Finalists for Kentucky Commissioner of Education
Published comments from various newspapers
Barbara F. ErwinAge: 56 Education: Bachelor's degree in special education from Indiana University; master's degree in school administration from Purdue University; and a doctorate in school administration from Indiana University
Family: Married with two sons.
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From the Kane County Chronicle, 28 February 2007
Published comments from various newspapers
Barbara F. ErwinAge: 56 Education: Bachelor's degree in special education from Indiana University; master's degree in school administration from Purdue University; and a doctorate in school administration from Indiana University
Family: Married with two sons.
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From the Kane County Chronicle, 28 February 2007
District 303 Superintendent Barbara Erwin is a finalist to be the new superintendent at Oak Park-River Forest District 200.
In and of itself, such news is not that big a deal. People change jobs all the time, regardless of what field they are in. But several facts make Erwin's situation a bit more interesting.Erwin has been at the district about three years. In July 2005, Erwin received a new, five-year contract that extended through June 2010.
Despite the commitment of the school board, Erwin announced in October 2006 that she planned to retire in July. The school board even filed a notice with the state.The fact that Erwin chose to retire and not finish the contract is not that unusual. When it's time to retire, it's time to retire, and Erwin certainly is prepared for retirement. She is set to collect some pension money from St. Charles as well as school districts in Arizona, Texas, and maybe Indiana.
A Kane County Chronicle story in December estimated that Erwin was set to make at least $34,000 annually in pensions. But that estimate is conservative because Indiana would not release any information on what kind of a pension package she is to receive from there. Also, it's hard to estimate other income. For example, Erwin is set to earn about $36,000 in annuities from St. Charles. So Erwin could make $70,000 or more annually in retirement.
Erwin can't be faulted for taking advantage of the system. Lifelong administrators such as Erwin can add significantly to their pensions by working in several states.However, one would think that after all taxpayers have given Erwin - including local taxpayers in District 303 - the least she could do would be forthright.
Instead, after announcing her retirement and ditching the remaining years on her contract, she went off to interview for another job. The fact that Erwin's tenure has been bumpy - defeated referendums, controversial boundary issues - only exacerbates matters. Worst though is the fact that since news of the Oak Park-River Forest job broke, Erwin has remained silent.
Apparently taxpayers have not earned an explanation.
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STC tweaks school zoning - Kane County Chronicle - 27 February 2007
...The board did not discuss the recent news that Superintendent Barbara Erwin, who had announced in October that she would retire, is a finalist for a superintendent position in Oak Park.
Erwin said before the meeting that she did not have time to comment. During the break before executive session, she left and did not answer questions.
Hewell said she thought Erwin had too much passion to go into retirement quietly.“Any district would be very lucky to have her,” Hewell said. “I’m sorry to see her go.”
Erwin is one of three finalists for the top job at District 200. The near-west suburban district has one school, Oak Park and River Forest High School....
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Controlling “the message?”
A recent flap in St Charles led one board member to speak publicly about “criticisms” being discussed in closed session. The member apologized. The Chairman, who advised board members not to speak with district Superintendent Barbara Erwin individually or attend district staff meetings, later resigned.
Free speech issues have been brewing in Scotsdale, Arizona where Erwin was once superintendent. In January, an attorney wrote in the Arizona Republic – 26 January 2007: “We must demand that our elected officials give us information on matters of public concern. I encourage the media to report whenever school board members refuse to comment on agenda items, based on the advice of their attorney. Board members who will not discuss issues with citizens should be replaced.
During my four years on the board, I communicated regularly with the public through every available means, including those that are now apparently forbidden. No one other than former Superintendent Barbara Erwin and her cronies ever suggested my activities violated the Open Meeting Law.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final
ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic North
Page: 13
Column: COMMUNITY COLUMNIST
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho163543889
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A February 2, 2006 editorial in the Arizona Republic
……touts the accomplishments of Erwin’s successor saying, “The district has significantly improved during his short tenure.” “…[board members] insisted on receiving a monthly financial report. Before that, the board had no financial information except the annual budget forms.”
The new superintendent and others, “pushed the board to end the district's use of contracted legal services and hired and in-house attorney. The district's once exorbitant legal fees, which topped $650,000 in former Superintendent Barbara Erwin's last year, are now less than $200,000 annually.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final Chaser
Section: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 11
Column: MY TURN
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho126327348
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18 January 2006 – The Arizona Republic
“To appreciate how far Scottsdale Unified School District has come with Superintendent John Baracy, you've got to remember how bad things were when he got here.
After years of infighting and political maneuvering, School Board meetings had devolved into shouting matches. The board president had filed a lawsuit against three of her colleagues and Barbara Erwin, the outgoing superintendent. (The Republic previously [Apr 5, 2005] blamed the board chair for the “meritless lawsuit, since tossed out of court.”) Not to mention that 571 students -- 2 percent of the district's enrollment -- had jumped ship that year, taking $2.4 million in state funds with them.
Eighteen months later, the petty squabbles have vanished. There's civility among board members, and employees now smile on a regular basis. Everyone involved in the district has learned, as Baracy says, "to agree to disagree without being disagreeable."No wonder the board unanimously has given its superintendent top marks in his annual review. He truly deserves them.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final
ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 13
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho125417892
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Erwin on NCLB - 8 Nov 2005 - from Kane County Chronicle:
St. Charles Superintendent Barbara Erwin said officials at the state and federal level have made modifications to the law and are considering more. Whether those changes are made prior to the 2014 deadline, however, remains to be seen, she said."I think everybody's recognizing the fact that requiring every student to achieve the same standard is not going to happen," she said.
Erwin on NCLB - 8 Nov 2005 - from Kane County Chronicle:
St. Charles Superintendent Barbara Erwin said officials at the state and federal level have made modifications to the law and are considering more. Whether those changes are made prior to the 2014 deadline, however, remains to be seen, she said."I think everybody's recognizing the fact that requiring every student to achieve the same standard is not going to happen," she said.
Erwin added that despite the problems being created by the law, she still believes in the spirit of the legislation."That has engaged educators in conversation nationwide, to make sure that each child, regardless of ability, language barrier, socioeconomic status, we have to make sure those kids grow and prosper," she said.
And on 9 Nov 2005:
St. Charles Superintendent Barbara Erwin said state and federal officials are looking to modify the assessment, but she said she does not know whether changes will come in time to keep districts out of a failing status.
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Erwin on the use of handheld alcohol sensors on students
27 April 2005 – Kane County Chronicle:
The Alcosensors complement the district's health curriculum, and Character Education and prevention programs, Superintendent Barbara Erwin said in a statement."Our students' safety and well being is and must be our top concern," Erwin said. "These devices will help us strengthen the safety net that we need to protect our children from the dangers of alcohol, drugs and violence."
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Erwin’s introduction to District 303 in May 2004 from Focus the district newsletter. (Photo)
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And background from the Chicago Tribune – 13 January 2004.
St. Charles Community Unit District 303 announced Monday that Barbara Erwin of Scottsdale, Ariz., would be its next superintendent, effective July 1.For the last four years, Erwin has been chief administrator of the Scottsdale Unified School District, which has 30,000 students in 33 schools.
And on 9 Nov 2005:
St. Charles Superintendent Barbara Erwin said state and federal officials are looking to modify the assessment, but she said she does not know whether changes will come in time to keep districts out of a failing status.
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Erwin on the use of handheld alcohol sensors on students
27 April 2005 – Kane County Chronicle:
The Alcosensors complement the district's health curriculum, and Character Education and prevention programs, Superintendent Barbara Erwin said in a statement."Our students' safety and well being is and must be our top concern," Erwin said. "These devices will help us strengthen the safety net that we need to protect our children from the dangers of alcohol, drugs and violence."
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Erwin’s introduction to District 303 in May 2004 from Focus the district newsletter. (Photo)
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And background from the Chicago Tribune – 13 January 2004.
St. Charles Community Unit District 303 announced Monday that Barbara Erwin of Scottsdale, Ariz., would be its next superintendent, effective July 1.For the last four years, Erwin has been chief administrator of the Scottsdale Unified School District, which has 30,000 students in 33 schools.
"Dr. Erwin has `been there, done that,' and more," said Mary Jo Knipp, president of the District 303 Board of Education. "She has been in the trenches and has really made a difference."Erwin is a 33-year educator who was twice named superintendent of the year while working in Texas from 1994 to 2000, where she headed the Allen Independent School District in Allen.
Previously, she was superintendent of schools from 1991 to 1994 in Tipton, Ind."I'm excited to be able to return to the Midwest, which is home for me," said Erwin by phone in Scottsdale. "I've already had the pleasure of meeting several staff and teachers in St. Charles. I'm honored to have been selected."
Erwin, 52, who is married, will succeed Supt. Fran Kostel, who has been with the district 15 years, including the last eight as superintendent.Officials said Erwin's three-year contract calls for an annual salary of $195,000."
Dr. Erwin was born in Chicago and has family in the area," said Knipp. "She had plans to move back to the area in 2005, but this kind of moved things ahead for her."Erwin, who has a doctorate in education from Indiana University in Bloomington, is credited with reviving a Scottsdale system that had a $14 million deficit when she was hired. In Allen, she managed a system north of Dallas whose enrollment doubled in five years.But Knipp said board members were impressed with principles set forth in a letter Erwin wrote to the search firm the district used.Board member Chris Hansen said Erwin was chosen for her "focus, so clearly on significantly improving student achievement in our school district."In a statement, Erwin said, "We already have a very good school district with strong test scores and good facilities. My challenge will be to get us to the next level."
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More from the Arizona Republic - October 20, 2005
“When [new superintendent] Baracy took over as superintendent on July 1, 2004, he quickly called upon the district's perpetually warring factions to "put down our verbal swords and work together in the best interests of our children."At the time, we were a little skeptical, although we knew that if anybody could thrive as a peacemaker, Baracy was the person. He's a good listener and certainly is not a polarizing figure such as his predecessor, Barbara Erwin. He generates confidence.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 11
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho120946084
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On Technology
Scottsdale school board president Christine Schild, on the district's technology woes."(Ex-Superintendent Barbara Erwin) promised us all in her interviews that she'd bring us into the 21st century, but we're still hovering around the 20th."
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 12
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho118095682
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31 Dec 2004 – Arizona Republic
Critics of Barbara Erwin, the Scottsdale Unified School District's former superintendent, say she checked out of her job too early. She'd been beaten down by four years of constant rancor and turmoil, and her weariness began to show even before her June 30 exit for a higher-paying job in Illinois.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 11
Index Terms: YEAREND
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho104850711
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Sept 9 2004 – Arizona Republic
“This story began three years ago, during the Barbara Erwin era.
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More from the Arizona Republic - October 20, 2005
“When [new superintendent] Baracy took over as superintendent on July 1, 2004, he quickly called upon the district's perpetually warring factions to "put down our verbal swords and work together in the best interests of our children."At the time, we were a little skeptical, although we knew that if anybody could thrive as a peacemaker, Baracy was the person. He's a good listener and certainly is not a polarizing figure such as his predecessor, Barbara Erwin. He generates confidence.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 11
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho120946084
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On Technology
Scottsdale school board president Christine Schild, on the district's technology woes."(Ex-Superintendent Barbara Erwin) promised us all in her interviews that she'd bring us into the 21st century, but we're still hovering around the 20th."
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 12
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho118095682
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31 Dec 2004 – Arizona Republic
Critics of Barbara Erwin, the Scottsdale Unified School District's former superintendent, say she checked out of her job too early. She'd been beaten down by four years of constant rancor and turmoil, and her weariness began to show even before her June 30 exit for a higher-paying job in Illinois.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 11
Index Terms: YEAREND
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho104850711
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Sept 9 2004 – Arizona Republic
“This story began three years ago, during the Barbara Erwin era.
In those dark days, handsomely paid consultants were predicting big gains in enrollment for Scottsdale and thus a pressing need to build the state's most expensive high school in the district's toniest neighborhood, D.C. Ranch. Fortunately, voters objected to spending $54 million on a high school that wasn't needed and stoned the bond request, which also killed plans to fix up older high schools because the funding requests were tied together on the ballot.
Almost immediately after the bond's defeat in November 2001, Erwin admitted that a sixth high school wasn't really needed because enrollment was declining, and even had we built it, we wouldn't have had the money to staff it. Nice, huh?”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 2
Index Terms: ELECTION
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho93790013
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June 21, 2004 - Q & A – Edwin says goodbye to Arizona
“Either an inspirational or controversial figure, depending on whom you ask, Erwin came to Scottsdale in 2000 when the 33-school district was reeling from an Arizona Attorney General's Office investigation into assorted Open Meeting Law, bid-rigging and procurement violations. She likely will be remembered as a transitional leader, helping the disillusioned community get back on track.”
What's your biggest regret about your time in Scottsdale? EDWIN: “I'm not big on regrets. I don't regret taking the job. I don't regret doing the job. I don't regret leaving, and moving and going home. I don't think you live your life with regrets. You become a pretty cynical, unhappy person. We've had challenges, and some days have been less fun than others.”
Which accomplishments would you consider your proudest? EDWIN: “My proudest is school improvement and student achievement. That has gone up every year. We finally have a team of campus leaders who are very proud of school improvement, who are looking at student data, who are analyzing that student-achievement data. So in spite of everything, you've got 33 sites that are clearly looking at individual student achievement.”
What are the district's big challenges? EDWIN: “Updating our facilities. Student achievement is the Number 1 issue...The community has to come together from the north and south and become a Scottsdale community, and quit talking "north" and "south." You've heard me say it's the biggest division since the Blue and the Gray.It really is. I have never experienced a community so divided. You saw it the other night (at the School Board meeting) when they actually shouted at each other. I've experienced people being very angry with the decision you make. "I don't want phonics." OK. But not about, "I don't want your school fixed because ...." That has got to come to an end.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 6Column: POP QUIZ
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho58159927
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16 January 2004 – Arizona Republic
What's the body count now in the Scottsdale Unified School District? How many educators and administrators has Barbara Erwin forced out in the past three years?
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 2
Index Terms: ELECTION
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho93790013
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June 21, 2004 - Q & A – Edwin says goodbye to Arizona
“Either an inspirational or controversial figure, depending on whom you ask, Erwin came to Scottsdale in 2000 when the 33-school district was reeling from an Arizona Attorney General's Office investigation into assorted Open Meeting Law, bid-rigging and procurement violations. She likely will be remembered as a transitional leader, helping the disillusioned community get back on track.”
What's your biggest regret about your time in Scottsdale? EDWIN: “I'm not big on regrets. I don't regret taking the job. I don't regret doing the job. I don't regret leaving, and moving and going home. I don't think you live your life with regrets. You become a pretty cynical, unhappy person. We've had challenges, and some days have been less fun than others.”
Which accomplishments would you consider your proudest? EDWIN: “My proudest is school improvement and student achievement. That has gone up every year. We finally have a team of campus leaders who are very proud of school improvement, who are looking at student data, who are analyzing that student-achievement data. So in spite of everything, you've got 33 sites that are clearly looking at individual student achievement.”
What are the district's big challenges? EDWIN: “Updating our facilities. Student achievement is the Number 1 issue...The community has to come together from the north and south and become a Scottsdale community, and quit talking "north" and "south." You've heard me say it's the biggest division since the Blue and the Gray.It really is. I have never experienced a community so divided. You saw it the other night (at the School Board meeting) when they actually shouted at each other. I've experienced people being very angry with the decision you make. "I don't want phonics." OK. But not about, "I don't want your school fixed because ...." That has got to come to an end.”
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 6Column: POP QUIZ
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho58159927
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16 January 2004 – Arizona Republic
What's the body count now in the Scottsdale Unified School District? How many educators and administrators has Barbara Erwin forced out in the past three years?
Poor communication with teachers and constituents, high teacher turnover rates and arrogance of administration -- sound familiar, Scottsdale? We are not alone. Anyone who had investigated Erwin's tenure at the Allen (Texas) Independent School District would find these concerns echoed in several stories in the Dallas Morning News…
…Erwin cherry picks which allegations of wrongdoing to investigate. This time she targeted one of the stars of the district, simply because she wasn't a "yes" man. The superintendent has no concept of a 28-year commitment to a community and its students. Erwin has been paid handsomely, $165,000 a year, plus a $750 monthly automobile allowance, for a four-day work week. As Erwin noted in the American Association of School Administrators' newsletter, "I can't live long enough to vest in every state." How's that for commitment to your community? Nice work if you can get it.
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 14Column: MY TURN
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho57635440
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January 14, 2004 – Arizona Republic
Barbara Erwin is leaving the Scottsdale Unified School District in better condition than she found it. Even all but the most strident critics of the outgoing superintendent will have to give her that. And that's substantial.
Erwin, who will leave Scottsdale this summer to take a higher-paying job in St. Charles, Ill., inherited a corrupt school district when she came here in March 2000.The Scottsdale school district was in chaos, reeling from the state attorney general's revelations of bid manipulation and Open Meeting Law violations. The board had bought out Erwin's two predecessors. Things were a mess, and public confidence was at the nadir.
Say what you want about her -- and she was a lightning rod figure in many ways -- Erwin helped restore some basic integrity. A sign of that restored trust came last March when district voters approved a budget override. They'd rejected the previous one.Erwin also framed a big-picture vision for the district. Last year, she set the ambitious goal of giving every local student "a world-class education." She put, to use her term, the "bull's eye" on student achievement. Her enthusiasm was contagious.
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Scottsdale Republic NorthPage: 12
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho57630984
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FEBRUARY 6, 2000 – A new sheriff in town – Arizona Republic
[Barbara] Erwin is credited with turning the 10,000-student Allen Independent School District in suburban Dallas into one of the most technologically advanced districts in the nation during her six years as its superintendent. She was named Texas superintendent of the year by Veselka's group in 1997. Last year, she was nominated for the American Association of School Administrators' award for the top national leader.
The daughter of a South Side Chicago steel-mill worker and a convenience store cashier, Erwin got an education degree from Indiana University. She began to mold her assertive style in Tipton, Ind., where she was a teacher and principal before being named superintendent of the 1,850-student school district.
Tipton hasn't forgotten her. ''She got us right out of financial dire straits,'' said Dick Timm, former president of the Tipton school board, which chose Erwin, then a principal, over more experienced outside candidates vying for the job.
Some say Erwin's leadership style can quickly shift from aggressive to abrasive. ''Don't cross her, or she'll cut your throat. People that disagreed with her got run over like a freight train,'' said Mike Dollens, a 27-year teacher in Tipton who saw Erwin rise from teacher to superintendent. He sat across the table from her as a teacher representative during heated contract negotiations.
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: Final ChaserSection: Valley & StatePage: B3Column: SUNDAY PROFILE
Index Terms: PROFILE ERWIN
Copyright (c) The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: pho60155426
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Allen student seeks ACLU's helpHigh school suspended her for wearing black armband in protest
The Dallas Morning NewsMay 21, 1999
A 17-year-old student has turned to the American Civil Liberties Union for help, contending that her constitutional rights were violated when she was suspended from school last month for wearing a black armband.
Jennifer Boccia, an honors student who serves as a peer tutor for special-education students, said she was one of about 10 students who donned black armbands to protest school policies instituted after the Columbine High School shootings and to show respect for the victims.Those policies set new rules for speech and dress and provided for random searches. Some students protested, saying the changes would create a hostile environment at school.
Allen High School officials, who refused comment Thursday, ordered the students to remove the armbands and threatened suspension if they did not.
Jennifer, who had been studying the right to protest in her government class, said she offered a copy of a 1969 Supreme Court decision (Tinker) upholding the right of students to wear black armbands to protest the war in Vietnam.
According to Jennifer, assistant principal Carolyn Thompson was shown a copy of the ruling, turned and calmly put it through a paper shredder in front of her and two other students.
"We just sat there, stunned," Jennifer said. "She told us that she was willing to ignore the Constitution to protect students, that we could write it down and she would sign it…"
… School Superintendent Barbara Erwin refused to comment on the student suspensions. The district released a statement summarizing its dress code and saying, "The district does not comment on individual student disciplinary actions.”
SOURC E: NEWSBANK
Edition: THIRDSection: NEWSPage: 42A
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 The Dallas Morning News
Record Number: 4056732
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Allen school district denies ever intending to cancel rest of yearStaggered scheduled designed to ease evacuations, officals say
Dallas Morning News, The (TX)May 18, 1999
Allen school officials never intended to cancel the rest of the school year because of repeated bomb threats, Superintendent Barbara Erwin said Monday.
Instead, the plan was to cancel classes Friday and Monday, and then have students return Tuesday on staggered schedules with no more than a third of them in school at one time, she said. That number of students could safely be evacuated in the event of further bomb threats, officials said.
Elementary schools will be open on a staggered basis between Tuesday and May 25, officials said. Middle schools will open one grade at a time during the same dates, and finals will be given in certain classes. High school students will be contacted individually by their teachers about when to return and what tests need to be taken.
The district announced on Friday that the school board had voted to cancel the rest of the school year and that an announcement would be made Monday about bringing students in to return books, retrieve personal belongings, and in some cases take final exams.
But on Sunday, Ms. Erwin said that was not the decision made. "We never had the intention of closing down totally," she explained Monday. "We actually did not change our mind." Parents and students remained confused Monday, saying they had no doubt about what they had been told.
Ms. Erwin apologized Monday and took responsibility for any confusion."The last 10 days in the Allen Independent School District have been 10 days I never want to relive again," she said.The Allen school board, meeting in emergency session, approved school closures early Friday morning in response to a dozen bomb threats and eight school evacuations."AISD said we have to draw a line in the sand because we need a breather," Ms. Erwin said. "We could not get ahead of it."
Ms. Erwin's remarks came during a Monday news conference that was delayed and moved because a suspicious briefcase was sighted in the Anderson Elementary School parking lot. Police canceled the news conference, blocked all entry roads and moved reporters and school officials to the municipal courtroom. The briefcase belonged to a television reporter.
Aside from acknowledging confusing messages coming out of the district, Ms. Erwin spent most of the news conference defending the decision to close down for two days and then have students return on a limited basis."There was no reason for this district to believe on Friday that there would be a bomb," she said. Ms. Erwin addressed criticism from parents that the district had caved in to terrorists."If some kid thinks he won, so be it. I've got 9,400 kids alive and well and 1,100 faculty safe in Allen, Texas," she said. "It's not worth the risk. When was I going to lose a kid? When was I going to have a teacher collapse?" she said.
Police said three arrests have been made in connection with the threats, the latest being a 15-year-old boy who is being held in the Collin County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of criminal mischief in connection with graffiti carved into a playground fixture at a park related to an earlier bomb threat.
School officials would not release the minutes of the school board's emergency meeting, nor would they release copies of the exact motion that resulted in the school closures.
Chad Farmer, a 16-year-old junior at Allen High School, said he had no doubt that the school year had been cut short. "I was told it was canceled. I'm kinda confused now. I don't know what the deal is," he said. Kellie Wilson, whose daughter attends the high school, said the girl called her Monday more confused than ever.Her daughter had been told to come back to school at 10 a.m. Tuesday to take an algebra test, and at the same time Wednesday for a biology exam, then she was through for the year, Ms. Wilson said. "That doesn't make sense," Ms. Wilson said. "How is that going back to school?"
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Section: NEWS; ARLINGTONPage: 3A
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 Arlington Morning News
Record Number: 4056086
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School official defends decision to halt classes because of threats
Houston ChronicleMay 18, 1999
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Section: NEWS; ARLINGTONPage: 3A
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 Arlington Morning News
Record Number: 4056086
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School official defends decision to halt classes because of threats
Houston ChronicleMay 18, 1999
The superintendent of Allen schools made an emotional defense Monday of the decision to close schools last week because of bomb threats, and she announced that schools will reopen for limited activities beginning today.
Some parents in this Dallas suburb of 26,000 said the decision - first described by district officials as a cancellation of the last two weeks of school - amounted to caving in to those making the threats.Superintendent Barbara Erwin said that as the bomb threats mounted, eventually reaching 12, children and staff became more frightened."I've had people tell me, `Barbara, they won.' OK, I give," Erwin said. "If some kid thinks he's won, so be it. But I've got 9,200-some-odd kids home safe and I haven't lost a one, and I've got 1,100 employees alive and well in Allen, Texas."
Since the threats started nearly two weeks ago, three juveniles have been charged. Police believe most of the calls are unrelated, copycat actions. But Erwin said that in light of violence at other schools - she referred to the shootings that left 15 dead in a Colorado school last month - officials took the threats seriously."Every school was going to get a call, and one of them was going to have a real bomb," Erwin said at a press conference. Three 15-year-olds have been charged with making threats. Two face felony false-alarm charges, and a third was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Erwin said the Allen Independent School District will operate on a staggered schedule the next two weeks, with no more than one-third of the district's pupils attending on any given day. More than 1,000 people showed up Monday night to hear school officials outline specific plans to finish the year. Almost 100 people signed up to address the board. Most were supportive of the board's decision, but questioned why it took so long to get an explanation about the specifics of the ruling."My only concern is that this wasn't done Friday," said Joe Bellino, an organizer of a parents group called Concerned Parents for Safe Schools. "Board members, I'm sorry, but you dropped the ball."
Nonetheless, Bellino and others praised the plans as outlined during the meeting. "You could do no more and no less," said Alton Biggs, a 22-year-employee of the school district.Erwin said the district expects to receive more bomb threats, but "with only one-third of our population to evacuate, we can do that safely."
The sessions won't resemble normal school days. Instead, the superintendent said, students will take year-end tests, complete unfinished work and attend year-end activities.She said the district has purchased 12 metal detectors for use at middle schools and the district's lone high school. Access will also be limited at elementary schools, she said.School officials said students who do not return for the activities will not be penalized and may make special arrangements with teachers to complete classwork.
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: 3 STARSection: APage: 17
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 Houston Chronicle
Record Number: 3139506
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Bomb threats disrupt Allen schoolsOfficials try to calm community fears
The Dallas Morning NewsMay 14, 1999
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: 3 STARSection: APage: 17
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 Houston Chronicle
Record Number: 3139506
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Bomb threats disrupt Allen schoolsOfficials try to calm community fears
The Dallas Morning NewsMay 14, 1999
Allen school administrators said they are working closely with police and parents to diffuse the chaos sparked by a recent string of fake bomb threats. In the last 10 days, four schools in the 9,425-student district have been plagued by eight bomb threats that pranksters have either called in or left in notes.
Two schools were affected Thursday……Metal detectors are being installed at the north and south entrances to the high school. And students are being asked not to bring backpacks or book bags to school, officials said. Allen Superintendent Barbara Erwin and Allen Police Chief William Rushing sent a letter to parents Thursday explaining the actions they've taken…
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: THIRDSection: PLANO MORNING NEWSPage: 1K
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 The Dallas Morning News
Record Number: 4054992
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Middle and high school students in Allen, whose parents request it, will be randomly tested for drugs under a new program administered by the school district…
Edition: THIRDSection: PLANO MORNING NEWSPage: 1K
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1999 The Dallas Morning News
Record Number: 4054992
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Middle and high school students in Allen, whose parents request it, will be randomly tested for drugs under a new program administered by the school district…
…The voluntary drug testing will offer students a way of escaping the peer pressure to use drugs by giving them a reason to say no, officials said. It also can allow them to get help if they are using illegal drugs, said Superintendent Barbara Erwin. "One child is one too many" to be on drugs, she said.Dr. Erwin said the program, approved by the school board this week, will begin with students at Curtis Middle School, Ford Middle School, and Allen High School. It could be expanded to elementary schools in the future…
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: HOME FINALSection: NEWSPage: 1A
Dateline: ALLEN
Copyright 1998 The Dallas Morning News
Record Number: 1035109
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Allen schools give volunteer cold shoulder
The Dallas Morning NewsDecember 21, 1997
Carolyn McBryde doesn't seem like a desperado. But to the Allen Independent School District, she's like Public Enemy No. 1. Carolyn is a sugary-sweet mom and wife. She teaches 2-year-olds in a private preschool, goes to Bible studies, served as a PTA president and tries to help wherever she can…
…The McBrydes were looking forward to going along as chaperons when the Allen High School band went to New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Their son is in the band. But shortly before the trip, Carolyn got a call from a school district official. He informed her that a criminal background check revealed a "negative report" and that she could not be a chaperon..…
A few years ago, the McBrydes found themselves swamped in debt. They finally filed for bankruptcy protection but vowed to repay every creditor 100 percent. And they did. But in the midst of their financial mess, some returned-check notices became hot-check charges. Again, wanting to do what was right, Carolyn went to court, freely admitted her guilt and paid her fines. It was humiliating, but court officials assured her that such things happen to good people all the time…
[But] in Allen, any criminal record automatically disqualifies a volunteer - no matter the circumstances…no appeals…
[Dallas Morning News reporter Steve Blow] got a taste of Carolyn's treatment when [he] called school Superintendent Barbara Erwin. Associate Superintendent Betty Donaldson returned my call instead. I tried to be polite, but she curtly referred me to the school attorney. Then hung up on me in midsentence…
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: HOME FINAL
Section: NEWS
Page: 37AColumn: STEVE BLOW
Copyright 1997 The Dallas Morning News Company
Record Number: 1718881
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Allen superintendent honored as state's best High standards planning for growth cited in award
The Dallas Morning NewsOctober 8, 1997
Copyright 1997 The Dallas Morning News Company
Record Number: 1718881
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Allen superintendent honored as state's best High standards planning for growth cited in award
The Dallas Morning NewsOctober 8, 1997
Since Barbara Erwin became superintendent of the Allen school district in 1994, the rapidly growing district has added about 800 new students annually - enough to fill a new school each year.
In fact, the district has built four schools in those four years. And Dr. Erwin's planning skills and standards during that period have won her statewide recognition as the Superintendent of the Year.The award was announced at a recent joint convention of the Texas Association of School Boards and the Texas Association of School Administrators."I am blessed with a talented group of educators, staff, teachers, parents," Dr. Erwin said. "We've set high expectations and high standards. "
"She has pushed this district toward strategic planning," said board President Glenn Andrew.For instance, he said, she set clear long-term and intermediate goals for improving scores on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) and on the SAT, and she gave teachers the extra resources they needed to help students meet them. And for the first time, the district has bought land in advance for a planned school, he said. "Usually, it's a panic to get the land at the last minute," he said.
That school, a new high school, will be adjacent to a city park, the result of a partnership with the city. The resulting complex will be planned jointly by the city and school."The lady is beyond belief," he said. "All her decisions are made for what's best for the kids. . . . She has the courage to make a risky decision if it's good for kids."
Dr. Erwin also said she was proud of the academic gains.In August, the Texas Education Agency named the district one of 64 "exemplary" districts in the state. Six individual schools were also ranked exemplary. "When you see us go from recognized to exemplary, it's pretty indicative that everyone's looking at every child, instead of that 80 percent or 90 percent mark," she said.
"Status quo is definitely not Barbara's middle name," said Georgie Green, who has served on advisory committees and done other volunteer work. Every teacher now has a laptop computer, she said. "She came in at a time of tremendous growth, and she has a lot of vision, and she believes in community input," Ms. Green said. "She energizes everybody she's around. "
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: HOME FINALSection: NEWSPage: 29A
Copyright 1997 The Dallas Morning News Company
Record Number: 1698803
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More campuses earn top marks in state rankings
The Dallas Morning NewsAugust 5, 1997
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: HOME FINALSection: NEWSPage: 29A
Copyright 1997 The Dallas Morning News Company
Record Number: 1698803
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More campuses earn top marks in state rankings
The Dallas Morning NewsAugust 5, 1997
State rankings show that Collin County's larger school districts have increased the number of campuses with exemplary performance, especially in Plano and Allen…
… Allen school officials said they were pleased with being one of only 64 school districts statewide that received the exemplary designation. "We're obviously thrilled with the results," district spokesman Tim Carroll said. The number of exemplary campuses in Allen rose from four last year to six this year."The exemplary rating and TAAS scores demonstrate how much can be accomplished when we set goals and work together as a school district and community," Superintendent Barbara Erwin said in a prepared statement. Allen High School's acceptable rating came from its attendance rates, an issue that the district is addressing with the hiring of a district attendance officer, Mr. Carroll said…
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: HOME FINALSection: PLANOPage: 1Z
Copyright 1997 The Dallas Morning News Company
Record Number: 1681695
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GETTING KIDS WIRED
Allen High `cafe'serves up Internet
The Dallas Morning NewsJune 6, 1997
The Dallas Morning NewsJune 6, 1997
…[T]he project cost about $110,000, with $25,000 of that from an MCI grant and another $4,000 coming from a donation from the American Association of School Administrators. The organization had made the donation on behalf of Superintendent Barbara Erwin, who won the 1996 Leadership For Learning Award…
SOURCE: NEWSBANK
Edition: HOME FINALSection: PLANOPage: 1K
Copyright 1997 The Dallas Morning News Company
Record Number: 1666663
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