Dallas ISD – Page 3 – The Other Side Dallas

September 12, 2023September 11, 2023

We Want You

We want you to help us now, today, and hereon. Other Side Dallas is actively working several stories and need your input.

Right now Other Side Dallas is actively working multiple stories here in Dallas.

We are working a police violence story in Dallas Police Department.

We are learning about financial irregularities, nepotism, violence, and total ineptitude in emergency management procedures in Dallas Independent School District.

We also are seeking information to follow up to a US Attorney’s Office blockbuster.

If you have a story we should be on we need to hear it. All of ther above will be seen by the public. Right now we are waiting for subjects to respond to inquiries.

Thankfully we have honest cops, teachers and Dallas ISD administrative staff providing information on background. This information developed with other sources provides the real stories that matter.

We Want You And Your News

You can contact Other Side Dallas thru our Contact form. We will respond through one of several people who are best able to research your concerns.

Our response will likely be thru a secure server and we always use Virtual Private Networks for your protection.

September 7, 2023September 7, 2023

Dealey Montessori Disaster Again

Dealey Montessori disaster again as second year principal Cristina Ibarra was reassigned without explanation Tuesday afternoon.

Some parents learned of the Dallas Independent School District decision through an email Tuesday afternoon. The email went to less than half the school population.

Parents are now asking if Dealey will continue to have a revolving door after this incident. The removal of Ibarra will bring a sixth principal in four years counting interims staff members.

Ibarra has been an effective principal for Dealey Montessori turning around a campus that was slowly fading.

School based parental “leaders” sent out an email to a separate email list later in the evening. They had to send a second with corrections after the first was misworded.

Parents on a Facebook group described “disappointment”, “shock” and “outrage” over the decision.

The decision casts doubt on Dallas ISD’s ability to lead. Neither Dallas ISD staff, nor Trustee Sarah Weinberg, has returned emails to Other Side Dallas.

Officials are reportedly calling the move a “personnel issue,” but some parents are not buying the explanation.

One parent who requested anonymity said principals at other schools stayed assigned to their campus despite reports of sexual assault. (The reference to the Geneva Heights and Lipscomb story that Other Side Dallas reported in 2022.)

The parent continued, if this is about impropriety “why are they moving her to another school?”

Dealey Montessori Disaster Again Follows Years Of Missteps

The move of Ibarra, who had calmed tensions at the north Dallas campus, follows years of poor management by Beth Wing.

Wing was criticized by parents for her failures in handling Lauren Davis’ attacks on Dealey Montessori at the start of the school year in 2021 and again in December when Dallas Police Department actively worked to protect white “no mask” protestors over the safety of children at the school.

Wing was later transferred to WT White in which many called a promotion despite widespread complaints from parents about her failures in communicating and responding to a situation she helped escalate.

Her lack of leadership continued at WT White where she placed a student assaulted into the same classroom as her assaulter.

August 15, 2023October 9, 2023

Dallas ISD Fails HB3

Dallas ISD fails HB3 standards by its own admission and is leaving Dallas Independent School District children unprotected.

House Bill 3, or HB3, is a historic school finance bill. In 2019 the 86th Texas Legislature in passed the bill into law.

HB3 brings more money into Texas classrooms, increases teacher compensation, and provides that every campus is protected by police officers.

Dallas ISD officers are assigned to all secondary campuses, but they are short nearly two hundred officers to comply with HB3.

the move may help what has been a clear cut case of Dallas ISD failing to educate local children.

Dallas ISD Fails HB3

Dallas ISD police have a poor record of local safety though.

Last school year there were multiple accusations against an elementary teacher at Geneva Heights of sexual assault. The district allowed him to leave to another ISD this year and families remain angry over the decision.

Similarly, Dallas ISD was unable to keep firearms off campus last year. Several years ago a 3rd grader brought a handgun onto school grounds.

August 14, 2023August 14, 2023

First Day Of School

First day of school for Dallas Independent School District is here so drivers should expect a slower commute and the need to slow down.

Saturday, the City of Dallas put on a Back to School Fest providing free supplies to Dallas students.

Dallas ISD has partner on multiple supply drives this year. The focus on recovering from COVID19 learning loss is evident.

Backpack Policy

Dallas ISD will require clear backpacks for all students in K – 12th grade for the 2023-2024 academic year. This requirement will not apply to pre-K students.

Students also have the option of carrying a mesh backpack, however clear ones are preferred.

Students may carry a small, nonclear pouch in their backpack to hold personal items, such as cellphones, money, and hygiene products.

To support families, each student will be provided a durable clear backpack at no cost. Parents may also purchase the preferred clear backpack, or the acceptable mesh backpack, for their students.

First Day Of School Driving

Drivers are specifically reminded to slow down.

Last year almost 250 tickets were issues for speeding in a school zone. Similar enforcement is expected this year also.

August 11, 2023August 10, 2023

Back To School Fest

Back To School Fest is happening tomorrow to provide students with school supplies before school starts Monday.

Supplies will be given out on a first come, first served basis, and students must be in attendance to receive items. Items include backpacks, notebooks, binders, rulers, headphones, pencils, pens and much more.

The school supply drive is being held at Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 2922 MLK Jr. Blvd. Dallas, TX 75212.

Back To School Fest Highlights Return To Class

Dallas Independent School District classes start back on August 14, 2023.

Additionally, clear backpacks will be required of students again in 2023 – 2024.

Dallas ISD will require clear backpacks for all students in K – 12th grade for the 2023-2024 school year. This requirement will not apply to pre-K students.

Students also have the option of carrying a mesh backpack, however clear ones are preferred.

Students may carry a small, nonclear pouch in their backpack to hold personal items, such as cellphones, money, and hygiene products.

To support families, each student will be provided a durable clear backpack at no cost. Parents may also purchase the preferred clear backpack, or the acceptable mesh backpack, for their students.

August 3, 2023July 28, 2023

Back To School Prep

Back to school prep is underway as we are one week away from Dallas Independent School District Back to School nights.

Dallas ISD schools start the school year on Monday, August 14, 2023.

The district will hold a Back to School Registration Event to get your child registered for the new school year!

The event takes place this Saturday, August 5, from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Ellis Davis Field House. The field house is located at 9191 S. Polk Street.

Parents will receive in-person assistance with registration, for students enrolling in pre-K through 12th grade. Students registering onsite for K – 12th grade will receive free school supplies, backpacks and other services, while supplies last.

Please come prepared with the following documents to complete your child’s enrollment:

Birth certificate (new students)
Parent/guardian photo ID
Proof of address
Immunization record
Social Security card (optional)

Parents of pre-K students will also need to provide documentation to determine eligibility for pre-K (as applicable):

Proof of income
Medicaid/SNAP/TANF benefits letter
Foster care paperwork
Military paperwork
Star of Texas paperwork

Back To School Prep: Backpacks

Dallas ISD will require clear backpacks for all students in K – 12th grade for the 2023-2024 school year. This requirement will not apply to pre-K students.

Students also have the option of carrying a mesh backpack, however clear ones are preferred.

Students may carry a small, nonclear pouch in their backpack to hold personal items, such as cellphones, money, and hygiene products.

To support families, each student will be provided a durable clear backpack at no cost. Parents may also purchase the preferred clear backpack, or the acceptable mesh backpack, for their students.

July 31, 2023July 31, 2023

School Reopens In Two Weeks

School reopens in two weeks for Dallas Independent School District and many area programs. The start date is August 14.

There will be 174 days of instruction. This includes 85 days in the fall semester and 89 in the spring.

Winter break will take place December 25, 2023 through January 9, 2024.

Additionally, students will receive a full week out of school for Thanksgiving, November 20 – 24, 2023.

Spring break is scheduled for March 11 – 15, 2024.

The final day of school is scheduled for May 24, 2024.

Among changes expected this year, ALL students are required to have clear backpacks. This comes despite continued gun related events on campus with clear backpacks last year.

This requirement does not apply to pre-K students.

School Reopens In Two Weeks – The Calendar

The Dallas ISD full calendar can be seen below.

Dallas-ISD-Calendar-2023-2024 Download

April 24, 2023April 25, 2023

Local Early Voting Starts

Local Early Voting starts this morning and continues through next Tuesday at polling places across Dallas County.

As usual Dallas County will be responsible for the elections for both members of city council and Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Mayor Eric Johnson is running unopposed despite the rumors he was pushing candidates against several incumbents.

Local Early Voting Starts, But Voters Disinterested

Low turnout numbers continue to plague Dallas elections.

In 1995, Ron Kirk was elected mayor for the City of Dallas with 23% of eligible voters casting ballots.

When Eric Johnson was elected mayor less than half that number turned out in the nine-person race.

To date, voters are barely trickling in and there has been no super issue pushing voters to participate.

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023

Molina High School Teacher Shot

A Molina high school teacher shot by a Desoto Police Department officer may have been committing a crime – not teaching.

Michael Christopher Nunez, 47, was a teacher at Dallas Independent School District‘s Moises E. Molina High School. He was fatally shot on Monday morning in connection to a burglary investigation.

It is unclear why Mr. Nunez was not at school, but at Desoto dispatched officers to 300 block of Polk Street in DeSoto at 11:40AM Monday.

They were sent to investigate a reported robbery when they encountered Mr. Nunez.

A 911 caller stated a man had entered the caller’s residence with an “unknown item.” A Desoto police officer fired at Nunez as he advanced toward the officer.

More Dallas ISD Violence: Molina High School Teacher Shot

This shooting comes less than a week after a student shot another at Thomas Jefferson High School.

It is another embarrassing incident for Molina High School which has had its share the past few years.

March 22, 2023March 23, 2023

Thomas Jefferson Shooting

Thomas Jefferson shooting rocked the school’s Walnut Hill neighborhood. just one day after two students were shot in Arlington.

On Tuesday, a gunman opened fire on a student in the parking lot of Thomas Jefferson High School. The shooting came minutes after school dismissal. Thomas Jefferson High School is in northwest Dallas.

Dallas Independent School District would not elaborate how other students avoided the attack.

The assailant shot one student in the arm. That student was transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Dallas ISD Police are taking the lead on investigating the shooting. Dallas ISD Police are receiving assistance from Dallas Police. The school district police force has limited experience in violent crime investigation.

The police did not describe a motive for the shooter.

Thomas Jefferson High School will have no school today. Additionally, nearby Walnut Hill Elementary School will have no classes.

Thomas Jefferson Shooting Sees Increased Security

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said counselors are available for staff and students when they return to class on Thursday.

A spokesman could not answer why a clear backpack policy had no effect on school safety. The clear backpacks policy has been troublesome for parents all year. Multiple groups explained prior to the school year start why they do not work.

In a summer article, USA Today quoted security experts saying this was “theater.” They went on to say that this “funnels resources away from more effective approaches.”