Should students learn virtually or not? As first reported by a Townview group, statements from Dan Micciche and former Townview Principal Ben Mackey indicate your Dallas ISD students should be at home learning – particularly while Dallas County is in the Red danger area for COVID19.
COVID19 numbers are racing higher at a surprising rate given the preparation prior to students returning to campus, but the focus appears heavily focused in favor of Texas Education Agency funding over student safety.
One insider said this was due to the need for state funding to support the $3.7B bond package the administration has been pushing for new school facilities as enrollment drops annually.
There are also concerns about current and former Trustees who may have been implicated in recent reports about corrupt Dallas ISD contractors.
You Can Learn Virtually Today
Students have the option of moving from on campus instruction to virtual learning immediately, but can not move from virtual learning back into the classroom until a nine week grading period ends.
College testing will go on in Dallas ISD next week as planned despite COVID19 cases in multiple Dallas ISD high school campuses and many colleges making test scores optional for college admissions.
COVID19 cases forced County Judge Clay Jenkins to raise the threat level to Red this week and Dallas ISD COVID19 cases tripled in one week and are currently at more than six times the original number after less than two weeks.
The ACT and SAT entrance exams are the proverbial Coke and Pepsi of college admissions. Both exams are widely accepted by U.S. colleges, which often prompts the question: Which test should I take?
The answer to that question lies in understanding the differences between the two tests.
Both college admissions exams are wildly popular. In the class of 2019, a reported 2.2 million test-takers completed the SAT while 1.8 million students took the ACT. It is unclear how many students took both, but some experts say it has become more common for test-takers to complete both college testing batteries.
The SAT takes three hours, though with an optional 50-minute essay, the time adds up to almost four hours total. The ACT lasts two hours and 55 minutes, though a 40-minute optional writing test stretches it to a little more than three-and-a-half hours.
The SAT features 154 questions vs. 215 for the ACT. Broken down by test components, the SAT has a reading test that takes 65 minutes, a 35-minute writing and language test and an 80-minute math section. The ACT is comprised of a 35-minute reading test, 45-minute English test, 60-minute math section and 35-minute science test.
The SAT does not include an independent science section but incorporates science questions throughout the exam.
The scoring for each test also differs. For the SAT, total scores range from 400-1600; for the ACT, the composite score runs from 1-36. Those ranges do not include the optional essays, which are scored separately from each exam
Dallas ISD‘s COVID19 cases triple. One week after return to campus for hybrid learners Dallas ISD is reporting three times the case load as last week’s numbers.
Initial numbers had Dallas ISD cases at 42 including students, school staff, and central office employees.
The DISD Auditor Report should be back in the news shortly. An affidavit was filed by a former employee of a local construction firm stating that there were both significant and intentional cost issues to projects discussed in the DISD Audit Report of Steven Martin, but additionally several Dallas ISD Trustees including two former members were receiving payments and benefits including Dallas Cowboys game tickets for their support of project procurement practices.
The affidavit was filed with the US Attorney’s Office in Dallas. They would have jurisdiction over federal taxpayer dollars being lost due to fraud, waste, or abuse.
This should be the second report received on the topic by federal authorities. Trustee Dustin Marshall claimed to have sent similar information to the FBI in February 2020. He has not responded to a request for tracking or other confirmatory information on his submission.
One former Dallas ISD employee familiar with school leadership commented “wow.”
A second person said “this has been going on for years and no one does anything. We saw financial problems when Hinojosa was here before, it continued with [Mike] Miles. Why is anyone surprised?”
Dallas ISD officials’ focus has shifted to battling COVID19 as district numbers have tripled since they re-opened hybrid school on Monday, but this would be a major financial setback for the DISD who has struggled with getting students to return to campus and generate enthusiasm for a $3.7B bond package given ongoing issues with Dallas ISD procurement policies.
In September, the Texas Education Agency took over Desoto schools after travel procurement issues were found to have cost taxpayers more than $400,000. It is not clear how far and wide this scandal might spread.
DISD Auditor Report
The DISD Auditor Report has left more questions than answers. Dallas ISD staff including interim Chief Internal Auditor Alan King have not responded to multiple email requests for comment.
Eight years ago local news reported on what was then a rough start to the school year for Dallas ISD and this year has been worse. King is described then as leading the district in the “aftermath of former Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s departure last year” was resigning from the district for the first time then.
King served as Chief Financial Officer from January to June of 2011, when he was elevated to interim superintendent. Most considered King a success as both CFO and Interim Superintendent. Hwas described “as the perfect fit for an interim boss role: pragmatic, straight-forward, no-nonsense.”
Board of Trustees President Justin Henry and 1st Vice President Dan Micciche have not responded to emails for comment either.
Multiple whistleblowers reported problems with Dallas ISD procurement. To date they have all been terminated, asked to resign, or forced out of their positions. An example includes Zachariah Manning who alleged criminal activity as far back as 2016.
Recently Next Generation Action Network’s Dominique Alexander was highly critical of Dallas ISD officials for ending a contract for Thomas Jefferson High School’s rebuild in a Facebook Live video.
From the Dallas Morning News editorial: “This could not come at a worse time for DISD. The board just approved placing its largest bond package ever before voters in November. The $3.2 billion request is really a vote of confidence in whether Hinojosa’s administration and whatever follows it can effectively manage a huge number of construction projects over a long period of time.”
In additionally to current allegations, Dallas ISD’s audit webpage no longer includes reports from Steven Martin. They are attached below. Dallas ISD has also not responded to Public Information Requests since March 2020 citing disaster declarations surrounding COVID19 as reasons to not respond. Dallas ISD operations have been in operation since August 2020.
Parents of Sudie Williams TAG Magnet school students were informed their child may have been exposed to COVID19 less than nine hours after re-opening for Hybrid Learning.
Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) staff promised a thorough action plan to keep students safe, but in today’s notice note it is a staff member who was infected and will “no longer be on campus.”
District officials then went on to downplay the danger of infection despite it not being clear who the staff member was exposed to, how they passed health screenings, etc. Students attend the school from across Dallas ISD – so this event has the potential to spread the virus to multiple other neighborhoods.
Sudie Williams TAG
Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy opened its doors to students in August 2018. It currently includes grades four through eight. The curriculum for the TAG magnet academy is patterned after William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted. At the school, the teachers strive to encourage students to pursue their curiosity and creativity. District public relations work states students at Sudie Williams work individually as well as collaboratively in small groups. In addition to academics, students at Sudie Williams TAG focus on character development.
Dallas ISD has had several meetings and video series on returning students to campus safely. We know COVID19 has been transmitted to newborns and Dallas was referred to as a summer Hot Zone for COVID19. Given college campus spikes in COVID19 cases it will be interesting to see how Dallas responds.
Back To School Day 1 Data
Current numbers across Dallas ISD are minimal with 42 cases being reported this morning. We plan to update these numbers at least weekly, but will also alert parents if we see a spike in the district.
Many local schools in the area can use your support despite students not being on campus yet. Please complete the application linked above.
What is VOLY?
VOLY is a candidate tracking system which pairs volunteers with schools or missions they choose. It also provides background information on standards and practices expected of volunteers and performs a background check on prospective volunteers to keep our students safe.
Dallas ISD does regularly need volunteers and many Parent Teacher Associations require their volunteer members to use the school’s volunteer system for approval. It takes just a few minutes to complete your identification information and check off which schools, subjects, and areas of interest you would like to participate.
Dallas ISD enrollment is down by 15,000 students from its lowered projections as school starts its second week. This is roughly ten percent of the entire school population compared to the spring.
Texas school funding is largely based on how many students attend daily with additional funding factors for Special Education and English as a Second Language students. Dallas ISD operates with a $1.64B annual budget.
In addition to the enrollment issues, Dallas ISD officials admitted nearly ten percent of their student population who are enrolled do not have a district-issued electronic laptop or tablet despite mandatory online learning and a Title I population of nearly 90% of all students.
Despite these enrollment issues, Dallas ISD is moving forward with their MAP testing program. MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress.
Dallas ISD Enrollment
Dallas ISD enrollment has been dropping by 1000 – 2000 students per year since a high of 160,000 students in the school year ending in 2015.
The lower enrollment numbers means the district may not have the revenue needed to support the $3.7B Bond 2020 package. Lower enrollment numbers on top of an auditor scandal which has still gone unanswered may leave Dallas ISD’s Bond 2020 program in a precarious position financially.
Dallas ISD jobs are available for teachers, substitute teachers, and other staff, but right now Dallas ISD needs volunteer help too distributing technology packs to elementary students.
Dallas ISD is actively recruiting volunteers to help the Technology Department distribute computers to elementary school students starting Monday, August 17, 2020.
Two shifts are available: 8 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 5 p.m. Volunteers must be cleared in the VOLY system.
Complete the appropriate General volunteer application.
Select the desired elementary school(s) for which you want to volunteer.
Complete the online orientation (include an e-signature to confirm completion).
Await receipt of an email confirming your volunteer clearance.
With that email, complete your online orientation and sign up for the volunteer opportunity at your preferred school.
If you have questions or need additional information, contact Partnership and Volunteer Services at 972-925-5440.
Dallas ISD Jobs
Additionally, Dallas ISD is seeking candidates for substitute teaching positions also. There have been reports of difficulty navigating the system previously, but administration says a new system is in place to help stream line the program.
Want a Dallas ISD Jobs offer? One Dallas ISD teacher posted about the district’s need for substitute teachers.
Out of work? Behind on rent? Dallas ISD needs subs…
Edit to add: I thought this would helpful for out of work service industry people – people who would risk exposure to work in bars (but now can’t) could work in classrooms instead. If you are passionate about social distancing OR making lots of money – this is not the job for you.
The reaction has been overwhelmingly negative per a second post.
Comments in the thread include people complaining that they had applied, but could not make it through Dallas ISD’s Human Capital Management maze. This elicited a response that insinuated the poster should consider just sending invoices to Dallas ISD – a reference to the audit scandal that has yet to be answered.
Another set of comments seemed to indicate subs do not make enough money or are scabs because teachers are striking. (Note: In Texas teachers do not have the right to strike.) These comments frequently came from persons parroting statements from GOP politicians that because they do not make enough substitute teaching they should collect unemployment instead.
The final group of posters indicated teaching was mostly babysitting and they weren’t interested in being around dirty children.
“Risk my life for 85 dollars a day in a closed enviroment with children, well known for their cleanliness? I’ll pass.” The interesting part about this comment was the poster states in their Facebook profile they are a journeyman electrician, i.e. why would they be able to substitute teach?
Dallas ISD Jobs
The arguments for or against substituting not withstanding, interested parties can find the substitute information here from Dallas ISD.
As previously reported, the Dallas ISD Calendar is set in stone, but it is unclear if Dallas ISD is regular for the first day of school.
