This school sound as if you are talking about Roosevelt. Why is it that many of the black principals in DISD can't control there schools?

Many time the kids have so much dirty on them. May be it's just poor leadership.

[Ed Note: It's funny, but most of the principals who we've seen do questionable things seem to be white. Why don't we leave race out of it and concentrate on competence, folks?]

A lot stuff they do go unreported or is covered up by friends downtown in the area offices and main DISD building. That's why you don't hear much about their stuff until they mess with the wrong parent or public citizen (this website).

Most of the white principals resign and go on with thier lives while their black counterparts almost seem to keep thier jobs or move to another school (Skyline, South Oak & Roosevelt) when they get in trouble.

However I will point out that many of the black principals are in schools (mainly high school) that are losing situations. How are you going to fix a school when you have no support from parents or students let alone staff? You can fill a gym up for basketball, but can't get a kid in for tutoring or TAKS prep?

I read the blog about Spruce and thought to myself, "Humph, there just might be a campus worse than A. Maceo Smith HS." Teachers and staff are very disgruntled there. The new principal has the Godfather syndrome, "My way or the highway." No one seems to care. He has made it clear that he is the supreme leader in that building and he obviously has the support of his boss(es).

If you fail to stroke his ego, you may find yourself reassigned from an AP teacher to a 9th grade teacher or perhaps an English teacher to a full-time ISS teacher in the auditorium. If you are a clerk or teacher assistant, you might find that your job description has changed to sitting in the library, cafeteria or hallway with no job description whatsoever. Worst case scenario, you will find yourself thumbing in everyday for months waiting for your walk down the longest mile to find that you are being terminated. Just ask the former athletic director who was replaced by the middle school AD across the street. Perhaps you will find you have been reassigned in the middle of the year to another campus (just ask the former dean.)If you really make him mad, you might find that yourself on probation for the year and your entire department will be fired or told that they ALL have to reapply for their jobs.

Don't get me wrong, I do realize that new principals to campuses sometimes have to get rid of the rotten eggs in low performing schools but geesh, can you figure out what the heck is going on at the school before you kick folks out on their butts?

The campus has lost at least four or five teachers (in the hard to get good teachers areas: Science and Math) in the middle of the school year because of his unwillingness to support teachers. No one wants to put up with being cursed, disrespected, and hit only to be told not to make him choose between "children and adult issues because the kids will always win over the adults." What the heck kind of mentality is that?

Does the executive director or the district trustee or PTA president or someone with authority even know these things are happening? If so, is this just another part of being a principal, you just whip everyone in shape and if you have a square peg that doesn't fit in the round hole, crush it, destroy it until it fits? That's his leadership style. So Sad!

Even sadder is the fact that his "new" associate principal was one of the principals who was demoted for misusing the P=card. How do you get a demotion for being a thief, then get reassigned to assistant principal and then get promoted to associate principal- all within a 9 month period? Furthermore, I've been told that she has been assigned as THE summer school PRINCIPAL at A. Maceo Smith. Let's hope this is not true. Can someone check into this?

Now, here's the biggest kicker of all, he has introduced the teacher/testing coordinator with no classes to the staff as the assistant principal. No one on the campus was aware that the position had been posted. Guess what, it has not been. Many certified chaps across the state would love to apply for the position, if only it were possible. Too bad, the testing coordinator is the Assistant Principal according to the Principal and the memos she sends out to teachers; and she will demand that you respect her as such. She completes all the duties of the assistant principal,(yelling at kids and teachers, sending out memos to staff, confronting parents, suspending kids, having conferences etc.) yet no one anywhere can find her official title as anything other than test coordinator.

I'm not certain, but there's got to be some kind of ethical compromise to presenting her as such and having her do these things when the district has no knowledge, er, record of it. DISD was peacock proud of the new ethics department it created. Can someeone please tell me what is ethical about the things that are being done at A. Maceo Smith HS? Does anyone care anymore? What about the children enrolled on that campus? Can he insure those kids will be ready for college? I think not. Are taxpayers, former and present teachers,students etc. just supposed to wait until he gets his next promotion to seek justice or do we save the kids NOW? Brett Shipp, where are you?

[Ed Note: Keep in mind that many people have many opinions on this matter. I've heard complaints about her, and praises. As far as the P-Card issue, well, that's another story. The whole thing was mishandled.

If you have specifics, then send me a private mail and talk to me about it. If we find substance to it, we'll look into it further.]

Im a teacher at The A. Maceo Smith High School and I love it! The administrations of the past were the ones that held the iron clasp rule. I don't have anything bad to say about them but let’s just say things are better. In the past there was very little accountability. People really did what they wanted to and the expectations where very low for both students and teachers. The OLD A. Maceo Smith was a place that teachers came who wanted to just collect a check. They could get away with not teaching the kids. For 7 years straight the school was low performing. Woodrow was the last principal at that campus that had acceptable academic ratings (please check with TEA because that’s a fact). In stead of bashing the current principal you should be asking the district what took them so long to get rid of the old administration. For 7 years they collected a check and didn't move the campus. Now is that doing right by kids? I'm so confused......you don't like the new administration that has in one year made gains in both math and science but you don't have any issue with how the old administration sat for 7 years with out moving the school from being an unacceptable campus. Sounds like it may be some personal things going on with this one. I think the new principal of A. Maceo Smith High School should hold every person on that campus responsible for the education of the students in that community. There are still a lot of teachers there that need to move on. They are not trying to help kids, they are there to out last the principal at all cost. It really is sad because if anyone has every met this man they'd know what he's all about. The only thing that I can say is "Touch Not Thou Anointed". The God fearing principal has more than man on his side. I would also like to thank the owner of this web site.....for allowing all view points to be expressed no matter how far right winged they are.

PS Why not try volunteering at the school and see what you can do to support the students & teachers, after all they are the reason everyone in that building has a job!

You people intrigue the heck out of me! But let's be honest, the persons that are accredited with the successes SHOULD be the Students and Teachers! That is nothing that is being challenged! Now, it is quite evident that the person writing the article to which I am replying was only in attendance of AMS for no more than TWO years, as of present. As later stated, AMS was acceptable two years ago. Now, check your facts! I hate brown nosing and if there is one thing that I did learn from the "OLD" administration, it was to be honest and thorough in all research and presentation. Thank you! And just to let you know, I graduated from AMS, passed all four parts of the TAKS (the first time, receiving Commended Performance), also scoring 1620 on my SAT, the first taime taking it! Now, still think the previous administration didn't do anything, although I was not going to graduate from my AP classes! I had teachers and administrators, especially Govan, that encouraged me and kept me in the way! Madame, I admonish you to also understand that due to my teachers at AMS, I have accepted my calling to the ministry and honor them for their exquisite leadership! Not to mention, I still don't understand how the inadequate testing coordinator became the assistant principal!!!

I question the authenticity of the last blogger claiming to be a teacher at THE A. Maceo Smith. There are several untruths here. If this perpetrator is a teacher,s/he needs to do a lot more homework. I wonder what his/her lesson plans look like. I did do a little research and found NO administrator "sat" in that building for seven years. Not one administrator had a seven year tenure (that includes principal,ap and dean). Dr. Donnie Breedlove had the longest tenure of any principal in that building and the school was not low-performing. The school did not have the same fate as SOC and other reconstituted campuses because the school met AYP and was rated acceptable by TEA for 05-06. Things at this school may not be as bad as some claim but if this place was as bad as this teacher claims it was before the current administration got there, why stay in a place where your colleagues don't teach and come just to collect a paycheck? Did the teacher endure this negative environment for seven years? Maybe this teacher is new and is speaking from the perspective of the grapevine, which we all know is the greatest and most factual source of information. This teacher claims that in one year the campus has made gains in math and science. That's great, because all high schools seem to struggle in those areas. My only concern is what data is this teacher comparing seeing as though the math and science TAKS tests are scheduled to be taken in May. Maybe the teacher has ESP. THE A.Maceo Smith has more problems than we see posted if the very teachers who are employed in the building don't know the historical student performance and TAKS testing dates. Lets hope the teacher's assessment of the school is valid. If things are better, time will tell and we will see major growth in TAKS scores, student performance, scholarships, college admissions and graduates. As far as volunteering goes, that is a great idea too. I just hope the staff and administration makes outsiders feel welcome.

It's difficult to believe a teacher A. Maceo Smith High School would be totally unaware the school was rated "acceptable" two years ago. If this were not the case, AMS would have been reconstituted with the other Dallas ISD campuses earlier this school year. Additionally, the gains in math and science this year were due to the hard work of the TEACHERS and STUDENTS. The current principal has not provided any strategies and/or ideas on how to move the school forward. The ideas have come from the dedicated faculty, staff, and students that have worked hard IN SPITE of the lack of support from the current principal.

[Ed Note: I thought good ideas were supposed to come from the faculty and students!]

I know for a fact that one of the Science teachers at A. Maceo Smith quit because he was assaulted (punched in the face) by a student. The principal suspended the kid for 3 days, and when the kid came back to school, he threatened the teacher again. The teacher went back to the principal, only to be told that "Its your responsibility now". For a principal to say this to a teacher is asinine and totally unprofessional. What if the kid brought in a gun or knife and harmed the teacher again? Would it have been "his responsibility" then also? This principal is obviously a joke and should be fired immediately. And if you don't believe me, check out the distict's current job openings at A. Maceo Smith and you will see a relatively new Biology opening.

[Ed Note: OK, then, get the teacher to contact us. Get us a police report. Get us something! Until then, it's like everything else: unsubstantiated.]

It's interesting that you say I know for a fact and can't produce evidence. The fact is you don't know the facts. Please research the whole story then post. At the end of the day we'd love to hear information that is substantiated. It's really unfair to all involved to put out half baked information. But I do understand that some are just on a witch hunt and the truth is not really something they seek!

Signed,
Proud Parent of an A. Maceo Smith Student

Hey, get YOUR facts straight, I NEVER, EVER said anything negative about Mr. Wright. Never. I have spoken with him at least a half a dozen times, and he knows that I think very highly of him and his attempts to help Skyline.

I know the cameras have been installed on campus because I have been there. I know that the security lights have been fixed, because I have been there. I know that they now call parents, issue tickets, have tardy sweeps and have taken other measures to bring order in the hallways when needed.

Maybe you read my speech from last October. Even so, read it again. I place blame for the condition of Skyline THEN on other people.

Maybe you should “put yourself up to date” before you inaccurately accuse someone of something they did not do.

Hi I am a Junior that attends skyline at this very moment and wants to graduate from skyline.

The changes that are being made now should have been being made a long time ago.I also know that we are over crowded and it takes forever to get to class but I dont think that cluster kids should be the ones that should be moved hey they have worked hard to get there.

The ones that should be moved are the ones that are causing all the problems and trouble.

Skyline give these kids chances after chances so the problem or issue is not being taken care of.

Like myself I am going to be graduating in december2008 when I am scheduled to graduate May2009.

I have worked hard but other kids that dont work hard get in trouble with the teachers,cause trouble, get away with so much and its not fair to mysely or all the other kids that attend skyline and work just as hard as I do.

But at the end I think that we do need to go to uniforms even though I will have to wear them for my senior year I still feel like it will make a difference and with all the things being put in place Skyline will be back on the map as the best school when it comes to all areas.

Antwanette---Get your mom to speak before th next board meeting! Get her in the PTA. Only way Skyline can improve is if they hear from the people who are there, every day, like you are.

Heck, YOU go speak before the board! Keep going towards your dreams.

I am a parent of a Junior, soon to be senior who's cluster is to be moved to Conrad.

I plan to be at every meeting there is leading up to the final decision and beyond.

My question is this...Now you move our Magnet students from Skyline, many of which are also in AP programs, cheerleaders, Volleyball players, on the Student government etc. So you move the STUDENTS to Conrad, what about the TEACHERS? I understand that the cluster teachers will be going, but Conrad has teachers...teachers that are apart of the reason why this is a low performing school, so what does that do, how does that benefit our students? Not that the test aren't crap anyway. I have never understood what the purpose of a test that requires the teachers to set aside their current curriculum path to teach to that test for months at a time. Makes no sense. I understand that it's not all the teachers fault, I understand that the students have a responsibility, I got all of that. But, how is this school on the low performance list already when they have low student to teacher ratios, now if they can't be a top performing school with what they have, what exactly is expected to happen when the student count increases and the teachers have more kids to teach to?

Why not send the incoming freshman's to Conrad, and freeze the Magnet acceptance. With the 2008 seniors leaving, and no Freshmans coming in for the 2008-2009 year would that not help with the over crowding?

And how the heck did ALL OF A SUDDEN the numbers get so high. How do you already have a school full of students, bordering on over crowding in 2005 to accepting enrollment for so many new freshmen the next year? Every school, every building has a capacity, has a count of inventory (i.e. books, desks, lockers, teacher, etc.)
Heck if nothing else when printing out schedules somebody should have yelled uncle when it ran out of paper the 7th time after printing off 3000 single copies to mail out to students - oh wait...that's right...that wasn't done until the week before school started for which students didn't get their schedules until the THURSDAY after the 1st week of them returning to school.

Is there a cap set for the enrollment of the 2008-2009 school year?

But, I digress, what is to be done for out children in the magnet programs and also in many of the athletic programs? Are they to be a walk on to the teams over there?

And please do tell, exactly how many of the students are suppose to get to school, yes I did see the "they will get there like they already are getting to school". For me, I drop my child off at school, At Skyline which is on my route to work, which is no where close to Conrad.

It is beyond me why they would build a school at that exact location at all to begin with. That Park Lane Fair Oaks intersection needs to be revamped and whoever designed and planned should have been fired.

I think this needs to go back to the drawing board. There is a way to eliminate the over population without affecting the students that are already there.

I won't call Dr. Hinojosa a liar again. You've already chastised me once. I think, however that the time to scream it is close at hand. Teachers at six of Skyline's career programs were told today that they were earmarked by DISD for removal. Children and parents of these programs will be met with next week. Now in the same breath we've also been told that no firm decision has been made, so I guess he's not a liar yet (though I do feel a little "tinkered with").

[Ed Note: As I say, let's see what happens. If he turns out to be a "liar" then we'll call him on it. Fair enough?]

Can we say he's lying now? While I appreciate your efforts to give him the benefit of the doubt, the announcement by DISD last night should confirm that Dr. Hinojosa has EVERY intention of gutting the magnets--at least the Skyline magnet. By the way, where was the good doctor last night? His lack of presence was chilling and seemed to emphasize his lack of character in not standing up and addressing the students, parents, and faculty that he is displacing.

[Ed Note: Is this really "gutting" the magnets? Again, I'd like to hear some theories on why this is good or bad.]

This afternoon, a meeting was held at Skyline High School. Students and parents involved with programs that are proposed to move to Conrad H.S. were invited. Donna Micheaux, Chief Administrative Officer for DISD opened the meeting with a powerpoint presentation titled Skyline Proposal. After a few minutes she stated that DISD would be implementing the proposal to move Magnet programs from Skyline to Conrad. She detailed which students would move (this years 9th and 10th graders) and was unable to discuss many details or answer many questions.

"I will not tinker with magnets" - Michael Hinojosa

[Ed Note: Perhaps we should define "tinker." I think of "tinkering" as doing something designed to alter the quality of the program for the worse. Is this going to destroy the program (asked innocently)]

If lowering the population at Skyline was the TRUE goal, they would have created the new magnets at Conrad in the fall, and gently phase out or reduce the size of the ones at Skyline.

Now, they won't move the 11th and 12th graders, because they aren't totally cold fish, thank God, but also notice who they ARE moving.

This year's 9th and 10th graders.

They will be next year's 10th and 11th graders.

As they would say on Saturday Night Live, "How Conveennnnnient!"

They move the two grades which will guarantee that Conrad does not fail. That will make the widow of Dr Conrad happy--maybe. She did ask them what their plan was, and no answer yet.

But you know what? It won't work! ha! The kids who failed on TAKS last year will be the same category this year. LEP. They can still go low performing, becuase they aren't working on a comprehensive plan to help those kids.

So tinker be damned. Next year, Conrad and Skyline could both be in the pits. Good Job, Michael, good job! You got your contract extended before you "gave one" to Skyline, and I don't mean that nicely.

[Ed Note: Again, this sounds more like polemics than it sounds substantive. Why don't you lay out a concrete scenario which shows both Skyline and Conrad set up for failure?

I'm still wondering if this is largely a failure, on the part of the administration, to communicate.]

I guess we'll just have to disagree on the definition of TINKERING. I can assure you Skyline feels pretty tinkered with. Not to mention lied to, disrespected and dismissed.

As for your question.....I attended both the PTA meeting Tuesday night and the "It's a done deal" meeting held by Dr. Micheaux Thursday night. I can assure you that I have never been more disappointed, disgusted or embarrassed by an employer in all my years in the workforce. Dr. Micheaux was evil personified. There was never an ounce of empathy, compassion or concern for what is best for parents or children. All she could say was that this was the BEST solution for overcrowding at Skyline.

Of the Six Magnet Programs moving to Conrad, three similar "Career Academies" already exist at Conrad. Our fashion teacher was told that if she didn't have enough children move to Conrad that her program would not exist.

We were guaranteed that any and all opportunities offered to Magnet students at Skyline would be duplicated at Conrad. As she could not elaborate, we found this hard to believe. At a school of 5000 there are many opportunities that are near impossible at a smaller school. We offer over six different languages, Advance Placement classes in Environmental Science, Art History, 3D Studio Art, 2D Studio Art, Drawing, and every core class imaginable. Dr. Micheaux could only repeat what she read to us in her PowerPoint. "We will offer you everything you have at Skyline." She could not, however offer any details.

She told us that transportation had just been told about the move, but again could offer no details. Busses come to Skyline from every high school in Dallas. We start later and get out later to make this possible. I would think a little more thought should have been put into this before parents and students were told of the move.

Dr. Micheaux similarly said that the Skyline students would remain eligible for UIL events. Will Conrad have golf, tennis, swimming, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, wrestling, track and basketball?

Conrad is a lovely campus and if given a chance to grow into its building (remember, no senior class yet) and if the original programs promised were implemented it could become another fine option for students in DISD. (Remember it was supposed to have a Restaurant, Bank, Animation Studio and Retail Marketing programs if I remember correctly what we were sold in the bond.)

I guess my overall point is that I do believe this is TINKERING and after Donna Micheaux's meeting at Skyline, I don't trust the TINKERERS!

[Ed Note: OK, let's call it "tinkering." What do you believe the ultimate impact will be and on what do you base your assessment? Where will there be failure and why?]

Allen, you said you wanted to wait to see if they would lie. They did. NOW, will you admit that when teachers tell you it is raining, look up!

[Ed Note: OK, now, let's get technical. What did Hinojosa say (specifically) and what are you claiming he lied about? If it is "tinkering," I am going to say that simply moving bodies around to different facilities doesn't constitute "tinkering" in my book. This would clearly need to impact the quality of education in some way.

Nobody, to this point, has explained this--so, no, I'm not willing to call Hinojosa a liar.]

Must I "refrain from saying he's lying" until Skyline is dead and gone. Have you seen the Dallas Morning News? Dr. Hinojosa doesn't do a very good job trying to "convince people that he isn't going to gut the magnet schools". We were being told all this before he talked to the paper. Maybe I missed "except Skyline" when he said he wouldn't be "tinkering" with the magnets.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/122207dnmetskyline.2066075.html

Still sounds like lying to me.

[Ed Note: As I say, until he does something that falls into that category, I'm unwilling to cede this.]

I believe that now you may officially call Dr. Hinojosa a liar. I attended a meeting at Skyline tonight, 1-17-08. The removal of 6 of Skyline's magnet programs to Conrad High School is a done deal. No amount of phone calls, or PTA meetings, or petitions, or fliers, or community outrage could change the Dr.'s mind. I find that odd, since on Tuesday there were over 700 people at the Skyline PTA meeting. All of them were there to save Skyline. I guess the people (the tax payers) that pay the good Dr.'s salary really do have no say in what happens in their children's futures. I hope Dr. Hinojosa appreciates the cush paycheck.

What he did to Skyline is blasphemy! He had no regard for people's feelings, childrens futures, or teachers lives. How could he break apart the magnets like that? Can he not see the harm that will befall Skyline, and Conrad? Skyline will become low performing, Conrad will become overcrowded and still low performing, and teachers from both schools will be extremely frustrated with their new situations. How can he move teachers from Skyline that have been teaching there for 30+ years? Skyline is their homes, their lives, their hearts, their souls, not to mention their livelihood. If I were a betting man, I'd bet the district loses many a wonderful teacher from this situation, and I can't blame them for leaving! The Conrad teachers probably don't want a bunch of Skyline teachers coming over and trying to start new programs a "their" school either. The good Dr. has written a perfect prescription for divided schools, and a divided district. I thought that wasn't his plan. Could have fooled me!

The Buckner Terrace Homeowners Association also has reason to be livid! They thought Skyline was bad with the magnets there, just wait until the magnets are gone, and Skyline can accept more students from Spruce and Samuell...viva la gangs! They have to be excited about what that is going to do for their property values (note the scarcasm).

To borrow a quote from a good friend regarding the Dr.'s ideas of a "fix" for DISD "He doesn't want pockets of excellence in the district anymore...Just oceans of mediocrity."

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the superintendent of Dallas ISD can now add liar to his long list of qualifications that will help him get a even cushier job with an even cushier paycheck with the Broad Foundation in sunny California after he's done dismantling the district. After all, the whole district is on the "Road to Broad". This looks like a pretty good start to me!

[Ed Note: Again, is this a move or a dismantlement? Is this guaranteed to destroy the program? How? I'm really trying to get a handle on this.]

Allen---

Take eggs out of the cake batter, and you have glop.

Take the engine out of a car, and you have a big paperweight.

I try not to hold you attending high school in the Park Cities Bubble against you, but I think the bubble is in your head still!

YES! This will tear up what Skyline is. When they did this the first time in 1976, Skyline took YEARS to recover. People thought that there were no more college prep programs there, and it almost faded away. But it came back!

Dr H wants to do it again--and again. This is, from what we hear, only the first round of SKyline clusters moving away to help other schools.

HE LIED. HE LIED. HE LIED.

He said on Dec 10th in the DMN, "I will not tinker with the magnet programs."

Tinker means to mess with, change, alter.

He tinkered with them this week. If he had moved the Science and Engineering Magnet to A. Maceo Smith HS or the Law and Justice Magnet from Townview to Conrad, would you see it as tinkering? Yes!

Removing part of what works is tinkering.

You were too trusting. Too nice. Too honest. You fool, you though they would be the same. For those of us in DISD, we
know better. We stay for the students. Not for the pay, not for the bonus they offer, because of the kids. But they make it more difficult every day.

And maybe that is what they wanted all along. Destroy something from the inside.

[Ed Note: Based on your logic, why are we (for instance) building a new Arts Magnet? I mean--the old building worked and the grades were good, so why tear it down and build a new one? Add to that the fact that students have been moved while the construction is going on and you have a recipe for disaster--again, by your logic.

So explain the polemics to me. I'm not a very good cook when it comes to taking eggs out of cake batter. Can you get to the meat of the situation?]

This absolutely could destroy programs. I've talked to my 9th and 10th grade students that are impacted by the move to Conrad. Not ONE of them says that they are willing to go. Every last one said that if they couldn't get into a cluster that was staying that they would go back to their home schools.

What will ad design do if only one kid out of the cluster is willing to go? Doesn't that indicate that the program will be damaged?

I had a student who told me that her folks would not ALLOW her to go to Conrad. She said she didn't really want to go back to Madison, but she would.

If the students and parents feel this way, then moving clusters will not really ease the overcrowding -- except for the kids that return to their home schools.

What this could do is totally kill programs that have worked for many years.

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I liked what that dad on Fox 4 said "Don't break us to fix them."

I do not believe that this is about easing the overcrowding at Skyline. The school has been overcrowded for years. I do believe it is an attempt to rescue Conrad from low performing, which is not going to happen as long as they have such a high refugee population.

Why did the previous principal allow so many hardship transfers? He claimed we were getting really good kids from other schools. I'm sorry, but I looked on the Village Fair list today and a number of those students came on hardship transfers to Skyline.

I applaud Mr. Wright. He's a very effective administrator and I believe he is doing all he can to make Skyline a better educational environment. He's made more progress in a semester than the last 2 principals did together. His positive attitude is infectious and the morale is higher in some ways than it has been since I've been teaching there. Many of us are distraught about the removal of clusters, but the consensus I'm getting is that we are united behind Mr. Wright. He IS Mr. RIGHT for Skyline.

[Ed Note: Good point. Unfortunately, we won't know the damage until the damage is done. If this does damage programs, however, there will be a lot of attention paid to what was done and who did it--especially here on this website. So, for the sake of the administration, I sure hope this was well thought-through.]

I have been posting, emailing, blogging, and literally begging for someone to stand up at the Dallas ISD Board Meeting on January 31st.

Who will? I can't!

I spoke during the PTA meeting at Skyline, and at the DISD Board Briefing Jan. 17th. Speakers are only allowed to speak once in 30 days.

I wanted to make it very clear that our Board of Trustees is sending a bad message to the future leaders (students/children)of our city.

A message that DISD has formed a dictatorship that our children must accept, upon being told, what they will do, where and when too.

Then attach the threat of the teachers jobs being on the line should the children not comply is wrong!

Now is not the time to tell your children not to talk with strangers. They should voice their opinions loud and very clear to the "strangers" sitting on the DISD school board. Stand up for what your parents and teachers have invested in; yourself!

Perhaps all our Skyline students who will directly loose something should wear that T-shirt that said; "I will not lower my standards to raise your expectations" to the Board Meeting at 5:30, January 31st, 3700 Ross Ave., right on the bus line!

Maybe the news media can give a minute on this issue. The Board has hidden expectations with this theft of programs, that's why this is not a public decision, just a dictated transition.

Apparently, there is a memo that went to the board trustees by the top staff, telling them that the teachers at Skyline are "accepting the changes." Also, something about they have had meetings with top people on it as well.

Yea, and pigs fly.

No, they are not accepting the changes. They are trying to fight them--and not lose their jobs.

The principal wants to do right by the school---and not lose his job.

Others want to help, and not lose their jobs.

Is there a provision in the Road to Broad that is taken from the Sopranos guidebook? Is intimidation the only tool they have?

Get this, the people who will be affected by the cluster moves have NOT accepted it. They have not moved on. The parents have not moved on. They feel moved over, run over, left behind.

So, I guess parents are only there when you want them, not the other way around.

See everyone on Thursday. Pride and Unity--while it lasts.

[Ed Note: This Thursday promises to be an interesting Board meeting.]