DALLAS ISD

Posted by Kent Fischer @ 12:38 PM Wed, Feb 06, 2008

Reader Jim had this to say via e-mail about the defunct charter school referenced above:

"What about the crooks at the Texas Education Agency who sat on their hands since 2002? Who will take them to task? Their crimes are far greater than the Lynacre Academy. The school only stole $750,000 and misused their annual allotment. The TEA oversees the state’s 1,200 school districts and the more than 200 charter schools. What other schools are like Lynacre? They will probably claim that since Robert Scott has only been commissioner since last October, there is nothing that can be done. Here’s your chance to shine, Mr. Scott. The TEA spokesperson, Debbie Graves Ratcliff, has already said in your article that “she doubts the state will recover the $750,000.” Well, if the people responsible for losing the money are doubtful, I guess we can kiss that tax revenue goodbye. All you taxpayers out there, these people work for us. Are you going to sit there and let them steal from you? Can we get this TEA group straightened out?"

Posted by Diane Birdwell @ 6:54 PM Wed, Feb 06, 2008

I am confused. Why should we waive any graduation requirement for these kids? I am sorry, but their parents made the choice to send them to a private charter school. They chose a school with lower graduation standards than DISD or other local districts. That would send the message to my students that while THEY have to get 26 credits, no waiver, other kids don't. Let another charter school take them in.

A lesson for their children: choose carefully. A lesson to taxpayers: "School choice" at work here. And people wonder why teacher unions oppose them.

Posted by park @ 10:24 PM Wed, Feb 06, 2008

A question might be raised as to why teacher unions oppose charters considering the behavior of DISD teachers and principals who ran wild with Pcards and fraudulent charges of Walmart gift cards and misuse of grant and Title I money.
Before anyone in DISD throws any rocks, they better consider the glass house they live in is a national joke at least once a year.
There are charter schools doing a much better job with the same demographics as DISD schools. Peak Academy is excellent example.
Parents want other choices with their tax money than the current majority of DISD schools that are low-performing.
For any employee, administrator, or teacher representative to use this tragedy as a marketing moment for DISD is unbelievably laughable.
When is DISD paying back the money for the Pcard users?? Or will the taxpayers first lose the money spent on Walmart gift cards and then have to pay back the misspent federal money?
How about all the money that DISD owes for reporting bogus dropout and attendance figures so that it keeps that ADA money pouring in?

Posted by Kent Fischer @ 10:06 PM Thu, Feb 07, 2008

Am I the only one who is scratching his head over that last Dish item: Teachers in some DISD schools are now required to serve breakfast? Seriously?

Posted by theSKY'Sthelimit @ 7:32 AM Fri, Feb 08, 2008

I just noticed coolers and insulated bags stacked to the cafeteria ceiling at an elementary school I visit on a regular basis. I'll have to inquire about them.

Posted by Diane Birdwell @ 5:35 PM Fri, Feb 08, 2008

Park --The reason why unions oppose charters is quite easy: They are an unfair drain on public schools. If you are a teacher with 18 years in DISD, then don't you remember Edison Schools here?

The charter schools can EXCLUDE students public schools cannot, thereby skewing the results. Their parents cared enough to go move them--and abide by new and usually more stringent requirements that help a child succeed--but a public school cannot ask to do.

We just want an even playing field. Charter and public schools are exempt from many policies and procedure, paperwork and requirements you and I must have. Well, if these rules and such are so cumbersome to them, why are they not exempted for us as well? Aren't we handicapped by too much paperwork, exceedingly high number of testing days, etc...?

And for the record, most charter schools NATIONWIDE really do not outperform their public counterparts.

Your comments on P-Card--Overwhelmingly, most of the people involved were not in a union-, so there is no connection to us. And to be honest, we shook our heads and saw the waste as you did.