Dallas ISD Trustee Ellis Defends Superintendent Hinojosa. Kinda.

Last month, while reporting last week’s cover story on Dallas Independent Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, I had two long interviews with school board trustee Leigh Ann Ellis, pictured at right. Most people consider the soft-spoken Ellis one of Hinojosa’s most reliable supporters on the board, but I found her more ambivalent…

To Be Honest, DISD Board Prez Jack Lowe Doesn’t Care What You Think

Last month, while working on this profile of Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, I met DISD board of trustees president Jack Lowe for coffee at the La Madeline by SMU. Lowe, as you may recall, said upon the revelation of the district’s initial $64-million budget shortfall in September…

Carla Ranger Also Has No Confidence in Fellow DISD Trustee Ron Price

DISD school board trustee Carla Ranger The day before Halloween, three Dallas Independent School District board members — Ron Price, Lew Blackburn and Carla Ranger — told board president Jack Lowe, in writing, that they were calling for a “no-confidence vote” against superintendent Michael Hinojosa. Lowe repeatedly ignored the request,…

Who Doesn’t Have Something at Arts Magnet With Their Name On It?

During today’s closed-door meeting of the Dallas Independent School District board, the trustees will tell superintendent Michael Hinojosa whether or not they, ya know, trust the dude. As in: The board will “deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee; including evaluation…

Believe It or Not, Hinojosa Also Didn’t Think Much of DISD’s COO

Well, as it turns out, Dallas Independent School District superintendent Michael Hinojosa was far more engaged than we all thought. We just received the superintendent’s annual evaluation of Eric Anderson, the district’s former chief operating officer who has been widely blamed for DISD’s epic financial crisis. Long story short: Hinojosa…

Don’t Mess With Texas. Oh Crap, Too Late.

   I don’t love Texas. I don’t hate Oklahoma. But what transpired yesterday in the Big 12 is absolute bullshit.   I know life ain’t fair, but college football should be. Or at least it should use common sense trying.   Let me apologize to Texas. I posted some of the best…

At 3700 Ross Avenue Last Night, It Got Nasty. Then, It Got Even Worse.

Jack Lowe, DISD school board president Blacks were hissing rudely at Hispanics. Hispanics were yelling at other Hispanics. And just about everyone was taunting distraught school board trustees, themselves appearing to teeter on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Ladies and gentleman, this is your Dallas Independent School District. Last…

Meet a Real Live DISD Trustee!

Edwin Flores Northwest Dallas residents with kids in the Dallas Independent School District and some spare time Saturday might want to duck into Thomas C. Marsh Middle School, where, as you will see, board trustee Edwin Flores will be hosting a District 1 Summit. The full flier that came home…

Rabbis Give Texas State Board of Education the Hebrew Hammer

The Texas State Board of Education’s meeting in Austin about, among other things, whether the board ought to revise the state’s science curriculum to allow for, ya know, the teaching of creationism alongside evolution. Which is why three rabbis, two from ’round these parts and one of whom hails from…

Yet Again, DISD Hires Paul Coggins to Look Into Its Bad Bidness

Paul Coggins After the jump, courtesy Dallas Independent School District spokesman Jon Dahlander, the district’s announcement concerning the appointment of former U.S. Attorney Paul Coggins to look into the whole phony Social Security number mess. Coggins, now at Fish & Richardson, has a history of doing this kind of dirty…

Oprah Sees a Little Oprah in DISD’s Rising Star Dalton Sherman

Yes, indeed — that’s Dallas Independent School District’s Dalton Sherman, the fifth-grade feel-good story of a school year in desperate need of good news. As we noted last week, Sherman got Oprah’d yesterday: He was showcased among the handful of “Little Phenoms” Winfrey handpicked as she searches for the “World’s…

You Don’t Get Drudged Being All, Like, Reasonable and Stuff

See, Patrick “Buzz” Williams, this is what happens when you’re the first one to write about the Dallas Independent School District’s Social Security number snafu — by two days, no less — only you’re all funny and forgiving about it. (To wit: “This is merely another instance of the sort…

Laid-Off DISD Teachers, You Have Three Minutes to Speak. And … Go!

Just spotted this announcement on the Dallas Independent School District’s Web site and thought we’d pass it along, as the deadline is tomorrow. –Robert Wilonsky Attention: Recently RIFed Personnel Personnel who were part of the recent reduction in force will have an opportunity to address a panel composed of a…

DISD’s Lone Ranger

DISD school board trustee Carla Ranger Dallas Independent School District board trustee Carla Ranger can’t understand why the district doesn’t make superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s contract available online. Because, see, the Texas Administrative Code says that really oughta be available to anyone interested in taking a peek at the document. And…

Carla Ranger on DISD Ethics Policy: How Lowe Can You Go?

DISD school board trustee Carla Ranger Maybe we oughta turn Virtual Coffee — that’s right, isn’t it? — over to Dallas Independent School Board trustee Carla Ranger; this makes three posts in three days, fancy. But you knew this one was coming following last night’s board of trustees vote to…

Obama’s Leading in Early Voting

That is, he’s leading in the Dallas Independent School District’s Mock Election 2008, taking place today all over the district in grades K-12. (The boy said this morning he was going to vote for Boba Fett.) And with a scant 9 percent of the vote in, it’s Barack Obama by…