Live Blog: Board Meeting - June 26, 2008
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 17:08.
10:10 - BOARD RECESSES AS GILLIAM SUPPORTERS SHOUT AT THE BOARD! DISD POLICE MAKE AN ENTRANCE! PRICE IS FURIOUS!
DISD gets scathing presentation from Deloitte...
FIREWORKS over limiting speakers on the topic of the Kathlyn Gilliam Administration Building!
Board unlimits speakers on the budget!
Shouting erupts as the Spence issue is being debated!
5:06 and we're off with the budget meeting. This is the meeting before the real meeting. Eric Anderson is giving a budget update to the board.
There was a gaggle of teachers here, complete with black shirts and a coffin, protesting the teacher pay cuts.
The auditorium is packed and we're guaranteed an interesting evening. So refresh and scroll down often...
Anderson forecasts $10M increased costs associated with energy costs. Also, expect an increase in the information technology budget to make sure that all the kids are appropriately connected to information.
5:14 - Aimee Bolender is up. The topic: teacher salaries and pay cuts/raises. 80% of the auditorium are teachers and they're all standing.
"They need a 4% pay raise."
Several teachers are signed up to speak on the topic. Suggestions abound on how to save money and pay for raises for teachers.
Next speaker is Jose Hernandez: "I'm speaking on behalf of our teachers and support staff." "Without [our teachers] we wouldn't be on the cover of Newsweek."
Hernandez suggested "flatline administration's budget and eliminate more administrative positions."
Dale Kaiser, President of NEA/Dallas: "Trustees, we're here to [talk about] a $1,000,000 budget." Kaiser closed by reading a long list of expenditures to other non-teacher types; consultants, administrators, outside counsel etc.
5:29 - The first meeting is adjourned (the special meeting to consider the budget). The 5:30 meeting (the real board meeting) will start shortly.
5:35 - And the "real" meeting is rolling.
Tonight, the board will address the budget, the audit and a whole bunch of other things. The auditorium is still packed.
Ooh, Board President Jack Lowe points out local policy that limits speakers to 15 minutes (total) when more than 5 speakers are signed up to speak.
One very hot topic will be renaming the Administration building after long-time activist and former board member Kathlyn Gilliam. There are 24 speakers. Carla Ranger proposed suspending board policy and allowing all speakers to speak.
The motion dies for lack of a second!!
Lowe is advising the group to get together and figure out who is going to speak. This doesn't resonate well with some of the audience members.
"If you want to get together and figure it out, you can--you can do as you wish," said Lowe.
There is much grumbling and shouting.
Garza proposed changing the 15 minutes to 30 minutes. Didn't sit well.
Lew Blackburn suggested letting more speakers speak for 2 minutes instead of 3.
This was soundly rejected by the crowd. "Let them speak; let them speak; let them speak," the crowd is chanting.
The current proposal is to limit total time to 30 minutes, and each speaker for 2.
Ranger proposes allowing elected officials to speak for 3 minutes, instead of two--extending the total time to 39 minutes (3 elected officials).
One official pointing out is Harryette Ehrhardt. Garza points out that Ehrhardt is no longer an elected official. Ranger claims irrelevance. "Once an elected official, always an elected official." Oh my.
Ironically, they've spent more time debating the mechanics of the 30 minute policy than would have been saved by just doing it!
OK, looks like we're going to do it. Here it is: mere mortals have 30 minutes at 2 minutes apiece. Current and former elected officials will have 3 minutes outside the 30 minute period.
The vote: 5-2 and the Gilliam issue has 39 minutes!
5:54 - Now we're in to the Superintendent's report. Flipping through Powerpoint slides with 8 pt. fonts (very small fonts, very large amounts of information).
But at least the crowd has calmed down and doesn't appear to want to throw things anymore. . .just wait until everyone who wasn't in the audit committee meeting hears about the results of the audit!
6:02 - There is a veritable smorgasbord of elected officials in the audience from former Council member Al Lipscomb to former Board member SeGwen Tyler.
Up next is Ron Price with the education briefing.
Ron's talking about day care providers and their role in helping the District. Ron's wife owns a chain of day care centers.
Edwin Flores gave the business briefing, and it's on to Leigh Ann Ellis and the policy briefing.
Leigh Ann has dedicated herself to the painful task of going through every policy in the District's policy manual--a painful process, but something that needs to be done. Not a glamorous job, but something that will have a huge payoff for the District.
6:10 - Harryette Ehrhardt is up on the Kathryn Gilliam issue. "There is no one better fit for the naming of this building than Kathlyn Gilliam."
Harryette is giving Gilliam's long history of service to the community.
"I don't know what the district would have looked like if it wasn't for [people like Kathlyn Gilliam]."
Harryette pointed out that Kathlyn Gilliam served all of Dallas--not just South Dallas.
Up next is a tearful Carolyn Davis, City Council member. "Ms. Gilliam fought many [...] long nights making sure we get a fair treatment in a system that wasn't fair to us."
One question we've had is why anyone would want an administration building named after them--especially this administration building! It strikes me as something akin to the Kent Fischer Office of Professional Responsibility (sorry Kent, couldn't resist!).
6:19 - Now we're on back to the teacher pay issue. Speakers will be limited to 15 minutes total. Maureen Peters is up. Again, 80% of the auditorium is standing.
"Have Dallas Achieves pay for [all of the] Dallas Achieves stuff."
Next up, David Crowell. He's a salesman trying to sell the District some ERP (financial) software. At a board meeting. Oops, he's stumbling.
Good timing, though, to bring the pitch to the Board on the day a scathing audit report is released. One thing Crowell said that made sense: have a bake-off with respect to accounting software. A "bake off" is where you get a bunch of vendors together, get a set of test data, and see how well each software package processes the data.
Novel concept, but it will never fly at DISD. That's not how decisions are made here. Unfortunately.
Diane Birdwell: "I resent that I have to share time with anyone in my country [with respect to her time being limited]."
"I resent that you don't have time to hear us -- don't run for re-election."
The auditorium erupts with applause and cheers.
Jack Lowe grins.
Jerome Garza is falling asleep.
The speech received a standing ovation. We must get Diane's speech online (do you hear us Diane?)!
Ron Price agreed with Diane. "I don't think it is right to limit speakers [on the budget - and longevity pay specifically]." He made a motion, and the motion passed. So we're not limiting speakers to 15 minutes total.
So what is this longevity pay issue? Simple. Teachers who have been with the District longer than a minimum number of years receive an automatic raise. The District, in trying to not raise taxes, eliminate this raise in favor of trying to distribute grant money to teachers.
Bad timing, though, eh?
More fireworks. Nancy Bingham, in keeping with the trend-du-jour, has asked that speakers on the Spruce High School issue who live within the Spruce boundaries be given 3 minutes.
"This would allow us 27 minutes instead of the 15 minutes given."
The crowd objects: "it ain't right."
Ranger noted that the policy (limiting speakers) needed to be done away with.
So we're on to Spruce with 27 minutes.
The issue: the District wants to move 10th and 11th to Lincoln and Madison, leaving 9th and 12th grade at Spruce. Huh?
A student is making an empassioned plea to the Board not to move the program.
Reportedly, at the town hall meeting to address the issue, administrators censored certain questions posed by parents.
6:50 - Willie Mae Coleman is up regarding Kathlyn Gilliam! Ms. Coleman asked that the Board and administration let the staff who is "running the school, run the school."
Now back to the regularly-scheduled Spence debate already in progress.
The Reverend Ronald Wright is up. He's asking all the kids and parents from H. Grady Spruce. He's slamming the District for the way it is disseminating information to the public.
"This is about these children." "This is about accountability." "This is about the board member who oversees these schools."
Rev. Wright, like the speaker before him, is exceeding his 2 minutes. After each speaker, the official "timekeeper" reports how much time, overall, remains. It will be interesting to see what happens when the hourglass dries.
"My name is Camille Wright and you haven't heard the last of me."
Another angry student is up railing against the plan to split up Spruce.
Al Lipscomb just walked in in his traditional full ceremonial regalia. He's seated in the front row.
7:14 - We're back to the Kathlyn Gilliam issue. The elected officials are going to speak first.
First up, Justice of the Peace Charles Rose. "I have worked hard and labored hard [in this community]." "I think it would be a disservice not to take the opportunity to name this building after Kathlyn Gilliam."
"Ms. Gilliam has paid her dues [...] she is deserving of this."
Judge Thomas Johnson is up. "Tonight I join with others in asking this board to consider [naming this building after] Ms. Gilliam."
Robert Price, former board member is putting in his pitch for Ms. Gilliam. Next up, Al Lipscomb. "I'm very teed off about a Metroplex... [and then goes into a discussion about pregnant Latino mothers]." Weren't we discussing Kathlyn Gilliam?
Al: you're a city treasure. Regardless of what our individual views are, your contributions will be remembered long after you and I are gone.
Al closed with a remark about knowing Ron Price when he still had hair. The audience laughed!
7:42 - Roy Williams is up! He opens with thanks and praise. "We hold the highest regard for Ms. Gilliam." Williams spoke about how Ms. Gilliam served even when she didn't want to. "Ms. Gilliam, we love you for your efforts." "Name this building for a legend in our own time."
7:51 - We're finally to the Consent Agenda. Normally we get to this about 5:45. It's going to be a long evening, but we'll be here through the whole thing.
The Consent Agenda passes without Carla Ranger protesting that the minutes from the last meeting be pulled for a separate vote!
And it's on to the items pulled for separate vote. We believe there will be several that should invoke empassioned discord among the trustees.
Right now, Lew Blackburn is raking the administration over the coals for not providing him details on the budget. "It says that the board adopted the compensation plan... It is not on the agenda... It has not been part of our budget preparations."
"If I ask for information [...] I should get it."
Blackburn asked for a red-lined copy of the budget that contains the changes from last year.
"If I have to go to the Attorney General to enforce [getting the information], I will do it."
Jack Lowe is asking for clarification.
Blackburn noted that the board approved "changes" to the compensation plan. "There are no changes on this agenda."
"Last year I asked for [the plan] and didn't get it. This year, I didn't get it."
Did someone get caught with their hand in the cookie jar?
Carla Ranger tossed in that she'd like to see a budget come with an increase for support staff as well as teachers.
Eric Anderson was asked if the $10M estimate for energy costs was a firm figure or a guess. Short answer: it was a guess.
Jerome Garza is talking about "faith financing." "There are many children who depend on our numbers." "If we're too liberal, we run a deficit."
"If we start earmarking, we're no different than Washington DC!" There was much agreement from the crowd.
Ron Price wants to pass the buck to the County--and ask the County to raise taxes so the District doesn't have to. More or less.
Jack Lowe noted that "the typical taxpayer wants to educate the kids [...] and build a sound financial base here." Lowe noted that giving a bonus could possibly place the District in trouble if some of the estimates are not accurate.
It passes. We'll have more on this amendment called the "hold harmless" amendment. later.
The budget is adopted. Next up... the Spruce ordeal. "Plan A to reorganize Spruce."
Discussion? Yes, Lew Blackburn. "Leave the students at home [Spruce] but do what we should have done." Blackburn apparently wants to modify the "Plan A" to add features from "Plan B" to "Plan A." Confusing? It's all on the District website here.
Jerome Garza asked Blackburn if he had put a dollar amount to the budget impact. "When do we talk about how much it costs to save kids," asked Blackburn? Applause erupts from the audience.
Ron Price notes that the Spruce issue is an emotional issue and that he's not supporting Blackburn's motion. Price noted that if the students at Spruce doesn't gain academically, the school will be closed in a year--if Blackburn's motion passes.
Spruce is academically unacceptable and has been for 4 years. "If we go with this proposal, and the students don't gain 30 points in 1 year, then the school will be closed."
Audience members are screaming to put the resources into Spruce and arguing back and forth with Price.
Jack Lowe noted that if "we can't have order, we're going to recess to another room."
"We are here to help," noted Price. "Your challenge is not with [DISD], it is with the commissioner." Price noted if Spruce is academically unacceptable for a 5th year, it will be closed down by the Commissioner.
This is a big issue.
Hinojosa noted that this proposal in an intervention to keep Spruce from being shut down. Hinojosa is hot under the collar. "If we don't take drastic action today, there will be no Spruce in a year." "We are trying to be preventive because our other interventions haven't worked." "We are in desperate times."
Carla Ranger noted that she was going to support Blackburn's motion--which, in essence, leaves Spruce unchanged. Ranger also said that it was inappropriate for a board member to be criticized for his or her view on an issue.
Really? Isn't discourse a part of the democratic process?
Price reiterated that Spruce must get a 30 point gain in one year. "We don't have the resources to take on 1400 kids--many of who are repeaters in the 9th grade."
"We want to help!" "But we can't help everybody!" "We know this will affect our scores [...] but we want to help."
Leigh Ann Ellis pointed out that Spruce had 4 principals in 3 years. "I think it is time we rolled our sleeves up [and address the issue]."
Jack Lowe said that "if we don't go with Plan A, Spruce will be closed down a year from today."
Price said that he would support Blackburn's proposal if kids would be distributed more evenly to other schools if Spruce is closed a year from now.
Blackburn's proposition failed. So Price offered an amendment that, if the reorganization plan fails (Plan A), to exclude them from Lincoln and Madison.
Will Spruce be reorganized?
Keep in mind, we are still on item "3" out of "16." Long meeting. Very contentious.
9:22 - Price has made a motion that only students who have appropriate credits may go to Lincoln or Madison if Spruce fails.
Carla Ranger raised an issue as to whether or not it is legal to discriminate against a student based on academic performance.
"We can make a decision tonight," said Jack Lowe, "if it's illegal, we can change it [later]." The audience disagreed.
Now it's evolving into a "staffing at Spruce" discussion.
Uh oh, now we're into transportation costs. It will cost $700,000 to bus students to Lincoln and Madison.
Ron Price's amendment passes.
9:43 and we're moving on. Approval of a contingency plan for academically unacceptable schools. But we haven't gotten to the Kathlyn Gilliam issue.
10:00 - We're on to the motion to rename the Central Administration Building to the "Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Educational Support Center".
Carla Ranger is calling this a "matter of the heart." About 80% of the people who started out in the auditorium have left. But there are still some die-hards.
Nancy Bingham asked Ron Price to clarify a proposal of his to name a school after Ms. Gilliam. Price said he would consider it if the proposal to rename the adminstration building after her fails.
Al Lipscomb is not happy with Ron Price.
Garza said he would be supportive of naming a school after Ms. Gilliam (translation: "no").
Carla Ranger gets the floor back and insists the administration building be named after Ms. Gilliam.
The vote: FAIL! The administration building will not be named after Ms. Gilliam.
Supporters are not happy and shout at the Board! Jack Lowe recesses the Board as the police come in to break it up!
Words are being exchanged with Ron Price who is shouting back!
Price is furious! He's slamming his fist down on the table.
10:23 - The Board is back.
10:34 - After a few more contentious moments, we're on to the "speakers on non-agenda items." This marathon meeting should wrap up shortly, but stick around in case there are any surprises.
NO! Willie Hopkins was supposed to speak, but apparently left the auditorium after the Gilliam debate.
Uh oh, there's another mild disruption when a woman insisted on letting her son speak. Jack Lowe informed her that the son could not speak unless he had signed up to speak.
Now there's another speaker railing against the Board for its policies on limiting discussion and the way the Board handled Spruce. "All you want to do is bend us over and violate us." "You don't respect us." "You failed us at Spruce."
Send a Letter to TEA
Parents send this person a letter:
Mrs. Mavis Best Knight
Texas State Board of Education Member
P. O. Box 763337
Dallas, TX 75376
RE: Dallas Independent School District Public: Our cry for help!
Here is a sample of what I sent:
Dear Texas State Board of Education Member,
(or) Dear Texas Education Agency),
Please hear our cry for help! The following is a sampling of what is being said, and done, within the Dallas Independent School District. Parents and educators alike are perplexed at why this situation is being driven so out of control and with what appears to be no limitation or standards for control over the school board administration personnel. Elected or not, standard behavior, respect, honesty, with care and control over taxed monies being abused. At every attempt to bring answers forefront there has been a change to policy within this district to accommodate the administration, not the students, not the parents (tax payers), not the teachers or school administrators.
Send letters, or call Mrs. Mavis Best Knight, SBOE District 13 at (214) 333-9575
Parental involvement
Bryan Adams Marching Band
The following petition is circulating around the BA community:
We, the Bryan Adams Band would like to inform you that the administration of Bryan Adams High School has made the executive decision to enforce a new band uniform. The Bryan Adams Cougar Marching Band has been known for it's original green and white stripes since the early 1970's. The community recognizes us as the 'green and white band'. If we lose our uniform we will also lose our identity along with the recognition that we and those before us have worked so hard to achieve and maintain. Our band uniform and show band marching style are what set us apart from every other high school band in the city and region. Although our uniform is not like the standard uniforms you see today, it's uniqueness is what distinguishes us. We believe it's what makes us who and what we are.
We, the undersigned, are aware of the attempt by the Bryan Adams administration to change the Bryan Adams Band uniform without adequate cause nor input from the community. Further, we the undersigned, are in support of keeping the unique and original green and white stripe uniform. We agree that a different uniform is unnecessary and by signing, give permission to have our support made public though any and all means deemed necessary to publicize this issue.
We appreciate your support for this issue and thank you for supporting The Bryan Adams Cougar Band.
http://baaa.org/boards/index.php/topic,52.0/prev_next,next.html#new
BA Band Uniform
NOOOOOOOOOO!
The BA Band uniform is a great Dallas tradition and a neat show. What moron would ever change it.
Tradition vs Change
The purpose of tradition is to hold a group together.
The purpose of a band is to play.
Can those two become one, certainly.
But have you looked at Bryan Adams' enrollment, looked at their faces? MOST of the kids at BA never had parents who went there, much less who were in the band. Many who would be in the band refuse because of the current uniform. Once, the BA Band covered a field from end zone to end zone. Now, when they take the field, people ask, "Where is the rest of the band?"
The kids are teased mercilessly by the other sides at games. Tradition is great, but teenagers are still aware of being the target of humiliating gestures and comments. While it would be wonderful for them to rise above it and ignore it, they are still kids.
The band is tiny now. All this love for the past is great, but is it worse to mourn the loss of a uniform or the band itself? If that band gets below a certain number, it will cease to exist, plain and simple. What is the greater problem, looks or existence?
The BA uniform is based on SMU's from 1971. Even SMU doesn't use that uniform anymore, and they still have a thriving band, made up of students whose parents wore the other uniforms.
It is great that the BA alumni care about the uniform, but do they walk the halls and help that campus with the kids there now? How many are there to tutor or sponsor events? Do they go to the junior highs to recruit new members for the band, a time when most kids--8th graders-- make that decision on whether or not to go to Townview, Skyline or Bryan Adams? (Not the current band parents, the ones who are howling about how it was 30 years ago...) Many home games for Bryan Adams have less than eighty or a hundred people in the stands. Where are all these alumni? Do they actually come to the games NOW?--Not homecoming, the North Dallas game or the Smauell game.
Does anyone know the name of the actual person who started the petition? It would be interesting to know how much they actually knew or did not know before shooting it off into cyberspace. I am always suspect about an anonymous petition.
Thanks to budget cuts, most kids don't know how to play an instrument. That is true in all schools. Maybe the success of the band is more important than how it looks. Maybe the kid is more important than the hat.
BA alumni
I can tell you that for at least the past two years many of the alumni from the 80's attended the BA/Skyline football game. It had become an annual event. However, this year they are not playing Skyline. We are considering changing the annual game to see the BA/Lynch game, but it hasn't been decided yet.
BA-Skyline get together
Yea, I went to both events, and I thought they were great. Although I teach at BA, I graduated from Skyline. The mini-reunions were great, since so many of the kids from both schools had gone to the same junior highs in the early 70-80's.
However, with BAHS dropping to 4A, the game between Skyline and BA is gone.
So, are you saying that the get together with SKYLINE alumni would happen at a Lynch game? Doesn't seem logical to me...
BA Band
I think the thought was that the get together would be that night and the BA alum would go to the BA/BL game. We definitely want to continue the tradition, but the game thing threw a wrench in plans. The game may not be a part of the event at all. Not really sure, but I think the party location is going to change, too.
Birdwell: Real Scoop on BA Band
Well, this bit of news caught me off guard, so I went by Bryan Adams this afternoon to find out the real story.
Mrs. Goodsell has received many phone calls and emails about this uniform issue, and she sincerely appreciates the genuine interest by alumni in how our school is doing.
At this time, mid-July, the traditional green-and-white striped uniform has NOT been replaced. They can still wear that uniform this fall. However, while the school's enrollment has dropped to 4-A level for sports, our band is the size of a 2A school! At the end of last year, we had about 40-50 members. Why has this occurred?
Well, Conrad HS opened, and we have fewer students. A check on valid residency in the BA zone was made, and our numbers dropped again. So, BAHS is sitting at around 1,650 for enrollment. By logic, our band will have shrunk, but there is an additional problem.
Some students who were interested in attending BAHS and being in our band really did not care for the "traditional" uniforms. Those who are in the BA band mostly do like them. So, there is a problem. How do you hold on to tradition, and yet, stay open to changing tastes? A change in the reordering schedule has allowed an option to supplement, NOT replace, the uniforms. So, what does that all mean? The band will remain in the traditional uniforms this year.
When the current band students return in August, a conversation will begin on how to balance tradition with change. The bottom line is, however, how do we bring up the numbers?
BA Band
How do you know there are going to be new uniforms? Is it posted anywhere, or did the parents get a letter about buying new ones?
BA Band
I would bet that most of the alumnae from BA have received this email. I've received it several times, seen it on myspace, classmates.com, and the BA alumnae site. I have sent my letter protesting this decision. The BA band uniform is a tradition. It's one of the only things that links the past to the present.
I also heard the principal painted over the mural in the cafeteria. It had been there since the early 70's. I don't see how these changes are positive or academically focused. I would think that should be the focus of the administration!
Adding an additional BA band uniform
I spoke with Mrs. Goodsell on Tuesday regarding clarification of the band uniforms for the 08-09 school year. The following is her response:
The DISD Fine Arts Dept has offered to purchase an additional jacket and hat to be worn with one of the two pairs of slacks already ordered for the band students. This means, these students will be the only DISD high school with three band uniforms. The traditional green and white, the concert black pants and blazer and the new jacket and hat. This of which has not been ordered yet. The students will have the opportunity to pick this themselves.
All this means is that the students will wear different uniforms depending on the events. For example, the green and white for the Homecoming game and the new jacket and hat to the football game against Lincoln HS. I hope this will provide clarification, if not please feel free to call me.
Thank you,
Cindy Goodsell
Bryan Adams Principal
[Ed Note: Thanks Sheri... I've posted this as a front page item.]
3 Uniforms and no instruments
Let me get this straight, BA will now have 3 uniforms when a choir teacher didn't have a piano for an entire semester? Am I missing something or are the priorities of the Fine Arts Department and the Northeast Area a little off base? What other things are teachers going to do without so that this band can have 3 uniforms? Oh, wait, they will have to do without pay, raises, art and music supplies, and probably many other things. Maybe the district should look at purchasing necessary items before purchasing luxory items. Additionally, students who are homeless, students who have just moved to the US as refugees and other low income students are only provided with 2 (TWO) uniforms and those have to be worn every day. Maybe the BA band could share their third uniform with some of these students. We all know that those polyester uniforms last longer. Maybe we should change the required DISD uniform to a polyester blend and let's make sure we don't forget the elastic bands.
[Ed Note: I'm really not following your logic here.]
Polyester uniforms
Ok, let me break it down for you....
1. The BA band will now have 3 uniforms ...... teachers work without necessary supplies including instruments.
2. A 3rd uniform would be a LUXURY......supplies and salaries are necessities.
3. Again, a 3rd uniform would be a LUXURY.....uniforms for homeless children, refugees and low income families are necessities.
4. Once again, a 3rd uniform is a LUXURY.....the district will provide only 2 uniforms per year for the above mentioned students. (the process is a pain to complete too)
5. Band uniforms are usually made of NASTY POLYESTER .....the school uniforms provided for the above mentioned students are of VERY poor quality and thus do not hold up very well under the pressures that they are put through every second day.
6. Polyester lasts FOREVER (don't believe me? look in most 70 year old ladies closets or take a trip to the Goodwill).......the cotton school uniforms are easily damaged and do not last very long.
7. The "OLD" band uniforms are "nostalgic".......so are polyester and elastic band waists.
8. If we supplied students with polyester uniforms with elastic band waists, they would last forever AND the waist band would grow with them......THUS..... leaving more money for instruments, supplies and raises.
Sorry I left you behind, I really thought you would follow the logic..... If this hasn't helped, let me know....oh wait, I can't draw pictures on the blog....(kidding, of course)
[Ed Note: Are these *given* to band members, or are they *issued* then returned later?]
Clothing
So, you are suggesting that refugees wear band clothes to class? Comparing apples to oranges here, my friend.
Any performing group really needs 2-3, even 4 outfits. Formal, informal, parade, etc... Dance, choir, band, sports, drill, cheerleading. So, it is not absurd to give them a chance to look decent for any event...
Also, it is the perogative to get a "new" uniform every SEVEN years. No, the uniforms do not last "forever." In the past, BA kept ordering the same thing. Now, they can--in this ordering cycle, KEEP the old and get another new type. Plain and simple, no controversy. None.
What was sad is that people who did not have the GUTS to ASK before posting an inaccurate "petition" started a controversy that did not exist. They passed it on to people who, although they love their old school, really are no longer in touch with it. Now, I hope to see them eat crow and retract on Classmates, on Facebook or Myspace on the BAAA.org site --go ahead. Do it. Admit that an ADULT asks questions--and is brave enough to put THEIR name on any petition. (The originator of the petition is not listed on it. It was passed around as if it was accurate, and a lot of alumni were suckered by it.)
We all want refugees--all students to have enough clothes, but it is literally not the responsibility of a SCHOOL to CLOTHE every child, every day. Supposedly, that is society's role. You know, churches, businesses, etc..?
[Ed Note: I'm not sure you can even compare an issued uniform to clothing handouts.]
Ron Price must have failed Math
Sam Houston High School underwent a state-mandated restructuring after being ranked "Academically Unacceptable" by the Texas Education Agency for SIX consecutive years.
Check it out yourself:
http://hs.houstonisd.org/HoustonHS/
And if anyone at DISD took the time to crunch the numbers...Spruce only has to close in on their academic gap (12 or so points) to stay alive and buy time...not this 30 point gain he was mentioning over and over and over and over again to become Academically Acceptable.
Everything you need is on the TEA website.
Ron Price is unfit to be in a position of leadership.
I rate his behavior tonight as "Academically Unacceptable."
[Ed Note: Actually, Ron held things together better that I've seen him do in a while. When he wants to be, Ron can be very professional.
You do, however, point out some good information.]
Ron Price
Therein lies the problem with Ron Price.
As an elected official, community leader, and potential role model to countless students in your district...
No matter how unruly the audience may become, one needs to stay professional whether they want to or not.
[Ed Note: Although I really need to take Ron's side on this one. He did keep his cool, though he expressed his frustration.]
Low-performing Spruce
Isn't Madison low-performing this year? How much sense does it make to put low-performing students from one school at another low-performing school..........Will there be any change.....doubtful. That will put Madison in the same boat as Spruce in a few years. WOW. Who are the BrAiNiaCs behind the decisions? Obviously they probably rarely step a foot in the classroom. How sad for ALL involved. Not fair for other campuses to take on such a "burden" when they have their OWN problems.............
Public Comments Moot
When will people realize that this board does NOT care about the staff, the public or the students. If they did 99% of these discussions would be moot.
At this point I'm resigned to just be happy that there weren't any thieves and thank God that my daughter doesn't attend DISD schools.
DISD students
The comment was made by someone saying that they were glad their child didn't go to DISD schools. What about those who do? Should they have to put up with a board that can't decide where they should go to school. People who could care less about the teachers they employ?????
Everybody doesn't have that lovely option to pull their kid out of DISD or never go there....we have to make our schools better. Not just to be there best urban district but just to make them better for the kids.
Board
You elect your board. If you want a better board, then get out and get people to vote. I refuse to allow my kids to attend Dallas schools. I agree the kids in Dallas deserve more but in the end it is the parent's choice to vote and the parent's decision of where to reside!
Board Meeting
Thank you for your interest, support, and concerns for Dallas ISD. As public officials, we often make decisions that are not pleasing to many people. Sometimes we think we are making the best decisions for the students, and the district. We only hope we are right.
Tonight, we made a transformation decision regarding Spruce High School. I sincerely hope we have made the right decision. I hope the students will get the best quality education at Lincoln and Madison High Schools. I hope that by taking the students from their neighborhood school, it will not affect their academic progress. I hope parents and the community surround the students with the help they will need to gain academically.
To the students, take this as an opportunity to improve your academic knowledge and skills. Use this opportunity to strengthen your stamina. Keep up the efforts to prove that you can learn, and demonstrate your knowledge by passing the TAKS, at Lincoln or Madison High School. Learn from this situation. Use what you learn to become productive and responsible citizens, as is our mission.
Good luck students. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.
[Ed Note: Thank you, Dr. Blackburn. I am a bit concerned about how some of the members of the audience behaved. There are more appropriate ways to handle these things.]
Spruce Employees Auto-Terminated?
Dr. Blackburn,
I am new to Spruce High School - less than 1 year. I do not understand how my removal will greatly change our children's progress - my content area made significant gains. I do not understand how DISD can honestly believe that it is right to fire people by an automated phone system. I was embarrassed when I came home and my babysitter told me I had been terminated. My babysitter answered the phone, not me. DISD had no way of knowing who was picking up the phone at the other line. Teachers and staff did not deserve to find their fate via computer generated phone message. More than 80% of my class passed TAKS and I was released based on a phone message. I was released for working hard and making a difference with kids and my babysitter had to notify me of my fate. I only learned of the job fair from a colleague - my 15 year old babysitter missed that part of the call. Didn't I deserve a little more respect than that? And now, as a single parent, I may not have a job. I worked hard Dr. Blackburn. I made a difference in the lives of kids and I will not reapply to Spruce HS despite my good scores. I came to Texas a year ago with high hopes of helping kids and now I wish I would have walked away from Spruce High School because my career and reputation were on the line, yet no one ever warned me. DISD is not a business. It is an educational system with people who generally go into this business for kids. Elected officials should ensure that people are treated with dignity and respect. I do know that some of our teachers struggle day to day but this doesn't give the district the right to treat them with such little respect! Wasn't there another way? Are we making Spruce High School an example to what will happen to other schools and staff members if they fail to make the grade? Is this the only way we know how to make progress? Look at central office first! Look at the academic coaches that are making more than the principals. They go to schools, sit in offices, bash teachers, and fail to help. The central office administrators that evaluate them never step foot on campus to check how they are really doing before they give them above average evaluations. They never talk to the teachers they are supposed to help. Were the coaches who serviced Spruce released to - they should be? The district is investing a lot of money in them for little gains.
[Ed Note: Is this true? Did the District terminate employees by an auto-dialer?]
Call OPR
Call OPR when they get back from their break. Get your babysitter to write a statement of what she heard when she answered the phone.
File a complaint. What else can they do to you, really? It is time to dish it back to them.
Oh, call Dr Hinojosa's office for an appointment. Anyone interferes with that, get their name and job title. You have a right to talk to your boss.
If OPR fails to deal with this, then there could be a case of cover up here.
You see, people, time to start getting active. Quit waiting on the darn unions to do everything for you. Maybe if enough hassles come their way, they will either change, bail out or something. They want to retire from here and hit the consultancy gravy train. Don't let them.
Robo "You're Fired"
I am certain that you performed well with your students. Keep up the great work, and don't give up on the students now. Trust me...there is a rainbow out there for all of the TRUE educators that ONLY have the CHILDREN in mind as decisions are made. Hang tough!
Found My Rainbow!
I found a new position in April in another district. I found my rainbow!
[Ed Note: Congratulations!]
Depressed
As if recent DISD events weren't depressing enough... a fellow teacher and I just toured a local parochial school. I guess my desire to do the most I can for our children had clouded my reality of how little we have to work with in this district. We hear about teachers wanting for books and supplies all the time, but I guess I'd glossed over how lacking our facilities really are. It truly was eye opening to see how the other half teaches. Our children deserve so much more than they have.
Auto-dialer
Yes, this is true. The first call came into my home from an Ontario caller ID at 9:14am. My babysitter answered. A follow up call came in at 5:36pm, again from Ontario, and my babysitter answered. I heard the message on a friend's answering machine and it was not a live voice. They did not verify who they were speaking to. They did not request that you come in for a private meeting. They either played the message to the person who answered or left it on your voicemail. I was humiliated when my 15 year old babysitter told me that my job had just fired me! My babysitter told her parents and they questioned me on whether or not I could still afford their daughter's services over the summer due to my upcoming unemployed status. The message my babysitter heard loud and clear was that I WAS FIRED! There are too many people who have this on recording. I am walking away from this bad situation but I truly hope someone takes the time to file a grievance. Treat others as you would want to be treated.
[Ed Note: Can anyone get us a recording of the message that was played?]
Recorded Message
Yes it's true. As hard as it is to believe, DISD used a recorded message to fire the teachers and staff at Spruce. I am a teacher who, despite several other options, made a CHOICE to work at arguably the most difficult school in DISD for 4 years. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids who needed my help the most. Toward that end, I gave up my planning periods, worked late almost every night, spent most of my Saturdays at school tutoring kids, attended the countless additional mandatory meetings and training sessions required of teachers at low performing schools, and I did my best each day to stay focused on the needs of my kids despite the chaos that the revolving door of administrators at Spruce created. My dedication and hard work were rewarded the day after the Board voted with a recorded message on my phone that said I was released from my contract with the District. Period. No thank you for trying. No we're sorry. No nothing!
[Ed Note: Again, we would love to have a copy of the message so we can post it!]
DISD's fast track to nowhere
Dallas ISD isn't on the "Road to Broad" they're on the fast track to nowhere. Dispersing students from a low-performing high (Spruce) to other schools in the district is the "Plan A" solution? How many other high schools in Dallas aren't either low-performing or on the bubble? I can't imagine how the influx of new students should effect these other schools. Maybe next year they'll just close all the high schools so the drop-out rates can continue to soar.
How can a district honestly eliminate teachers that WANT to teach in the inner-city? Trust me, I have plenty of friends that teach in the suburbs and not a one of them would ever dare set foot in a DISD classroom. Then they don't even have the courage to terminate them face-to-face they use an auto-dialer? How does terminating the old staff and getting a new one help a school that already struggled partly because nearly half the staff was new?
I remember a couple years ago when Hinojosa talked about reforming DISD, and it had such a breath of fresh air. Now it has the stench of putrefaction. It's not about fixing any problems. It's all about image. We watch administrators and officials violate ethics and sometimes laws, and they are never terminated. Sometimes they are actually promoted. Then the teachers that are doing the dirty work everyday get "released" from their contracts because they couldn't get enough students to pass the TAKS test. It's a total disgrace.
Lost in it all is that fact that students go to school in Dallas in conditions far worse than their suburban peers. The buildings are crumbling, many teachers are less qualified, schools are unsafe, and the administration is lackluster at best. I just hope that this "Road to Broad" doesn't leave them all on the path behind.
Bolender: Auto Dialer Was Mistake
Alliance/AFT started receiving calls on Friday after the June 26 board meeting from Spruce teachers and staff. They reported that they had received a message on the phone that said they had been released from their CONTRACTS.
The bottom line is--that is the message they received--but it was a mistake.
I spoke with Kim Olson of Dallas ISD Human Development on Friday. She said they message would be resent saying they were released from Spruce--NOT their contracts.
She further assured me via phone that teachers and support staff WILL have positions next year.
[Ed Note: Thanks for the update Aimee.]
"The Message"
Correcting the message didn't make it right. People deserve to have the personal business kept personal. People do not deserve to have random calls made and continually be humiliated in front of family, friends, and the rest of the the DFW area.
Recordings Not a Mistake
PLEASE! The district knew what it was going to do to those teachers before the board meeting even started. They had plenty of time to make sure the message was correct and was delivered to the correct person; and even more time to realize that a recorded message would be the WORST way to notify teachers in the first place and stop it from being delivered! I submit, they let the message go out anyway, hoping that many teachers would take it at face value and would find their own way along another road. One less person for them to have to "deploy". Great! she reassured Aimee. Last time I checked she didn't work at Spruce.
[Ed Note: Yes, we really want a copy of that message. Perhaps someone has a copy of it in voicemail.]
Recordings
Let me see if I got this...Ms. Olsen says the calls will be re-sent....uh, why would you not correct the FORM of the insult along with the CONTENT? The wording is only half the issue. The manner in which it was delivered is the deeper issue. If my doctor's office delivered test results the way DISD delivered confidential employee information, he would be in violation of HIPPA and fighting to keep his medical license. I think employees are entitled to similar protection regarding their job status.
And to think that Bolender got a call from Olsen for clarification and didn't hone in on that point????? Honestly, Aimee Bolender has been drinking the Ross Avenue Kool-Aid again. I think the Dallas Achieves brainwashing has really gotten to her! Her role is to advocate for those who are paying their dues to Alliance every month. I am not seeing the advocacy--just another talking head. What are we paying for every month?
Further, DISD should be holding Olsen accountable. I know, let's send her to the Office of Professional Responsibility to be interrogated by unqualified and unlicensed investigators who take statements that are not even admissable in court...yeah, that's the ticket! Where is the news media on this? Have they bought into the hype as well?
Auto Dialer Mistake
So the CONTENT of the Auto Dailer message was a mistake......not using the Auto Dialer in and of it's self.
Give me a break. DISD has stooped to the lowest of lows.
[Ed Note: As I say, we really want a copy of this recording! We want to put it online for all to hear.]
Call Your Lawyer
Call an attorney ASAP. Your civil rights have been violated. You received no due process. The lack of confidentiality is also actionable.
Mentioned at DMN Too
That got mentioned over at the DMN's DISD Blog as well, so I assume that it must be true, story here. To me, irrespective of whether or not the person deserved to be fired, it is immensely rude to inform teachers of this by automated phone call. DISD does not appear to know how to tactfully handle this type of business. I think DISD should, at the very least, apologize for its actions, which seem to only serve to drive good teachers away.
[Ed Note: As much as I like our blog sites, sometimes things posted on blogs are not correct. Sometimes things need to be checked out. Get to it Kent (gratuitously passing the buck)!]
Auto-Dialer
It happened! Trust me- the auto dialer happened!
[Ed Note: I know! Shortly, the messages will be online for all to hear!]
Don't Undermine
Allen, I'm a little surprised at your undermining of the seriousness and disrespect of the Spruce teachers who received the original disturbing recorded "released contract" message. I haven't written in on this site in awhile, but I have always continued reading. What is going on, has DISD made YOU an offer you can't refuse? The fact is, were it not for the DMN blog, many teachers may have suffered through their personal devastation in silence. Just because AFT has access and forced Kim Olsen (after the fact) to verify the "meaning" of the message; that doesn't soften the blow and embarrassment many teachers had to endure. No one contacted them to retract the message. Did you read the first part of what Aimee verified? THEY DID RECEIVE THE MESSAGE! Something is very, very, very wrong with that! The implications of such treatment shouldn't be undermined and the district owes each and every one who received it a public apology.
[Ed Note: I'd settle for embarrassing them if someone will come up with the recording!]
The Message
AFT didn't "force" Olson to do anything.
Many, many calls were made, including from the press and the other unions. AFT likes to make you THINK they force issues. They would like to take credit for the sun rising in the east, if they could.
We are a *right to work* state. As long as teachers belong to any union "just for the insurance," then this is what you get. AFT, NEA, ATPE--they are not a dry cleaners. They all need active members to get off their butts and work for their careers.
Embarassing
Allen, You would settle for embarrassing? Come on, all employment records are confidential in nature. You know that, as we all know that! How could you possibly settle for embarrassing? It was wrong! It was more than embarrassing - it is called defamation of character. The statements in the recording weren't true and they were directed at people who had no warning, nor did they have a right to file due process. As for the copy, contact DISD. After all, the recording was used to terminate people. It is public record. All it takes is an Open Records Request. They have to give it to you and if they don't, then one must question why it was destroyed, where it went, and what was the purpose for hiding it.
[Ed Note: I am putting them online now.]
Embarassing Behavior at Meeting
Mr. Blackburn: Are you serious? Are people still wondering why the behavior was what it was Thursday evening. These parents, students, faculty and staff have been lied to and treated as second class citizens for too long. There is only so much people can take and then watch out! Am I glad things went as they did? No. But I understand why people felt as they did when confronted with smug, well off individuals who make decisions that affect the future of their kids without regard to the needs and feelings of the parents. If the people of Dallas have any sense, they'll toss out the entire board. And don't give me any bull about how much they do and how they give of their time. Come work in the schools. Then I'll respect you.
DISD Has Failed These Students
Dr. Blackburn-
Your gutsy behavior in attempting to get information from the employees hired by your chief hire has been noted.
However, you asked Olson how many permanent subs were at Spruce last year, and she didn't seem to know. Of course, she knows how many permanent subs were at Spruce. However, these subs were not harming the education of her own children, so it apparently was of no consequence. Apparently all it takes to make her happy is another pair of extremely garrish, expensive cowboy boots and some gum to pop at inappropriate moments.
The children in Pleasant Grove haven't even been issued textbooks in years. There is some shortage of textbooks at the same time your chief hire has had an unlimited budget for his "reform" of the district? Apparently permanent subs and no textbooks for the children of Pleasant Grove were part of that reform?
Back in the day, we called this segregation. Children were issued substandard books, classes, and the shame of being treated in this manner was outlawed in 1954. So 54 years later, DISD has an African American man, Leslie Williams, treating these children as if they are still a part of the Jim Crow South.
It is ironic, but it is not funny. The actual treatment of these children over the last few years was not documented in that board meeting last night, nor was Leslie Williams held accountable as the overseer.
Maybe the students at Spruce were too busy drilling out of the TEKS workbooks, instead of being offered substantial classes with textbooks, to call in help for their school. However, help has now been called.
Instead of one ranger, one riot, going forward we're going to have one child's plea for help unanswered (as it was last night), one huge amount of blowback to adults who were too busy building their resumes for Broad with the public's dime.
Spruce Children Acting Up
The children at Spruce haven't acted up half as much as they should have.
Or maybe, being children, they didn't understand they should have called in adults long before the situation became the meltdown it did.
Let me ask you, Allen, was your child issued textbooks over the last few years?
These students haven't been issued textbooks in YEARS. When asked why not, they said there was a textbook shortage on their campus.
There was also a certified teacher shortage on their campus.
They were put in the auditorium to learn Algebra I because their class was so large, it wouldn't fit in a classroom.
Hinojosa hasn't shown up on that campus when school was going on since he has arrived in Dallas.
This school has been starved of textbooks, teachers, leadership, and then they were given Leslie Williams as the overseer of low-performing schools.
Leslie will still have a job. No one knows why he was promoted, or why Hinojosa doesn't see what a total loser he is. Maybe a loser can't spot another one.
After listening to the reports of conditions on the campus, these children's manners are not a priority.
This school has been treated as if it were an artifact of Jim Crow. The response to that treatment will be forthcoming.
[Ed Note: See, this is the issue. First, yes, my kids went to Hexter and were issued textbooks. If they hadn't have been, there would have been 500 parents packing the auditorium until the problem was rectified.
The issue is parental involvement. It's not "Jim Crow" or anything else. If you have parental involvement to the level of the parents at Hexter, the DISD pays very close attention because the numbers are overwhelming.
One thing that DISD administrators do not have is "time." It is their most precious commodity. They don't want to be fielding calls from dozens and dozens of parents.
If Spruce packed its auditorium each PTA meeting, Spruce would not have problems. When you get that many folks, everybody can pick missions--which can cause great consternation Downtown.
So why don't you start contacting parents? Get them involved with the school. Draft professional sorts and start making demands of DISD. You too will see textbooks, toilet paper, etc. start showing up in pleasing quantities!
The problem at Spruce, in a nutshell, was "too little, too late."]
Dragging Race Into It
Allen, obviously white Allen. I would like to point out that you fit the mold of the reason there is a problem at Spruce. As so clearly pointed out by Classof87. Your overzealous ambitious whiteness lends to things getting done via large numbers of other white people showing up in huge numbers making pushy demands which ultimately cause the end effect of satisfaction.
Well, I just want everyone to know this old white lady will be outside the DISD Ross Ave Administration building daily after school begins with a box of toilet paper for any school that is running low. If I can get fund raising in the community there may be hand sanitizer or actual hand soap. For sure there will be a big sign, so everyone knows that our tax dollars paid for schools did not obviously calculate to include supplies such as toilet paper or hand soap.
[Ed Note: I'm just intrigued over this concept of my "overzealous ambitious whiteness." However, overzealous or not, there's no one who wants the South Dallas schools to succeed more than me. I firmly believe that South Dallas' success is key to the city's success--that we can't have one without the other.
People who link success to color are responsible for perpetuating the problem you outline. My suggestion is that you grow up and realize there is more to life than the color of one's skin. I know some incredibly smart black people who would scoff at what you just wrote. I also know some incredibly dumb white people who would probably agree with you. Ignorance, you see, transcends race.
Again, folks, this has nothing to do with color. It has to do with involvement. You need to quit being a victim and start being a driving force for change.
I'll say it for the record: if I find pure evidence of pure discrimination based on fact, I will go to the mat to correct it. Claims, ma'am, are not fact.
The first Spruce PTA meeting next year needs to pack the auditorium. If you'll tell me when it is, I'll be there and blog it live.]
More Dragging Race Into It
Finally got a deeper reply than just "scathing". My sarcasm has clearly brought a better you to the forefront. There you go! Exactly, it's not a race issue. I too am white, educated and a business minded individual that believes there is nothing stronger than human will power. However, I don't just see South Dallas for prototypal racial discordance.
Every school in Dallas has disparity of one kind or another. Forces of nature bring poverty and racial division, human nature allows people to wallow in it.
DISD board is allowing dilapidation of facilities, they bring down morale within staff and of staff, the lack of centered enforcement or set zero tolerance of abuse and fraud, making adjustment to policy for unacceptable accomodations, exceptions for some not others, etc. Then, to me, there is an issue of abuse.
No matter how strong a presence of parental involvement, the actions are muted. There is a problem. I fully agree that parents need to be more involved. Our whole school system has become such that parents believe the kids go to school and are under some umbrella of control called staff.
However, moving kids to a schools farther away from home (aka mom and dad) is not helping get parental involvement. The administrations' attempts to turn the school system around is to me a failed system.
Just like a business that is failing, the DISD needs intervention. They (we) need an unbiased opinion, not which is manipulated by the current standing staff. The "smart" guys and gals running the joint are not doing it well enough to keep the system a-float. It is sinking! Our kids are caught in the middle and it is directly reflecting in their education and behavior.
The sad thing too, systems won't punish the system, they will punish the children when they rebel. I can't even walk into the DISD Admin. building without being looked at like I don't belong. I am a parent. Why wouldn't I belong there? Something is wrong!
For all the crying that parents must get involved more, and I am attempting to do just that, there seems to be a barrier which limits the allowable amount of involvement. Limits on speaking to the board? How are we to convey the concerns, wants, and needs. The power people (the board) seem to have shut out the very link of communication necessary for parental involvement.
According to Governor Rick Perry's office the state statute gives considerable authority to school boards over district matters.
Where I should be involved? Just PTA meetings, attending to only my child need, the class work, the grade info. But what about the facilities that are run down and unhealthy, the tax money abuses of which I want answers, what about the members of DISD board that may be using our tax money for personal education or stock investment returns.
When I press to get answers I get NO reply from within DISD. My parental involvement is growing, I am recruiting, I am willing to stick my neck on the chopping block and let my head roll because this time, for all our children's sake, there must be a press for answers. Solutions and harmony within DISD, an improved moral so that our teaching staff does not diminish, our schools stocked with proper supplies and books for the whole purpose of education. Perhaps the State of Texas needs to become a caretaker.
I know you have to wait for a specific stated fact, to be acceptable for publication. No doubt there must be factual evidence to prosecute. But not all of us are looking for legal prosecution, we just want solutions, the prosecution as defined; the following up of something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion. O.K.?
[Ed Note: Ahh, I get it. You "did it all for the effect" eh? Look, anyone who reads this website or Kent's blog, or any number of other publications knows there are problems with the District. Most of us know the history and how it got to be that way.
Most of us also feel that the only way out of this is through involvement by parents, kids and other stakeholders.
You may get "NO" when you ask the District to intervene. This month.
But next month, after you've asked for open records (along with a few of your friends) and the District gets really interested in exactly what it is you're up to, you'll get a different answer.
Things will change. But they won't change at the last minute at a board meeting. They'll change over the course of months or years.
The Spruce stakeholders need to take control over their future. If you worry that the kids don't have the opportunity for a good education, get the principal involved. Offer tutoring, mentoring, etc. If the principal won't do anything, then steamroller over him or her and go on to someone else. Put folks on notice!
With enough people involved, you will find solutions! You just need to get organized and stick with it.]
Help Will Come
Before you break your arm patting yourself and your community on the back, please understand that communities in Dallas are served on the basis of social class. Yes, Lakewood parents are a favorite of this administration, but it is against federal and state law to administer a school district in such a discriminatory fashion. Advising the parents of Pleasant Grove that they should have showed up for PTA meetings in response to no textbooks and no certified teachers is rather lame. I was at the "townhall" meeting where the entire event was under police control, and the parents were not allowed to speak. Are Lakewood parents treated in this fashion?
Your decided to remove your child from DISD when it appeared she would attend a substandard school. Most of the parents of Pleasant Grove can't write a check to make DISD problems go away.
The fact that Spruce was allowed to go down the drain rests solely with this administration, which is the most class conscious on record. Hinojosa plays purely to the business elite and certain communities in Dallas. Otherwise, children are simply data points to be moved around on spreadsheets.
This community will be organized over the next year, and this administration will be held accountable for telling the public one story and acting on another. The Road to Broad is nothing but a high paid jobs programs for ex-military and executives in career change.
If they wish to change careers, send them to these low-performing campuses or show them the door.
[Ed Note: OK, let me put it another way. Relying on the laws to magically and "blindly" do parents work is, well, counterproductive. Parents need to be involved with their school. Forgive me for saying so, but somehow it appears you are taking issue with this.
Next time you get 100, 200, 500 parents together for a PTA meeting, why don't you let us know? If District officials won't let you speak, we'll make it front page news.
My suggestion is that you do some of this work yourself. You'll only have to do it once. Believe it or not, it works places in town other than Lakewood.]
Getting Parents Involved
I've seen more parents trying to "get involved", as per every one has poignently insisted that we do. However, when I show up people put on an act that they listen, then hand out BS email addresses, of which they never intended to answer. When I stood up and asked hard questions, the crowd cheered but no answers were given. When I wrote letters, no letter of reply and certainly no solutions. I agree, the DISD Board, Admin and crew are playing with our tax money to benefits those who already had the hand in this cookie jar. This has to stop. Schools are internally segregated, children are now being forced to ride buses to any select location the DISTRICT chooses and we still have failure. There are people to contact over the heads of weak minded leaders.
The Texas Education Agency is located in the William Travis Building
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas, 78701
(512) 463-9734
RE: Dallas Independent School District Public: Our cry for help!
2008-06-19 07:39 Posted by Anonymous on site www.dallas.org: “The townhall meeting was well attended at Spruce, but it bordered on violating the constitution's first amendment guarantee of free speech. …. “
The audience was not allowed to speak. We were given cards to fill out questions that were then read aloud by the moderator and answered by a central administrator.
Problem was that administrators were going through the cards and pulling out those that contained questions they didn't want to address.
So the community comes to a meeting, but they are not allowed to ask substantive questions.”
“…..input into a situation that is grimly serious.”
PARENTS; DO JUST WHAT THEY WANT. GET INVOLVED NOW!
Open Records?
I'm a bit concerned that the board is just doing whatever they are told.
Are their DISD emails subject to open record requests?
[Ed Note: Yes, but they "scrub" them before giving them to you.]
Scrub?
Scrub?
[Ed Note: Yes, emails are deleted before they're given to the requester. We have proof. We made a request for emails which would have included one we knew existed. We didn't get it.]
Scrubbing
At first impression your statements seem to say that a federal offense is a daily procedure for the DISD. Can you clarify on this scrubbing a little bit more? I believe the law allows loop holes of sorts that would enable for a government entity to not release information? I'm not sure and I'd like to hear more on this Open Records Act violation.
[Ed Note: It's not a Federal offense--it would be a state offense. But there are several problems with prosecuting it. First, when were the emails deleted? Who is going to investigate it, and how? You get the picture. Most of the time, however, when we ask for that sort of thing, we already have what we need.
I have, however, heard some incredible stories from other news agencies who had a copy of the document they were requesting from DISD--and DISD claimed it didn't exist. It almost led to another scandal (and still might).]