Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 17

Friday, I July 22,1934 A LT Deaths B4 Television BIO Comics BH Weather B1 2 I I I i I I TMB if I 7jfttl SIfifl (QjUn(Q. Gubernatorial candidates square off over whether campuses really improved amid shifting standards performing this year, down from 58 last year. "The standard is a moot point because it is clear that our kids and schools are just doing better," said Faye Bryant, executive deputy superintendent for the Houston district. "In many cases, it didn't make a difference which standard was used to evaluate low-performing districts." In. Austin, seven of eight schools rated in 1993 as low performing improved enough on the spring 1994 TAAS that they won't be low performing in schools," said Sandy Kress, president of the Dallas school board.

"It was extremely clear that the vast majority would have been off the low-performing list no matter which standards were used." Kress said passing rates by low-performing schools were in excess of 35 percent higher than required under the 1993 and the 1994 standard. He said students performed so well on the TAAS that the district is expected to have only six low-performing schools this year, down from 35 last year. Houston school officials said they expect about five schools to be listed as low- Academic Skills, a statewide exam that measures basic skills in reading, mathematics and writing. Although the TEA will not release the 1994 rankings until Aug. 2, many school officials across the state have analyzed their students' preliminary TAAS scores and passing rates on each campus.

In Dallas, Houston and Austin, officials concluded that performance on the test improved significantly, regardless of whether the 1993 or 1994 standards are used. "I looked through the passing rates at all of our previously low-performing By A. Philups Brooks American-Statesman Capitol Staff As more Texas school officials on Thursday disputed claims that their campuses improved academically only because the state lowered its standards, Gov. Ann Richards and Republican opponent George W. Bush traded shots on the issue.

At the center of the controversy are new standards the Texas Education Agency is using to determine whether schools and districts will be rated as low performing, recognized, acceptable or exemplary. The rankings for low-performing schools are based on the percentage of students in a school or district who pass each section of the Texas Assessment of K0 CM I Jl I 1 i -r' if t. Stiff photo by Karen Warren church, rents on U.S. 290. The chuch seeks to build a $10 million complex including a sanctuary, nursing home and recreation areas.

Leland Dandridge, right, pastor of Eastside Baptist Church, leads the choir during Sunday services 1n a renovated office building the See Education, B7 Arrest adds new twist in 17-year saga Richard Minns, facing a $32 million judgment in a murder-for-hire case, is charged with passport fraud By Laura Tolley Associated Press HOUSTON They met on the ski slopes and fell in love 17 years ago a Houston health spa tycoon and a California pre-med student and part-time model. But their romance soured, and he fled the country after hired gunmen attacked her in a 1980 shooting outside a Houston doughnut shop, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Now, Richard Minns is in federal custody in Texas on passport fraud charges, and his ex-girlfriend is still waiting for him to pay a $32 million civil judgment. Minns, founder of the President First Lady Health Club chain, is to appear in a Dallas federal court today. He was arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when his flight to Canada made a scheduled stop, and he disembarked.

Federal prosecutors said Thursday they will ask that Minns, now 64, be held without bail until he is fried in Houston. Although never charged in the shooting of Barbra Piotrowski, now 41 and using the name Janni Smith, Minns sold his business interests and left the country more than 12 years ago. The story of the couple's affair-gone-awry garnered national attention and was chronicled in a 1991 book, Sleeping With the Devil by former trial lawyer Suzanne Finstad. Smith filed a lawsuit against Minns accusing him of masterminding the shooting and in 1987 won a default judgment when he failed to respond. Minns appealed in absentia.

A civil jury in February 1991 concluded Minns was re-! sponsible for the attack, and a judge ordered him to pay his former lover $32 million, plus interest. She has not collected from the judgment, which still is being appealed. Smith is married now and runs a rehabilitation center with her husband. "It took me completely by surprise," Smith said of Minns' arrest. She and Minns met in Aspen, in See Health spa, E8 San Marcos plans school savings San Marcos school trustees meet to consider cost-saving proposals, following a state audit of the school district.

Neighbor, B8 Planning impact City planners are considering the impact of more than 1,400 homes proposed outside the city's southwestern limits. Neighbor, B8 Skating goal A Porter Middle School student, Amy Ward, works hard to put her dream of a medal on ice. Neighbor, E9 Trooper in case was twice before By Peggy Fikac Associated Press 5 4 A white state trooper who shot a black man after what began as a traffic stop in East Texas was accused twice before of civil rights violations in cases investigated by the FBI, according to state records. Trooper Bryan Barnhart, 38, -drew national attention after wounding Lorenzo Colston in the buttocks and arm in a September 1993 incident near'Athens that was captured on videotape by a camera mounted on the trooper's Colston, who scuffled with Barnhart and another officer before being shot, ended up being convicted of aggravated assault on a police officer. He has said he was afraid to obey Barnhart's instructions to lie down during the arrest.

A Department of Public Safety internal report concluded that Barnhart was justified in using force against Colston. Barnhart joined the DPS in 1979. According to records obtained under the Open Records Act, the DPS said Barnhart and another trooper were exonerated of a 1983 complaint alleging excessive force. A 1986 complaint was withdrawn, a DPS lawyer said. Both cases were looked at by the FBI.

The FBI also has opened a civil rights investigation into the 1993 case, in which Colston was a passenger in a car Barnhart stopped because a headlight was out The car's driver was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants. Colston, 29, of Lancaster, near Dallas, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force was used against him. Barnhart has filed a counterclaim against Colston alleging assault and battery. Austin lawyer Lucius Bunton, representing Barnhart in the counterclaim, said that the trooper has a good record and that it's not unusual for complaints to be 4 See Trooper, B3 trains fcramcrs Your drive to work used to be 10 minutes, and now it's 20. You spend more time on your way to lunch sitting at the intersection of Barton Springs Road and Lamar Boulevard than you spend eating.

And you drive five miles out of your way to keep away from the double-deck construction on Ben White Boulevard. Sound familiar? Then call 445-3648 and leave us your name, phone number and a brief message about your favorite traffic horror story and your least favorite Intersection. We'll print the best Saturday. 1 ir -J ft church has to build tors and churches in the East Austin community," said Leland Dandridge, pastor of Eastside and originator of the Complex of Hope dream. "A lot of spiritual needs are being met.

But we came in to take it a step further, to address the physical needs as well," he said. Phase one of Eastside Baptist's aggressive building program includes a 24-hour child-care center, Sunday school and 350-seat chapel a $600,000 project The church has raised $80,165 in pledges since June 1 and, with the help of loans from the Southern Baptist Conven- tion, hopes for a January or February groundbreaking, Dandridge said. To thank donors and drum up additional donations the church will have a barbecue Saturday at the 19-acre Corn- East Austin big dreams By Chuck Lindell American-Statesman Staff Imagine the audacity of a 3-year-old church, growing fast but not exactly bulging with members, soliciting donations for a $10 million building project and a sanctuary. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But Eastside Baptist Church, with all of 215 members, believes the pverwhelm-ing social problems of Northeast Austin demand that the congregation dream big.

In addition to a church, Eastside Baptist hopes to builcj a child-care center, 200-bed nursing home, minority business management center, sports fields, food bank and clothing center. They call it the Complex of Hope. "There is a lot of good leadership, pas Proposed "Complex of Hope" Staff graphics plex of Hope site in the 5500 block of East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Gospel singers will perform, and barbecue plates will be served from 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. There is no charge, although donations will be accepted. If completed, the Complex of Hope also See Church, B6 -T55 Park Love him, hate him or just don't know: Fans split on Switzer 1 1 mw iiww.a ip.i uiu Il By Michelle Allman Burgess Special to the American-Statesman When Jimmy Johnson took the helm as the Dallas Cowboys' coach five seasons ago, fans were not happy. Even though the once-indomitable "America's Team" of the '70s had had some lean years of late, Tom Landry still was the only coach the team had ever known, and Cowboys loyalists were reluctant to shift their support But after a couple of Super Bowl championships, Johnson was transformed from the most hated man Dallas to its most loved adopted soa And now he's gone. Now that the 'Boys are back on top, can Johnson's replacement, former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer, expect an easy transition into Johnson's shoes? Or are Dallas residents stocking up on eggs? If Cowboys fans in Austin are any indication, Switzer might have a pretty tough row to hoe.

Those attending the first week of Cowboys training camp had the most favorable comments about him, but finding avid supporters around town' was not an easy task. Others opted to wait and see before passing judgment Here is what some folks attending a morning workout this week had to say: "He's a fine coach. Let's face it There has to be some ability on the part of the coach to be able to manage so many different personality types," said Hank Zeybel of Austin. "I think Barry Switzer is great I think he's gotten a raw deal. Hell do fine because he's a great motivator, and that's what this team needs," said James Mowell of Amarillo.

Finding Switzer lovers among Austin's general population was tougher. "I don't agree with the coaching Stall photo by Tom Lankes The arrival In Austin of Barry Switzer as coach of the Dallas Cowboys has attracted much attention and some controversy among the team's fans. judgment. "Ask me again midseason, and IH let you know what I think of him," said Dixie Lynch. "Give him a chance.

How can you hate someone who you haven't seen do anything? You let Johnson prove himself, so let this guy prove himself," said Horace change. I think Jimmy Johnson built that team. He had their respect and knew how to make them play their best," said Lucre-cio Flores. 1 "I don't like Barry Switzer, never have, never will. He belongs back in Oklahoma," said Bob Taylor, a self-described "Landry and Staubach man." Others i are withholding Drisdale..