Live Blog - November Board Meeting
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 21:52.
[Refresh early. Refresh often.]
It is 5:32 and we're underway.
Tonight is going to be an action-packed night. Out front are the cadre of teachers who are still protesting the layoffs--the unfortunate side effect of the $84M dollar oversight.
In case you hadn't heard, former attorney general Jim Maddox died today. We opened the meeting tonight with a moment of silence in respect of his public service.
Tonight the first of the votes authorizing the expenditure of bonds.
Carla Ranger is making a "point of order" and asking the rest of the board to respect the parliamentarian when asking for parliamentary advice.
Carla wanted to make a second point of order. Jack Lowe deferred the matter to the parliamentarian as requested by Carla! The parliamentarian ruled that Carla was out of order!
Ahh, hmmm.
OK, we're on to the Superintendent's report. The topic: "Principles of Learning" and "Self Management of Learning."
Back to the meeting... the Board is also hiring a new guy. A new Chief Executive Financial Officer. We'll tell you more about him later.
Finally, the Board is going to vote on whether to proceed forward and change from 3-year trustee terms to 4-year trustee terms. One hitch: board elections that would have happened next year, won't. The question: can (and is it a good idea for) trustees to vote themselves an extra year in office?
Back to the briefing reports.
Carla has another "point of order." Topic: President Lowe violating another board policy. She is complaining that Lowe won't put her items on the agenda for discussion.
The audience agrees vocally.
Jack's response: "I will follow policy."
Carla protests. "I've noted your comments," said Jack.
Jack: "We're not posted to discuss this... I'm not going to violate the Open Meetings Act."
Now, back to Edwin Flores and the regular education briefing. Then Leigh Ann Ellis with the policy briefing followed by Lew Blackburn with the business briefing.
Lew: "We're down to $57 million dollars [in the shortfall]."
5:50 - Speakers to agenda items.
First up is Pauline Dixon, followed by Diane Birdwell.
Pauline is on the Dallas County School Board. She is asking that trustees not vote to extend their terms.
Now she's on to the RIF's. She's criticizing Superintendent Michael Hinojosa for firing teachers but not firing select staff. "You didn't fire any Hispanics."
Diane Birdwell: speaking against the proposal to extend their terms. "You blew the deadline (last December--more on that in a bit). She continues to assail the board over the proposition. We have her speech. We'll post it later.
Pedro Alvarez: opposing the term extensions.
Claudia Fowler: opposing the term extensions. Vocally. Very vocally.
Jose Hickman: opposing term extensions. "Some thing this board has been extremely irresponsible." Alleging corruption now. Hickman believes that there's a conspiracy to hire "the president of a Texas university" when Hinojosa is gone.
Another speaker... didn't get the name but he knows Hinojosa. He's pleading for "one more chance" for Dr. Hinojosa. He believes the district is becoming a national embarrassment and becoming overly "contentious."
A whole series of speakers are talking about congratulations and offering prayers in support of the Board and Dr. Hinojosa.
A Hispanic speaker is up thanking Hinojosa for his service. "We're the fastest growing demographic in the city." "We'll see you at the polls." The audience is grumbling.
"Congratulations Dr. Hinojosa, we're here to support you."
Adelfa Callejo is up. She's speaking in support of Hinojosa. "The Hispanic community stands ready to assist you." "This is not the time for divisive politics." Hoots from the audience.
Carlos Quintanilla, a well-known local Hispanic activist, is raising h-e-double-hockeysticks in front of the news cameras.
Al Lipscomb is wanting to speak. Jack notes that he's not on the agenda.
Motion to suspend and let Al speak. 5-4 and Al is speaking. He's condemning the Dallas Morning News, the Chamber of Commerce, the FBI, and others for bringing actions against black officials.
Al is in tears.
Side note: I hate to see this. Regardless of what you think about Al's politics (and I've certainly been critical of his past), Al is a Dallas city treasure. Agree or disagree with him, he's made a difference. You go Al.
"I'm really ashamed and appalled at the FBI... for a witch hunt."
6:23 - With the consent agenda passed, we're on to discussing individual agenda items that have been pulled.
Carla Ranger is complaining that "no one in the central administration staff receives contracts." The new executive chief financial officer is going to get a contract worth about $250,000. She is complaining that in the era of trying to boot contracts, she doesn't feel right giving this guy a contract.
Ron Price is answering. The matter was discussed in closed session. "This person's credentials outweigh anyone else [in the area of school finance]." "He comes highly recommended...for his expertise in school finance."
Carla continues to complain that it wasn't discussed in open session. Members of the audience are shouting "transparency," "shame," etc.
"You can't make decisions, President Lowe." Carla says it is the Board who makes the decision.
"This is the kind of thing that leads the public to distrust us." The audience seems to agree loudly.
Jack notes that no action can be taken in closed session--which is why the Board needs to vote on the contract.
Jack calls for the question. 8-1. The budget guy is hired, paid, and we're on to the next item.
Dwayne Carraway walked in and Ron Price acknowledged his presence.
Next up: approving a pool of underwriters. Jerome Garza leaves the room over a conflict of interest--and in accordance with the new policy.
Adam Medrano speaks! Is this the 2nd or 3rd time this year (just kidding Adam)?!
Adam is asking that another Latino firm, and an African-American firm, be added to...
Wait. The attorneys are urging that Medrano withdraws his amendment on this amendment item and add it to the next one.
Adam's amendment adds the Latino firm and the African-American firm to the pool of bond underwriters.
Carla Ranger asks what the $400 million covers. The answer: "phase 1 projects" that takes the District through 2010.
The bond is going forward and taxes are going up!
Carla Ranger pulled the next item: spending $750,000 on new English reading workbooks. Carla is concerned about the "books in the dumpsters" debacle and wants to make sure that isn't going to happen to these books.
6:49 - We're on to the discussion about extending board terms from 3 years to 4.
Carla is asking whether the resolution was drafted by Rolando Rios. DISD chief attorney Jack Elrod is answering that Rios was hired because of his experience.
Carlos Quintanilla keeps interrupting. Jack is asking him "one more time" to be quiet.
Carla doesn't like him. "I asked you [not to use Rios]." Carla claims that Rios lied to the Board previously.
The audience is shouting: "Hinojosa must go!" Jack warns them "one last time." Al Lipscomb is saying that the Board is disrespecting him/them.
The question: can the Board extend its term to 4 years. The lawyer says yes. Carla asks what sections.
Apparently DISD was excluded from the provision that required schools to adopt 4-year terms by last December. Apparently there is a conflict between the provision in the law, and another law. Carla is arguing law.
"New lawyers ... new lawyers..." (Carlos Quintanilla is shouting).
Carla doesn't believe the Board can vote to extend the term--since legislation indicates they can't.
"We have discussed this with a number of school attorneys," replied Jack Elrod.
Carla continues to disagree. Now she's sparing with Lowe.
Quintanilla interrupts. Jack points at him and tells Carlos that the next time he speaks up, he will be removed! The cops move in!
Ron Price is speaking, trying to give an explanation on why this is legal. Price's term, along with Edwin Flores and Leigh Ann Ellis' would be extended for one year longer than the voters elected them.
They're voting. 7-2 with Medrano and Ranger voting against.
Barring lawsuits, there are now 4-year terms.
A couple more board policies and we should be on to speakers for non-agenda items.
But we're sidetracked again. Carla wants to re-visit the "anti-Carla-Ranger" policy. On track for discussion is the local policy that disallows a trustee to pull an item off of the consent agenda for individual discussion as a separate agenda item.
The Board passed a policy to only allow items to be pulled off of the consent agenda if 2 or more trustees want to do it.
Carla wants to be able to pull items immediately.
Leigh Ann Ellis wants to modify the process to add a couple of "prep" days.
Leigh Ann wants to increase the time from day-of to Tuesday. She says trustees need to have ample time to review the agenda before voting. Pulling items at the last minute prevents trustees from studying the item.
Carla disagrees.
Edwin Flores supports the amendment on the same grounds.
The problem is that some trustees feel that others are less-prepared at the time for the Board meeting, thereby extending the meeting un-necessarily. Mixed feelings on this. There should probably be a "fail-safe" in case something on the consent agenda changes on Wednesday.
But the vote passes. 7 for, 1 (Ranger) voting "no" and Price not voting (he's gone). If you can't get your act together and pull a consent agenda item for separate discussion by Tuesday, it isn't going to be pulled.
7:26 - Now we're on to the after-meeting speakers.
Does anyone know?
Does anyone know what the aspects of Hinojosa's plan is to get things fixed in January. He has stated in the DMN that he and "others," have come up with some ways to solve the district's finances and has stated he believes that this will clear things up by January. Anybody have anymore info on this? Thanks.
Time to Fix the Machine
How long will it take to Fix the Machine.
Well, the Transmission of a Car takes about
3 to 4 days with a Good Mechanic. It cost about
3,000.00 Dollars and, it takes a Rented Car for the
WAIT...
This Machine has been Broken for Decades. It will
take very Good Mechanics to Fix It; and it's NOT
Going to be Over-Nite. It will take
a Few Years before the Machine Starts RUNNING Smoothly...
Therefore, don't be Silly and Expect the Machine
to be Ready in January 2009.
As you can see and, READ...
They are just getting
the Mechanics that are Qualify to Do the Job.
And the ones that BROKE the Machine?
Well, Hopefully someone can gather them
and put them out of Practice.
Board members terms of office.
I for one am so sick of all of DISD's school board. The only two that deserve re-elction are the two that voted against extending the terms of office. I guess that the other flunkies and no account, do nothing members think that they can avoid defeat when they run again? Well think again board members. The latest farce which you all knew about will be long remembered by the voters of the district. Your enept actions and just plain downright contempt for the community, parents, students and teachers will come back and bite you on the ********. I hope that everyone one of you goes down in a blaze of dishonor. You deserve NOTHING better.
You have in the last few months done more to harm, degrade and just plain make DISD a laughing stock not only in the area, but state and nation. Any of your current actions might say one thing to you but to us they show your true colors. Just state it what you will you defy the state laws and then find ways to side step them. You at the present time will sit back and cause nothing but more confusion and do nothing. You DO NOT know the law and school practices. We have riffed teachers that know more about Texas education and laws than you do. I hope you indeed fall and fall hard all of you along with the joke we have as a superintendent. You have lost all my respect and now I wish for you the most contempt anyone could want anyone to have.
Resign in discrace and let us elect some members that will restore the image of DISD.
COWARDS
This is Price's interpretation of the law.
The law extends the term to four years when NEW representatives are elected, not for the sitting board members. We will waste more tax money when they are sued for their self-serving interpretations.
By the way, Allen, you forgot to mention the fact that Ranger asked for those who wish to extend terms to identify the person who forwarded this motion, and not a one of the representatives would identify themselves. They just sat there. Can they possibly be more pathetic?
Who calls this democracy? We call it cowardly slime. Who is pulling the strings of these puppets? Bond money, no doubt.
The attorney making this "interpretation" was the same one who Jerome Garza hired to sneak a school out of Carla's district behind her back.
Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic.
By the way, to what agenda item was Callejo allowed to speak or the Spanish pop-up ministers lead by Hector Flores? They get to break the rules on speakers to provide some support for a superintendent whom the public wants gone, yesterday?
A school district employee, Hector Flores, gets to break the rules to keep his boss in a job?
We wonder if Hector will need to speak to Paul Coggins regarding those fake social security numbers for his recruits to the district, or if Coggins will simply send him an email or give him a phone call, the way the pcard investigation was run.
Isn't all this nauseating? Under the table deals, more money for Coggins who did little more than ask major thieves what they did with receipts, a board extending their terms against the law because they know they are toast.
A poverty of ethics and brains on this board--so stupid they don't think the only transparency in this district is our ability to see through them?
As far as Hinojosa cleaning this up--why should he be allowed to clean anything up when he made the mess because he is too stupid to hire the right people?
As far as any academic achievements--give us all a break. The truth on that will be forthcoming.
Alliance Members
Where is Aimee? Shouldn't she have had something to say last night on behalf of her members who have been victimized by this Board and Administration? Wow, what are they paying for?
HAVE YOU SEEN THE GREAT SCHOOLS IN ALLEN, TX?
THEY EVEN HAVE WEB SITES.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE GREAT SCHOOLS IN MESQUITE? THEY HAVE A RADIO STATION.
Web sites
Hey! We have Dallas.Org :)
DISD is akin to Hiltler
Well how many people does it take standing up and shouting at us to leave before we go or get trampled over?
Hope this take over plan well impacts those who are left to indulge and rape one another. Obviously there is no plan or intention to have cohesion. The long premediation to waist every resource in Dallas County. At hand are long legal battles, that's the smiles attorney's offer to us, to finish off the tax dollars. Gloat if you will for Dallas Independent School District may not exist too much longer. The new population in control, and without controls are seeing to that. What's the point now! I'm praying too, praying my kids aren't watching the news, reading the paper, following DISD'S bad lesson plans on business and management. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!
DISD Emotions
Lookit. Education is an emotional issue. So is money. I think we all have the same goals: educate all our kids and spend our money as wisely as possible.
I believe that's Hinojosa's goal as well.
How we go about achieving it is a completely different story. It is different being on the outside looking it and vice versa.
One very good point is: can Hinojosa fix the problem he is, undoubtedly, at the center of? The answers differ.
Obviously he has strong supporters as well as strong detractors.
But one thing is not OK--and that is for anyone to show up at the Board meeting and try to disrupt it. There are better ways to effect change.
You can follow Adelfa's lead and work to affect the vote.
You can work with your board member to keep the heat on the guy and watch the trends.
You can work with you lawyer to keep some of these new board policies in check.
But I have never, and will never, support disruptions of a public meeting. If you want to disrupt the Board, do it the right, legal way.
Emotions at board meetings and Hinajosa's ideals for education?
I remember sitting at a board meeting when Lois Parrot was President ( great lady, I may say in comparison to our area sitting trustee) and Lois let a meeting get out of hand one night. A black gentleman sitting in front of me and Pres. Jesse from Lulac sitting beside me. Both men were blurting out of line from the audience, but who did Jack Lowe ask to be quiet? It was the black gentleman in front of me. Why is it that Jack Lowe asked the black man to be quiet and Jesse was not asked to be quiet? Jesse even stormed out of the meeting, so I have become disgusted with the board meetings because they have become more like a cheap boxing matches than public board school meetings. No where in the country have I seen such bickering at school board meetings when instead these meetings are for the children of Dallas' future. I quit going to speak at the new "Hollywood Squares" auditorium because our voices are obviously not ever going to be heard. I quit going to the meetings when I knew I would have to arrive an hour early just to get a seat.
Same goals? "Educate all of our kids and spend our money as wisely as possible"? I believe thats Hinojosa's goal? I beg to differ as I hope of the other major Texas cities in public or private education, the goals for the kids is NOT to "fudge the system" of the poorer performing or low scoring students at the expense of the ones are performing at normal levels and are not having to take a test twice. Sending tests to be graded at 3700 Ross instead of letting the teachers grade the students work of the students they teach in the classroom is a Hinojosa's goal as well, I hope not, but reality is that it is happening, humiliating our great teachers and administrator's. Yeah, we have the best Urban School Disaster" in the USA. I am waiting to see when we offer Hinajosa a G4 corporate jet to make DISD look like an ugly American car company exec.
Life at Dallas school board meetings has become at best, a "poor man's country club" gathering and media event, instead of being a responsible public gathering of education and educator's. Until we get some honest people willing to adhere to the rules as Carla Ranger and Lew Blackburn have done, then DISD police will be in monthly board meetings from now on containing the anger Dallas, Texas has become familiar with. Is this what our DISD kids should see in the papers and television, fighting of trustee's on stage?
Solution for change and accountability? Students and teachers form a WALK OUT for as many days as it takes and demand replacement of most of the board and DISD chief. I believe this to be the only option and will bring the national media attention DISD so sorely wants, however it is just the wrong attention which we have grown accustomed with. This is the only way I see of salvaging the 2009 year out for kids. Can you imagine graduation for DISD students in 2009 if this mess continues into the new year?
I agree the meetings should held in a safe manner and hecklers should all be removed for any out of turn comment. DISD needs to return to professional standards and so should the attendee's!
Support
Sorry, Allen, but I don't think a bunch of Hispanic preachers and Callejo are substantial support. As for his ability to fix the problem. heck, he cannot even recognize the problem or own up to it. How can he fix what he allowed to happen and failed to take ownership of? He and the Board look and sound like those morons that sat on Capitol Hill yesterday with their hand out but had to acknowledge that they flew in on private jets and had no intention of selling them to fly home in coach class.
As for that tired claim of strong academics...give me a gigantic break. Look at the comprehensive high schools and the dropout rate. Not just for hispanics but for ALL students.
Consent agenda item: Hinojosa support?
My biggest shock of the evening was how FOUR speakers were left uninterrupted to sing the praises of Hinojosa. Okay, fine, no problem, but they should have been at the END of the meeting.
When Skyline parents tried that a year ago, Lowe kept trying to shut them down.
They don't even TRY to hide their intent anymore. The disregard and disdain the board shows for their own rules, policies and regulations is appalling.
Sounds Like Government Class To Me
Before I was elected by the NEA-Dallas membership to serve as their President, I taught U. S. Government and AP U. S. Government at Skyline High School. One year there was a discussion at the DISD Board about trying to draw up a second majority Hispanic district. My students and I had many conversations about how that idea may or may not play out. I asked my students to think about this question: Since it will be the Trustees that vote to create a second district, who do you think that currently sits on the board will vote to put themselves into that district?
You see, if they would have appproved its creation, then one of the non-Hispanic members of the Board of Trustees would then be in a district that was majority Hispanic. What politician would vote do possibly get themselves defeated in an upcoming election? Their disappointed answer was, "No one."
Well, ladies and gentlemen, tonight's vote by the Dallas ISD Board to extend their terms of office is just like this one from several years ago. The three Trustees up for re-election next year were bound to vote for it. Then you have three more that get an extra year at the end of this thing bringing them up for re-election in 2012 instead of 2011. It doesn't take a rocket-scientist or Harvard graduate to do that math.
So, tonight, the Board of Trustees voted in THEIR OWN BEST INTEREST! They became typical politicians, except for Carla Ranger in the end, and became self-preservationists. They blindly accepted the independent ruling of Rolando Rios, Jack Elrod and some other attorney that Mr. Elrod had sitting next to him that the DISD Board could do this. Could do this even though none of the attorneys had spoken with the Secretary of State's Office or the Attorney General's Office to "make sure" that their interpretation was correct. Could do this even though Trustee Ranger presented a ruling from the Secretary of State's Office saying that the timeline had expired on December 31, 2007.
I presented each Trustee with a ruling from our state affiliate's General Counsel Joey Moore that also stated the timeline had passed. I guess, in the end, a judge will probably have to decide who's interpretation is correct.
We will be looking to find out. But, in the meantime, NEA-Dallas will re-double it's efforts to make sure that our children, our teachers, and our support staff are treated fairly and equitably by this Administration and the Board.
Because, believe it or not, after all of the things that have happened this semester, there are still Great Students and Great Teachers doing Great Things in the Dallas Independent School District!
Dale D. Kaiser
President
NEA-Dallas
look for ortiz's pcard record
AFT needs to look at ortiz's pcard reprimand.
Oh yeah, and ask her about Sunset.
typo
"They're voting. 8-2 with Medrano and Ranger voting against."
Thought I'd point it out before someone becomes confused.
Sorry for typo
Oops :)
I'm glad there are readers who catch my fat fingering!
Price
Price is giving the LEGAL explanation surrounding a policy which directly benefits him? With his extensive training as a lawyer, I mean, teacher's assistant? Wow, that is too scary for words.
Thank you Carla
Ellis, time for you to be unelected.
Flores too
Don't forget Flores when we're getting people unelected.
In 2010 :(
In 2010 :(
extended terms, Al, and workbooks
So did the board decide to extend their terms or not?
Also, if Al Lipscomb (a city treasure indeed -- convicted criminal! national embarrassment to our city) was crying, that was his choice. Sounds like a pre-teenager's drama and histrionics to me. Don't be gullible to his tears.
I've read the comments in the blog about workbooks in the dumpster. Perhaps someone should question Carla Ranger about what she would do specifically if the workbooks were purchased and then found later in a dumpster! One thing our board is good at is procrastination. They can discuss it next time.
Lemna - A Heroin Dealer's Story
Yes, I posted an article on Al's criminal background. I'm well aware of it.
MJ's back
The followers of Hinojosa showing up reminds me of when the followers of Myrtle Jean showed up.
Ineptitude is ineptitude, Adelpha, and she doesn't speak for all Hispanics.
Many of us are praying daily also, for him to take a hike.
MJ's back
Amen!
Callejo
Adelpha Callejo is a racist...pure and simple.
Good despite Hinojosa
One of the speakers held up the TAG and SEM magnets of examples of how Hinojosa has helped the district. I'd just like to point out that those magnets are excellent despite Hinojosa instead of because of him. He was the one who tried to downgrade the magnets and consolidate them. Don't hold up Townview as a reason to keep Hinojosa. His actions trying to destroy it are a reason to get rid of him.
Good Despite Hinojosa
You are exactly correct. The magnets are great because of the students and the teachers. Let me remind you that Hinojosa did change the magnets. He changed them by "watering down" the application process. When applying for the magnets 3 years ago, you had to not only submit a portfolio, but you had to come in and take a writing sample test. Now it's done on scores only and since the DISD doesn't administer the ITBS anymore, students have to take it at a testing center and I hear thru the grapevine that he would like to consider the TAKS as the means for testing and not the ITBS. (I do not know that as a fact, only a rumor)
GREAT despite HInejosa
I agree. Questions of "tinkering" with the magnets aside, Those recognized and exemplary schools got there under their own steam. Most were already there before any of H's policies could have had any effect.
You go Diane!
Diane--
Great speech! You spoke the truth. Thanks for being out there.
Speaking tonight
Thanks.
An unsusual thing happened to me tonight as I spoke. For a few seconds, I went completely blank. Why? I looked at the board as I was asking them to NOT vote for the 4 year terms, and I knew that it was useless. And I actually felt sad for them. Their act of desperation was just so obvious. They just want to hold on to power so badly, it was pathetic.
I continued on. More than anything, I went on because somebody had to speak up. Somebody who has been watching them make one mistake after another. Sincerely, it isn't personal with anyone on the board, or even with Dr Hinojosa. NEA-Dallas just thinks that it is ludicrous to extend terms of sitting members--to subvert democracy in such a crass way.
I noticed NEA was the ONLY union to officially take a stand, to put our voice on the box marked NO, so to speak. Again, that is the problem with the CTO situation. If AFT ain't a'gin it, then nothing is said. --Unless we sign up, of course.
So, now, it is up to the lawyers. TSTA issued a legal opinion that the DISD is wrong to do this. We gave them a copy of it. In the audience tonight were more than a couple of lawyers who just kept smiling. I know that smile. I worked for an attorney. It says, "Oh, you just f*&^ed up there, fellas."
My speech given to Allen was not given completely, since I ran out of time. If he prints it, well, okay, but I never got to the last 4-5 paragraphs. (If you know me, I never seem to GET to the "last" 4-5 paragraphs...)
So, don't be disheartened. The fight is not over. There will almost certainly be a legal challenge. If that is lost, time passes, and we will still be there to vote. Time is really on our side.
So why would be turning to more transparency in rules in regards
DISD when they are always finding ways to skirt around the law such as this trustee extension of another year? Shameless and just griping our position as a school district with the most visible "Black Eye" in America for running a mojor city school system. Mesquite and surrounding Dallas cities just pick our trustees apart in integrity and ways to promote healthy school environments for student learning. Yet suck it in folks, because from what I read here, not too many are concerned or roused enough to help "effect change" from our trustee's and absolutely clueless DISD Superintendent.
Come on folks, get some blood pumping and make change happen!!!