North Forest Independent School District in the Houston area is nearly bankrupt, having lied about student enrollment numbers, mismanaged the taxpayers’ cash, and cheated untold numbers of children out of an academic future. The response from the teacher union rep: worried that people might lose their jobs. That they haven’t already is part of the problem.

The state-appointed auditor has been recommending cost-cuts, but the school board ignored him. Now the district is about 90 days from bankruptcy.

They lied about their enrollment numbers for the 2006-2007 school year. Current enrollment is about 8,200 kids, and they have 1,400 employees. That’s about 5 kids per district employee.

When you hear big-government goons talk about “local control,” just remember North Forest school district. Where they bilked state taxpayers out of millions of dollars, where they fired 5 of the last four superintendents, and refused to accept the fiscal recommendations of an auditor.

The academic picture is worse. Five out of 11 schools are rated as “unacceptable.” Which, by the way, is incredibly hard to do. You have to be committed to academic malpractice to be rated unacceptable in texas.

Michael Quinn Sullivan

Michael Quinn Sullivan is the publisher of Texas Scorecard. He is a native Texan, a graduate of Texas A&M, and an Eagle Scout. Previously, he has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine contributor, Capitol Hill staffer, and think tank vice president. Michael and his wife have three adult children, a son-in-law, and a dog. Michael is the author of three books, including "Reflections on Life and Liberty."

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