Live Blog from October Board Meeting

RESIDENCY POLICY PASSES... Executive Director level and above must live in District

Tonight has the potential for being rather contentious after the Dallas Morning News report that most of the "de-layering" process involved lower level employees as opposed to managers.

Also adding to the evening may be the vote on the proposed policy to relax DISD residency requirements for employees.

Superintendent Hinojosa just gave his report. He focused on recapping Early Childhood Education. Then he touched on the Effective Teachers Work Plan followed by the Academic Rigor Initiative.

Ron Price: Education Briefing

Talking about the early childhood program. Price visited day care centers to talk about partnering with DISD. Price's wife owns day care centers.

"Hopefully we can be the model for the nation by closing the achievement gap."

Leigh Ann Ellis: Policy Briefing

Policies are in the process of being updated. More than 500 hours have been spent updating policies.

Jerome Garza presented the Business Briefing for Edwin Flores who was caught in traffic. We were caught in traffic too; it was murder today.

Then we were joined by the "late Edwin Flores" (Jack Lowe's quote)!

5:52 - Time for the presentation of board resolutions and awards.

The first is an Eagle Scout with a history of service to the community.

"Because of the Boy Scouts of America, we saved another person," said Jerome Garza. Jose was apparently on the road to dropping out. "Through the Boy Scouts, he got back into our system ... and got things back on track."

Next up: two principals of two DISD Blue Ribbon schools: Henry Longfellow academy and Amelia Earhardt elementary.

Next up, American Airlines mini grant winners. Sixteen grants were given this year.

6:05 - Speakers to agenda items.

First up: Robert Price who started off: "it is imperative that school districts and cities have residence requirements for employees."

Next up... another speaker who added support to what Robert Price said. "Living in Dallas means that you are willing to subject your family life to the [area] where you live."

6:14 - The Consent Agenda to be followed by items pulled for separate vote.

We are counting down the minutes until item "D" (Approval of the Amendment to Board Policy DB (Local) Employment Requirements and Restrictions). Translation: should high-level employees live in the District?

6:25 - Here we go... and even before we get started, Carla Ranger put up a "point of order."

"This item is out of order," said Ranger. "We received it last Friday before the board meeting. I don't know where this originated and who created it."

Jack Lowe responded: "we had a considerable discussion about it at our board briefing."

Long night ahead. Lowe called for an opinion from the parliamentarian. "Is it in order?" The Parliamentarian said "yes." Ranger didn't like it and is protesting loudly insisting the submission of the proposed policy is out of order. Ranger offered an amendment to the policy.

Jerome Garza moved that "we suspend the rules" in order to bring forward amendments and policies. Ranger interrupted and tried to "get a ruling on [her] motion." Ron Price saved the day by pointing out that Ranger did not have a motion that required action.

Translation: Ranger is trying to kill the amendment and the policy but it isn't working. All this parliamentary administrivia is hard on the brain.

A vote: "the motion is properly before the board."

Ranger: "would you please do a roll call on that?" ...still insisting the item is illegally on the agenda.

Garza's amendment: to limit the residency requirements to the Superintendents executive staff only.

Lew Blackburn offered clarification to include what constitutes "proof" as to what defines "fixed and permanent residence" ... for example: "utility bill."

Ranger jumped back in to pick nits pointing out that a utility bill might not indicate evidence of a bona fide residence.

Jack Lowe pointed out that there is only one other district in Texas that has residency requirements: Ft. Worth.

7:00 - Garza's proposal fails: 4-5.

But the policy itself passes 6-3!

Now we're on to speakers to non-agenda items.

Teacher Diane Birdwell spoke to the Board about problems at Skyline including gang-related tagging and fights. We'll see if we can get her to provide us with a copy of her speech. It was good.

OK, we're outta here - heading to the Trinity debate!