DISD College Readiness Program

The staff did not answer most of the questions that the board ask. The purchasing dept. was the most shocking. They only put the bid out for 2 weeks, no pre-bid conference, no interviews of the companies that submitted bids,score cards from the panel that left additional questions, and on and on.

From the staffs comments, ASP did not really give a good accounting of their work. It was noted that the 82 Million in scholarships that they reported were awarded had grants in the calculations and they would have to recalculate. The staff also noted that they were not sure how many students really accepted the scholarships.

When the staff was asked if DISD counselors could do this work, they replied that DISD counselors do not have relationships with the colleges therefore it would be better to have contracts with an outside source for college readiness.

When Lew Blackburn ask the question about the shift from Title I to general funds, I thought the staff was going to fall out of their chairs. It was a lot of I don't know why, but I will find out from TEA. Larry Thorn is always answering the budget questions in a snappy way to the board, but he did not say a word.

I think for half the money they could hire a counselor for all 22 schools. Silly me, they have got to hire the people from Teach For America.