You can make a difference! "How do I do that?" you ask. Very simple. Vote in the Democratic Party's Run-off Election!
We made a difference in March's primary by voting for Larry Duncan for County Judge. Mr. Duncan's opponent, Clay Jenkins, spent well over $500,000 in that election but could not quite get enough votes to avoid a run-off election.
Now is the time. In this run-off election EVERY VOTE will count! YOUR VOTE will count as voter turnout will be incredibly low and it is up to us to make sure we vote.
Not only us, but everyone we know that lives in Dallas County. You can make a difference. We can make a difference.
Early voting continues through this Friday, April 9 at 7:00pm. You can vote at any of the early voting locations throughout the county until that time. (To see a list of those locations go to: http://www.dalcoelections.org/)
Election Day is Tuesday, April 13. Tuesday you will have to go and vote at your precinct's polling location.
Whether you vote early or on election day, please VOTE!
NEA-Dallas Recommends LARRY DUNCAN, Democrat for Dallas County Judge!
Larry Duncan has worked tirelessly with NEA-Dallas over the last seven years to improve working conditions for employees in the Dallas County Schools. He has sat down with our Association Representatives over several summers and worked on revisions to Dallas County Schools policy which he has then seen through to passage by the Board of Trustees.
Duncan is also the reason Dallas County Schools now responds to assist in the evacuation of citizens from areas of natural disasters. After seeing the devastation and destrucion left behind by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Larry put in motion the plans to get Dallas County Schools buses out of harms way should something occur locally and also established the procedures by which Dallas County Schools buses and employees could help in other parts of the state and country.
And, if you get behind a green Dallas County Schools bus and it smells like french fries, thank Larry Duncan. Through Mr. Duncan's leadership, the Dallas County Schools is now using waste vegetable oil in at least one of its buses and is processing its own biodeisel for use in others at the Kleberg Service Center in Southeast Dallas County. The use of waste vegetable oil and biodiesel reduces the production of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and other pollutants which are harmful to the environment.
Larry Duncan will fight for ALL of the citizens of Dallas County as County Judge. NEA-Dallas' Board of Directors asks for your support of Larry as he seeks to improve the lives of our students, their parents and the rest of us.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Time to VOTE!
Election Day, March 2, is now just a few days away. Early voting wraps up this afternoon and it is IMPERATIVE that we as educators get out and participate in this election.
NEA-Dallas has voted to recommend one candidate in the Dallas County Judge election and TSTA has made their endorsements for state offices. I will list those below.
NEA-Dallas Recommends LARRY DUNCAN, Democrat for Dallas County Judge!
Larry Duncan has worked tirelessly with NEA-Dallas over the last seven years to improve working conditions for employees in the Dallas County Schools. He has sat down with our Association Representatives over several summers and worked on revisions to Dallas County Schools policy which he has then seen through to passage by the Board of Trustees.
Duncan is also the reason Dallas County Schools now responds to assist in the evacuation of citizens from areas of natural disasters. After seeing the devastation and destrucion left behind by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Larry put in motion the plans to get Dallas County Schools buses out of harms way should something occur locally and also established the procedures by which Dallas County Schools buses and employees could help in other parts of the state and country.
And, if you get behind a green Dallas County Schools bus and it smells like french fries, thank Larry Duncan. Through Mr. Duncan's leadership, the Dallas County Schools is now using waste vegetable oil in at least one of its buses and is processing its own biodeisel for use in others at the Kleberg Service Center in Southeast Dallas County. The use of waste vegetable oil and biodiesel reduces the production of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and other pollutants which are harmful to the environment.
Larry Duncan will fight for ALL of the citizens of Dallas County as County Judge. NEA-Dallas' Board of Directors asks for your support of Larry as he seeks to improve the lives of our students, their parents and the rest of us.
TSTA-PAC ENDORSEMENTS
The Texas State Teachers Association Political Action Committee as endorsed the following in the Democratic Primary:
Governor Bill White
State Rep. - Dist. 099 Charlie Geren
State Rep. - Dist. 105 Loretta Haldenwang
Our other Democratic State Representatives are running unopposed in the primary, but will definitely need our help in the General Election come November.
A PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION AND PLEA!
On a personal note, I would like to ask your support for Judge Martin Hoffman in his re-election bid for District Judge, 68th Judicial District. Judge Hoffman served on the Dallas County Schools Board of Trustees before his election as Judge and did much for employees during his term there.
Finally, I urge you to get out and vote on Tuesday if you have not already done so in early voting. For our Republican members, I apologize for not having any endorsements for you in your primary, but I urge you to carefully look at the candidates and vote for those of your choice.
NEA-Dallas has voted to recommend one candidate in the Dallas County Judge election and TSTA has made their endorsements for state offices. I will list those below.
NEA-Dallas Recommends LARRY DUNCAN, Democrat for Dallas County Judge!
Larry Duncan has worked tirelessly with NEA-Dallas over the last seven years to improve working conditions for employees in the Dallas County Schools. He has sat down with our Association Representatives over several summers and worked on revisions to Dallas County Schools policy which he has then seen through to passage by the Board of Trustees.
Duncan is also the reason Dallas County Schools now responds to assist in the evacuation of citizens from areas of natural disasters. After seeing the devastation and destrucion left behind by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Larry put in motion the plans to get Dallas County Schools buses out of harms way should something occur locally and also established the procedures by which Dallas County Schools buses and employees could help in other parts of the state and country.
And, if you get behind a green Dallas County Schools bus and it smells like french fries, thank Larry Duncan. Through Mr. Duncan's leadership, the Dallas County Schools is now using waste vegetable oil in at least one of its buses and is processing its own biodeisel for use in others at the Kleberg Service Center in Southeast Dallas County. The use of waste vegetable oil and biodiesel reduces the production of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and other pollutants which are harmful to the environment.
Larry Duncan will fight for ALL of the citizens of Dallas County as County Judge. NEA-Dallas' Board of Directors asks for your support of Larry as he seeks to improve the lives of our students, their parents and the rest of us.
TSTA-PAC ENDORSEMENTS
The Texas State Teachers Association Political Action Committee as endorsed the following in the Democratic Primary:
Governor Bill White
State Rep. - Dist. 099 Charlie Geren
State Rep. - Dist. 105 Loretta Haldenwang
Our other Democratic State Representatives are running unopposed in the primary, but will definitely need our help in the General Election come November.
A PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION AND PLEA!
On a personal note, I would like to ask your support for Judge Martin Hoffman in his re-election bid for District Judge, 68th Judicial District. Judge Hoffman served on the Dallas County Schools Board of Trustees before his election as Judge and did much for employees during his term there.
Finally, I urge you to get out and vote on Tuesday if you have not already done so in early voting. For our Republican members, I apologize for not having any endorsements for you in your primary, but I urge you to carefully look at the candidates and vote for those of your choice.
Friday, October 16, 2009
DISD Owes More CEI Payments
When DISD paid out the first Teacher Pay for Performance Awards at the end of 2008, there were a number of teachers who did not get their incentive. A large number of teachers did not get theirs because their administrators did not do the required multiple observations. Another large group did not get theirs because they did not meet the 95% attendance rule.
On December 18, 2008 the Board of Trustees voted to pay those teachers who did not get their incentive because their administrators did not do their job. Those teachers have since received their incentive from DISD's General Operating Budget instead of the Teacher Incentive Fund Grant used for the program.
Last Sunday night, I was going over the minutes from the DISD Trustee meetings for the last two years. I was compiling the voting records of Trustees on important issues to employees when I came upon the minutes for the December 18, 2008 meeting.
To my pleasant surprise, and somewhat my chagrin because I was at that meeting and somehow missed this, I came upon the recorded discussion and actions where the Board voted for General Operating money to pay teachers who missed their Performance Pay Incentives.
"Mr. Garza made a friendly amendment to Dr. Blackburn’s motion that we include as part of this compensation, any teachers that did meet the academic standards and raised their students’ level but did not meet the 95 attendance level rule.
The board voted on Dr. Blackburn’s amendment with Mr. Garza’s friendly amendment. The motion passed 5/4 with Adam Medrano, Jerome Garza, Leigh Ann Ellis, Lew Blackburn and Ron Price voting yes. Voting no were Carla Ranger, Edwin Flores, Jack Lowe and Nancy Bingham.
The main motion as amended was voted on. Motion passed 7/2 with Carla Ranger and Jerome Garza voting no." DISD Board Minutes, December 18, 2008.
According to these minutes, teachers who missed the payout because of attendance should also have been paid their incentive from General Operating funds. They have yet to be paid.
As soon as I found this, I emailed DISD's new Executive Director of Human Development - Claudia Rodriguez. She responded on Monday that she is getting the documentation from DISD Legal and Board Services and will be pursuing this further.
NEA-Dallas will be pursuing this as well. The way this reads is that teachers who missed the award because of attendance should have been paid already. Regardless of whether they filed a grievance or not, they should have been paid.
And, paid the 2008-2009 payout rates! Not the 2009-2010 rates that have been cut by 60%!
If you are a DISD teacher who missed last year's Teacher Pay for Performance Award payout because of attendance, please call us at 214.821.2061. Give us your name, the school you were at last year (if not the same as this year) and a contact number. DO THIS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OF NEA-DALLAS! I will be taking this list to the DISD Administration and Board to get these payments underway!
On December 18, 2008 the Board of Trustees voted to pay those teachers who did not get their incentive because their administrators did not do their job. Those teachers have since received their incentive from DISD's General Operating Budget instead of the Teacher Incentive Fund Grant used for the program.
Last Sunday night, I was going over the minutes from the DISD Trustee meetings for the last two years. I was compiling the voting records of Trustees on important issues to employees when I came upon the minutes for the December 18, 2008 meeting.
To my pleasant surprise, and somewhat my chagrin because I was at that meeting and somehow missed this, I came upon the recorded discussion and actions where the Board voted for General Operating money to pay teachers who missed their Performance Pay Incentives.
"Mr. Garza made a friendly amendment to Dr. Blackburn’s motion that we include as part of this compensation, any teachers that did meet the academic standards and raised their students’ level but did not meet the 95 attendance level rule.
The board voted on Dr. Blackburn’s amendment with Mr. Garza’s friendly amendment. The motion passed 5/4 with Adam Medrano, Jerome Garza, Leigh Ann Ellis, Lew Blackburn and Ron Price voting yes. Voting no were Carla Ranger, Edwin Flores, Jack Lowe and Nancy Bingham.
The main motion as amended was voted on. Motion passed 7/2 with Carla Ranger and Jerome Garza voting no." DISD Board Minutes, December 18, 2008.
According to these minutes, teachers who missed the payout because of attendance should also have been paid their incentive from General Operating funds. They have yet to be paid.
As soon as I found this, I emailed DISD's new Executive Director of Human Development - Claudia Rodriguez. She responded on Monday that she is getting the documentation from DISD Legal and Board Services and will be pursuing this further.
NEA-Dallas will be pursuing this as well. The way this reads is that teachers who missed the award because of attendance should have been paid already. Regardless of whether they filed a grievance or not, they should have been paid.
And, paid the 2008-2009 payout rates! Not the 2009-2010 rates that have been cut by 60%!
If you are a DISD teacher who missed last year's Teacher Pay for Performance Award payout because of attendance, please call us at 214.821.2061. Give us your name, the school you were at last year (if not the same as this year) and a contact number. DO THIS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OF NEA-DALLAS! I will be taking this list to the DISD Administration and Board to get these payments underway!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
UNBELIEVABLE!
No letter of reprimand. No administrative leave. Not even a slap on the wrist. Nothing, zilch, Nada. A little tongue-lashing from Trustee Carla Ranger, but that's about all that came out of today's specially called board meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action against the Superintendent.
I can actually believe that a "clerical error" placed the raise for the the Chief Academic Officer on the September 24 agenda instead of the October agenda. However, two things came out during today's conversations that, if I were a Trustee, would have required SOME kind of action!
Under questioning from Trustee Ranger, Superintendent Hinojosa admitted that he learned that the raise was mistakenly on the agenda some 24 hours BEFORE the September 24 Board meeting. Why didn't he then call the Board President and inform him of the mistake? Why didn't he at least inform the Board BEFORE the Consent Agenda came up for a vote that one item had mistakenly been placed on there and needed to be removed?
He KNEW that the item was on the agenda and said NOTHING! He KNEW it was on the agenda and only said something some days later after getting busted. HE KNEW and DID NOTHING!
The second statement that caught my attention today was when the Superintendent said he directed staff not to implement a duly-approved board action. He said he directed staff not to implement the raise when he learned that the Board really did not know what they had voted for.
Trustee Ranger, gotta love her, pointed out that she didn't believe the Superintendent had the authority to just ignore, or direct staff to ignore, a duly-approved Board action. This was quickly passed over, but Trustee Ranger is correct. Since when can a Superintendent NOT IMPLEMENT something the Board has approved? I think never.
Trustee Ranger moved that an independent investigation be conducted into what happened. She did get a second from Trustee Dr. Lew Blackburn, but lost the vote 1 to 8 when the question was called. Ranger made another motion to place the Superintendent on administrative leave, but that motion died for lack of a second. The Trustees then moved for adjournment, voted in favor, and the meeting was adjourned.
I thought I had seen it all in DISD, but today took it to a new level. If any other employee in the DISD violates district policy, they are promptly handed their termination letter. But not the Superintendent. He doesn't even get a letter of reprimand, slap on the wrist, nothing, zilch, Nada. Unbelievable...
I can actually believe that a "clerical error" placed the raise for the the Chief Academic Officer on the September 24 agenda instead of the October agenda. However, two things came out during today's conversations that, if I were a Trustee, would have required SOME kind of action!
Under questioning from Trustee Ranger, Superintendent Hinojosa admitted that he learned that the raise was mistakenly on the agenda some 24 hours BEFORE the September 24 Board meeting. Why didn't he then call the Board President and inform him of the mistake? Why didn't he at least inform the Board BEFORE the Consent Agenda came up for a vote that one item had mistakenly been placed on there and needed to be removed?
He KNEW that the item was on the agenda and said NOTHING! He KNEW it was on the agenda and only said something some days later after getting busted. HE KNEW and DID NOTHING!
The second statement that caught my attention today was when the Superintendent said he directed staff not to implement a duly-approved board action. He said he directed staff not to implement the raise when he learned that the Board really did not know what they had voted for.
Trustee Ranger, gotta love her, pointed out that she didn't believe the Superintendent had the authority to just ignore, or direct staff to ignore, a duly-approved Board action. This was quickly passed over, but Trustee Ranger is correct. Since when can a Superintendent NOT IMPLEMENT something the Board has approved? I think never.
Trustee Ranger moved that an independent investigation be conducted into what happened. She did get a second from Trustee Dr. Lew Blackburn, but lost the vote 1 to 8 when the question was called. Ranger made another motion to place the Superintendent on administrative leave, but that motion died for lack of a second. The Trustees then moved for adjournment, voted in favor, and the meeting was adjourned.
I thought I had seen it all in DISD, but today took it to a new level. If any other employee in the DISD violates district policy, they are promptly handed their termination letter. But not the Superintendent. He doesn't even get a letter of reprimand, slap on the wrist, nothing, zilch, Nada. Unbelievable...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Good News REALLY IS TRUE!
The DISD Board of Trustees tonight unanimously APPROVED PAY RAISES for ALL DISD EMPLOYEES! The pay raises include a long-awaited 3% raise for all of our support staff; a 3% raise for all other non-instructional employees; and, a raise of an average of $1701 for all of our teachers and related instructional personnel.
Again, a lot of thanks goes to DISD CFO Larry Throm, Trustee Jerome Garza, and former DISD Chief of Human Development Kim Olson and her staff. The money for these raises comes from the fact that DISD Human Development has placed all but fifty-eight (58) of the over 500 teachers who were released from their positions but still had a contract for 2009-2010.
I would personally like to thank NEA-Dallas Executive Vice President Diane Birdwell, NEA-Dallas Vice President for Teacher Affairs Kathryn Brothers, and all of you who contacted your Trustees and kept up the pressure on them to make sure that they did the right thing by our employees.
You see, when WE all work together, WE can achieve our goal! Together we can, Together we will, and now, Together we have!
Again, a lot of thanks goes to DISD CFO Larry Throm, Trustee Jerome Garza, and former DISD Chief of Human Development Kim Olson and her staff. The money for these raises comes from the fact that DISD Human Development has placed all but fifty-eight (58) of the over 500 teachers who were released from their positions but still had a contract for 2009-2010.
I would personally like to thank NEA-Dallas Executive Vice President Diane Birdwell, NEA-Dallas Vice President for Teacher Affairs Kathryn Brothers, and all of you who contacted your Trustees and kept up the pressure on them to make sure that they did the right thing by our employees.
You see, when WE all work together, WE can achieve our goal! Together we can, Together we will, and now, Together we have!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Finally! Some Good News!
After fourteen straight months of bad news for Dallas ISD employees, we finally got some good news today in a meeting with DISD Chief Financial Officer Larry Throm. Mr. Throm informed us today that he will propose that the District's support staff employees (maintenance workers, teacher assistants, clerical staff, community liasions, cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, etc)receive a 3% pay raise for 2009-2010!
This pay increase is long overdue for these vital employees of the DISD. After enduring hundreds of layoffs and not even a salary step increase in 2008-2009, these employees will finally get some reward for all of the hard work that they have continued to put forth on a daily basis.
Another bit of good news led to the funding being available for these raises. At the end of 2008-2009 DISD had over 500 Chapter 21 contract employees who had a contract for 2009-2010 but no assignment. DISD promised these employees their contracts would be honored even if the District was unable to place them in a new position by the start of school.
Throm budgeted for this year with that in mind. However, as of today, only 58 employees remain without an assignment. He feels that by the end of this school year, all will be back in assignments as vacancies occur in the DISD on a weekly basis.
The credit for placing this large number of employees falls squarely on the DISD Human Development Department. Former HD Chief Kim Olson and her staff have spent their summer making sure as many of these displaced employees have a place to call home for 2009-2010. Not only do these employees have a home, as a result, support staff will be getting a pay raise!
The State Legislature gave teachers and some other employees a raise based on the wieghted average daily attendance (WADA) plus a salary step earlier in the year. School districts across the state have hesitated in announcing their raises because they were waiting for the Department of Education to approve the use of federal stimulus money to pay for that raise.
Mr. Throm told us today he will also recommend to the Board that our teachers receive the salary step, an average of $850, plus the WADA calculation of $851 for a total of $1701. There are two salary steps that receive more than the $850 average. Those will receive their respective amounts plus the $851.
The starting teacher salary will also go up in Throm's proposal. Currently, teachers with 0 years of experience start out at $44,350. Mr. Throm will propose raising that to $45,350.
While there is still the question of how much, if any, of a raise teachers who were receiving longevity pay will get, the news we received today is very welcome!
I would like to thank Mr. Throm for working to find the money for these raises and for his honesty in his discussions with us. I would also like to thank Trustee Jerome Garza for pushing the Administration to get something done for our support employees.
The Board of Trustees will hear the details at this Thursday's Board Briefings and will vote on Mr. Throm's proposal August 24. Employees should see the raise in their September paychecks with the Board's approval.
Finally, some good news...
This pay increase is long overdue for these vital employees of the DISD. After enduring hundreds of layoffs and not even a salary step increase in 2008-2009, these employees will finally get some reward for all of the hard work that they have continued to put forth on a daily basis.
Another bit of good news led to the funding being available for these raises. At the end of 2008-2009 DISD had over 500 Chapter 21 contract employees who had a contract for 2009-2010 but no assignment. DISD promised these employees their contracts would be honored even if the District was unable to place them in a new position by the start of school.
Throm budgeted for this year with that in mind. However, as of today, only 58 employees remain without an assignment. He feels that by the end of this school year, all will be back in assignments as vacancies occur in the DISD on a weekly basis.
The credit for placing this large number of employees falls squarely on the DISD Human Development Department. Former HD Chief Kim Olson and her staff have spent their summer making sure as many of these displaced employees have a place to call home for 2009-2010. Not only do these employees have a home, as a result, support staff will be getting a pay raise!
The State Legislature gave teachers and some other employees a raise based on the wieghted average daily attendance (WADA) plus a salary step earlier in the year. School districts across the state have hesitated in announcing their raises because they were waiting for the Department of Education to approve the use of federal stimulus money to pay for that raise.
Mr. Throm told us today he will also recommend to the Board that our teachers receive the salary step, an average of $850, plus the WADA calculation of $851 for a total of $1701. There are two salary steps that receive more than the $850 average. Those will receive their respective amounts plus the $851.
The starting teacher salary will also go up in Throm's proposal. Currently, teachers with 0 years of experience start out at $44,350. Mr. Throm will propose raising that to $45,350.
While there is still the question of how much, if any, of a raise teachers who were receiving longevity pay will get, the news we received today is very welcome!
I would like to thank Mr. Throm for working to find the money for these raises and for his honesty in his discussions with us. I would also like to thank Trustee Jerome Garza for pushing the Administration to get something done for our support employees.
The Board of Trustees will hear the details at this Thursday's Board Briefings and will vote on Mr. Throm's proposal August 24. Employees should see the raise in their September paychecks with the Board's approval.
Finally, some good news...
Friday, July 3, 2009
NEA's Town Hall with Arne Duncan
Yesterday, before the official beginning of this year's NEA RA, over 7,000 NEA members met with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. NEA hosted one of his many "listening and learning" town hall forums on education here at the San Diego Convention Center.
Secretary Duncan first shared with us his background in education. He then went on to say that we should not let seniority and tenure rules put adults ahead of students, and that their performance should be measured--in part--by student scores.
Teacher pay -- and teacher tenure -- needs changing, Duncan said. He and President Obasma hope to collaborate with NEA and its members on new systems of compensation that will depart from traditional seniority-based salary scales.
Duncan went on to say that, "Excellence matters and we must honor it -- fairly, transparently, and on terms teachers can embrace."
Next, finally, our members had their turn. A member from Virginia asked how much of our input would be seen in the reauthorized version of the ESEA? The crowd responded with and thunderous, standing applause. A member from California asked Duncan to promise to not close schools, turn schools into charters and tie salaries to test scores.
Duncan responded to these questions like a typical, well-trained politician. He repeatedly said, "Great question." before not really answering the question and going back to his message. Messages like, "We've been scared to shine a spotlight on excellence," and, "Children have only one chance, one chance to get an education."
The Secretary never did give any straight answers. He did however, promise one thing: That the Administration will work in collaboration with the NEA and other organizations to develop a new plan for education in our country.
Well, I have heard this before from our own Dallas ISD Administration. The DISD has repeatedly brought in employees from across the District to talk about issues and propose solutions. These employees took time out of their day to come and provide their input with the understanding that their input would be used. Only thing was, their input was put into File 13 and the Administration of DISD did their own thing anyway!
I just hope that this Administration in D.C. is NOTHING LIKE THE ONE IN DALLAS! I encourage all of you to watch closely what happens in the coming weeks and months. To watch and see if President Obama and his Administration truly do work cooperatively with educators to improve education.
We all have seen how "merit pay" has divided our campuses instead of promoting collaboration and working together. We've seen charter schools draw money from public dollars and actually do worse than the public schools that they were supposed to have replaced.
We've all heard the promises. Now, it's time to see some action.
Secretary Duncan first shared with us his background in education. He then went on to say that we should not let seniority and tenure rules put adults ahead of students, and that their performance should be measured--in part--by student scores.
Teacher pay -- and teacher tenure -- needs changing, Duncan said. He and President Obasma hope to collaborate with NEA and its members on new systems of compensation that will depart from traditional seniority-based salary scales.
Duncan went on to say that, "Excellence matters and we must honor it -- fairly, transparently, and on terms teachers can embrace."
Next, finally, our members had their turn. A member from Virginia asked how much of our input would be seen in the reauthorized version of the ESEA? The crowd responded with and thunderous, standing applause. A member from California asked Duncan to promise to not close schools, turn schools into charters and tie salaries to test scores.
Duncan responded to these questions like a typical, well-trained politician. He repeatedly said, "Great question." before not really answering the question and going back to his message. Messages like, "We've been scared to shine a spotlight on excellence," and, "Children have only one chance, one chance to get an education."
The Secretary never did give any straight answers. He did however, promise one thing: That the Administration will work in collaboration with the NEA and other organizations to develop a new plan for education in our country.
Well, I have heard this before from our own Dallas ISD Administration. The DISD has repeatedly brought in employees from across the District to talk about issues and propose solutions. These employees took time out of their day to come and provide their input with the understanding that their input would be used. Only thing was, their input was put into File 13 and the Administration of DISD did their own thing anyway!
I just hope that this Administration in D.C. is NOTHING LIKE THE ONE IN DALLAS! I encourage all of you to watch closely what happens in the coming weeks and months. To watch and see if President Obama and his Administration truly do work cooperatively with educators to improve education.
We all have seen how "merit pay" has divided our campuses instead of promoting collaboration and working together. We've seen charter schools draw money from public dollars and actually do worse than the public schools that they were supposed to have replaced.
We've all heard the promises. Now, it's time to see some action.
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