Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Let's Make History!

With all of the attention that I have had to devote to the Dallas ISD over the last month and a half, I have found that I have had little time to talk to anyone about one of the most important elections to come during my lifetime. Time to remedy that!

The National Education Association has many members from both of the two major parties. Whether you are Democrat, Independent, Republican or something else, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HISTORY! For the first time in our nation's history, either we will elect the first person of color to the Presidency or the first woman to the Vice Presidency.

There is absolutely no excuse for any of us not to vote. Early voting opened in Dallas County on Monday, October 20. We still have until this weekend to get our vote in early and then all day on Tuesday, November 4. We, as Americans, can not take this important privilege for granted. We must vote to insure the future of our county, state and nation! We must vote for the future of our children! We must vote for the future of public education!

So, between now and late on November 4, please join me in making history! VOTE!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Survey Time!

NEA-Dallas is currently conducting a survey of Dallas ISD employees asking them their thoughts on Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa and the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. I tried to post the web address to go and take the survey on this blog, but for some reason, it won't post.

SO, if you would like to take the survey, please email me at neadprez@aol.com and I will send you the link to be able to do it. We are asking that everyone complete the survey by, Tuesday, October 28, so that we may present the results to the Board of Trustees at their October Board meeting.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

So Sorry, But the Job Fair Is Full

I spent most of the day on Friday trying to track down the DISD employee in charge of the "Operation Safe Landing" job fair the DISD is holding on Tuesday. I had been told by a couple of perspective employers that they had been told that the Job Fair was full and had no more room for them. They had been told that they could fax their information to be posted, but that there was no more room "at the inn".

Unfreakin believable! This "Operation Safe Landing" is being held at the Dallas Convention Center. The same convention center that hosted the NEA's Representative Assembly (National Convention) in 2002 which had over 15,000 educators and guests from all over the United States, its territories and many countries from around the world in attendance. How can they not have any more room?

And, to add insult to injury, the Workforce Commission and Dallas ISD are charging each participating company/school district a "nominal" $35 fee to participate. They do receive a complimentary box lunch, however. Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised anymore... Guess I should have known better..

So, I called the employers back that I had spoken to earlier in the day and asked them to participate in NEA-Dallas' RIF Recovery Resources Seminars to be held on Monday, October 20 at the NEA-Dallas Building. We will be conducting rotating, concurrent seminars on resume preparation, the RIF policy, financial/retirement counseling, and providing an opportunity for participants to go online and complete applications for other school districts in the area.

These seminars are FREE and OPEN to ALL DISD employees affected by the RIF. We're not limiting participation to just NEA-Dallas/TSTA/NEA members nor or we requiring anyone to join the Association if they get a job in another district. We also are NOT charging those employers who participate with us as single penny!

The seminars will be from 10:00am through 8:00pm. Our address is 3816 San Jacinto St., Dallas, 75204. We are just across Washington on San Jacinto from the Dallas ISD Administration Building.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Dark Day In Dallas

Today, October 15, 2008 is one of the darkest days in the history of the Dallas ISD. Dark for the 463+ or 350+ employees, depending how DISD does their math, who are losing their jobs today. Dark for the other employees and their families who have lost their jobs already. And, most importantly, dark for the thousands of students who have lost their teacher and now must start Monday with a new one.

Who is the Dallas ISD supposed to serve? Who do Trustees continue to say this is all about? Who does the Dallas Achieves aim to improve education for? WHO?!

THE CHILDREN! When all is said and done today and next week, it is the children who will pay the ultimate price for all of the adults at 3700 Ross Avenue that can't do simple math.

What is the DISD going to do for these children? NEA-Dallas and the other employee organizations are doing what they can to assist the employees who are losing their jobs. Parents and community leaders must now ask the Superintendent what HE AND HIS STAFF are doing to help these children understand why they lost their teacher today and deal with their emotions.

In addition, parents, please talk to your students tonight and in the nights to come and let them know that their teacher did not leave them or abandon them. Their teacher would never do that. Help them to understand that their former teacher will miss them and want them to do their very best for their new one. Talk to them, listen to them, and most importantly, hug them and love them! That's what our teachers who wont' be there tomorrow need you to do. It's what your children need for you to do,too.