Tag Archives: McKinney

Texas Has Education Priorities Straight – Millions for Football. Everything Else – Not so Much.

The recent decision of the McKinney Independent School District to spend millions on a high school football stadium has drawn nation-wide attention.  After months of controversy and debate, more than two-thirds of McKinney voters approved spending $63 million as part of a $220 million bond package on a show-piece high school football stadium.  Yes, that’s $63 million.  By way of imperfect and time-challenged contrast, the Astrodome cost only $35 million to build in 1965 – that would be around $375 million today.

But the 12,000 seat McKinney stadium will hardly be alone in the on-going arms race to build bigger and swankier high school football stadiums in wealthy Texas suburbs.  Allen recently completed a $60 million stadium that seats 18,000 and is located about 3 miles from where McKinney will build its sports temple.  Another 12,000 seat edifice is under construction in Katy with a projected cost of more than $62 million.  The first $100 million high-school stadium cannot be far down the road.

For comparison, the $63 million  (financed by school bonds)  would be about 30% of the annual operating budget of McKinney ISD which was about $206 million for the 2015-16 school year.  Supporters claim that the stadium will be a source of local pride and bring tournaments and other business to the area.  Opponents look upon it as a case of completely misplaced priorities.   Red appreciates that, like it or not, football is king in Texas, but does it have to sit on a $63 million throne?    For the record, McKinney High School was 3-7 overall and 1-6 in district in 2015.  McKinney Boyd was 6-5, but did not make the playoffs, and McKinney North was 6-4 and also missed the playoffs. Even $63 million can’t buy you a winning football team.

Is Mark Levin a Rascist, a Moron or Merely a Lying Scumbag?

Red has intentionally avoided joining in the chorus of voices regarding this week’s incident at the pool party in McKinney.  But then Red inadvertently hit upon Mark Levin’s screed that poses for a radio show yesterday.  He was ranting about the injustice of the resignation of Eric Casebolt –  the McKinney police officer who was caught on camera wrestling a 15 year old girl in a bikini to the ground and then yanking out his gun and pointing it at two other black kids who had approached and then already started retreating.  Levin was desperately attempting to justify the now disgraced officer’s actions.  Levin claimed that the officer was justified in pulling out his weapon because he was confronted by “two brutes – BRUTES” – screamed into the microphone by this pathetic excuse for a commentator.    Watch the video and decide for yourself about the actions of these “BRUTES.”  They apparently respond to cries from the girl being manhandled by the officer, but as soon as the officer looks up, they move away and are rapidly leaving the area when Casebolt pulls out his gun – only to be restrained by another officer who hasn’t lost his cool.   One of the teens, Adrian Martin, was interviewed by Lawrence O’Donnell last night.   Martin, the only person arrested in the entire ordeal, was later released with all charges dropped.  If the lack of any real arrests doesn’t sway your opinion about the gross overreaction of Casebolt, then maybe O’Donnell’s interview with Martin will.  Martin, who appears to be on the slight side for a “BRUTE” is a well-spoken young man.  He indicated that he has no intent of suing the police for wrongful arrest and expressed his gratitude to the police officers who responded appropriately to the incident.  But that won’t sway the Tea Party screamers like Levin.