HOMAN FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST TRIO OF BISD BOARD MEMBERS

  

A Brenham man has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency over several members of the Brenham School Board he claims are treating some administrators with what he calls “intimidation and disrespect."

Jerry Homan
Jerry Homan

Jerry Homan, a regular attendee of School Board meetings who has voiced his opinions on long list of topics, told the board Monday that he sent a complaint to the TEA over board members Melvin Ehlert, Marshall Harrell and Susan Jenkins.

Homan, in his complaint, accuses the three of “…actively participating in a clear agenda to harm the Superintendent, Mr. Sam Bell, and his BISD central office administration, including several members of his staff.”

Homan goes on to charge the three with engaging in, “Intimidation, Harassment, Undermining/Undercutting, Micro Management, and Misrepresentation of the facts.”

Homan is calling for a TEA investigation into his claims.

He has also forwarded a number of emails collected through an open records request, he claims support his charges.  He also says he has video evidence as well.

Monday night Homan again requested Ehlert, Harrell and Jenkins resign immediately.

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17 Comments

  1. I know nothing about education, but I’ve been around long enough to know when someone is in another person’s pocket. If I think my boss is mistreating me, do I ask my wife or next door neighbor to fight my battles? The answer is obvious to this old timer–employees that we shouldn’t be paying if they don’t know how to handle their own problems!

  2. While I agree that Sam Bell has not been an effective leader for the district and that he should be replaced, the “ends don’t always justify the means”. IF there has been inappropriate conduct by members of the board, then they should be held accountable. And to the same extent, any inappropriate conduct by Mr Bell or other administrators to sway opinions should also have consequences. It may also be worth looking into conduct and actions of some of the board members, outside from the allegations of Mr Hohman, that merit resignation. It is important that the individuals who are making decisions that impact the lives of children are honest individuals and men/women with integrity. There may be a board member, or a few, lacking such traits.

  3. The facts will reveal the truth. Slandering me for standing up for the rights of people to work for an employer who respects there employees is to be commended. If this board of trustees wanted to remove Mr. Sam Bell as the Superintendent of the BISD then they should have done it by following the policies and procedures allowed. Buy his contract out! What you don’t do is play along as if you want your team of 8, Sam Bell and the 7 Trustees to succeed in their agreed goals. Then do everything possible to undermine and sabotage any possibility of success. Including intimidating and harassing BISD employees that may be in your way. This is dishonest and a poor way to conduct business. So go ahead and keep on supporting this type of behavior. I will not! There is a term called professionalism and several of the BISD trustees have none and need to resign. This type of BEHAVIOR is what is harming the BISD not the messenger.

  4. Surely this is a hoax…..Homan for years has been a source of controversy as he mills about various organizations stirring up disdain and general ill will in the community. I have mixed feelings about Supt. Bell but those are not relevant now that he’s being non-renewed. As to the board members…..I can agree with the intimidation factor I have witnessed personally by one of the three mentioned (and it was not Harrell or the woman so do the math). Unfortunately, in this small community, a few of the people placed into power let it go to their head. This definitely is not in the best interest of our town but it happens everywhere. But a TEA investigation??????? Come on Jerry Homan, get real! Perhaps they handle things that way in the big city in which you work and moved here from but in our type of community, we try and sit down at the table eyeball to eyeball and work out our differences and we can’t always be “right”.

    I hope the TEA sees this for exactly what it is……pure garbage. Suggestion: offer to have these members over to your house for lunch or dinner (or take them out) and actually DISCUSS your perception of the issues instead of hastily and vindictively ranting and raving like some kind of activist. Government agencies never solve problems….and this is no exception, so why not pick up the phone? Oh wait I almost forgot……you wouldn’t get all this attention if you did it the good old fashioned, low key, manly way of doing things.

  5. Who s Homan speaking for? Has he been asked to speak for these employees or is he their friend? He is constantly complaining about something! I’m FED UP!

  6. Or could this be about the “good old boy” system here being chanlenged by someone from the outside. Recognizing that teachers as well as staff could and should be doing things different.

  7. I am so tired of hearing from this Homan guy, that, I could VOMIT ! He seems to be the only one complaining. I haven’t heard anything from anyone else. He seems to be the only person happy with the job that Sam Bell is doing !! Mr. Homan needs to take up needle-point or some other hobby. I hope Mel Ehlert, Mr. Harrell, and Mrs. Jenkins, keep speaking up, and, watching out for our children !! Go get’em guys !!

    Greg Rybarski

    1. Why is everyone in this community willing to turn a blind eye to corruption. Greg you and I have been friends for years, am I to believe now that you condone the corruption going on in this town. I don’t see anybody barking at the new sheriff for putting an end to a lot of the corruption we had before he came along. The fact of the whole thing is right is right and wrong is wrong, and it is the wrong doings in this matter that should be addressed not the person that brought to the peoples attention. Honesty, dignity, and self respect seem to be a thing of the past in our new era. I haven’t always done the right things so before anybody starts barking about me or what I have done check your tone because a bunch of you guys were right there with me at one time or another.. At least you have the guts to state your name as I do, the rest hide behind the scene with fake names so they can choose sides after the outcome .
      Brandon Coghlan

      1. The Sheriff who mind you is being challenged on EVERYTHING that he is trying to accomplish by our elected officials who don’t want to have to shell out the money to pay for the changes he’s trying to make! NAIL ON HEAD

  8. The school board is doing what they were elected to do by the people of this community. They were elected to hold the administration accountable and improve the state of education in BISD. Mr. Bell was not elected by anyone and is only interested in dollars and cents and not what is best for our community’s education system.

    The parents of children in BISD, the educators, and all those interested in education, voted to shake up the school board after the last few years of poor morale and lackluster results under Bell’s “leadership.”

    I’m sure Mr. Bell would do well in the business world but education is just not his cup of tea. Time to move on….and take Jerry Homan with you.

  9. If this is a valid complaint, I have a few questions:
    (1) How many other people are complaining? — none. I’ve only heard wonderful comments about the current Board members.
    (2) Why are the employees who are supposedly being threatened and intimidated not speaking up for themselves–why is Mr. Homan acting as their spokesperson? Surely there is a procedure for these matters. He is not the aggrieved party — or is he an employee of the district?
    (3) Are these emails and correspondence from the board members to the employees or to one another?
    (4) What is Mr. Homan’s next grievance going to be?

    Case Closed — Let the Board get the business of working for our children! Let the employees speak for themselves!

  10. Is Jerry Homan on Sam Bell’s payroll or what?? He seriously needs to get a hobby or something. Thank goodness Sam Bell’s contract isn’t being renewed. Now, if we could get rid of the rest of those “yes men” and “don’t rock the boat” pansies that are left on this board, we’d be in good shape. I hope Ehlert, Harrell and Jenkins continue to stand firm and not give in to the “bs” Homan is dishing out.

  11. This is not about Jerry Homan. This is about treating employees proper, with dignity and respect. There are policies and procedures in place to deal with employees. Intimidation and harassment is the wrong method to take and should not be something elected officials are allowed to do. Thank goodness we have laws that protect people from unfair treatment. Lets allow our state agencies to investigate these claims and interview the people being harmed. I have read some of these Emails from Trustees and you would be shocked to see how some of our district employees are being treated.

    1. (1) If this isn’t about Jerry Homan, why is he the only person complaining? I’ve heard only good things about the board from every other parent.
      (2) If these employees are being intimidated, why are they not stepping forward instead of allowing Mr. Homan to be their mouthpiece?
      (3) If this is an employee issue, why is Mr. Homan so personally concerned? He has quite a reputation for complaining about many other youth organizations in our community.

      Case close — let the Board get on with their business – taking care of our children!

    2. You’re right, this is about treating employees with dignity and respect, something Sam Bell is clearly lacking. I know first hand how he has treated those working in the school district, some that have been there for a little under a year, others who have been there for over 20 years- and I can’t say I’ve met anyone who has too many kind words to say about Sam Bell. Sam Bell lacks compassion, sympathy, and an overall general ability to relate to others in the school district, which is something prior superintendents have exceeded at in the past. I personally know many of the school board members, some on Jerry Homan’s “list” and others on “his side”, and I respect them all- as I feel they are doing what is best for students and teachers at BISD. I don’t see how Jerry Homan’s rants and “investigation” are helping in making BISD a better work environment and a better educational environment for the students. Maybe it’s time we focus on other things going on in our community, and focus our energy and attention into making Brenham a better place.

  12. Mr. Homan has too much time on his hands. He’s always out to get someone and makes a mountain out of a mole hill. He’s done it for years. Why doesn’t he run for a spot on the school board? Maybe he has, I don’t remember, but obviously he lost if he did. He should concentrate on his personal life.

  13. Thank goodness Sam Bells contract isn’t being renewed. He needs to just leave. Thank goodness we now have board members who will speak up and bring concerns up. The others are all yes men and people pleasers. Maybe Sam Bell will leave and offer Mr. Homan a job in his new district.

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