Dallas ISD 2008 Bond Advisory Committee proposes plan to spend remaining 2008 bond funds

From Dallas ISD web site - Click Here

 

"The Dallas ISD 2008 Bond Advisory Committee and the Construction Services staff presented a proposed plan to the board to improve and better develop various district schools using unallocated 2008 Bond program money at the May 9, 2013 board briefing. The proposed projects would improve  school and classroom environmental conditions, reduce classroom ratios and provide new additions to accommodate specialized programs. The total cost of the projects would be approximately $40 million.

"The top five schools that are considered for the construction projects include George W. Truett Elementary School, E.B. Comstock Middle School, W.W. Bushman Elementary School, T.G. Terry Elementary School and W.E. Greiner Middle School.

"Truett Elementary is the most over-crowded elementary school in the district with student enrollment reaching 1110 students. The building as it stands now has a capacity of 653. The school will receive an additional building to be built on-site that will house pre-k through second grade students with the original building housing third through fifth grade students. Greiner Middle School, the highest over-capacity middle school, will receive a new classroom wing which will include up to 38 classrooms and replace 38 portables.

"Comstock Middle School, Bushman and Terry elementary schools will all receive critical HVAC upgrades. They will replace the steam boilers and piping with a new hydronic system to greatly improve the comfort and operating efficiency of the buildings.

The board will vote on this proposed plan at the May 23, 2013 board meeting." 

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Why rating teachers by test scores won’t work

From Jay Matthews - Washington Post - Class Struggles - Click Here

Posted at 01:39 PM ET, 05/13/2012

"I don’t spend much time debunking our most powerful educational fad: value-added assessments to rate teachers. My colleague Valerie Strauss eviscerates value-added several times a week on her Answer Sheet blog with the verve of a Samurai warrior, so who needs me?

Unfortunately, value-added is still growing in every corner of our nation, including D.C. schools, despite all that torn flesh and missing pieces. It’s like those monsters lumbering through this year’s action films.We’ve got to stop them! Let me fling my small, aged body in their way with the best argument against value-added I have seen in some time.

It comes from education analyst and teacher trainer Grant Wiggins and his “Granted, but .  . .” blog. He starts with the reasons many people, including him and me, like the idea of value-added. Why not rate teachers by how much their students improve over time? In theory, this allows us to judge teachers in low- and high-income schools fairly, instead of declaring, as we do, that the teachers in rich neighborhoods are better than those in poor neighborhoods because their students’ test scores are higher.

“I have seen this sham firsthand over many years,” Wiggins writes. “Lots of so-called good N.J. and N.Y. suburban districts are truly awful when you look firsthand (as I have for three decades) at the pedagogy, assignments and local assessments; but those kids outscore the kids from Trenton and New York City, even though both city systems have a number of outstanding schools and teachers.”

Money makes a big difference. “For every $10,000 increase in family income, SAT scores rise approximately 15 points,” he said."

Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School opens August 27 honoring civil rights activist

From Dallas ISD.org website

As they learn their way around the many exciting features of the new Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School, students will no doubt also learn a few things about issues like social justice and equality, topics often championed by the school’s legendary namesake.

“It is indeed an honor to serve as the founding principal of the legendary Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School,” said Principal Barbara Moham. “Dr. Holmes is not only a legend; he is a man of character, distinction, honor, and humility. His selfless acts to ensure a better life for others are rare and worthy of this kind of recognition. We are proud to represent him and his family through our school.”

When school starts Monday, August 27, the school will become home to students in grades 6-8 in the Justin F. Kimball High School feeder pattern. Located at 2929 St. Rita Drive, the 192,086 sq. ft. facility will accommodate 1,250 students in an environmentally sustainable building.

The three-story building will feature 64 classrooms, new softball, baseball and football fields, and geothermal heating and air conditioning systems.

During an orientation earlier this month, the new school staff registered more than 400 students and treated them, along with their parents, to a brief tour. “Parents were so excited about the new school and seeing all the staff members adorned in welcome home shirts,” said Moham. “Dr. Holmes also stopped by earlier this spring and was overjoyed to see the building under construction.”

Best known as a spiritual leader, political powerhouse and civil rights activist who has touched countless lives through his dedication to social justice and equality, Dr. Holmes was appointed by the late Gov. Ann Richards as the first African-American to serve on the University of Texas Board of Regents.

The school will host its Neighborhood Fellowship event Thursday, August 16, 5 – 8 p.m., to give students, parents, and community members a first-hand look at the new building.

Moham is a master principal with more than 25 years in the education field. She hails from a long line of educators and credits her love for children and a strong support system as her key inspiration. “My desire is to see all children grow and become the best citizens they can be; citizens who give back more than they receive.”

Moham recently served as the principal of D.A. Hulcy Middle School, which was closed at the end of last school year under the consolidation plan.

The school’s mission statement of ensuring student success by creating a well-structured student-centered environment where effective high quality instruction is in every classroom and rigorous student learning is the norm is foremost on the minds of school staff as they prepare to welcome students in a few days.

The Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School is part of the 2008 Bond program and one of five new schools and one replacement school opening this fall.

For more information, visit dallasisd2008bond.org.