Friday, November 23, 2012

Dallas ISD Trustees should rescind the 45 minute daily teacher extension passed on January 26, 2012


The Dallas ISD policy on teacher hours was extended by an additional 45 minutes daily on January 26, 2012.  The Board policy was changed by Trustees (voting "Yes"- Blackburn-Flores-Bingham-Morath-Cowan) in a 5-3 vote on the same night eleven (11) schools were closed. 

Former Trustee Edwin Flores promoted the change in these words:
"We're going to pay for eight hours, we're going to get eight hours." (Unfair Park-Mon.1-30-12 -
If Nothing Else, They Won't Run Out of Things to Ask DISD Trustee Edwin Flores Tonight)

Like Dallas ISD before the Board policy was changed on January 26, 2012, some school districts such as San Antonio ISD have a specific time limit stated in Board policy that is also less than eight hours.
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San Antonio ISD Board Policy on Assignment and Schedules (DK-Local) - Employee Work Schedules - states: "Teachers shall be on duty seven and one-half hours each day, between 7:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ..."
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What is now being suggested by Board President Lew Blackburn will delegate the Board police-making authority to the Superintendent at a time when teachers are already feeling violated. 

Rescinding the Board action will restore the policy as it existed prior to the change. What is now being proposed will not do so.

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Dallas ISD Board Policy DK (Local) before January 26, 2012 - "... Time schedules may be arranged to suit the needs of individual schools, taking travel schedules into consideration, but must contain a minimum of seven hours and 45 minutes."
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Trustees made the change. Trustees should correct the mistake  by rescinding the action taken on January 26, 2012.