Allen Gwinn  2008-07-02 20:37  DISD (Schools)   

WANTED: A copy of the "mistaken" message!

UPDATE: We may have a copy coming so stay tuned!

According to several sources on this blog and inside DISD, several Spruce employees were inadvertently fired by an auto-dialer. According to Alliance/AFT boss Aimee Boldender the message was mistakenly sent by the District.

This doesn't mean it isn't interesting!

Anyone who has a copy of this message still in voicemail, and would be willing to share it, please contact us and let us know. We'll delete any identifyable information before sharing it with our readers.

Allen Gwinn  2008-06-26 16:08  DISD (Schools)   

10:10 - BOARD RECESSES AS GILLIAM SUPPORTERS SHOUT AT THE BOARD! DISD POLICE MAKE AN ENTRANCE! PRICE IS FURIOUS!

DISD gets scathing presentation from Deloitte...

FIREWORKS over limiting speakers on the topic of the Kathlyn Gilliam Administration Building!

Board unlimits speakers on the budget!

Shouting erupts as the Spence issue is being debated!

5:06 and we're off with the budget meeting. This is the meeting before the real meeting. Eric Anderson is giving a budget update to the board.

There was a gaggle of teachers here, complete with black shirts and a coffin, protesting the teacher pay cuts.

The auditorium is packed and we're guaranteed an interesting evening. So refresh and scroll down often...

Allen Gwinn  2008-06-25 07:22   

It's been a busy summer!

Just briefly: we are in the process of retooling Dallas.Org to allow more rapid posting of comments--as well as adding threaded discussions.

We'll also have some new databases to put online.

The new site will be up in beta test in the coming weeks. Until then, we apologize for the delay in getting comments up. Thanks for bearing with us.

Yes, we will be blogging the Board meeting live tomorrow!

Dale  2008-06-02 22:32  DISD (Schools)   

The sheer notion that the Dallas ISD would ask voters to approve a $1 billion dollar plus bond package for new schools and then turn around and say we don't have enough money to pay our most experienced teachers and our support professionals is absolutely ludicrous! The Dallas ISD also is proud to pound their chest about the number of "Exemplary" and "Recognized" schools going up. Well, ladies and gentlemen, who made that possible?

Allen Gwinn  2008-05-30 05:39  DISD (Schools)   

DISD expects to double the number of schools that fall into the State's TAKS "exemplary" and "recognized" categories. At the same time, the number deemed "unacceptable" is expected to fall.

DEVELOPING

Allen Gwinn  2008-05-30 05:32  DISD (Schools)   

by Brett Shipp, WFAA TV, Dallas

Another Dallas Independent School District teacher is going public with allegations of forced grade changing for a star athlete.

While reluctant to speak out, Stephen Wilson said he feel he needed to come forward after witnessing grade-changing over the last year at Roosevelt High School. He also said that retaliation by his bosses has become so severe that he felt like speaking out might protect himself and ensure grade changing for athletes is stopped.

Read Brett's incredible story at WFAA.Com

Allen Gwinn  2008-05-22 19:07  City of Dallas   

Thursday night at Winfrey Point

7:00 - We arrived a little late, but the city's electrical engineer was giving an overview of the lighting systems and how/why they were chosen.

A little background: the lights in question are 20-foot tall, 60-foot spaced (thanks for the correction on this, Chip) lights that are designed to provide lighting to low-light areas around White Rock Lake. Residents, and other interested parties are concerned that there are too many lights and that the "light pollution" will destroy the nighttime beauty of the lake.

Allen Gwinn  2008-05-22 16:37  DISD (Schools)   

FIREWORKS! Argument going on between Carla Ranger, Jack Lowe and Nancy Bingham over the creation of a policy committee.]

PRICE JUST HINTED THAT HE'S GOING TO BE "COMMENTING" ON THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AT THE END OF THE MEETING!

Way to go National Champions Marsh Middle School Matadores!!

It's 5:36 and we're swearing in the newly re-elected Jack Lowe, Carla Ranger and Adam Medrano.

Judge Roy White is administering the oath of office one by one. First up, Carla Ranger followed by Jack Lowe. Medrano, however, was sworn in by someone else! Wonder what the story is there?

It's 5:43, and the newly sworn trustees are signing their contracts. "I think they got an increase," commented Lew Blackburn (DISD trustees are volunteers and not paid--officially, anyhow)!

Another issue that will come up later is electing officers for the Board. Will there be challenges to Lowe's current position as president?

Allen Gwinn  2008-05-14 08:55  DISD (Schools)   

Last weekend's bond vote shows that Dallas residents may be paying closer attention to DISD these days. Support for the 2008 bond eroded from 78% down to 54%.

Read Lori Stahl's story in The Dallas Morning News

Allen Gwinn  2008-05-07 14:32  DISD (Schools)   

We received reports that some faculty were having problems with a "motivational" speaker, a third party, invited by Spence Principal Mary Davies to address faculty at a recent meeting.

Cheryl Jackson was the speaker, and she has written a response to some of the issues brought up on this blog.

Allen Gwinn  2008-04-29 08:02  DISD (Schools)   

by Kelsey Gwinn, 5th grade, Hexter Elementary

[Background: Alex W. Spence is one of two Talented-And-Gifted (TAG) academies in the Dallas Independent School District. It has historically been very competitive, and consistently ranks high in TAKS scoring. This posting is from an 11-year-old who visited the school this Spring.]

In the mail I got a flyer for an Open House at Alex W. Spence TAG Academy at Spence Middle School. My dad really wanted to go there and see what it was like. He thought the magnet schools would be higher quality than private schools. We went to the Open House and first went to an orientation in the auditorium. They were telling how great their school was and showing off all their high test scores. They also bragged about the free breakfast that everyone got to have every day. They said they had very nice meals and it was a chance for the students to be with their friends.

AimeeBolender  2008-04-23 18:37  DISD (Schools)   

Alliance/AFT is on the record as having reported and been present when individuals reported serious concerns with Spence Principal Davies. We have also been present during discussions with Principal Mary Davies where some of the complaints were laid out for her. We have been clear in communicating our claims with central administrators.Our reporting history spans two school years.

While the principal can not touch me, the folks who work in her building know she can make their lives miserable. Hence, no one else is on the record.