t know if it is or it isn’t, but I would like to find out. Wouldn’t you want to know?

Seems that asking them to look into the issue that was volunteered to them was out of the question.

At first I thought it was dirt, but upon closer inspection, I feel rather certain that it is not a dirty ceiling. In the mean time, I have shown this to at least two other persons who have seen the suspicions black material.

As of my last visit to the EDC on December 13, 2006, it was still there.

Here are some pictures so that you can see for yourself.

Close up view of suspicious black material on the ceiling of the men’s bathroom in the LTISD EDC building.

No, this does not appear to be “dirt”, although the picture looks like it could be.

Zoomed out view showing water damaged ceiling with path leading to suspicious black material.

What sort of material is on the LTISD computers you children are using?

Heidi Gudelman, Principal, Lakepointe Elementary School

Bottom line: The LTISD did not know if they had confidential information on this memory device and even worse, they lost custody of it for several days.

One should ask, if they were on holidays and too busy to retrieve the device, how did they find the memory device two days later? Weren’t they out on holiday? It seems like there was something very important on that device.

When this matter was presented to the LTISD Board of Trustees, they found that nothing wrong had occurred. The administration and Dr. Kirk are responsible. Yet, the administrators and Board members have neither completed confidentiality training nor have they signed an oath of confidentiality. Again, they acted out of ignorance or denial. Ms. Tolles actions have clearly demonstrated this.

Just two examples of official district vehicles parked in parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities.

This sign seems to also mean “Loading Zone” to the LTISD.