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.

Re-constituting 5 DISD Schools

We continue to try to educate the community on the serious educational problems that are taking place at DISD. There are 4 comprehensive high schools, Kimball, Pinkston, Roosevelt and Seagoville that are struggling to become academically acceptable along with one elementary school Tatum elementary.

We also have to watch out for Birdie Alexander and see what improvements the district has for that school. The district will attend a hearing Friday at the Texas Education Agency to discuss the four high schools and Birdie Alexander. All five schools have been rated "academically unacceptable" for three consecutive years.

Update: DISD gave the wrong list of schools. They just can not get the real story out.

Dallas ISD's Rush to Cancel May,2009 Elections

DISD is rushing to vote tonight to preserve the "Slam Dunk" gang which votes together to keep the status quo. It is so unfortunate that there is only one trustee who is speaking up against the extended terms and the cancellation of elections in May, 2009. This board does not seem to have any interest in the education of the children, but the interest of keeping themselves in office to spread the money around to the usual suspects.

Trustee Ron Price continues to talk about not being payed to serve and how much work they are doing as trustee. Since he is the longest tenured board member, you would think that he knows the job description and compensation. If it is such a burden, do not run again in May, 2009.

Trustee Carla Ranger makes excellent points on her blog asking the question, why this rush to vote? http://carlaranger.blogspot.com/2008/11/ruthless-board-politics-is-behind-rush.html

Lets see how this " Slam Dunk" gang will handle this vote.

Magnet schools in DISD

Student and teachers have every right to question DISD in regards to any changes at the magnet schools. It has gotten to the point that trusting what the superintendent says is very difficult, because Dallas Achieves is making the calls not the school board.

We have two of the nations top schools in our magnet program and it would make absolutely no sense to tamper with something that has been very successful for DISD and the community. If its not broke, why fix it?

We wonder why students are leaving the district, maybe because the changes are so radical that it easier to not fight the system, but to to leave. Please do not tinker with success!!!!!