Live Blog: March 09 Board Meeting

We got here a little late. Refresh this page often.

6:09 and we're listening to speakers on agenda items.

The overriding thread: how South Oak Cliff has been unfairly portrayed by the media with respect to the grade changing allegations.

Everything is wrapping up, though.

6:11 - We're on to the consent agenda.

Carla Ranger is, again, voicing her position that she's going to keep voting against the consent agenda as usual.

Ranger is upset because the Board voted to remove an individual board member's ability to remove items from the consent agenda--and placing them on the regular agenda.

6:12 - On to the one item on the regular agenda: "Approval of the revised contingency plan for academically unacceptable year 4 (AU4) schools for 2009-2010 implementation."

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is presenting the plan.

If either/or Spruce or Samuel (but not both) becomes "AU5" (academically unacceptable for a 5th year) that it be closed and the current students, along with the incoming 9th graders, be reassigned to Nolan Estes High School.

In the case both become AU5, then there will be a new 9th and 10th grade program placed at the existing Spruce campus.

They're going through all the other possibilities.

There have been several comments made, by board members, regarding overage students. There are students, as young as 9th grade, who are adults (over 18). Questions have come up as to whether these students are contributing to the low scores.

Several trustees have noted that student scores at both schools have been rising. Jerome Garza expressed disappointment that State Law requires schools to be repurposed and students moved even when the schools are improving.

Leigh Ann Ellis pointed out that the contingency plans, up for a vote, are "ideas." "TEA wants a 'plan' and not 'ideas'" she noted.

"I want to see substantive instructional changes on these campuses."

Ron Price noted that these schools are in Nancy Bingham's district and he will support her.

7:30 and we're still discussing the plan (or the 'ideas').

Nancy Bingham criticized the news media for portraying Spruce and Samuell in a negative light. "I feel strongly that these schools are going to make it."

Lew Blackburn tossed out an idea that Samuell be turned into a magnet school for international studies if it would otherwise be closed. Blackburn encouraged the staff to think beyond the "what if we have one or both of these schools" academically unacceptable.

"Until we have a long range plan, we're going to have this same routine."

8:20 - After much discussion back and forth, it was decided that decision on what to do about Samuell and Spruce will be deferred until Saturday--at the Board retreat.

Be sure to read Kent Fischer's column since he, now, has to work Saturday!