I recently read a Dallas Observer article where Dr. Hinojosa was proud to point out that when he came to the Dallas ISD employee morale was at a dismal 14% and now it is at 48%. Well, let's get the statistics straight!
Mr. Superintendent when you came to the Dallas ISD employee morale was judged by what the DISD called it's "Climate Survey". This "Climate Survey" was not administered to all District employees. It was ONLY administered to schools in which there was an identifiable problem and then the survey had to be requested to be administered by that school's Area Superintendent.
Three or so years ago, the DISD decided to bring in the OHI instrument. That instrument IS administered district-wide. BIG DIFFERENCE between just a few schools that have a problem and all of the schools in the district!
So, the numbers are correct. Fourteen percent to forty-eight percent. However, you are comparing apples and oranges. Your growth in employee morale cannot be judged by comparing two different instruments administered in two different ways. But, then again, that's exactly what your beloved CEI does to too many of our teachers.
What I have seen, Mr. Superintendent, is that employees all over our district have come together to support each other because they have survived YOUR RIF; YOUR changes in grading policy; YOUR elimination of longevity pay; YOUR involuntary release of hundreds of employees from their campuses; YOUR idea to reduce teacher contracts from two-years to one-year; and, YOUR proposed idea to change your teacher's pay date from the 15th of the month to the 30th!
The morale increase that you so proudly tout has come, not because of you, but, quite honestly, in spite of you. Our employees are resilient. Our employees find ways to adapt, to evolve, to SURVIVE! They have come together all over the DISD to support each other because they do not feel that you, your Administration, or the Board of Trustees care about them.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Dallas County Schools Unveils "Fryer Flyer"
On Thursday, April 2 Superintendent of Dallas County Schools Dr. Rick Sorrells and DCS Board President Mr. Larry Duncan unveiled the district's first "Fryer Flyer" and their bio-diesel facility at the Kleberg Service Center.
The "Fryer Flyer" has been fitted to run on waste vegetable oil as well as bio-diesel. Built with factory stock items by DCS technicians, this school bus includes a computerized switch to maximize fuel efficiency based on engine temperature.
DCS is shifting their diesel school buses to bio-fuels, developing their own "home-grown" fuel source. DCS President Larry Duncan and the Board of Trustees, with support from NEA-Dallas, set using alternative fuels as a priority for the county-wide school bus provider in 2007, and the testing phase is complete.
DCS will be doing their part to cut our nation's dependency on foreign oil while greatly reducing the amount of pollutants their buses spew into the air. Additionally, tests show that diesel pollution conncentrates inside of bus and that will be reduced as well.
Working with Two Podners Restaurant, Frito Lay, and an assortment of restaurants and food manufacturers, DCS is collecting "post-consumer grease" - waste vegetable oil (WVO) that's been used to fry foods and is no longer fit for human consumption. This oil is the basis of DCS' alternaive diesel fuel program.
DCS will use this WVO to produce its own bio-diesel to power its buses until the fleet can be converted to run on straight WVO. The District intends to construct other bio-diesel production facilities at its other service cen
ters around the county.I want to encourage the members of NEA-Dallas and all of you that read this to save your waste vegetable oil. Do not just put it out to be picked up and dumped in our land fills. Keep it in a container and call us, 214-821-2061. We will arrange with DCS for a pick-up location.
That way, YOU TOO, can help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and improve the air that all of us breathe.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Reward Those Who Have Made It Happen!
Imagine my surprise this morning when I picked up my copy of the Dallas Morning News and there, on the front page, was the headline, “DISD No. 2 for its gains”. Even after all of the controversy: an $84 million shortfall, layoffs of hundreds of employees, and many, many more issues that would distract even the most committed of teachers and staff, the Brookings Institution says that the “Dallas ISD made the second-largest academic gains among 37 big-city school districts over a seven-year period.”
I really am not surprised, however. This report goes to prove what I have known all along: the Dallas ISD has some of the best teachers and staff in the country! We can all sit here and debate the statistical information and formulas used to calculate this claim all day long and then some. The Brookings Institution seemingly uses some of the same ideas in reaching their conclusions that DISD has created trying to show that teachers aren’t doing their jobs. But, the bottom line is though, through all of the adversity that our employees have faced over the seven years, they still have come to work every day and done the job that they were hired to do.
I will put the employees of the Dallas ISD that deal with our children on a daily basis up against any in the country. It’s the administrative personnel and Board of Trustees of this district that have been “weighed; measured; and found wanting.”
Yes, the District still has much work to do when it comes to student achievement. But, it’s time to reward those who make the successes possible every day. As the Administration and Board of Trustees are putting together the budget for 2009-2010 they need to reward our hard-working, ever-persevering faculty and staff.
They can do that by first giving ALL faculty and staff a salary step on the Board approved salary schedule! Second, they can cover the 4.5% increase in premiums that the TRS has put in place for health insurance during the 2009-2010 school year. And, then they need to recognize and give some appreciation to those employees who continue to make academic success in the Dallas ISD a reality by not making their lives any harder.
I really am not surprised, however. This report goes to prove what I have known all along: the Dallas ISD has some of the best teachers and staff in the country! We can all sit here and debate the statistical information and formulas used to calculate this claim all day long and then some. The Brookings Institution seemingly uses some of the same ideas in reaching their conclusions that DISD has created trying to show that teachers aren’t doing their jobs. But, the bottom line is though, through all of the adversity that our employees have faced over the seven years, they still have come to work every day and done the job that they were hired to do.
I will put the employees of the Dallas ISD that deal with our children on a daily basis up against any in the country. It’s the administrative personnel and Board of Trustees of this district that have been “weighed; measured; and found wanting.”
Yes, the District still has much work to do when it comes to student achievement. But, it’s time to reward those who make the successes possible every day. As the Administration and Board of Trustees are putting together the budget for 2009-2010 they need to reward our hard-working, ever-persevering faculty and staff.
They can do that by first giving ALL faculty and staff a salary step on the Board approved salary schedule! Second, they can cover the 4.5% increase in premiums that the TRS has put in place for health insurance during the 2009-2010 school year. And, then they need to recognize and give some appreciation to those employees who continue to make academic success in the Dallas ISD a reality by not making their lives any harder.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
A Breath of Fresh Air -- Grand Prairie ISD Board Meeting
I am writing this tonight from the Grand Prairie ISD Board of Trustees meeting. Most of you know that my fiancée’, Doris Hill, is the President of the Grand Prairie Education Association/TSTA/NEA. Since she has suffered through many a DISD Board meeting, I thought it would be nice to come and keep her company for theirs.
Board meeting began at 7:12pm with the presentation of the colors by one of their high school ROTC Color Guards. The Board then recognized schools who received what they call “Gold Acknowledgement Awards”. These awards are based on academic successes judged by “commended” rates, etc on the TAKS tests. Sixty-eight (68) were presented tonight with the Principals of each school coming up and receiving their awards. That was an increase over thirty-one (31) that was presented last year.
Next, Open Forum. The Superintendent, Dr. Susan Simpson, stated that this is the time for individuals to speak to the Board. Speakers can pick up a card from staff and turn it in and speak TONIGHT! WOW! No having to sign up at least 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE! No rules about having not have spoken in the last thirty (30) days! Can you believe that a Board of Trustees would allow this?!
Consent Agenda was approved by the Board, but the Superintendent only recommended that it be adopted as presented. She did tell them that any board member could move to have something pulled for separate consideration. That's a motion to do that TONIGHT! Can you believe that?
Now comes a report on the GPISD’s TAKS passing rates. All groups passed Writing/Social Studies at 90% or greater, Reading/Lanuage Arts at 80% or greater, Math at 70% or greater, and Science at 60% or greater. Dr. Simpson pointed out that there is still work to do in Math and Science. But, there are NO low performing schools in GPISD.
Action Items:
One employee had term contract terminated. Superintendent called them out by name and the Board approved.
2009-2010 Calendar, approved.
403(b) Plan Adoption – new regulations issued by the IRS and some changes had to be made. The Superintendent had her person come and answer questions about the new plan. (IN DISD, JEM now handles all 403(b) accounts, so you will see them on your pay stub instead of your individual plan.)
Board approved Compromise, Settlement, and Release Agreement between a contractor and the District that had gone to court.
Board approved declaring a piece of property as surplus.
Superintendent introduced interim Principal at Lee MS, then new Principal at 9th Grade Center, and new Principal at their Career High School. Principals had moved up warranting a new Principal at Lee MS.
Information Items:
2007 Bond Program Update -- Rayburn Elementary School Addition, Eisenhower Elementary School Addition, Austin Elementary Gym, Bonham Elementary Gym, Bowie Elementary Gym, Fannin Elementary, Career High School – Career High School should be ready for Fall 2009 opening. The bond director actually showed the Board aerial photos of each school showing the construction progress.
Board Directives/Requests: Superintendent reported to the Board about sewer issues at Reagan MS.
Comments from Individual Board Members: Another breath of fresh air. In GPISD Trustees can give comments on what they want. So far, no one is blasting another Trustee or even the Administration! They all have commended the Principals and Students for all of their hard work for bringing up the TAKS scores. Finally, Trustee Martinez did mention Teachers.
GPISD also has a Bingham on their Board. Ms. Bebe Bingham. She is the only board member who is not a graduate of Grand Prairie ISD, but she was the Principal for three other board members.
Great Texas Scholars—a program that has students come to Board meetings, etc. Board President had them all come and get signatures of board members showing that they were present at the Board meeting.
8:24pm – Board adjourns to closed session for some discussions. Minor stuff, nothing like evaluating the Superintendent or an $84 million deficit.
Well, quite interesting and quite refreshing. A Board, who is supportive of their teachers, children and principals. A Board, who realizes that they are NOT THE LAW, but have to OBEY THE LAW. A Board who realizes that they have an obligation to the Children and Community of Grand Prairie.
Board meeting began at 7:12pm with the presentation of the colors by one of their high school ROTC Color Guards. The Board then recognized schools who received what they call “Gold Acknowledgement Awards”. These awards are based on academic successes judged by “commended” rates, etc on the TAKS tests. Sixty-eight (68) were presented tonight with the Principals of each school coming up and receiving their awards. That was an increase over thirty-one (31) that was presented last year.
Next, Open Forum. The Superintendent, Dr. Susan Simpson, stated that this is the time for individuals to speak to the Board. Speakers can pick up a card from staff and turn it in and speak TONIGHT! WOW! No having to sign up at least 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE! No rules about having not have spoken in the last thirty (30) days! Can you believe that a Board of Trustees would allow this?!
Consent Agenda was approved by the Board, but the Superintendent only recommended that it be adopted as presented. She did tell them that any board member could move to have something pulled for separate consideration. That's a motion to do that TONIGHT! Can you believe that?
Now comes a report on the GPISD’s TAKS passing rates. All groups passed Writing/Social Studies at 90% or greater, Reading/Lanuage Arts at 80% or greater, Math at 70% or greater, and Science at 60% or greater. Dr. Simpson pointed out that there is still work to do in Math and Science. But, there are NO low performing schools in GPISD.
Action Items:
One employee had term contract terminated. Superintendent called them out by name and the Board approved.
2009-2010 Calendar, approved.
403(b) Plan Adoption – new regulations issued by the IRS and some changes had to be made. The Superintendent had her person come and answer questions about the new plan. (IN DISD, JEM now handles all 403(b) accounts, so you will see them on your pay stub instead of your individual plan.)
Board approved Compromise, Settlement, and Release Agreement between a contractor and the District that had gone to court.
Board approved declaring a piece of property as surplus.
Superintendent introduced interim Principal at Lee MS, then new Principal at 9th Grade Center, and new Principal at their Career High School. Principals had moved up warranting a new Principal at Lee MS.
Information Items:
2007 Bond Program Update -- Rayburn Elementary School Addition, Eisenhower Elementary School Addition, Austin Elementary Gym, Bonham Elementary Gym, Bowie Elementary Gym, Fannin Elementary, Career High School – Career High School should be ready for Fall 2009 opening. The bond director actually showed the Board aerial photos of each school showing the construction progress.
Board Directives/Requests: Superintendent reported to the Board about sewer issues at Reagan MS.
Comments from Individual Board Members: Another breath of fresh air. In GPISD Trustees can give comments on what they want. So far, no one is blasting another Trustee or even the Administration! They all have commended the Principals and Students for all of their hard work for bringing up the TAKS scores. Finally, Trustee Martinez did mention Teachers.
GPISD also has a Bingham on their Board. Ms. Bebe Bingham. She is the only board member who is not a graduate of Grand Prairie ISD, but she was the Principal for three other board members.
Great Texas Scholars—a program that has students come to Board meetings, etc. Board President had them all come and get signatures of board members showing that they were present at the Board meeting.
8:24pm – Board adjourns to closed session for some discussions. Minor stuff, nothing like evaluating the Superintendent or an $84 million deficit.
Well, quite interesting and quite refreshing. A Board, who is supportive of their teachers, children and principals. A Board, who realizes that they are NOT THE LAW, but have to OBEY THE LAW. A Board who realizes that they have an obligation to the Children and Community of Grand Prairie.
Friday, December 19, 2008
My Speech to the DISD Board, Dec. 18, 2008
Trustees I am here this evening to speak to you about keeping promises. A little over a year ago, you the Board, over our objections, voted to approve doing the Pay for Performance portion of the Teacher Incentive Fund grant. By doing so, you promised teachers that if they had a high enough CEI or SEI, which we maintain is still invalid and shouldn’t be used; had a 95% percent attendance rate; and, signed on for two observations would be eligible to receive money this December.
It is now December and time for those teachers who “did the dance” to be paid. However, many of them will not get what was promised to them by you because their campus administrators failed to do the second observation. Thus, tonight, I must ask you to keep your promise and approve Ms. Olson’s request for money from the General Operating budget to pay these teachers. However, with a little caveat: That if any cuts are needed to fund this money, it comes from the Administration’s portion of the General Operating Budget.
The teachers in question did everything you requested of them. Please do not punish them for the shortcomings of their campus administrators. Those responsible for this are the ones who should be held accountable and you should make sure of it.
With that said, let me be perfectly clear. NEA-Dallas will continue to oppose any “Pay for Performance” plans until our teachers have concrete, protected salary schedules that cannot be amended or waived each year as you and the Administration see fit. We will continue to oppose the use of the Classroom Effectiveness Index (CEI) and School Effectiveness Index (SEI) in any fashion as we feel these measures are invalid.
And, NEA-Dallas will continue to urge you to keep your promises to our employees whether we philosophically agree with them or not.
It is now December and time for those teachers who “did the dance” to be paid. However, many of them will not get what was promised to them by you because their campus administrators failed to do the second observation. Thus, tonight, I must ask you to keep your promise and approve Ms. Olson’s request for money from the General Operating budget to pay these teachers. However, with a little caveat: That if any cuts are needed to fund this money, it comes from the Administration’s portion of the General Operating Budget.
The teachers in question did everything you requested of them. Please do not punish them for the shortcomings of their campus administrators. Those responsible for this are the ones who should be held accountable and you should make sure of it.
With that said, let me be perfectly clear. NEA-Dallas will continue to oppose any “Pay for Performance” plans until our teachers have concrete, protected salary schedules that cannot be amended or waived each year as you and the Administration see fit. We will continue to oppose the use of the Classroom Effectiveness Index (CEI) and School Effectiveness Index (SEI) in any fashion as we feel these measures are invalid.
And, NEA-Dallas will continue to urge you to keep your promises to our employees whether we philosophically agree with them or not.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Incentive Pay, DISD and the Alliance-AFT
With all the mess going on at 3700 Ross over the Performance Pay portion of the TIF grant, it's hard to believe that the DISD is set to roll this thing out district-wide next month. This year's fiasco is just the "pilot" of this program for 59 schools.
At the same time, the DISD is rolling out the D.A.T.E. grant program. This incentive pay scheme is the brainchild of the state of Texas. It's just now making it to the campuses even though the Governor presented Dr. Hinojosa with a huge check at Cowart Elementary school several months ago.
The D.A.T.E. is based on the same principal as the Pay for Performance of the TIF. The CEI! This time, however, the Administration is trying to provide some incentive money for teachers who do not have a CEI of their own. Those are the "elective" teachers in our schools. The way they plan to do this is to "team up" non-CEI teachers with CEI teachers. The two of them then have to develop a plan, and a way to evaluate that plan, where the non-CEI teacher supports what the CEI teacher is teaching in their class. Once that is done, the awards then depend upon the CEI receiving teacher's CEI and progress on test scores! Again, our children are nothing more than test scores and NEA-Dallas feels that they are much more!
Each school that participates must conduct a vote of its faculty. Seems that during several of these votes in the last week, the campus administrators have called upon the representatives of Alliance-AFT to get up and say why the teachers should vote in FAVOR of doing the D.A.T.E. grant. In schools where there is a known NEA-Dallas representative, that representative has been ignored and in one instance, deliberately not called upon.
Now why do you think that would happen? Could it be that the campus administrators know that NEA-Dallas is opposed to this "performance pay" scheme? Could it be that the campus administrators know that NEA-Dallas is opposed to the use of the CEI for ANY reason and we believe that our students are "more than just a score"? Or, could it be that Alliance-AFT has become so "cozy" with the administration of the DISD that they are seen as "one of the family"? You decide...
Either way, NEA-Dallas will continue to oppose the Performance Pay portion of the TIF program, the D.A.T.E. and any other "incentive pay" program until all of our employees have concrete, contracted salary schedules. Salary schedules that can not be amended or waived by the Administration and the Board of Trustees on a yearly basis!
Will this stance win us brownie points with the Administration? No. With most of the members of the DISD Board? No. With even some of our members? No. This stance is not one that is politically popular, but is one that is necessary. One that is necessary for our children because they are much more than just a test score!
At the same time, the DISD is rolling out the D.A.T.E. grant program. This incentive pay scheme is the brainchild of the state of Texas. It's just now making it to the campuses even though the Governor presented Dr. Hinojosa with a huge check at Cowart Elementary school several months ago.
The D.A.T.E. is based on the same principal as the Pay for Performance of the TIF. The CEI! This time, however, the Administration is trying to provide some incentive money for teachers who do not have a CEI of their own. Those are the "elective" teachers in our schools. The way they plan to do this is to "team up" non-CEI teachers with CEI teachers. The two of them then have to develop a plan, and a way to evaluate that plan, where the non-CEI teacher supports what the CEI teacher is teaching in their class. Once that is done, the awards then depend upon the CEI receiving teacher's CEI and progress on test scores! Again, our children are nothing more than test scores and NEA-Dallas feels that they are much more!
Each school that participates must conduct a vote of its faculty. Seems that during several of these votes in the last week, the campus administrators have called upon the representatives of Alliance-AFT to get up and say why the teachers should vote in FAVOR of doing the D.A.T.E. grant. In schools where there is a known NEA-Dallas representative, that representative has been ignored and in one instance, deliberately not called upon.
Now why do you think that would happen? Could it be that the campus administrators know that NEA-Dallas is opposed to this "performance pay" scheme? Could it be that the campus administrators know that NEA-Dallas is opposed to the use of the CEI for ANY reason and we believe that our students are "more than just a score"? Or, could it be that Alliance-AFT has become so "cozy" with the administration of the DISD that they are seen as "one of the family"? You decide...
Either way, NEA-Dallas will continue to oppose the Performance Pay portion of the TIF program, the D.A.T.E. and any other "incentive pay" program until all of our employees have concrete, contracted salary schedules. Salary schedules that can not be amended or waived by the Administration and the Board of Trustees on a yearly basis!
Will this stance win us brownie points with the Administration? No. With most of the members of the DISD Board? No. With even some of our members? No. This stance is not one that is politically popular, but is one that is necessary. One that is necessary for our children because they are much more than just a test score!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
DISD Must Keep Its Promises!
A little over a year ago the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees approved doing the Teacher Incentive Fund program. This program is funded through a grant from the U. S. Department of Education to the tune of $22 million over five years. It's designed to pay teachers who's students show academic improvement.
NEA-Dallas has, and will continue to, oppose this program for two very good reasons: 1) Employees do not have a rock-solid base salary schedule that is contracted and mandated to be met by the Board of Trustees each year; and, 2) The instruments used to determine this incentive pay, the Classroom Effectiveness Index (CEI) and School Effectiveness Index (SEI), in our opinion, are invalid. I will give you one of many examples on how we believe this to be so.
Ninth (9th) Grade Science teachers have their CEI's calculated by using their students' Eighth (8th) Grade Reading Scores. Since the there is no science test in 8th grade, the district uses the reading score for the baseline. You can not compare reading scores to science scores and be accurate. That's like comparing oranges to corn. It just does not compute. But, that's what the district is doing.
Now it has come time for these teachers who participated in the program to be paid. Many have been paid from the Federal Grant money, but over one hundred (100) others are unable to be paid from the grant. Why? Because their administrator did not do their second observation as required by the law that legislated the grant.
As a result, the DISD Administration now has to go before the Board and ask them to approve $450,000 from the General Operating budget to pay these teachers tomorrow night. These teachers have met the criterion that they have control over to earn this award.
This is about keeping promises, not philosophical differences. The Board promised these teachers the money last year when they approved this program over our objections. Now, because administration has fallen down on the job, again, the Board must step in and make sure it happens. Therefore, I will be asking the Trustees to support paying these teachers from the General Operating budget.
I will, however, urge the Trustees to require that this money be cut from the Administration's budget and that wording actually be put it in the motion. If they don't, then the Administration can get the money from where ever they want to.
I am also cautioning the Trustees that this may not be the last time that the Administration comes before them asking for money for this. The reason being is that this amount only covers the teachers who filed an appeal with the TIF Appeals Committee. If this is approved, then the teachers who did not appeal, may come back and file grievances against the district to get their share as well. I believe that total amount will be closer to $1 million rather than what is being requested tomorrow night.
NEA-Dallas has, and will continue to, oppose this program for two very good reasons: 1) Employees do not have a rock-solid base salary schedule that is contracted and mandated to be met by the Board of Trustees each year; and, 2) The instruments used to determine this incentive pay, the Classroom Effectiveness Index (CEI) and School Effectiveness Index (SEI), in our opinion, are invalid. I will give you one of many examples on how we believe this to be so.
Ninth (9th) Grade Science teachers have their CEI's calculated by using their students' Eighth (8th) Grade Reading Scores. Since the there is no science test in 8th grade, the district uses the reading score for the baseline. You can not compare reading scores to science scores and be accurate. That's like comparing oranges to corn. It just does not compute. But, that's what the district is doing.
Now it has come time for these teachers who participated in the program to be paid. Many have been paid from the Federal Grant money, but over one hundred (100) others are unable to be paid from the grant. Why? Because their administrator did not do their second observation as required by the law that legislated the grant.
As a result, the DISD Administration now has to go before the Board and ask them to approve $450,000 from the General Operating budget to pay these teachers tomorrow night. These teachers have met the criterion that they have control over to earn this award.
This is about keeping promises, not philosophical differences. The Board promised these teachers the money last year when they approved this program over our objections. Now, because administration has fallen down on the job, again, the Board must step in and make sure it happens. Therefore, I will be asking the Trustees to support paying these teachers from the General Operating budget.
I will, however, urge the Trustees to require that this money be cut from the Administration's budget and that wording actually be put it in the motion. If they don't, then the Administration can get the money from where ever they want to.
I am also cautioning the Trustees that this may not be the last time that the Administration comes before them asking for money for this. The reason being is that this amount only covers the teachers who filed an appeal with the TIF Appeals Committee. If this is approved, then the teachers who did not appeal, may come back and file grievances against the district to get their share as well. I believe that total amount will be closer to $1 million rather than what is being requested tomorrow night.
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