District employee using school plane for vacation

Usually the school would work with a flight school ,rather than the expense of owning an airplane. I’ve heard of schools owning an airplane for maintenance classes,not usually in annual or flying condition.
 
Sounds odd, but WFAA is trying to imply that the 250 mile round trip cost $2000 in maintenance. I’m sure that was just an annual that happened in the same month.
 
Racerx said:
So the newly hired superintendent was influential in the purchase of the plane. Then decides it's ok for him to fly it around for family trips. Wasn't a fan of superintendents before and definitely not now.
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Agree 100%. Few organizations as top-heavy as public education. And the kids and teachers suffer for it.
 
Jimmy Dawson has been the assistant superintendent at Granbury for the last year, and he helped organize the district's purchase of the plane — a Cessna Skyhawk — last spring. District records show it was purchased for $42,000.
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Dang. I want to know "the rest of the story" here. Chiefly, how in the heck did this guy manage to get a school district to purchase a Cessna? That's a lot of buracracy to navigate, and a lot of hands in the pie. No one all along the way ever stopped and said, "hey, wait a second Jimmy, what's this all about again?"

Reminds of this movie, based on a true story, about how a New York public school superintendent masterminded a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme.
 
$42k for a skyhawk last spring was quite a deal for the school district. I will agree the situation sounds a bit head scratching, I mean the dude is just doing young eagle flights in it it seems. And yeah, sure he should be doing proficiency flying, but not anything that could be perceived as personal use. That sort of thing is fine if you work for a private employer, it's a different story if you're taxpayer funded.
 
fasteddie said:
Dang. I want to know "the rest of the story" here. Chiefly, how in the heck did this guy manage to get a school district to purchase a Cessna? That's a lot of buracracy to navigate, and a lot of hands in the pie. No one all along the way ever stopped and said, "hey, wait a second Jimmy, what's this all about again?"

Reminds of this movie, based on a true story, about how a New York public school superintendent masterminded a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme.
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small school district, small town (pop: 11,000), everyone known everyone. i'm pretty sure the school board didn't need much persuasion.
 
Omalley1537 said:
Agree 100%. Few organizations as top-heavy as public education. And the kids and teachers suffer for it.
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A few years ago we checked teacher salaries vs super salaries.
The super was getting ~4x what the teachers did.
No clue if it’s fair, but I do have an idea what teachers go through on a daily basis.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
A few years ago we checked teacher salaries vs super salaries.
The super was getting ~4x what the teachers did.
No clue if it’s fair, but I do have an idea what teachers go through on a daily basis.
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My mom does payroll for the local school district. Some superintendents are in the 225-275k range excluding benefits, while first year teachers are in the 38-42k a year range. Sickening.
 
One school had an A &P Program and owned an Apache and a new 150. I still have a copy of the letter from the Superintendent directing me to keep them Airworthy.

The 150 is unique because it can be described with something rarely seen today. FTO
That is Ferry Time Only! Due to “ policies “ we had to buy NEW. Used were available for a fraction of the cost. If the taxpayers only understood. Probably lowest time 150 in existence.

Same school had a flying club with a Champ years earlier. I started flying with the club. $4.00 WET. Yes; the zeros are in the right places.
 
Racerx said:
So the newly hired superintendent was influential in the purchase of the plane. Then decides it's ok for him to fly it around for family trips. Wasn't a fan of superintendents before and definitely not now.
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Assistant Superintendent, to be accurate. When you answer a media query this way,

"I get to fly the plane because I’m a private pilot," Dawson said when asked about the flights.

You get whatever is coming your way. Then again, this is a large reason why I refuse to use the phrase “leader” when it comes to management at any level. Reviewing TEA’s aviation Career & Technical Education program, it appears tailored to either Pt 107 or AMT programs and not Part 61, 91, or 141 flying.

https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/tdl-aviation.pdf

Serious ethical concerns in addition to possible legal concerns about. And those are things leaders don’t abide.
 
Completely different than the Military?

One 2000 mile trip each way to pick up a Colonel’s kids motorcycle?
Oh; that was for Proficiency.
 
Our local district has a Diamond Katana that was donated. The local EAA chapter donates hangar space and the plane is used for flight training.
 
Could the Katana now be owned and operated by an “independent” flying club?
 
Racerx said:
My mom does payroll for the local school district. Some superintendents are in the 225-275k range excluding benefits, while first year teachers are in the 38-42k a year range. Sickening.
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What requirements for super vs 1st year? Education? Experience? Experience in supervision? District size Etc

maybe it’s a location thing. I had a friend 35 years ago making 6 figures as a young teacher in Maryland. Every degree she earned bumped her income x dollars. Should have married her lol she’s probably sitting on millions
 
weilke said:
It would appear to me that this is not a 'problem' as much as it is a side effect of democracy in action.
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Medicines that are generally helpful have "side effects" too.
 
I think school districts are hilariously set up. Here in PA the whole district is run by 7 (I think) elected people from the community. Technically not paid positions. But they are now In charge of running a 100 million dollar a year operation. They are not 7 captains of local industry they know what it take to run larger companies. The croneyism of hiring some relative to do this or some friend to do that over qualified individuals is pervasive.
They make huge financial decisions with no oversight whatsoever.
 
benyflyguy said:
I think school districts are hilariously set up. Here in PA the whole district is run by 7 (I think) elected people from the community. Technically not paid positions. But they are now In charge of running a 100 million dollar a year operation. They are not 7 captains of local industry they know what it take to run larger companies. The croneyism of hiring some relative to do this or some friend to do that over qualified individuals is pervasive.
They make huge financial decisions with no oversight whatsoever.
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In OK, we have half the number of school districts than the state of Texas despite TX having 7.5Xs our population. The amount of overhead is astonishing. Now, many of the small school districts have superintendents that are also doing double-duty as teachers, but it's absurd. They continue to fight consolidation even though it's sorely needed.
 
I don't so much have a problem with the school having the aircraft if it's truly being used as an educating tool. However, those that fly it should have to pay a normal hourly rate back to the school district to account for their personal use, at a minimum. What if this was a regular school district employee using a bus on the weekends for his own use, or school tractor/ag equipment to till up his fields at home? Use of public equipment for personal use gets pretty murky.
 
SoonerAviator said:
I don't so much have a problem with the school having the aircraft if it's truly being used as an educating tool. However, those that fly it should have to pay a normal hourly rate back to the school district to account for their personal use, at a minimum. What if this was a regular school district employee using a bus on the weekends for his own use, or school tractor/ag equipment to till up his fields at home? Use of public equipment for personal use gets pretty murky.
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And what happens if the guy piles it up on one of these personal flights? You know he or his family would sue the district.
 
Randomskylane said:
What requirements for super vs 1st year? Education? Experience? Experience in supervision? District size Etc

maybe it’s a location thing. I had a friend 35 years ago making 6 figures as a young teacher in Maryland. Every degree she earned bumped her income x dollars. Should have married her lol she’s probably sitting on millions
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I do know having a master's bumps pay a good bit. Does having a master's make you a better teacher?

A state approved licensure program, state mandated training, and a master's are the only pre-requisites for a superintendent.
 
Accidents aren’t necessary to have a lawsuit

One of the sadder comments I’ve heard was regarding a 4 place was LESS liability than a 2 place.

After he explained group policies regarding adults and kids I understood.

I’ve taken a LOT of kids flying and other aviation activities.Some of them have great careers in aviation. Today I would be concerned with personal liability.
Actions of a few spoil things for many.
 
weilke said:
It would appear to me that this is not a 'problem' as much as it is a side effect of democracy in action.
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Well ... they have a procedure for removing a superintendent and appears it wasn't followed. But I do agree that these changes are results of an election where the people that voted were desirous of some major changes, and the new board was quick to make that happen.

I suspect the devil is in the details that us outsiders never get to know about ...
 
Some of the larger districts self- insure.
Not with the Board Members money but rather the taxpayers.
 
Racerx said:
Would it be insured if it was being used for personal flights outside the scope of it's intended use?

If one of my employees decides to take my service truck and use the crane for something without me knowing and the cable breaks would my insurance cover any lawsuit that might arise? I legitimately don't know the answer.
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Yes, you would be covered if the truck was unknowingly used. People are covered for doing all sorts of stupid human tricks in their cars, but insurance generally still covers it unless insurance fraud is involved. Getting re-insured afterwards could certainly be more difficult.

I would assume that if a school district (or whatever piblic/private entity) was allowing personal use of the aircraft they would insure it as such. Lots of murky waters there with legal exposure and insurance gaps. Still not a good use of public funds.
 
Racerx said:
I do know having a master's bumps pay a good bit. Does having a master's make you a better teacher?

A state approved licensure program, state mandated training, and a master's are the only pre-requisites for a superintendent.
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I’m a teacher with a masters degree in a state that doesn’t require a masters degree. There are two potential benefits, neither of which makes you a better teacher. (1) the pay bump and (2) you might get to teach more advanced classes such as Concurrent Enrollment.

Some states require a masters degree within a set number of years. NY is one example. I received my teaching certificate there with a bachelors and the requirement was to receive a masters within 5 years to remain a teacher. I noped right on out to Utah for other reasons, but eventually did get my masters for that pay bump. In no way does it make me a better teacher.

But with that masters, plus I mentor a robotics team and plus I’m a teacher of a certain discipline that gets a fairly sizable annual state bonus I’m near gross six-figures. Not quite but close. I can afford to fly and that’s all that matters :)

The superintendent gets at least 4x my salary.
 
SoonerAviator said:
I don't so much have a problem with the school having the aircraft if it's truly being used as an educating tool. However, those that fly it should have to pay a normal hourly rate back to the school district to account for their personal use, at a minimum. What if this was a regular school district employee using a bus on the weekends for his own use, or school tractor/ag equipment to till up his fields at home? Use of public equipment for personal use gets pretty murky.
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Agreed.

I fly for CAP. And it works like that.

I fly Cadet orientation flights, and CAP pays. I get a reasonable amount of proficiency flying that is free to me. Mission flights are paid for by CAP (which includes moving planes for maintenance).

If I just want to fly. Or work on a rating (past PP), I pay a dry rate for the plane and put fuel in it.
 
Josey Wales said:
This is really an unfortunate situation...the school district has a really cool aviation program (see https://www.granburyisd.org/site/De...-d30c-497e-9316-3f8874b3e108&FlexDataID=54089). It's too bad this one situation is reflecting poorly on the program.
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I don’t think it reflects poorly on the program; instead it reflects poorly on administrators and the decisions they make. Why a district would let administrative employees use district teaching equipment for personal use is beyond me.
 
Our school district owns a 150 and students picking Aviation career classes are eligible to fly it. I instruct in it and it’s a great deal. The students only pay their own gas to the FBO and my CFI rate. Won’t get cheaper training than that locally.
 
KaiGywer said:
Our school district owns a 150 and students picking Aviation career classes are eligible to fly it. I instruct in it and it’s a great deal. The students only pay their own gas to the FBO and my CFI rate. Won’t get cheaper training than that locally.
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You taking it for personal weekend trips and making the district fill it up?
 
Racerx said:
You taking it for personal weekend trips and making the district fill it up?
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Haha I wish. But no, just pointing out that some school districts own planes for the students’ benefits.
 
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