SISD District Response:

The Special Report aired on KFOX-TV news on December 3rd was significantly unbalanced. Mr. Daut interviewed two community members who campaigned against SISD's bond referendum, but interviewed none of the many dedicated community members who worked in favor of the bond.

In addition, only one board trustee who voiced disapproval was interviewed for this report while none of the other trustees who are supportive of the superintendent were interviewed.

Furthermore, the District last week offered two interviews to KFOX News with SISD's Human Resources Interim Assistant Superintendent and with an Assistant Superintendent who served on the interview committee in order to answer any questions related to the process used to select a Task Force Commander. Mr. Daut refused to interview either of these individuals.

KFOX also used an interview with an unidentified woman in shadows who applied for a sergeant's position. This woman did not apply for the Task Force Commander position so a comparison between the two is inappropriate.

By using interviews with six individuals critical of the superintendent, an ambush interview with the subject of the report, and only the superintendent's comment on the other side of the story, it's clear KFOX reporter Peter Daut did not attempt to present a fair and balanced report on this matter.

Comment from SISD Superintendent Dr. Sylvia P. Atkinson:

It's unfortunate that a news media outlet such as KFOX devoted so much time to unsubstantiated claims of cronyism. Once again, I stand behind the integrity of our hiring practices and the people who serve on our committees who make personnel recommendations in the best interests of our students and our school district.