Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission votes 10-5 not to develop or adopt a proposed Charter

The Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission was appointed by the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees on June 19, 2014 "to consider the need for and to develop a new charter to be considered by the residents of the District and to complete its work within one year as provided by law."

The Resolution of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees stated that "the Commission has the sole discretion and authority to determine that no Home-Rule School District Charter need be adopted."

This evening the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission voted 10-5 not to develop or adopt a proposed Home-Rule School District Charter for the Dallas Independent School District.

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Voting "Yes" in favor of the Resolution not to adopt a Home-Rule School District Charter:

Member-At-Large - Bob Weiss - Commission Chair
Member-At-Large - Stephanie Elizalde

District 1 - Kevin Malonson
District 3 - Jeff Veasey
District 6 - D. Marcus Ranger
District 7 - Jerome Garza
District 9 - Shirley Ison-Newsome

Districtwide Advisory Committee (DAC)  - Issac Freeman
Districtwide Advisory Committee (DAC) - Ron Oliver
Districtwide Advisory Committee (DAC) - Bonita Reese

Voting "No" against the Resolution not to adopt a Home-Rule School District Charter:

District 2 - Edwin Flores.
District 4 - Ricardo Mendez
District 5 - Lew Blackburn, Jr.
District 8 - Danae Gutierrez

Districtwide Advisory Committee (DAC) - Julie Sandel

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Dallas ISD

Home-Rule School District Charter Commission Resolution

WHEREAS, the Texas Education Code, Section 12. 011 authorizes a school district to adopt a home-rule school district charter under which the district will operate; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Education Code. Section 12.011 states, "The board of trustees shall appoint a charter commission to frame a home-rule school district charter if: (1) the board receives a petition requesting the appointment of a charter commission to frame a home-rule school district charter signed by at least five percent of the registered voters of the district;" and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 2014, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees nominated and appointed 15 residents of the district to serve on the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission in accordance with the Texas Education Code, Section 12.015; and 

WHEREAS, the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission has conducted public hearings throughout the geographic area of the Dallas ISD, including at least one hearing in each Trustee district; and 

WHEREAS, the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission has received presentations and information from five (5) of the nine (9) elected Trustees and provided an opportunity for all Trustees to provide information to the Commission; and

WHEREAS, the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission received a presentation from Superintendent of Schools, Mike Miles; and

WHEREAS, the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission has received presentations from community groups and organizations, including Support Our Public Schools (SOPS), Our Community Our Schools, Dallas Friends of Public Education, Stop The Takeover, Dallas NAACP, League of Women Voters, Dallas Achieves, Dallas School Administrators Association (DSAA), Alliance AFT, NEA-Dallas, Association of Hispanic School Administrations (AHSA), Dallas Regional National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), CASE; and

WHEREAS, the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission has the sole discretion and authority to determine that no Home-Rule School District Charter need be adopted; 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  That the Dallas ISD Home-Rule School District Charter Commission determines not to develop or adopt a proposed Home-Rule School District Charter.

Adopted on this 20th day of January, 2015.


DALLAS ISD
HOME-RULE SCHOOL DISTRICT CHARTER COMMISSION


By________________________________
    Bob Weiss 
    Commission Chair

ATTEST

By________________________________
   Shirley Ison-Newsome
   Commission Secretary

Justin F. Kimball Knights win third state Class 4A basketball championship in 4 years - 52-37

Dallas Kimball forward D’Angelo Allen holds the trophy as he and teammates celebrate the school’s third state title in four years. Michael Thomas AP

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/03/08/5632414/dallas-madison-repeats-as-3a-state.html#storylink=cpy

For the fourth straight year, I was pleased to be able to see the Justin F. Kimball Knights play in a state basketball championship game. 

Since this is my last year as District 6 Trustee, the 2014 state finals will be a special memory of the outstanding young men of Kimball High School accomplishing their dream of winning another state basketball championship.

Final score: 52-37     MVP: Trenton Brinkley - Kimball Knights

Congratulations, winning Coach Royce 'Snoop' Johnson, all assistant coaches, staff and Principal Earl Jones.

Go Kimball Knights!

Learning for Life 2011 Character Luncheon

Putting Education First

Today the 2011 Learning for Life Character Luncheon was held at Noon. Learning for Life currently serves 20,637 youth in 22 Dallas Independent Schools, 22 Educational First Step Centers, two private schools, two Texas Youth Commission Facilities, and one High School.

Four students were honored as winners - three students from Dallas ISD.

It was my pleasure to present the winners of the annual "What Does Character Mean To Me?" essay contest.  Each student received a $1000.00 Savings bond, a Learning for Life Medal and a Certificate.

Trustees Mike Morath, Lew Blackburn and Bernadette Nutall again seek to suppress the right of a Trustee to pull an item from the consent agenda

Today Trustee Mike Morath brings before the Board the following change to Board policy BE (Local):

"A request to pull an item from the consent agenda for a separate vote must be made by two trustees (or by any one Trustee who has a conflict of interest on an agenda item) by 5:00 P.M. on the Tuesday preceding the regular Board meeting."

 We have been here before.

Trustees Lew Blackburn and Bernadette Nutall have expressed their intention to support this latest attempt to turn the clock back again. The underlined language is designed to deny an individual Trustee the right to pull an item for a separate vote - you must get the approval of another Trustee.  In other words, you must play politricks.

These same Trustees will then go out into the community and brag about the number of unanimous votes of the Board because that is automatic if everything remains on the consent agenda. Teamwork has nothing to do with it.  It has to do with selfishness, arrogance, and personal agendas that must be hidden in order to sidestep the public interest in public issues.

Dissent is one of the most important rights in a democracy.

If I had not dissented and  opposed a clear violation of a state law - it is likely that neither Trustees Morath, nor Bernadette Nutall, or Bruce Parrott or Eric Cowan would have had an opportunity to join Dallas ISD because there would have been no election for years.  That is the thing about protecting the right of dissent - if there is no dissent there is no possibility of change.

Many other school districts and public institutions have no problem protecting the right to dissent and the right of the public to have public issues addressed in public.

Here are a few examples:

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy dedication was a joy

Robert and Charmaine Price Auditorium

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam, Robert Price, Robert Medrano, Principal Gayle Smith, Carla Ranger,
former Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Nolan Estes

Hundreds of family, friends, community and educators came out for the dedication ceremony of our newly opened District 6 high school -- Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, 1700 E. Camp Wisdom Road.

We gathered to thank Kathlyn Joy Gilliam, a deserving trailblazer, community leader and former long serving Dallas ISD Trustee of 23 years. She also served as the first African American Board President.

The event was a celebration and homecoming that welcomed out-of-town guests from as far away as California and Colorado.

It was a time of laughter, nostalgia, praise and gratitude for her life of commitment, integrity and service.   With humility and strength, Kathlyn Joy Gilliam thanked all for the honor of this tribute.

This was also the first formal program in the auditorium/lecture hall named for the Honorable Robert Price and wife, retired educator Charmaine Price.  Former Trustee Robert Price served with Kathlyn Joy Gilliam on the Dallas ISD Board and worked with her as first President of the Coalition to Maximize Education.   Robert and Charmaine Price have provided decades of service in education and to the Dallas community.

Former Dallas ISD Superintendent Nolan Estes told of experiences with  wisdom and wit about Kathlyn Gilliam's courage and servant leadership.

With admiration, former Board members Harryette Ehrhardt (and former state representative), Robert Medrano and Robert Price told their own stories of service and love for students.

KJG students sang and student readers provided a musical tribute of thanks in a rendition of "Because You Loved Me."

State Representative Yvonne Davis presented a Texas Proclamation  and was assisted by Judge Thomas G. Jones, former Dallas ISD Trustee who also served with Kathlyn Joy Gilliam.

School partners or representatives for Jennifer Wimbish, President, Cedar Valley College;  John Ellis Price, President , University of North Texas at Dallas; and Chris Coxon, Chief Program Officer, Texas High School Project all led guests in a Community Pledge of Commitment and Support.

Chief of Staff Claudia Rodriguez  and Director of  Design/Special Projects David Patton also participated.

Gilliam family member Rev. William Gamble of Colorado ended the program with remarks and blessings.

Students provided guided tours. The school architecture is joy-inspiring.  The great design creates a college setting within a school.  "There is Joy in teaching and learning at the Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy."

Abundant thanks to project manager Vandana Nayak and team, including lead designer Konrad Judd and project architect Jennifer Deng for their efforts in creating a unique and special educational facility.

Thanks to Principal Gayle Smith, who presided, and the outstanding faculty, staff and students of  Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy where "The Best is Yet to Come!" 

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy to be dedicated on Saturday, October 8 - 10:00 AM

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy
1700 East Camp Wisdom Road
Dallas, Texas  75241
District  6 

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy’s new building will be officially dedicated at a ceremony set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the school, 1700 E. Camp Wisdom Road. Established in 2008, the brand-new, 111,000-square-foot facility opened at the start of the 2011-2012 school year. Its construction was funded by the 2008 Bond Program.

The campus features 24 classrooms that can accommodate up to 400 students in grades 9-12, and also has multiple indoor/outdoor common spaces designed for dual purposes, an activity field and wireless Internet access within and surrounding the campus grounds. The building also features energy-efficient features such as geothermal heating and air conditioning designed to reduce energy consumption and utility costs, and landscaping is composed of only native Texas plants to reduce irrigation requirements.

The Gilliam Collegiate Academy is one of nearly 50 early college high schools in Texas.  This program was designed for minority students who would be the first in their family to graduate from college to enroll in dual credit courses from Cedar Valley College starting in the ninth grade. Other Dallas ISD early college high schools include Middle College High School at El Centro College, 801 Main St., and Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early College High School at Mountain View College, 4849 W. Illinois Ave.

“Dallas ISD’s early college high schools are another way that the district is focusing on preparing students for life after high school graduation,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools Alan King. “Students have the chance to earn a high school diploma and earn up to 60 hours of college credit, giving them a head start toward college graduation. The new Gilliam Academy building is a strong sign of the district’s commitment to these excellent programs.”

The Gilliam Collegiate Academy is named for Kathlyn Joy Gilliam, the first African-American woman elected to the Board of Trustees and the first African-American woman elected Board President. She served for 23 years on the Dallas ISD board.

Dedication ceremony participants include Ms. Gilliam; District 6 Trustee Carla Ranger; Chief of Staff Claudia Rodriguez; former Dallas ISD Superintendent Nolan Estes; former Dallas ISD trustees Robert Medrano, Robert Price and Harryette Ehrhardt; Principal Gayle L. Smith; and current students.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education roundtable

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson will host a STEM Education Roundtable from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center.

The roundtable will feature Congressman Ralph Hall, chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The discussion will focus on how public sector and private company stakeholders can improve education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The event will take place in Townview’s auditorium. The school is located at 1201 E. Eighth St.

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month

“Many Backgrounds, Many Stories…One American Spirit”

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

Click Here 

About National Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

First Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School parent meeting

Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School has historic first parent meeting on Tuesday evening at new facility.

Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School - 9-20-11

Tuesday evening I had the great pleasure of participating in the first meeting with  parents of our students attending  Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School, located in District 6 in the city of Dallas.  With greetings and  laughter, we celebrated the new school and saluted new opportunities.

I was invited to participate in the parent meeting weeks ago and was extremely pleased to keep that commitment and enjoy the company of an excellent turn-out.  Much like my meeting with potential Wilmer-Hutchins school parents this past spring, the auditorium held parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and community friends.  

They were an enthusiastic audience of approximately one-third Dallas, one-third Wilmer and one-third Hutchins parents -- as might be expected, along with many Lancaster residents also served by Dallas ISD.  Parents received information about  Title I, TAG, the Essilor Vision Program, Parkland Health Services and Asthma Shared Medical Appointments.

Having exceeded attendance projections of 550, Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School is already bursting with an enrollment of over 900 students and growing.   Additional facility,  teacher and staff support must come soon.

Parents and staff were welcoming and highly participatory. 

Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School - 9-20-11

Thanks to Principal Torey Page, teachers and staff for superb, far beyond-the-call work and service in meeting and overcoming the challenges of opening our newest District 6 elementary school.

I was honored to be present and to be the invited speaker at this historic evening-to-remember--the first Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary Parent Meeting at its brand new facility. 

Boude Storey Middle School community meeting

After enjoying a Welcome Parents Dinner, sponsored by community businesses and supporters and hosted by staff and teachers, proud students guided parents, siblings and guests to the school auditorium.

Here they learned about the 2010-2011 performance and rating of Boude Storey Middle School in the State Accountability System. Parents and community were then introduced to campus strategies for continuous improvement in core subjects and throughout the school.       

Boude Storey Middle School - 9-20-11

It was my honor to lead everyone in making a commitment to three school-wide goals:  1)  Increase academic achievement; 2) Improve school pride and spirit; and 3) Broaden parent and community involvement.

Such community meetings are a requirement of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) with my presence and participation having been planned and scheduled well in advance.

Following the formal presentation, thoughtful  questions and detailed answers revealed parent focus on student safety in the community along with student performance in school..

Parents, teachers and staff led by Principal Dr. Ronald Morris took this opportunity to show support for initiatives that can help Boude Storey Middle School accomplish a successful new school year.

Dallas police department officer will read to students at Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary School

The reading activity is part of the ‘Be a Reader Back to School Tour’ by Reading is Fundamental

DALLAS–Officer Calvin Cross, from the Dallas Police Department’s South Central Division, will visit and read a book to students at Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary School on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m.

            The visit is part of the Be a Reader Back to School Tour by Reading is Fundamental.  The purpose of the initiative is to encourage children to discover the joy of reading. Also, each student will receive a book for his or her home library. 

            The school is located at 5640 S. Marsalis Ave.

Community Meetings - Boude Story Middle School and Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School

I will be attending community meetings at Boude Story Middle School and Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School this evening.  These meetings were scheduled well in advance of today's Called Board Meeting.

Boude Storey Middle School - 6:00 P.M. - AU Community Meeting
Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School - 7:00 P.M.  - PTA

The Superintendent Search firm might be selected today. Three firms will be interviewed.

PROACT Search
Ray and Associates
Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates

The website of ProAct Search lists Kimberly Olson, former Dallas ISD Human Resources Director as the Regional President for Texas, Louisiana, and the Southern United States. Click Here

And that is the way it is.

Community Meetings at T. W. Browne Middle School and Justin F. Kimball High School

Justin F. Kimball High School - 9-8-11

District 6 parents and stakeholders joined teachers and staff at two community meetings this evening.

T. W. Browne Middle School

Principals at T.W. Browne Middle School and Justin F. Kimball High School

presented their respective School Improvement Plan (SIP) being implemented
this 2011-2012 school year.

Open House was another feature at both schools, providing the right combination for parents to learn about their children's school, teachers and the expectations for educational  achievement.

Justin F. Kimball High School - 9-8-11

Community participants pledged their support to do one act every day to help students succeed academically, personally and socially.

Thanks to Principal Mary J. Fitzgibbon at T. W. Browne Middle School and  Principal Leon Jones at Kimball High School.

Here's to a very good year!

Justin F. Kimball High School - 9-8-11

4-Year Trustee Terms will be considered today at 5:00 PM.

There is a special Called Board Meeting today (Tuesday) at 5:00 P.M. to discuss and decide certain "election cycle" issues that could create 4-Year Trustee terms - depending on which option is approved by the Board.

Notice of the Tuesday  suddenly called meeting was sent late last Friday afternoon.

Our monthly Board meeting was just held on the night before. It would seem that this very important item could have been placed on the Thursday monthly Board agenda where there would have been at least some opportunity for public comment on this important voting rights issue.

The Board will make a decision today with no opportunity for public feedback.  The meeting agenda does not mention 4-Year terms.

I will not be present because I must attend community meetings at two of my AU Schools today
at 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M.  (Hulcy Middle School and Carter High School). The AU community meetings are important and Trustees are expected to be present. 

Of course, I am not in agreement with 4-year terms and have fought against such a change for Dallas ISD.

While this time Senate Bill 100 involves new issues,  there are several options that will be discussed, and no clear requirement is stated.  It all appears to be optional.

No opportunity has been provided for public input. 

The public should have been included before making such an important voting rights decision.

Opening Day at Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary and Wilmer-Hutchins High School

Yesterday was a great day at Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary and Wilmer-Hutchins High School.

I arrived before 8:00 A.M. and was able to greet and observe students, parents, teachers and staff on the first day at their brand new school.

All were excited and eager to begin the new school year.  I visited with parents and students from the Dallas area and the adjacent cities of Wilmer and Hutchins.

It was fun  visiting with the kindergarten class below:

Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School class

Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary  School students were engaged in story time with their new teacher.

Wilmer-Hutchins High School English Class

Wilmer-Hutchins High School eagerly participated at their refurbished new school.

The majority of the students in the Wilmer-Hutchins High School class I visited were from the city of Dallas.

It was a good beginning of a whole new opportunity for students, parents and teachers.

High Stakes Tests directly increase the severity of the dropout problem

A peer-reviewed study published early in 2008 in Education Policy Analysis Archives (McSpadden McNeil, Coppola, Radigan, & Vasquez Heileg, 2008) notes that Texas was the model for the high-stakes test accountability of No Child Left Behind  and reports that 135,000 teenagers are lost from Texas high schools every year.  More than 60 percent of them are African American and Latino.  Based on extensive ethnographic analysis, it is clear that the state's high-stakes tests directly increase the severity of the dropout problem.  Although NCLB and states claim that the disaggregation of student by race leads to more equity, the report insists that instead it "puts our most vulnerable youth -- the poor, the English language learners, and African-American and Latino children -- at risk of being pushed out of their schools so the school ratings can show 'measurable improvement'"  (McSpadden McNeil et al., 2008, "Abstract," para. 1)

 Did you get that?  Young people are literally being pushed out of schools to improve school ratings and show 'measurable improvement.'

This is what education is been reduced to under the 'test and punish' corporate reform model that is destroying public education in America.

One way used to improve test scores is to get rid of "our most vulnerable youth."

This is one of the very bad results of high-stakes testing.

Research shows strong library media programs increase student achievement

School Libraries Make a Difference to Student Achievement

This page contains links to research reports and other documents that show that school libraries make a difference to student achievement; that school libraries have a positive impact on students and on learning. There are documents from a number of countries. There are also links to articles in professional journals and newspapers that are based on these documents. This page is intended to help school librarians to answer the question, "Do school libraries make a difference?".
http://www.iasl-online.org/advocacy/make-a-difference.html


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National Finding:

Student achievement increases when …
There is adequate staffing, including at least one full-time certified library media specialist and full-time support person in the library media center.  In Pennsylvania and Colorado, test scores increased as much as 15% in schools that had adequately  staffed libraries. As library staff increases, there is more time spent on instructional activities
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/EC67FB12-FE6B-464A-A2AD-D0C6307773E3/22725/National_Studies_Connect_School_Libraries__Student.pdf
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Library Media Programs and Student Achievement

Research has repeatedly shown that strong library media programs increase student achievement. In dozens of large-scale studies, involving over 8,700 schools and over 2.6 million students, research has consistently demonstrated that students score an average of 10-20% higher on reading and achievement tests when their school has a strong library media program. This effect holds, regardless of other school conditions such as student-teacher ratio, overall per-pupil spending, student demographics and community
socio-economic conditions. Furthermore, qualitative research shows that the relationship is causal: Effective library media programs directly contribute to higher student achievement.
http://www.cobbk12.org/librarymedia/proof/research.pdf
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The Texas Study, 2001:

• Smith, Ester. Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students’ Performance. Austin, TX: EGS Research & Consulting, 2001. Available at:http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/schlibsurvey/index.html
  Download
• Texas Presentation:http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/schoollibs/schlibsurvey/index.html

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STANDARDS, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE TEXAS SCHOOL LIBRARIES:
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/schlibsurvey/index.html
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TEXAS SCHOOL LIBRARIES: STANDARDS, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE
http://www.davidvl.org/LanceStudies/TXStudy.pdf

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Presentation on "Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students' Performance" - Presented by Christine McNew
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/schoollibs/schlibsurvey/index.html

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Strong Libraries Improve Student Achievement

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin178.shtml

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How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards

http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED445698.pdf

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In 1993, the Colorado State Library published "The Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement."
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED353989&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED353989


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The Importance of School Libraries
http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/Lance.pdf


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Discussion Paper:  Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement
http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/superintendent/Downloads/School%20Libraries.pdf

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The Impact of School Library Media Centers on Academic Achievement
This study provides evidence of the positive impact of library media centers (LMCs) on academic achievement in 221 Colorado public schools during the 1988^-89 school year. The importance of the library media specialist's instructional role is also verified
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED353989&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED353989
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Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement in California

The findings from this study confirm a host of prior research on the relationship between school libraries and student achievement ... 

http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9800/

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Redistricting broke open meetings law in 2001

A Dallas Morning News article was written on the redistricting process  in 2001.
Click Here


Redistricting is a very important process.

The state law requires either a certified agenda or an audio of every closed meeting to be kept on file.

I started asking about this a long time ago and it remains a concern.


A closed session that does not have either a certified agenda or an audio record violates the Texas Open Meetings Act.


It is also required by Board policy BEC (Local) which states:

• Certified Agenda - The Board shall keep a certified agenda of the proceedings of each closed meeting ... (BEC (Local)
• Redistricting - Furthermore, any closed meeting in which redistricting under the 2000 Census is in any way discussed under any exception to the Texas Open meetings Act is prohibited unless an audio tape of the entire session is made with each speaker clearly identified by the chair or the speaker

We are now entering redistricting again under the 2010 Census.

This mistake should be avoided in 2011.
.
*******************************************************************************
December 8, 2001

By Tawnell HobbsStaff Writer
Page 35A

A judge ruled Friday that Dallas school trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by haggling behind closed doors while redrawing district boundaries.

......

“These trustees were essentially discussing what map they would adopt and what their story would be,” said William A. Brewer III, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “Well, they’ve lost. Now it’s a question of what the punishment will be.”

Click Here

Superintendent Vote Meeting June 5, 2011 - Superintendent Michael Hinojosa - Cobb County, Georgia

Watch live streaming video from cobbschools at livestream.com

Birdie Alexander Elementary celebrates three retiring teachers

Forgotten history, bellowing laughter and joyful tears filled the Oak Room of the Center for Community Cooperation this evening. Teachers, staff, family and friends honored and thanked Carol Bartholf, Jewelle White, and Dr. Delores Seamster for a combined total of 106 years of teaching at the Birdie Alexander Elementary School retirement celebration.

In recalling her teaching career, Carol Bartholf commented, “I have taught Sunday School and training since I was in the fifth grade. I think that’s when I started to develop the desire to become a teacher.” She kept that desire for 42 years in education, and she’s proud of it. Her experience includes teaching preschool through 6th grade in self-contained classrooms, language arts and social studies in middle school, math in junior high and art in grades 3 through college. She has been a principal in a small country school, grades K - 6 and high school, and an elementary and middle school TAG teacher. She is known for her unique manner with children as well as her food dishes prepared for faculty and staff. Retiree Carol Bartholf cherishes every bit of her 38 years of service in Dallas ISD.

Though always conservative with words, Jewelle White “ inspired countless students." She was known for “the look" her signature expression that “scared her students into doing what was right.” One of the speakers reflected, “Everybody knew Ms. White meant business.” They also knew she cared about her students “who learned and had fun.” She has taught in Dallas ISD for 33 years, serving the entire time (1978 - 2011) at one school --Birdie Alexander. During her career, she taught physical education to more than 20, 000 students. Retiree Jewelle White, the only teacher on campus who has been there more than 30 years, celebrates her love and longevity of Dallas ISD service for the past 36 years.

Over three decades go, an excited and apprehensive young student-teacher was assigned to Birdie Alexander Elementary School. Now, this forever student and teacher Dr. Delores Seamster is retiring. Her outstanding journey in public education includes: classroom teacher, reading and staff development specialist, assistant principal, principal and Dallas ISD director of the Reading Language Arts Department. Always eager to help and share her knowledge, understanding and methods, Dr. Seamster has assisted, trained and provided support for thousands of educators. Upon leaving central administration, she returned to teaching, her first love. Some call it coincidence while others may see divine order in the fact that her last teaching assignment was at Birdie Alexander, the school where she started. Amazingly and not known at the time to the new principal, the classroom given to Dr. Seamster was the very same room in which she had done her student-teaching many years before. Since being back as teacher-leader, she and her team have helped Birdie Alexander students and reading scores to soar. Her passion and dedication to reading, education and children are evident. Retiree Delores Seamster delights in remembering and celebrating 32 years of service in Dallas ISD.

Thanks to Principal Roshonda Clayton-Brown and Birdie Alexander faculty, staff and community for the fun-filled Retirement Celebration at the Center for Community Cooperation.

Happiness to retired teachers Carol Bartholf, Jewelle White and Delores Seamster!