Former DISD technology chief Ruben Bohuchot is due to be sentenced on October 20--a little over a week away.

Bohuchot and Frankie Wong, the former head of Micro Systems Engineering, a DISD mega-supplier, were found guilty of multiple counts of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy in their part of an elaborate scheme set up to defraud the District of money.

In addition, Bohuchot and Wong were ordered to forfeit $1,192,263.90--the amount of the proceeds from their criminal activity.

By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV

DALLAS — While Superintendent Michael Hinojosa declared the South Oak Cliff grade-changing scandal closed, News 8 did not.

Over the past two months, News 8 has put the Dallas Independent School District's internal investigation under the microscope and found so many potential holes in the report that Hinojosa is now changing his stance.

Read the Story at WFAA.Com

September hits: 1,113,951; October to date: 395,250

September also broke a record with over 1,300 registered users added.

I would like to thank everyone who reads and contributes to this website. I do this for you. I also apologize for occasionally having to take a hiatus to do other important things (such as earn a living or spend time with my kids).

We'll keep it going as long as I'm able!

Well, we're going to take a quick foray into National politics.

By now, most of us have heard the name Richard Fuld. Fuld was the CEO of Lehman Brothers that filed for bankruptcy in mid-September.

Fuld received "concern" that he may have bonused himself up to $480 million dollars as the company was going under (that could have bought DISD out of debt, eh?).

There has been much speculation that Fuld was spared the harshest treatment on Capitol Hill thanks, in part, to his generous campaign contributions.

We created a special site to post summaries and details.

Visit www.FuldMoney.com

Officials hint they may challenge unemployment benefits if RIF'd employees refuse to sign settlement agreements.

Statements made in response to a trustee's question by two DISD executives are raising eyebrows and may end up muddying the District's planned reduction-in-force ("RIFs").

As part of the RIF procedure, employees will be given the opportunity to sign a "settlement agreement." Those who sign the agreements will be given severance pay and unemployment benefits.

Employees who choose not to sign will be placed on unpaid administrative leave.

One trustee posed the question: will employees who choose not to sign the agreement be eligible for unemployment benefits?

It's official. Teachers are going to be RIF'd.

Non contract employees will be terminated on October 9. Those with contracts will be given a pink slip from October 10 through 17.

Good advice: "DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING before you've talked to your representative."

"We're trying to make a horrible situation somewhat palatable," she Aimee Bolender, President of AFT/Alliance.

This is a thread to post questions and get answers.

Please don't post complaints, comments, criticisms or other things to clutter it up. That way we can keep it to "information flow" without distractions.

Rena Honea has agreed to answer questions. I expect Aimee, Diane Reed and Dale Kaiser will as well.

So please click on "Read more" and post your questions.

-RIFs PASS
-DISTRICT MAY CHALLENGE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IF EMPLOYEES DON'T SETTLE!
-PRINCIPALS MAY GET TO CHOOSE WHO GETS RIFFED FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES!
-TRUSTEES HAMMER FOR CUTS IN CENTRAL ADMIN!

We're live. They just turned the mic's on and it's 3:00! Refresh your browser often.

3:15 and we're finally really, really, underway. Absent: Nancy Bingham. There has been some speculation that the vote will drag on into Friday.

First up: we need a motion and a second to bring the "RIF" issue to the Board. We have it.

Hinojosa is speaking now.

The RIF numbers have changed a bit. Now they're talking 650 "contract" employees to include about 550 teachers.
Hinojosa says there may be some good news at the end of the year. Attendance is up. So we'll get money for that.

Central staff cuts are being talked about. 164 positions have been eliminated.

Hinojosa specifically mentioned cuts in OPR! We'll talk more about the Office of Professional Responsibility next week, by the way.

Peyton Wolcott is a blogger from Central Texas who follows school district issues nationwide.

She has put together a fairly comprehensive piece about what it means to declare a state of "financial exigency."

Read Financial Exigency 101 here

Two weeks ago, the most-asked question was: "is it time for him to go?" This week it is: "how do you fire him?"

Perhaps the real question is: "what should the Board do now?"

Good question.

Keep in mind that $64, $84, or $140 million (or whatever it turns out to be--because it's entirely possible that nobody yet knows the real number) is a huge deficit.  It is the largest, by far, in DISD history--likely the largest in State history.

Many wonder how a compentent administrator can justify this as a simple oversight.

So what now?

Have you lost your job due to the "budget shortfall?"

To the administration, you may simply be numbers to be corrected.

To your students, you may be the teacher who was there when your parents went through school.

So we think it is extremely fair to try and put faces with names.

We'd ask you to "take the high road" on this one. Though it's your job and career, we'd like to ask that this thread be kept positive.

The most asked question of the week: is it time for DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa to step down?

OK, let's talk about it.

Dr. Hinojosa is a bright, talented and gifted educator.  He's a great dad, and he cares deeply about the education of each-and-every kid in DISD.  Though the money is nice, Michael isn't in this for the money.

He is in it for the kids.  If you believe otherwise, you're wrong.  Period.

Each time a child does good, he's proud.  Failures and achievement problems disappoint him to his core.

All in all, Michael Hinojosa is a very caring individual.

That being said, Michael also has some very pronounced weaknesses.

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If you need a regular link, here it is.