Leading Off
1) DISD has a graduation rate of just 44 percent. The district says it has a mere 7 percent dropout rate. (Meanwhile, the DISD superintendent has a higher salary than the President of the United States.) Do the math on all that. Unless you’re viewing this on a DISD server since, well — come on. Not need to hurt yourself.
2) They’re getting rid of Robert Riggs and John Sparks, but this is the kind of reporting they’re keeping at Channel 11? Awesome.
3) Collin County Commissioner James Hoagland sends greetings to one and all from the 19th Century.
(Bonus: Your Wednesday moment of Zen.)
24 Comments to “Leading Off”
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Trey: “The DISD superintendent has a higher salary than the President of the United States.”
The President’s performance was even more dismal than the DISD’s.
Touche’
Apparently the staff purge happened at CBS-owned stations around the country, not just Dallas.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....chor_purge
Ed’s right. Hard as it is to believe, the DISD superintendent had a better year than the president. We’ve been thinking that for the last 8 years. Sad, isn’t it?
How sad that any FBvians drink the media Kool-Aid that everything in Dallas ISD is bad. Stop reading The News. Stop watching the local news and volunteer at a Dallas ISD school. In other words, put up or shut-up.
Just curious, but how is looking at a 44 percent graduation rate and the district’s claimed 7 percent dropout rate “drinking the media Kool-Aid?”
It’s a legitimate question. How would you explain that math?
Louisa — given there are so many alternatives, why?
You damned the whole district including the superintendent based on one piece of data. The superintendent certainly wants a higher graduation rate. My constant complaint is the generalizations about anything in the district:
- With 20,000 people, it is the city’s largest employer yet when one person steals, the media want you to believe the entire system is corrupt.
- There are 150,000 students, most from very challenging backgrounds, but when 100 of them use heroin, the media want you to think there are drug deals in every classroom.
- Teacher assaults are disturbing as are unreported student assaults at my neighboring private schools. But there’s a better chance, right now, that my North Dallas home will be robbed than that one of my child’s teachers will be assaulted.
- I receive the press releases the district distributes and can attest that very few of the positive stories are reported.
Alternatives? I’m not sure what Trey means. There are 227 campuses. We don’t yet have a formal choice system but there’s a pretty strong informal system families use.
Bad news sells and you bought it. http://dallas.bizjournals.com/.....rial4.html
“The superintendent certainly wants a higher graduation rate.”
I want a toilet made of 14k gold but I’m not likely to get that, either.
The alternatives of which I speak are private schools or other ISDs.
“You damned the whole district including the superintendent based on one piece of data.”
A 44 percent completion rate for students is pretty damning. And why the acrimony toward the suburbs?
Re: #2
When I clicked through to see what hard hitting story you had CBS covering (I did see it last night and the missus and I both commented how leering and lurid the newscasts have become), I noticed the ad below the story:
From our partners
Find a job in Dallas
I love irony.
I don’t know, Louisa. Maybe the math I learned - I mean, it wasn’t learned around here, so it’s certainly suspect - is shaky.
But a 44 percent graduation rate = 66 percent didn’t.
Now, that doesn’t mean that some didn’t move out, or something, I don’t know. But 66 is a far cry from seven.
I don’t think you’re being fair to compare all districts and privates regarding graduation rate unless they have identical client bases. Schools should be held accountable for performance but can do little, though they try, to manage their students lives. Many make bad choices that lead to their dropping out and others are challenged to keep up with school when they must work and or care for siblings. As for dropouts, here’s an interesting perspective: http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03.....ld_l.shtml
My complaint is not with the suburbs or the privates. The only reason, I posted, was to pointed out that I believe the media prefer to emphasize the problems and not the successes of urban schools. I’m thankful for the recent efforts of this group to change that: http://www.raiseyourhandtexas......leg_agenda
Bethany -
Hate to break it to you but your math is wrong.
100% - 44% = 56%, not 66%
Better, but still not acceptable.
BTW, I graduated from public schools.
Heh….that wasn’t my math, that was my fingers.
I apologize for the typo
Both of them…egads.
It may have been gratuitous to mention Hinojosa’s salary, even if I think it’s way out of line for any civil servant. But no rationalization accounts for DISD’s poor rating in drop-outs, especially given the top two school districts in terms of completion — Mesa, Arizona and San Jose, California; both at 77 percent — measured by the exact same metric have the same immigrant issues DISD faces.
Hinojosa’s initiatives should produced great gains. So let’s revisit the topic when he has had more time. And I vehemently disagree on his salary. The job requirements match or exceed those of similar responsibility in the private sector. And although he’s a civil servant, how many civil servants are qualified for and seeking his job? Supply and demand are therefore factors too as well as maintaining stability in the position.
I have my doubts.
Trey has his doubts. Instead of rolling up your sleeves to write frequent critiques of the district from your ivory suite on Turtle Creek, why don’t you roll’em up and regularly volunteer at any one of the 227 schools. Tim and Eric could help you find your way. I know a high school that needs help launching a school newspaper.
If you’re only willing to do one day, you could be in the dunking booth chair at the Hexter El. carnival. Again, Tim and Eric could facilitate that.
If volunteering isn’t your thing, spend a few days following Denise Collier, Kim Olson, Leslie Williams or any of Hinojosa’s ELT (Executive Leadership Team) and then recheck your thinking on achieving Hinojosa’s goals.
Anyone can have goals and plans. Ask the Soviets, for instance. I’d like to see results for a change.
When was the last time D Magazine profiled successes in Dallas schools?
In 30-something years, I know they’ve never written about the enigma that is Woodrow.
However, Texas Monthly put us on the cover.
This is in response to the DMN’s article today, Sunday, April 20, 2008 regarding Jack Lowe.
Jack Lowe needs to go.
1. Who moves into Dallas from Highland Park to run for the DISD School Board? Jack Lowe did. Why - to line his pockets. Who else in their right mind would do this. He is not doing it for his children or grandchildren. You think he would let them attend the DISD?
2. Who runs for school board and then gets a brand new school named for his pappy. I have never heard of such a thing. If it would have happened at another time, who cares, but not while he is serving on the school board.
3. Lowe has appointed Craig Reynolds not once, but now twice to lead this who ha. This is a shame as Mr. Reynolds is benefiting off it also. Why else are these men involved and why are they pushing the bond package that does not benefit the entire district. They don’t give a dam. They just want a bond package and a way to line their pockets and all they see is $$$, they don’t see the students and they sure don’t give a dam about the teachers and their thoughts or concerns. Why does Reynolds get the job twice. Is there no other person in Dallas that would not have a conflict of interest to run the DISD Bond Program.
4. Why is no one running against Jack Lowe - it is not because people respect the job he had done or is doing. It is because of one thing $$$. That is no one had the money out there to beat Jack Lowe and his political machine for a job that does not pay the average citizen a cent — but for Jack Lowe that is not the case - he will walk away with millions.
Something to think about when voting for the next bond election. VOTE NO and by the way if you live in Jack Lowe’s district - just don’t vote for the Trustee because even though you can’t vote against him, you don’t have to give him a vote.