"Vote No" Website Down
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Mon, 03/03/2008 - 11:10.
The website http://www.disdbondelection2008.com/ was short-lived and the record needs to be set straight as to why.
Nobody "threatened" the website's owners. They chose to take the site down versus bringing it into compliance with Texas Election laws regarding political advertising.
Plainly put, if the primary purpose of your site is express advocacy for an issue (i.e. a call to action such as: "vote no"), then you are required to put the phrase: "political advertising paid for by [the name of whoever paid for it]." Failure to do so opens you up to all sorts of unpleasantries--all of which cost money.
The genesis of the law is good: to prevent anonymous, big-named donors from unduly influencing elections simply by throwing lots of money at an issue. Unfortunately, it bites the "little guy" as well.
You'll note that, around election season (on advice of our lawyers), this website bears similar language--even though (since our sole purpose is not express advocacy) we could probably get away with not doing it. It's just a risk we chose not to take--and it is easy to avoid taking it.
After careful consideration I chose to make all sides aware of the issue to avoid an "October" (make that "April") surprise. I also tried to talk the owners of disdbondelection2008.com into simply putting their name on it and leaving it up (as well as talking about options like starting an SPAC, etc.).
The owners of disdbondelection2008.com had very valid reasons for wanting to remain anonymous; so they chose to take the site down rather than reveal their identities.
Even so, they had some extremely good points that were worthy of discussion and consideration. I hope they'll consider options to bring the site back--and will let readers of Dallas.Org know if the situation changes.
Anyway, I hope this sets the record straight.
Substandard Special Ed?
I have a boy with autism and the district is doing everything possible to not service him appropriately. For that reason since they have wasted over 400 staff hours in ARD meetings in less than 1 year and lie and distort the truth to enable the illegal practice of not servicing the special education children with FAPE, I am against the Bond Package. I know that they are not able to manage any more bond money correctly. They simply refuse to do their job! The Evil Corruption starts at the top and goes completely through to the bottom and includes the ignorance and malice that is not only unbelievable, but consistently perpetrated from Ross Ave to Ervay to the local campus. The school board has no influence in any way and the system is just evil and malicious not to mention illegal, violating Federal Laws.
[Ed Note: I find this surprising because one of DISD's strong points is the quality of its special and remedial education. Have you contacted your board member with specifics on this situation? Not to doubt what you say, but I sure would like to see specifics on this particular case--because most people rave about the quality of the Districts special ed programs.]
Autism
I would also like to hear the specifics of the autism parent's case. The problem with autism in this country is that its full name is "Autism Spectrum Disorder" and the "Spectrum" part means there is a HUGE range...from Asperger's kids who function almost normally, to the extreme kids who freak out if you deviate from their routines. There are also a lot of kids who present with autism-like symptoms but do not qualify because they only meet two or 3 items on the checklist when they are tested-- for example, they may have the lack of speech, mental retardation, and repetitive behaviors, but because they do connect with people, they're not considered autistic. So there's all this grey area that confuses a lot of parents and teachers. The bottom line is, it's up to the ARD committee to decide what is best for each student, regardless of how they are classified. If they do ok in regular ed, let them stay in regular ed. We have an autistic student in regular ed right now in our school, and to the best of my knowledge he's doing fine. The kids and teachers are used to his quirks and are very supportive. For other kids, their autism is so severe that do they need the specialized Total Communication class. The ARD Committee decides, and the administration is bound by IDEA to uphold the ARD decisions. That's why an administrator is required to be present at each and every ARD meeting. If they don't show up, the ARD is invalid and illegal. Parents need to be VERY familiar with the Procedural Safeguards that are supposed to be given to them at EVERY annual meeting; the document has changed recently so make sure you have the latest version that's compliant with IDEA 2007.
Raving about Special Ed Programs
I find that remark interesting, Ed, because "most people" I know do not "rave about the quality of the District's special ed programs"; they RAGE about it! They RAGE about high school principals disolving self-contained classrooms and forcing MR students into general education classes without notifying parents, without holding federally mandated ARDs, and without any regard for the student's needs. They rage about SPED administrators eliminating Content Mastery and Resource Rooms on SOME campuses, but not others, even though such a continuum of educational service is mandated under IDEA and FAPE. The people I know rage over the many District misinterpretations of federal law and the corresponding edicts that corrupt the ARD Committee's purpose and weaken its authority to make appropriate decisions for students with disabilities. For example, DISD now limits the number of SPED students on each campus that can be ARDed TAKS exempt to only 3% of the school's total student population. For one DISD high school, this means that the remaining 18% of SPED students; including many MR students and/or student's with disabilities that preclude basic reading, are now forced into taking (and failing) their ARD recommended grade-level and exit-level TAKS tests. And finally, Ed, the people I know rage because, at one high school, an assistant principal over discipline (who was escorted off campus recently by DISD cops when the long-rumored criminal "romance" he was having with a cheerleader was finally confirmed by District officials) was finally reprimanded; not for targeting special education students for transfer to Village Fair, but for forging signatures on documents to get them there. I guess we just don't know the same people.
[Ed Note: Well an audit in 2001 found some deficiencies in how the District approached handling students living in residential facilities (institutionalized), but most have been complimentary.
I am willing to grant that we may know different parents throughout the District. But virtually every parent (of a special needs kid) I have talked to has credited DISD with giving extraordinary care and attention to his or her needs.
Now to your claims: you make quite a few that are very general. I'd like to see you come up with more specifics. Which school, in particular, are you talking about? We'd like to pay the school a visit and confirm your claims before just agreeing with them.]
Re: Raving about Special Ed
I'd like to help clarify some of "Raver's" comments.
"They RAGE about high school principals disolving self-contained classrooms and forcing MR students into general education classes without notifying parents, without holding federally mandated ARDs, and without any regard for the student's needs."
Actually, that was the District's call to dissolve the Self-Contained classrooms, and many teachers, including myself, think that was a short-sighted decision. The rationale was indeed to force more students into "inclusion" (which is still getting a bad rap because the majority of regular ed and special ed teachers have NOT been properly trained), but what REALLY happened is that only a handful of them went to Inclusion, and the rest of the Self-Contained students went to Functional Living Skills classes on separate campuses, out of sight and out of mind with the more severely MR students. And that, dear readers, is a totally different soapbox that I will get on in another post. Suffice it to say that yes, there should have been ARDs to justify those decisions, but just because an ARD was held doesn't make it right.
"For example, DISD now limits the number of SPED students on each campus that can be ARDed TAKS exempt to only 3% of the school's total student population."
First of all, no one is "TAKS-Exempt" anymore (except for first-year immigrant students in TAKS Reading). Even the most severely handicapped kids have to take the TAKS-Alt. And the 3% rule is frequently misquoted/ misunderstood. No Child Left Behind is who you have to thank for that, but many folks in the district misinterpreted it to mean that a school can't have more than 3% of the kids not taking the full-blown TAKS. That is NOT true. According to TEA, the Feds require a cap on the number of scores from alternate assessments that can be counted as "proficient" in the 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) calculations. No Child Left Behind requires the "proficient" results from the TAKS-Alternate (TAKS-Alt) assessment to be limited to a 1% cap and "proficient" results from the TAKS-Modified (TAKS-M) limited to a 2% cap. (Now, HOW they decide which scores get picked is a matter still being debated in Texas.)
In other words, a school CAN have more Special Ed kids, but only 3% of the "proficient" (what used to be known as "Meets Expectations") will count toward AYP. So the most severe 1% of students would take the TAKS-Alt, but since a lot of those kids are shuttled off to separate campuses, that number in DISD schools may be a bit skewed. That leaves 2% of Special Ed kids to be counted with the slightly easier but still on grade level TAKS-M. The problem with TAKS-M, as many people are just now finding out, is that students who were tested on a Kindergarten level last year with the SDAA are going to flunk this year's on-grade-level TAKS-M. It's good to have higher expectations, but not so good to expect a kid to go from Kinder to 5th grade in one year. So expect many Special Ed kids to do poorly on the TAKS or TAKS-M for the next couple of years while parents and teachers scramble to get them caught up. It's our own fault for not expecting anything better of these kids, it's just really sad that the kids are the ones paying the price for it now.
And yeah, we're in a really weird mess in this district. Depending on who you talk to, we either have way too many kids in Special Ed because the teachers and principals push to get them out of regular ed, the diagnosticians are married to only one intelligence test, and the parents like those SSI checks.....OR, too many kids fall through the cracks and don't get the help they need because the Special Ed referral process is too cumbersome for well-meaning teachers to jump through all the hoops. Strangely enough, the answer is...it's both.
Frustrated Teacher-Special Ed
I am a teacher in DISD and am frustrated with how long it takes to test any student that we feel has learning disability. It seems that less and less students are qualifying and being offered additional services. It seems it is all being left up to the teacher to "differentiate" instruction. I have yet to see "inclusion" actually taking place in the class rooms where a special ed teacher comes in to work with learning disabled students.
[Ed Note: As you can tell, we're starting to get interested in special education. It seems that, based on another poster's comments, the door is certainly open for questions to be asked.]
Special Ed - "Inclusion"
You have hit on a sore spot that when investigated, will find much disservice to the very students in need.
I taught at a DISD middle school last year - I saw and met only one of the "inclusion" teachers one time during the entire school year. She walked into my classroom and stood around for a few minutes, and then left. I never talked with her and I never knew what she was doing or even WHO she was supposed to be helping! I NEVER received a list of special education students and so had no idea of who legally was in need of modified work. However, I could pretty much figure it out based on the student's behavior and work product.
The question was asked over and over again by fellow teachers, "Just what do these special ed teachers do?" And what help is actually being given to the special ed students??? On several occasions I went to the special ed teachers' workspace - only to find them all sitting around. They didn't have any desire to talk with me, as a teacher. Just what do these people do???
I'm sure there are laws and regulations broken but no one seems to care! It's a scandal waiting to be investigated!
[Ed Note: I'm getting the feeling that they are, in some schools, very good--and in others, perhaps, not so good. However DISD has been recognized in the past for the way they approach special needs kids.
One of ours took speech therapy when he was pre-K. I was very pleased with the outcome and quality.
But I'm getting the idea that there are some areas that are in need of a little "light" being shined. Now somebody message me and tell me where those areas are!]
SPED is like a Pollock painting
I think of Jackson Pollock's artistic style when I think of SPED.
Sometimes, you hit it right, sometimes you have a mess.
"Inclusion" is a federal and state mandate. If you don't like it, remember that in November. McCain likes NCLB as it is, Obama wants it modified, and Clinton wants to abolish it. You choose.
"Inclusion" is a return to the way it was in the 1970's, before so many kids were ID'd with disorders. Either there weren't as many kids with disorders, or it didn't matter.
The Feds said, "No, you must teach them apart for them to learn."
So, we did. Now they say, "No, they are like all other children, put them back!"
The TAKS-M is the SAME test as the regular TAKS!!! It has larger print and simpler words, but COVERS THE SAME MATERIAL.
So, if a school has a good SPED program, they draw parents with those kids in, then the school gets hit by NCLB when too many of these kids will fail the TAKS.
People/voters need to see how national education issues affect you here in DISD.
As for inclusion teachers helping, it all depends on the teachers and the subject and the way the material is presented. It all varies. It is not a scandal, but it is a bit wasteful.
Town Hall Meetings Without Halls?
March 26, 2008
Town hall meetings, sans the halls?
2:45 PM Wed, Mar 26, 2008 | Permalink
Kent Fischer E-mail News tips
Getting the word out about the details of the district's $1.35 billion bond proposal is proving to be a little more challenging than district supporters thought, as reporter Lori Stahl notes:
Several DISD trustees say district lawyers have told them that it's now illegal to hold town hall meetings about the May 10 bond vote in schools. In the months before the 2002 bond election, that's exactly where the meetings were held. Trustees say they're frustrated they can't do it again. In the meantime, they're hoping to piggyback on already-scheduled meetings at area chambers of commerce and the like.
[Ed Note: I'd sure like to hear the rationale for this.]
2008 School Bond Pulls Rabbit out of Hat
Been wondering why the Task Force, Our Trustees, and the district have been MUM for weeks about the 2008 Bond Proposal. Seems that within 24 hours of that beautimas brochure I recieved from, OUR STUDENTS OUR FUTURE Yes! On Dallas ISD Bonds, the District has posted a map on it's website showing the fifteen schools they want to build. I had been waiting to see which of the other 5 Replacement schools had been included in the proposal. BOY OH BOY OH BOY did they ever get me!
It's TWO NEW HIGH SCHOOLS that The Facilities Task Force failed to get the memo on from 3700 Ross!
When you look at the map at DISD look at the blue pentagrams. Two new high schools that did not exist on the TASK FORCE report have PRESTO CHANGEO"D into existance! They are Business Technology HS and Early College HS. NOW WHERE in the highly scientific TASK FORCE report did these schools exist!
Word to the wise. When Ron Kirk comes riding into town to sell this, pay attention to which way he has put the saddle on The Pygmy Pony! If the saddle horn is next to the Pony's tail instead of next to it's neck, Grin and Bare It, You been had...
Bond Flyer
Can someone contact the vote yes group and ask them who those students are in their pictures on the flyer? What school was it taken at? Why are they not wearing the uniforms that all DISD Elementary School students wearing? Why is the picture not representative of what you really see in the DISD?
My LAST words on the bond issue
A big branch broke off of the tree that towers over my house this mourning. When it landed on my roof it punched a hole the size of a basketball in it. My contractor came out and said it would cost $100 to fix it. Then I called Jethro Bodine, he handles my money for me, to get $100. Jethro said, " Son, not only do you not got $100 it will take you 6 years to save up a $100! "
So I called the contractor again and asked how much he would charge me to fix the hole in six years. The contractor said, "I'll have to charge you $135 to fix the hole in the roof, then I'll have to charge you $300 to fix the water damage caused all around the hole from six years of rain coming through the hole, and then I'll have to charge you $7,500 to fix all the things damaged inside your house by rain water coming into your home for six years !
" In an absolute panic I called Jethro back and told him what the contractor said. Jethro said, "Jim baby, think like Dallas ISD thinks, go borrow the money from your neighbors. Tell them that you will pay them back in 6 1/2 years with a little interest." Some of my neighbors don't like me very much, I could only raise $40.
With a sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach, and with Jethro's advice ringing in my ears, I did what any sane taxpayer would have done, I called the school board.
Four days, sixteen hours and fifty five minutes later I had them all on a conferance call, and pleaded my case. After carefull deliberation they spoke as one.
" Jim baby, your all worked up over nothing ! You did the right thing calling us. Jethro was right, he gave you good advice. And the smartest thing you did was to call us for back up ! Why ?
Because all nine of us are MIND READERS. And we can set your soul at rest! Jim all you have to do is look at your problem the way we look at ours. Look at our problem, The Future Facilities Task Force told US that the districts existing school buildings need $1.37 billion in repairs. Now , because we are, MIND READERS, we know that the taxpayer, not only doesn't want to here that, as MIND READERS, we also know that the taxpayers won't believe that! It doesn't matter what the unbiased Task Force discovered sbout the reality of the districts needs, as MIND READERS we know what the taxpayers want to HEAR ! You see Jim, as MIND READERS ,we know that the taxpayer is to stupid to gaze into the future.That's why, because we are MIND READERs, we know to only ask the taxpayer to fund 40 percent of the needed repairs in the district found by The Future Facilities Task Force. Jim, look at it this way, in six years we, ( the current school board members ) will be gone. The problem will be somebody's elses, but we , the current screwel board members will have another monicker on our resumes. The successful selling of an INNEFFECTUAL SCHOOL BOND. Its win win for us. And besides, six years from now you can shame your neighbors into giving you $7,385 for your repairs. After all, its your neighbors fault you have so much damage to your home, if they had only loaned you $100 today, you wouldn't be in this mess !"
Is this another episode of AESOP'S FABLE'S from the ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE SHOW ? Are you looking at a young man in glasses with a propeller on the top of his beenie cap and a dalmation dog with no spots, the boys trusty companion?
No, what this story illustrates, is that our school board has taken away OUR rights, as taxpayers,
to take care of the needs of our schoolchildren.
I ask you to vote NO on May 10. But I ask more! Call, mail, fax, or email YOUR school board member starting Monday March 24 2008. DEMAND the appointment of a non-partison committee to review the findings AND the information used by The Future Facilities Task Force. I ask that this NEW committee report to the public, and the trustees, its findings as to the assessed needs of the district. The Future Facilities Task force has already compiled the needed info as to the districts needs, no research is needed.
Now I challenge the elected school board ! Give us, the taxpayers, the opportunity to provide for our children, the facilities needed to provide our children with the maximum learning potential and skills they need to succeed. That choice and decision is NOT the school boards to make! It is ours as parents and neighbors of parents and those of us with enough sense to understand the benefit of the commen good. An IDEAL YOU SEEM TO HAVE MISSPLACED!
It is the duty, as elected officials, for the school board to present to us, the stake holders, the facts and nothing but the facts. It is not spelled out any where in public documentation that you , as school board members, have the right to INTERPRET the findings of The Facilities Task Force before those findings reach the public. It is also beyond your rights, as an elected official,
to limit the ability of parents and stake holders to effectively decide the benefits of The Task Forces recomendations without, AND I REPEAT WITHOUT, the share holders input and consultation.
Please note that we cannot enter into a recall election for our school board members. BUT BUT BUT We do have the ability to correct their inappropriate behavior! Nine elected officials have taken it upon themselves to decide what is best for the districts 140,000 children, sans debate. Please vote no and demand a non partison examinazation of the needs of our children!
Its so simple, but the school board doesn't get it. NOT ONE OF THEM WAS ELECTED TO RULE !EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM WAS ELCTED TO REPRESENT THE BELIEFS AND STANCE OF THEIR CONSTITUANCY. I did not and would not give my school board member the right to exercise my vote with out consultation.
Thank you all for putting up with me.
[Ed Note: Jim, I bet this isn't your last word on the bond issue :) ]
Calling Your Board Member
Skyline Par-ent has called, mailed, emailed and even handed the dang questions directly to to our school board members. You know, not one had the xxxxs to reply, call back, follow up, or respond. They don't adhere to the rules, or give a xxxx about the public they represent. YOUR school board members, LOL
Good luck with that sinking ship
Keep up the good blogging
Repeat repeat repeat
someday someone
will get back
to you
and..........
then what?
You ever heard the saying; singing to the choir, or something like that?
DISD Reveals The Legendary Fifth Beatle
In a flier mailed out to the public by the Dallas ISD, the identity of the suspected " FIFTH BEATLE" has officially been revealed.
When contacted in regards to the " FAKE PHOTO " on the cover of the Abby Roads album, Paul McCartney admitted that it had all been a ruse. Paul went on to further comment, that the public had always had it right, and in fact, the fifth BEATLE was an accountant who had graduated from the Dallas ISD school system. Paul then pointed at the young man in the photo of the DISD brochure that contained the caption, "Our next generation of doctors, accountants & astronauts needs your help on May 10," "Yes" he said, "In fact, The young man wearing glasses and a black suit and black bowtie with the calculater and standing on the wide stripe of the cross walk is the fifth BEATLE!" " And he has saved the Beatles Arse many times in litigation over the past 40 years." Paul went on to say that if this kid had recieved a REAL edumication at DISD, he ( Paul ) wouldn't be having to give Heather Mills $40 million AND monthly child support of $7 thousand.
Exactly how naive and stoopid are you MR. and MS. Taxpayer ?
[Ed Note: See... I knew it wouldn't be your last comment on the bond!]
And Its a Magic Rabbit Too!
If you look at the brochure we recieved from,"Our Students Our Future Yes! On Dallas ISD Bonds" you will find this.
"$450 million will go to building new schools and replacing outdated schools, many of which were built more than a half-century ago. Fifteen new schools will help reduce class sizes and keep up with our explosive population growth."
Now, if we look at the pretty map that DISD has put up on its Website, we will find 13 schools that are listed under Scenario IV, on page 11, of The Future Facilities Task Force Report dated 1/17/2008. 13 schools for $423 million. Average price per school? $32.5 million plus change.
Now look at our Magic Rabbits! Not only were they pulled out of a hat but they also come with a bargain basement price tag of only $13.5 million EACH. Thats right folks, don't touch that dial, Two brand spanking new High Schools for only $27 million TOTAL !!!!
Now go back to page 11 of that report and look at item 3b. and what do you see? Wilmer Hutchins high school-Renovations/Demolition. Price? Somewhere between $21 and $26 million. Wilmer Hutchins high school is standing there empty today. Would it not cost less to bulldoze it and build another one of these magic rabbit high schools instead ?
Now look at the last three words I quoted from the brochure. "explosive population growth" Even after adding the head count of the Wilmer Hutchins district to DISDs, the district has lost more than 4,000 students ( thats a head count ) since 2002. I'm impressed, aren't you ?
Does this shed some light on our moderaters original premise about CAN THEY HANDLE THE MONEY ? Can't say if we can answer that for sure. But here's something I can answer for sure. They just showed this Jethro Bodine some new fangled rithmatic he aint never saw before. I don't think even Uncle Jed can figure this cypher !
[Ed Note: I want to say, for the record, that I always get a kick out of reading Jim Napper's observations. He's usually close-to or right-on target with a bit of a Texas-only flair! I don't know what's funnier sometimes: watching the story develop, or thinking about what Jim's going to say about it!]
Early College High School
If I remember correctly....isn't Early College High School being built with this bond and last bond money?
Our Students Our Future
Lets Talk About Being Original.
The clowns (Kirk and Steinhart)that are running this vote yes Campaign and have put up $250,000 have "borrowed" their slogan, "Our Students Our Future," from the University of Alabama's capital campaign. See the attached link: http://ourstudentsourfuture.ua.edu/
Bond flyers
Which zip codes got the bond ads in the mail? My area hasn't........
[Ed Note: Our inside sources tell us that different areas are receiving different mailings. Watch for our upcoming story on the one we got.]
DISD Bond Election
Loved this post that was on the DISD BLOG:
"Posted by Unbeliever @ 6:00 PM Sat, Mar 22, 2008
As a teacher in DISD, I cannot comment on how I will vote. I am not sure that I can even ask the Vote Yes people anything, or would they snitch me out to the Board?
So, would someone who is not an employee of DISD ask the Vote Yes people where they got the photo of the kids? That is not in ANY DISD school I have ever step foot in.
Also, is that brochure implying that high schools will finally get rid of the 1960's wooden and metal desks that the Beaver sat in? Currently, none of our students have desks like the one pictured... High schools have students who are much bigger (fatter) than they were during the Johnson administration.
So, someone, a journalist, a reporter, an intern, a parent, several people, ASK!"
Bond Flyers
I received one at my business address; 75207, but not at my home address; 75228
Boy-oh-boy it's purdy too! I sur wood like to sees an aud-it for I mak mi decisun fur dem educated folk ta gets mi hard earned tax dolllars!
But I'm awful impressed with the flyer.
Our Student "Sour" Future
I just can't see it any other way now.
ourstudentSOURfuture
Seems kind of appropriate based on what I've seen of late.
[Ed Note: Chuckle!]
DISD "Vote Yes" Slogan Copied
Lets Talk About Being Original.
They have "borrowed" their slogan, "Our Students Our Future," from the University of Alabama's capital campaign. See the attached link: http://ourstudentsourfuture.ua.edu/
Lets Think Smart-- The DISD
Lets Think Smart--
The DISD Board needs to come up with a long term goal and vision of how to replace the schools that are 50 plus years old and also how to achieve getting new schools built to help with over crowding.
This can be done and it is not too complicated.
We need to take the republican and democrat out of the equation, we need to take the race card out of the issue, we need to take north, south, east and west out of the issue.
The number one issue is we are here to make sure our children and all children receive the best education possible.
Lets come up with a long term plan --
2008
2012
2016
2020
Lets lay it on the line.
Lets state this is what will be done with each bond progam should it pass.
By 2025 there won't be any more 50 year old schools in the DISD. We will have a bunch of newer campuses.
Lets work hand in hand with the City of Dallas as many of the current schools sit on large blocks of land that neighbor City of Dallas Parks. Lets gets the City of Dallas involved in this and switch land.
So for instace where Herbert Marcus or Withers are located. Lets build a brand new large school on both park sites. Then lets switch deeds to the land -- the City of Dallas will demolish the old school and build a brand new park. We need both in this Dallas -- brand new great parks for our residents and brand new schools that are not over crowded.
Lets build enough classrooms. Yes, there will be certain periods of time when maybe not every classroom would be in use, but I would rather have extra space than have to learn in a portable and go to the bathroom in an outhouse.
So look at how many locations this can be done throughout the DISD.
In terms of new land for new schools. We are not as landlocked as everyone thinks. Just go take a drvie around.
Out north where Junkins was built, there is plenty of land that can be bought up along Marsh to build additional schools.
Look down south, there is plenty of wide open vacant land.
The DISD can go in and buy old shopping centers that are falling apart and build new schools. The DISD can go drive down Northwest Hwy west of Marsh toward Irving and see all the buidings that are currently for sale and start buying them up.
It is time for the DISD Board of Trustees to stop making excuses, and start thinking about one thing (an no that is not about themselves) but about the students in the schools.
It is about long term urban planning that means they will need to sit down in a regional area with Dallas, Addison, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Wilmer, Balch Springs, and really plan this out.
Then go to the voters and say this is what we can do to really help make Dallas become the best urban school district. If that is really their intention, they would give it some thought.
Throwing 10 million here and there is not going to do it.
I am still waiting for the Dallas Morning News to do some stories about the Bond Proposal and how it is going to impact the taxpayers of the DISD.
I'm still waiting to hear from the VOTE YES people on why we should vote for this project.
I'm still waiting for the DISD to come out and announce when they are going to have community meetings in all parts of Dallas to discuss how they are going to spend this money they are wanting us to vote on.
What is each school going to get out of it?
Still Vote No
Lets go back to Amy S comment about Trust and Trusting those in charge to make the right decisions.
As I said before, the same clowns that were in charge of the 2002 Bond Proposal are the ones that are leading up this fight.
Well Amy S. Have you ever been down to Pleasant Grove area of Dallas. That includes driving up and down South Buckner Blvd, Lake June, Bruton, Masters, etc... What they call "The Grove."
Well the Grove got screwed by the last bond election in 2002. Those same people you are trusting with your tax dollars to make "wise" decisions for you.
I don't even feel with this 2008 bond election that focuses mainly on "The Grove" will it help much less will they end up doing it right.
Lets review:
John Quincy Adams Elementary School on Lake June Road has 13 portables.
Burleson Elementary on Elam and Alcorn had 19 new classrooms added on because of the 2002 bond package and still today even after the 19 new classrooms has the need for 15 portables.
Pleasant Grove Elementary on North Masters has 16 portables.
Titche Elementary on St. Augustine/Bluffcreek has 10 portables.
Runyon had 15 new classrooms built with the 2002 bond election and still today in 2008 has 20 portables.
Samuel High School has 17 portables.
Blanton had 15 classrooms added by the 2002 Bond Election and still has 16 portables in 2008. They have plenty of land next to Pleasant Oaks Park and the school has lots of vacant land. They should have torn everything down with the last bond election and built a supersized school on all of this land.
Urban Park Elementary School gained 20 new classrooms with the 2002 Bond Election and still has 34, yes, thats right, 34 portables in 2008. Someting is not right with these people that Amy S is leaving her "trust" up to.
Ireland has 13 portables.
Hawthorne has 24 portables.
Amy S and David Look probably have never heard of alot of these schools because they are so entrenched in their own little world of Kramer, Franklin and Hillcrest.
This district has major problems, has incapable people running it, a board that does not know a damm thing about running a bond program to build schools and the taxpayers are being screwed.
I'm looking out for every child in every corner of the district.
So much needs to be done, and you can't keep spending 10 million here and there to add classrooms one year and five years later decide that did not work and lets just knock down the school and try something different. The taxpayers don't want one dime wasted, and until thought it put into this by experts and urban planners that are not working for the DISD, don't have their hands in the pockets trying to make a buck off the contracts, things won't change.
So David Look, lets go get in my sports car, put down the roof and take a tour of south Dallas.
All parts of this district need help, and until you realize where we are coming from, your yes vote will hurt everyone in the district.
Makes Sense...not
So lets comment about how horrible the conditions are in the schools. Lets admit that the bond is going to focus on schools in that area but still vote against the money that it meant to fix those same conditions you are complaining about...
Makes Sense.
Does Make Sense
If the bond is voted down---especially if people realize the "cost" of doing so, the victory is in demonstrating to the board and the big boys that citizens will not be ignored and expect to pony up cash anyway. If they don't want to listen to us, then don't ask for our money.
It won't fix the conditions.
It won't fix the conditions. There will still be portables, there will still be overcrowding, there will still be parents who don't care, principals who abuse the sytem, and teachers that don't want to be there teaching.
DISD Alumni Could Be Helping
Look at some of these DISD Alumni. We should be using them to help get people back involved in the schools and also obtaining private contributions to help with items that the schools need:
Hillcrest High School:
Harriet Miers — former White House Counsel
Dean Ornish — nationally known nutrition expert and physician
Ajai Sanders — actress and stand-up comic[12]
Kurt Thomas — NBA player for the Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns
Thomas Jefferson High School:
M. L. Aday (Meat Loaf), rock musician[5]
Rhys Best, Chairman and CEO, Lone Star Technologies
Michael Carter, former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman and 1984 Olympics silver medalist in shot put[11]
Ron Chapman, Texas State District Judge, Court of Appeals
Elizabeth Dameron '71, Professor of English, Writer
Eddie Dominguez, former Texas A&M basketball player[12], led TJ to state basketball championship in 1962; owner and president of Tupinamba Restaurants[13]
Linda Evans, CEO, the Meadows Foundation, Dallas
Jan Hart, former Dallas city manager[5]
Dave Huffman, All-American football player and broadcaster, member of the 1977 Notre Dame championship team, Minnesota Vikings center, guard, and tackle
Jimmy Jones, played Major League baseball for the Expos, Astros, and Padres
Tracy Hicks, Noted artist
Karen Katz, CEO, Neiman Marcus Stores
David Meyercord, Former Managing Partner, Strasburger and Price
Hal Mumme, New Mexico Head football coach
Mike Nesmith, actor-musician and member of The Monkees[14][15]
Elizabeth Dameron '71, Professor of English, Writer
Burt Solomons, Representative, Texas State House of Representatives
Becky Sykes, Executive Director, Dallas Women's Foundation
Brenda Vaccaro, Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress[16]
Tim Wallace, Chairman and CEO, Trinity Industries
Robert Wilonsky, journalist and television personality
Lee Wunsch, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
Joni Patry, World Renowned Astrologer
Bryan Adams High School:
Gary Blair, head women's basketball coach for Texas A&M University. Class of 1963.
John Carona, Texas State Senator. Class of 1974.
Lincoln Coleman, former Dallas Cowboys NFL running back. Class of 1987.
Jim Dauterive, executive producer and writer for King of the Hill; namesake of KotH character Bill Dauterive. Class of 1975.
Jeff Davison, CFO, RightNow Technologies. Class of 1974.
Doug English, All-Pro NFL football player. Class of 1971.
Melendy Lovett, president of Texas Instruments Educational & Productivity Solutions and senior vice president of TI[13]. Class of 1976.
Kenyon Martin, power forward for the Denver Nuggets basketball team.[14] Class of 1997.
Ronald Neal, founder and director of Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Class of 1966.
Bob Phillips, Host of long-running television series Texas Country Reporter. Class of 1969.
Mary Poss, Former mayor pro-tem of Dallas was also acting Mayor (2003). Class of 1969.
Gen. James Rothenflue, Ph.D., USAF Ret., former director of U.S. space-based laser weapons program. Class of 1983.[15][16][17][18]
Angela Wilson, Artistic Director Theatre Quorum, playwright, actor, Class of 1972.
Adamson High School:
Leonora Corona - opera singer[12]
Tom Chandler - head coach of baseball for Texas A&M University from 1959-1984[12]
Yvonne Craig - Batgirl from the 1960s TV series Batman[12]
Samuel David Dealey - Navy submarine hero[12]
E. King Gill - Texas A&M University's 12th man[12]
Malcolm Harris (class of 1988) - noted comic book writer[12]
Brenda Hayward (class of 1959) - elected first Miss Teenage America in 1958 (then Brenda Brodnax)[12]
Frank W. Mayborn (class of 1922) - Texas newspaper publisher and philanthropist from Temple
Michael Martin Murphey (class of 1963) - country-western music artist[12]
Joe R. Pool - served in Texas State House of Representatives 1953–1958; U.S. Congress 1963–1968
B. W. Stevenson (class of 1967) - country pop music artist[12]
Doyle Willis (class of 1926) - served on Texas Legislature[12]
Jim Wright (class of 1939) - elected to Texas State House of Representatives (1947), mayor of Weatherford (1948), elected to U.S. Congress (1955), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1987-1989)[12]
Carter High School:
Clifton Abraham, former NFL cornerback
Jessie Armstead, former NFL linebacker
Karan Ashley (Karan Ashley Jackson), TV actress; played Aisha in the Power Rangers TV program
Chet Brooks, former NFL cornerback
Joe Burch, former AFL lineman
Michael Crabtree, wide receiver for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Greg Hill, former NFL running back
Le'Shai Maston, former NFL fullback
Steve Nice, radio personality on K104, a Dallas-area mainstream urban station
Darius Smith, former Texas A&M center
Kimball High School:
Michael Rhyner — current radio host of "The Hardline" on KTCK 1310-AM
Stephen Tobolowsky (1969) — a Tony Award-nominated actor
Michael Barker (1972) — President of Sony Pictures Classics
Jeryl Sasser (1997) — former NBA Player, played for Bnei HaSharon of the Israeli basketball league
Jason Sasser (1992) — former NBA Player
Quinton Ross (1999) — NBA Player for Los Angeles Clippers
Don King (1982) — former SMU Quarterback during the Pony Express; NFL Green Bay Packers (1987)
Marvin Washington (1984) — NFL Player San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos
Acie Law (2003) — NBA Player for Atlanta Hawks
Belita Moreno (1968) Star of "The George Lopez Show" and noted actress.
Sheryl Stamps Leach (1971) Creator of the famous children's purple dinosaur, "Barney"
DeMarcus Granger (2005) Oklahoma defensive tackle
Todd Whitten (1983) Head football coach, Sam Houston State University
Lincoln High School:
Arthello Beck — African-American artist and gallery owner
Big Tuck — rapper
Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors NBA basketball team[8] — led Lincoln to the number-one rank nationally
Abner Haynes, American Football League All-Star running back
John Hopps, Jr. (1954) — physicist[9]
Herbie Johnson, one of the first African-American students to graduate from the University of North Texas (then known as North Texas State College)[10]
Forest Ave High School/James Madison High School
As Forest Avenue High School:
Stanley Marcus '21, department-store magnate
Aaron Spelling '40, television producer
Ruthe Lewin Winegarten '47, author and activist
Jack Glatzer '56, concert violinist
As James Madison High School:
Stone Johnson, 1960 Olympic track star, Kansas City Chiefs star
Brett Maxie, assistant coach with NFL's Miami Dolphins, former NFL player
Dave Stallworth, NBA player (first-round draft pick), won championship with New York Knicks
Dwight White, former NFL Pro Bowl player, member of Pittsburgh Steelers "Steel Curtain" defense
North Dallas High School:
Tex Avery - 1927 - famous director of animated shorts; created Daffy Duck and many elements of Bugs Bunny[7]
Earle Cabell — United States Representative (1965–1973), Dallas mayor (1961–1964)[8]
Robert "Bob" Brooks Cullum — Dallas civic leader and co-founder of Tom Thumb-Page Food Stores[9]
Robert Dedman, Sr. — Dallas lawyer and philanthropist who founded ClubCorp, an international company operating golf courses, private clubs, and resorts[10]
Jack Walker — state- and national-level athlete who played for Louisiana State University in two of the first three Sugar Bowl football championships[11]
Pinkston High School:
Regina Taylor — nationally known actor and playwright[1]
Samuell High School:
Mike Biko — Ninth pick of 1st. round of Major League Baseball draft of 1966 by the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club.
Mike Beeler — 2nd. round pick of Major League Baseball draft of 1966 by the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club.
Kyle Money — 2nd. round pick of Major League Baseball draft of 1979 by the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club.
Greg Money — Draft pick of Major League Baseball draft of 1980 by the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club.
Omar Washington — Draft pick of Major League Baseball draft of 1989 by the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club.
Cleveland Ladell — Draft pick of Major League Baseball draft of 1992 by the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Club.
Sam Walton — Draft pick of Major League Baseball draft of 1997 by the Seattle Mariners Baseball Club.
Albert Black — 2000 Chairman of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
Joe Dixon — Defensive back on The University of Texas 1963 National Championship Team.
Dan Seals — Country and Pop Musician also known as England Dan.
John Ford Coley — Partner in musical duo with Dan Seals; hits include "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight".
Ron Jones — 1969 NFL tight end for the Green Bay Packers.
Joe Kendall — Former Federal Judge (1992-2002).
Mark Reeves — famous "Dapper Bandit", robbed banks in the North Texas area from 1978-1988.
Steve Ramsey — Punter/Quarterback New Orleans Saints 1970, Denver Broncos (1971-76).
Jerry Reynolds — Owner of Prestige Ford car dealerships in the Southwest.
Lulu Roman — Former Hee Haw TV show personality.
Russ Martin — Host of The Russ Martin Show, a radio program in Dallas.
Sammy Walker — Shot Put Collegiate record breaker at Southern Methodist University and athlete at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Dr. James Hughey — Samuell High School Principal from 1984-1989 & Dallas independent School District Superintendent from 1995-2000 & 2001-2003.
Chris Warren — Professional bowler
David Alan Baker— Wrote "City of Heroes" for NBC's Third Watch premier, as an adaptation of his song "Los Angeles".
Jeff Gregg — Talent agent for Creative Artists in Nashville.
Stephany Samone — 1986 Miss Texas winner was a top 10 finalist for Miss America.
Dale Tillery — Former Texas state representative for District 10.
Mike Trent — Former University of Texas Longhorn Centerfielder. Mike set College World Series record by scoring 4 runs in 1983 game. UT Team won title.
Bo Wayne Weaver--Professional baseball player for Seattle Pilots
Byron Moses Pierce--Co-founder of Texas-Louisiana professional baseball league and the United League of professional baseball.
Shawn Scott — Founder and CEO of Parking Logistics Inc. Creator of the QuickPark parking system.
Seagoville High School:
LaMarcus Aldridge (2004) — professional basketball player for the Portland Trailblazers; former college player for the University of Texas and finalist for the John R. Wooden Award for best male college basketball player[8]
Skyline High School:
Brian Berkeley '74, co-designer of Apple Macintosh II computer
Brent Bourgeois '74, Christian rock musician and producer
"Cowboy Troy" Coleman '89, country music artist
Terry Crouch '77, NFL football player
Julie Dam '89, People magazine senior editor and "chick lit" author
Deryl Dodd '82, country music artist
Richard Dominguez '79, comic book artist
Kyle Gann '73, postclassical composer and music critic
Peri Gilpin '79, actress (best known as "Roz Doyle" on Frasier)
Chris Holt '90, major league baseball player
Steve Holy '90, country music singer
Tim Jackson '85, NFL football player
Larry Johnson '87, NBA basketball star
Michael Johnson '86, world and Olympic champion sprinter
Mark Michnevitz '97, renowned scientist and engineer
Dante Jones '83, NFL football player
Gentry Little '82, Texas HS Sportscaster of 2006, recently called his 800th game on radio
Lanham Lyne '72, mayor of Wichita Falls, Texas
Anthony McSpadden '88, Internationally known Classical Music broadcast personality and program director
Calvin "C. J." Miles, Jr. '05, NBA basketball player
(Neal) Keith Miller '80, major league baseball player
Allen Rossum '94, NFL football player
Michael Weiss '76, jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, recording artist
Rodney "London" Williams '91, entertainment executive
Antonio Wilson '95, NFL football player
South Oak Cliff High School:
Darrell Arthur class of 2006; plays for Kansas Jayhawks
Tony Battie class of 1994; plays in the NBA for the Orlando Magic[7]
LaTarence Dunbar, class of 1998; former player for the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans[7]
Delrick Johnson, class of 1996; former player for the Wichita Aviators indoor football league
Chryste Gaines, Olympic sprinter[7]
Rod Jones, NFL player[7]
Dennis Rodman former NBA Player[7]
Harvey Martin, former Dallas Cowboy
Lincoln "Link" Browder class of 1983; R&B singer, songwriter & producer has written songs for Gerald Levert, LSG "My Body", Silk, Next, Kut Klose, etc. Also has released two solo albums.
Jack Nance actor
Spruce High School:
Maceo Baston (1993) - Toronto Raptors forward; played basketball at Michigan[10]
Cedric Bonner (football player) (1997) - Former NFL Atlanta Falcons (2005) receiver[10]
Jitter Fields (1980) - Former Saints, Colts and Chiefs defensive back (1984, 1987); played for UT[10]
C.J. Richardson (1991) - Former Arizona Cardinals safety (1995); played collegiately at Miami[10]
Stevin Smith (1990) - Former Dallas Mavericks (1997) guard[10]
Charles Washington (1984) - Former NFL defensive back[10]
Sunset High School:
Film and broadway actress Louise Latham was in the Class of 1940 and voted Most Likely to Succeed.
40's film star Linda Darnell also attended Sunset and was a member of the class of June, 1941.
Wimberly Goodman (Class of '36), aka Henry Calvin, played Sergeant Garcia in the Walt Disney TV series "Zorro".
Golf great Don January graduated in 1947.
Jerry Rhome quarterbacked the Bison football team '59-'61. He was a back-up quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys for almost a decade, and is currently one of the most highly respected quarterback coaches in the NFL.
Former NFL players Don Goss (Cleveland Browns) *Novelist and journalist Billy Lee Brammer was a member of the Class of '48.
Texas Rangers batting coach Rudy Jaramillo was a member of the class of 1970.
John Cerminaro '65 has served as principal horn player of the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
Terry Southern, author of "Candy", "The Magic Christian", and other novels; was screenwriter on "Easy Rider", "Dr. Strangelove" and other notable movies; contributed to scripts on "Saturday Night Live" in the early 1980s; and taught writing at NYU and Columbia Universities in the 80s and 90s, was a member of the class of 1942. He died in 1995.
W.T. White High School
Jean Barrett — former NFL football player
Trey Beamon — former Major League Baseball player
David Beecroft (1974) — television actor
Susan Lieberman Dell philanthropist; http://www.msdf.org/about/bio.aspx?id=40
Karen Hughes — United States Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
Calvin Murray — former Major League Baseball player
Ramon Nunez — professional soccer player
Johnny Simmons — actor
Scott Verplank (1982) — professional golfer
Woodrow Wilson High School:
Len Akin 1934, professional football player
Tim Brown 1984, professional football player and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner[10]
Georgia Carroll Kyser 1937, model for 1936 Texas Centennial "Spirit of the Centennial" statue, former actress, model and widow of band leader Kay Kyser
Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler 1940, Dallas philanthropist[10]
Trammell Crow 1932, major Dallas builder and real estate mogul[10]
Jack Evans 1940, former mayor of Dallas
Bill Forester 1949, professional football player
Eddie Garcia 1978, professional football player
Burton Gilliam 1956, actor
Jerry Haynes 1944, actor and former children's television host[10]
Dusty Hill 1967, member of ZZ Top
Curley Johnson 1954, professional football player
William Kieschnick 1940, retired CEO of ARCO
Sergio Kindle 2006, current Texas Longhorns football player
Alton Lister 1976, professional basketball player[10]
Mario Martinez 1963, inventor of the frozen margarita and restaurateur
William C. McCord, former CEO of ENSERCH Corporation (now Atmos Energy)
John McCrumbly 1971, professional football player
Steve Miller 1961, musician Steve Miller Band
Buddy Minyard 1930, head of the Minyard/Carnival chain of groceries
Ken Morris 1968, co-founder of PeopleSoft
Davey O'Brien 1935, professional football player and 1938 Heisman Trophy winner[10]
William H. Seay 1936, retired CEO of Southwestern Life Insurance Company
Joe Shearin 1978, professional football player
Carroll Shelby 1940, racecar driver
George N. Zarafonetis 1937, developer of the credit card[10]
Four U.S. Congressmen, including Rep. Sam Johnson [11]
One Postmaster General of the United States
One Attorney General of Texas
One recent Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Two Dallas mayors
Preston Hollow Elementary School:
Jenna Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush - Daughters of U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush; Laura Bush served on Preston Hollow's PTA while the Bush twins attended Preston Hollow[18][19]
Booker T. Washington High School:
Norah Jones[10]
Erykah Badu[11]
Elizabeth Mitchell[12]
Frank LoCrasto[13]
Edie Brickell
Zac Baird (Keyboardist for KoRn)
Roy Hargrove
Jay Hennig (Flutist of The Best Band Ever)
Aaron Comess (Drummer for The Spin Doctors)
Ross Edgerley[14]
Tough Luck (All Female Band)
Jennifer Delilah [3]
"Kool" Kel Sanders
Darryl B. Sneed (Dallas Black Dance Theater)
Andrea "Sid" Curtis[15]
Ernie Banks, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame, Booker T. Washington High School class of 1950
Shannon Bishop
Bill Blair, Negro League baseball pitcher and newspaper publisher, BTWHS
Keith Loftis Saxophonist
Sara Kidd-Kitto Theater class of 1982
Jessica Mejia Theatre class of 2006
[Ed Note: Impressive list. These folks could certainly help.]
Website down
This website is off-line. What happened?
Vote No Threatened (Not)
According to the DMN Blog site, they were threatened with legal action?
[Ed Note: No, they weren't threatened. Please read the updated article (above).]
Bond: I Don't Know
You know I don't know about this bond program. So many people are against it and all about making a stand against the school board and their current practices. But in the long run, the school board are still going to do what they want and they are going to take the district on the bumpy road to broad.
So in essence by voting against the bond, aren't we punishing the students who would benefit from the bond (regardless of where they live), the staff who would benefit (regardless of where they work)and the future students of DISD?
I dunno...I guess I can see both sides of the issue but I would hate for the kids to be punished because of the way people feel about the board.
[Ed Note: Well that's one way to look at it. Another might be that you don't believe this administration is ready to handle that kind of money--and that we need another year to get past the scandals.]
Vote NO!
We see your point.
Our point is to make a point to the leaders at the DISD to come out with a bond package that will benefit every student in the district and get them out of over crowded schools. The election is in May. Lets VOTE NO! Lets get them to get off their butts and get something put together that everyone can feel comfortable with that every student will benefit from and get the over crowded at the schools taken care of. Even if it delays everything six to twelve months it will be well worth it in the long run.
No Residency Requirement--No Bond Issue
Hinojosa is pulling his usual stunts while the board plays dead. Why ask taxpayers here to foot the bill on the bond issue while top execs refuse to put their own children in these schools? If they think this district is not appropriate for their own families, they need to find employment somewhere else.
And who tops the list for a waiver, but Ms. Olson. Cut her loose and send Hinojosa packing.
[Ed Note: I thought Col. Olson lived in DISD--she had an apartment here at one time. Is that not the case?]
Olson's House
Ask Olson where her PRIMARY address is. Ask her if she has an apartment in Dallas, how can she be on the school board of a place in Tarrant County?
There should be a rule that if you serve on a board, you cannot WORK for another district.
[Ed Note: Yes, this issue is going to heat up, isn't it...]
FOI Requests on Employee Addresses
Can't you do a FOI request and just verify if she lives where she claims?
[Ed Note: You can go to http://dallascad.org and maybe get lucky. Addresses are exempted from disclosure. However the folks who have filed for exemptions are telling the Superintendent they don't live in the District.]
Residency
There used to be a rule in the DISD that all principals had to live in the DISD boundaries. When my mother-in-law became a principal in the DISD she had to move from her home of 20 years in Richardson. She, of course, followed the rules set and moved into the DISD. If this is still the case, shouldn't our administrators be held to the standards set for our principals?
Link to DISD Residency Waivers
courtesy of the DMN
link
I agree, VOTE NO. Make sure
I agree, VOTE NO.
Make sure that the Board and the DISD executive staff cannot just keep ignoring the public--the taxpayers, the parents and the teachers--and the students--- and expect more money.
It is absurd to give money to an organization that ignores the desires of the ones with the money.
Vote No
Until the Dallas ISD treat it's teachers with respect we should all Vote No.
Until the Dallas ISD Administrators learns to treats its teachers with respect we should all Vote No.
Teachers at Roosevelt High School are catching heck from its administrators and being retaliated against for speaking up for them selves. Some teachers jobs are threaten every day and the DISD executive staff seems to support the wrongdoing of it high school administrators at Roosevelt High School. We can only be pushed in the corner for so long before we come out fighting.
Many of our female teachers are being sexual harassed by the two male assistant principals. Many of the cases have been reported, but once again no assistant principal has been disciplined for their wrongful actions
This is the worst administration I have ever seen at any High School. This school is mis managed and is in need of “Change we can believe in”. Our children want better treatment as well.
If the DISD executive staff keeps ignoring or don't act fast on the issues at Roosevelt High School, someone is going to get seriously hurt at Roosevelt High School. Teachers are fed-up with being dis-respected, mis-treated and their jobs are threaten every day by an administrators staff at Roosevelt High School.
Until the City of Dallas and the Dallas ISD give us “Change we can believe in” I would like to encourage all teachers and community leaders to Vote No on the Bond Election and help me in pass the alone the word. “Vote No”.
Thanks,
a Teacher at Roosevelt High School and I approve this messeage. All we want is "Change in administrators that we can believe in".
EEOC vs Roosevelt
Just remember that what is done in the dark shall come to the light. I loved your message. I am a legal representative and I advise you and your constituencies,at Roosevelt High school, to file a civil systemic lawsuit against the district encompassing all of the said parties (start with the superintendent because he has acknowledgement of the case and has refused to take action against the parties involved). You can also contact the EEOC (equal employment opportunity commission). It is a government agency that protects the rights of an employee who has been sexually harassed or discriminated against in the work force. The Dallas District Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is open on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Please call 1-800-669-4000, for general information. You can visit the office during the hours noted above. Members of the public usually are seen on a first come, first serve basis.
“Hold on and hold tight because justice will prevail.”
[Ed Note: You're a lawyer?]
Attention Roosevelt Administrators
To all of your teachers---the next time a male adminstrator sexually harasses you, do one of two things:
1. Yell OUT LOUD! Say, "Why are you harassing me?" QUOTE what they said, OUT LOUD.
2. Kick them where it hurts. What will they do? After they get their out of their throats, they can call the police, but you already went to the cops to report a feeling that they were about to attack you.
DO NOT TAKE IT! Imagine what you would tell your daughter to do... then do it yourself.
[Ed Note: I would *never* advise anyone to get physical with someone else--for any reason. Not in this day and age. Very bad advice.]
Not bad advice
Allen, if a man came up to your wife or daughter and harassed them, what would you tell them to do?
Plus, the ones who have [let's watch our language please] always seem to get nervous when a woman offers the advice of hitting another man in his. Too bad. He can keep his package if he keeps his mouth shut.
[Ed Note: Yes, but in this day and age, you're much better off calling the cops and letting them deal with it. That being said, if someone physically harmed a member of my family, my response might well be, well, a bit different. But your original point is well taken. It's just not advice I would give.]
They are [censored], Allen
Allen, you prude.
You print "stomach," "arm," or "leg," but not [censored]? Come on. I wanted to write [censored], but you knew that wouldn't fly--well, until someone kicks you in them.
Also, you can't call the cops if you are sexually harassed. That is a civil complaint.
[Ed Note: I'm not printing the word [censored] on a family-oriented website! Let's come up with another word like "hoo hah" or something.
You are correct. Sexual Harassment is a civil complaint. But if you put it in writing and direct it to the District, they won't blow it off. If they do, send US a copy of the complaint and we'll help you from there.]
Vote No Website Gone
At 9 am 3/7/2008 tried to visit the website and was sent to some off the wall national voters site.
Any ideas?
[Ed Note: Yes, they took it down because in order to be in compliance with Texas Ethics laws, they needed to put "Political Advertising paid for by " and they chose not to do it.]
HPISD vs DISD
Take a look at the highpark website about their bond package that is also being voted on May 10th.
http://www.hpisd.org/
http://www.hpisd.org/SearchResults/hpisd/BondIssue/tabid/2524/Default.as...
Where is this same info on the DISD Bond page for their election on May 10th??
See Below From Their Website:
Bond Issue - May 10
HPISD School Board Calls for May 10 Bond Election - February 19, 2008
Voting Information:
April 10: Last day to register to vote
April 28-May 6: Early voting
Polling locations:
HPISD Administration Building, 7015 Westchester Dr.
Highland Park Town Hall*, 4700 Drexel Dr.
University Park City Hall*, 3800 University Blvd.
May 2: Last day to apply for ballot by mail
May 10: Election day.
Polling location: Highland Park Middle School, 3555 Granada St.
*If the municipalities of HP and UP cancel their elections, the HPISD Administration Building will be the only early voting location
Presentation: Facilities Committee Recommendation to the Board of Trustees - November 29, 2007
Printer Friendly Version of Presentation
Letter to the Community - October 9, 2007
Preliminary Tax Rate Impact Analysis - February 19, 2008
Preliminary Tax Rate Impact Analysis - November 26, 2007
Preliminary Tax Rate Impact Analysis - September 5, 2007
Board of Trustees Meetings
January 16, 2007 - Agenda - Charge to the Facilties Committee
November 26, 2007 - Called Meeting - Agenda - Facilities Committee Report
December 13, 2007 - Called Meeting - Agenda
January 8, 2008 - Called Meeting - Agenda
January 21, 2008 - Called Meeting - Agenda
January 31, 2008 - Called Meeting - Agenda
February 4, 2008 - Called Meeting - Agenda
February 6, 2008 - Called Meeting - Agenda
February 19, 2008 - Called Meeting - Agenda - Additional Resources
Facilities Committee Meetings
March 6, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
March 20, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
April 3, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
April 17, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
May 1, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
May 15, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
June 20, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
September 5, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
September 19, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
October 3, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
October 17, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
October 29 and 30, 2007 - Agenda - Click HERE to watch the Facilities Committee forum.
November 7, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
November 13, 2007 - Agenda - Notes from Meeting
Facilities Committee Resources
Preliminary Tax Rate Impact Analysis - February 19, 2008
Tax Impact Analysis for Recommended Bond Issue - November 26, 2007
Summary of Estimates by Category
Detailed List of Estimates
Demographic Committee Report - Harner's
Demographic Report from Parents to Board
RBC Capital Report - September 5, 2007
SHW Comprehensive Facility Capacity Study - available at HPISD Administration Building.
Punishing Students
I again point out....you are not punishing the school board and/or administrators. You are punishing the students and low level staff that will benefit from the bond.
If these people don't want to live here and don't live here than what do they care if you support the bond. They still get their 6 figure salary regardless.
I urge each of you to think about the kids involved. Think of the teachers who are sharing classrooms or floating from one to the other with their materials stacked on an old overheard cart.
On a side note, I would love to know the racial makeup of the people who are so dead set against the bond on this forum. I'm afraid that it might be drastically caucasian and living up north.
[Ed Note: Just out of curiosity, who do you feel got punished by the credit card debacle?]
Punishing Students
Reply to punishing students. The people who are voting against the bond are split racially, so your comment does not hold. We are all against taxpayer money being wasted.
It is that simple. Forty-four years and all bond elections have passed, the School Board needs to be held accountable.
Who Got Punished?
The honest students and teachers got punished because it became next to impossible to get equipment and supplies while that investigation was ongoing. Even now, it still takes a significant amount of time to get needed supplies.
[Ed Note: You're leaving out parents (taxpayers) who must replace that money--intended for educating our kids.]
The kids ultimatly get
The kids ultimaetly get punished because that was money that should have been spent on you.
My personal opinion is that every single person who misused a P-Card should have been fired, and then arrested. However I am also a realist and know that the evidence was washed awy with time.
They really should have asked my opinion, we would have made the FBI earn our tax dollars.
[Ed Note: Again, the District spent $1M dollars investigating the top 200 spenders--while blaming the whole matter on a lower-level manager who had no authority to make changes to the program. To our knowledge, no one else has been examined or punished. The Sherri Brokaw lawsuit may well provide some very interesting reads.]
Brokaw broke policy
Sorry to break the myth that Brokaw was simply the patsy for the Pcard debacle. Read her deposition, and she also violated policy. Read other Pcard offenders' depositions, and it is clear that she gave flawed advice to them on the rules for spending taxpayers' monies.
If she felt she couldn't do her job, why did she continue to draw a paycheck from DISD? She was totally incompetent, and if she were really overwhelmed and couldn't do her job, she should have quit and made the public aware of what was going on.
Instead, like every other scam in this district, the whole situation was just ignored and then given a million dollar spackle job. If this web site hadn't alerted the public, I am quite sure taxpayers' money for children would still be flowing into local retailers' pockets or to Walmart's gift card department.
The problem is some principals with no principles are still on their campuses like nothing happened, and the public's memory on this fiasco is going to be very long.
The question on everyone's mind is why this "reform board" does nothing but rubber stamp the superintendent's agenda. There is very little difference between this administration and those of the crooks before him.
[Ed Note: Once again: Brokaw was not guilty of what they accused her of (and her level 3 hearing [kangaroo court] proved it). She was not the one responsible for the procurement card debacle.
She may have violated policy, but her offenses didn't rise to the level of the public humiliation and termination she received. I hope her ongoing federal lawsuit produces some interesting material for this website.]
I Floated and It's Still NO
I toated things up one set of stairs and down another and floated from class to class for years. When the time came to fix the roof in that building, the bond money was misused, and the roof leaked worse than it did before it was fixed. It's time to put a hard stop in place.
The Board can propose another bond issue in November after the public has time to read and digest the audit report which will probably state that the monies stolen through misuse of the Pcard will have to be repaid by the taxpayers in this district. Since Ms. Olson et al don't live here, that will not be inclusive of them.
There is absolutely nothing to indicate this bond money will be handled in a more appropriate, efficient, and effective manner than the billions before it.
If you think no more teachers will be floating as a result of this bond money, then you are totally out of touch with the reality of DISD. There will always be teachers floating, and there will always be acres of portables. This is about transparency, accountability, and integrity.
Other than being very responsive to the needs of athletes through wasting even more money on an athletic policy audit, this administration very intentionally ignores the input they are receiving from the public regarding the sloppiness of their fiscal housekeeping, the grade changing done by principals who are still at their schools, and the low morale of many teachers.
Instead, Hinojosa uses his time to seek a waiver to violate district policy that was in place when these administrators signed contracts. And the argument against the bond issue comes right back to this example and the continual violation of the public's trust.