Breaking news: The Dallas Independent School District is investigating whether a crime was committed at Preston Hollow Elementary School in the wake of a federal judge's ruling that former principal Teresa Parker intentionally segregated students. Of course, DISD isn't looking into the behavior of its ex-principal. The district is investigating me.
Two days ago we told you how DISD's flack Celso Martinez sent an e-mail lecturing me after I toured Preston Hollow for a cover story about the school. Since the federal judge ruled that Preston Hollow was hopelessly segregated both in an out of the classroom, I wanted to see what was going on for myself, particularly since Martinez -- as is his practice -- failed to answer my questions or set up a single interview.
So I arranged to have a tour of the school. I didn't sneak in, nor did I misrepresent myself while I was there. I didn't disrupt any classes or take any names. No one ever asked me to leave, much less make me feel unwelcome. But even though my tour of the Preston Hollow school resulted in a more positive -- and I think more accurate -- portrayal of the school than the corrosive one in the judge's ruling, Martinez sternly warned me that "there would be serious consequences should this behavior continue."
Now, two days after our initial blog post about Martinez's e-mail, in which we also detailed his overall incompetence, the petty flack is going nuclear. His latest e-mail is after the jump. --Matt Pulle
"Public school officials have the right to refuse to allow those with no legitimate business onto school property and to eject any such person who refuses to leave. A person trespassing on school property commits a Class C misdemeanor. In addition, it is a Class B misdemeanor for someone (or a group) to intentionally engage in disruptive behavior on the campus or property of a school. It is also a Class C misdemeanor to disrupt classes or other school activities within 500 feet of a public school.Our schools are not public parks or sidewalks. Maintaining a safe learning environment is of paramount importance. No one -- I repeat no one -- has any kind of unlimited 'right' to walk onto the grounds of a public school."
We are currently gathering statements and eyewitness accounts to determine whether a crime was committed on the Preston Hollow campus.
In the near future, you may be hearing from our Legal office or the district attorney's office seeking a statement."
