Patrick Michels From DISD trustee Carla Ranger this morning, in a note to teachers: “May your lives be blessed in spite of the unjust price you now pay for the mistakes of others.” Briefly this morning, a dispatch from the front lines of the DISD teacher layoffs coming down today…
Brandon Thibodeaux Kent Fischer at The Dallas Morning News writes that late yesterday, he received “a copy of a document titled ‘RIF worksheet’ dated 10/14 at 8 a.m.” The district, of course, was to begin its layoffs today, but pushed back the so-called reduction in workforce till tomorrow — creating…
On the eve of Dallas Independent School District’s 460 teacher layoffs, delayed till tomorrow, the latest issue of Newsweek features an essay by Dallas teacher Heather Robinson, who proclaims, “I Am Not A Babysitter.” Below is a highlight among many from a teacher who clearly likes her gig, which was…
Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s been very clear about this one thing: He desperately wants the district to win The Broad Prize for Urban Education, given out annually “to honor urban school districts making the greatest overall improvement in student achievement while at the same time reducing achievement…
DISD school board trustee Carla Ranger Fifteen minutes before it was scheduled to begin this morning, Dallas Independent School Board trustee Carla Ranger posted this notice to her Web site: Dallas ISD, community leaders and businesses will launch a massive effort to help hundreds of teachers and other staff released…
That’s what Dallas Independent School District managers are supposed to do, right after they tell a teacher: We really, like totally, screwed up, so, like … um, ya know?. Of course, the suggested small talk — “Hey, man, how’s it hangin’?” — will no doubt cushion the blow of the…
If nothing else, someone at the Dallas Independent School District has learned how to turn a negative into a cozy, comfy positive! –Robert Wilonsky…
The Dallas Independent School District board of trustees is meeting, yet again, to discuss laying off some 675 teachers courtesy the $148-million budget shortfall. The link to the live feed’s here, as the “budget workshop” began promptly at 3:14 p.m. Feel free to watch along and pipe in with comments…
Moments ago, the Dallas Independent School District posted to its Web site a media release announcing the elimination of “at least” 160 central staff positions today — “63 of which had been filled by employees.” Says the release, it’ll save the district “up to $3.6 million for the current 2008-2009…
A Friend of Unfair Park who teaches government and history in a school district not named “DISD” sends along this article from Milwaukee. Can’t imagine why. –Robert Wilonsky…
To deal with the projected $84 million budget shortfall the district is facing, superintendent Michael Hinojosa just laid out what he called “prudent, fiscally responsible, feasible” solutions that are “doable right now.” To which he added, “Despite that, they will be painful.” His solutions, however, total only $77 million. He…
Until the feed goes down, you can watch the DISD board of trustees meeting, which just began. Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has just begun discussing “the process” whereby the district will find its missing millions. “It’s not quite finished,” he said, but that “brings us to the end.” Recommendations are forthcoming…
Moments ago on The Dallas Morning News’ DALLAS ISD Blog, Kent Fischer asked the question, “Can the district borrow to fill the budget hole?” He answered it, as well: Yes, as what’s another million in interest, and just think of the goodwill it’ll buy. Alas, “Trustee Garza told me yesterday…
The Dallas Independent School District board of trustees will meet twice today: at their 3 p.m. “financial workshop,” then again for their regularly scheduled 5:30 p.m. meeting. It is the former, of course, that’s of most concern today, as on the agenda is Item No. 3, which reads, “Consideration and…
Not just because his free-wheelin’, pirate-lovin’, pass-happy Texas Tech Red Raiders are up to 10th in the nation this year. I’ve always loved Leach. Way I remember it, I once even endorsed him to be Bill Parcells’ replacement as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. “Conversate … ”? “Watch her…
Sometime in the last couple of days, the Dallas Independent School District added to its Web site a “Dallas ISD Finances” page, where it lays out those pesky frequently asked questions (as in, “How did the figure rise from $64 million to $84 million?”) and offers answers, more or less,…
Dallas Independent School District supporters, take note: Today at noon, superintendent Michael Hinojosa will deliver his annual State of the District speech to the Dallas Regional Chamber, which no doubt knows the state of the district — broke and broken. You’ll find Hinojosa at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel on N…
DISD trustee Ron Price Moments ago, near the end of the nearly three-hour-long DISD board meeting — before the board went behind closed doors to talk about the superintendent in front of his face — trustee Ron Price said, “This is a critical moment in Dallas Independent School District’s history.”…
Schutze is at 3700 Ross Avenue, and he’ll provide a wrap-up from the board meeting during which the trustees and superintendent Michael Hinojosa will likely declare a state of financial emergency following last week’s $64-million budget shortfall revelation. That said, Allen Gwinn’s very, very good at this kind of thing…
After all the brouhaha over the Dallas Independent School District’s revised grading policy, the kid’s had plenty of honest-to-God homework since starring kindergarten earlier this month — very surprising and very welcome. Nonetheless, CNN yesterday revisited the controversy. And this morning, Kent Fischer grades the (mostly absentee) committee that came…
At least one DISD student will get a brand-new computer and printer: Charles Rice Learning Center fifth-grader Dalton Sherman, courtesy Ellen Degeneres and Hewlett-Packard on yesterday’s episode of her daytime chatshow. –Robert Wilonsky…
And so it begins. Though the Dallas Independent School District’s board of trustees does not meet till 2 today, to declare a state of “state of financial exigency” so it can begin laying off teachers in the wake of its $64-million budget shortfall, already campuses have begun shedding teachers. Programs…
