DALLAS ISD

Posted by theSKY'Sthelimit @ 11:06 PM Tue, Feb 12, 2008

I'm still suspect of DISD. It seems that the due date for Skyline to present alternatives to moving clusters has been moved up to February 21st, Skyline students are being bussed to Conrad for a tour next week, and Conrad is making plans to go to a block schedule next year. This doesn't sound like anything has been put on hold. I trust these people less and less each day.

Posted by Maria Villalobos @ 11:15 PM Tue, Feb 12, 2008

Why do I hear that there are tours scheduled at Conrad for Skyline kids? Have I misheard this? Is this something that is really going to happen? When is the district going to realize that Raiders don't want to go to Conrad and would rather cut their own throats than go there?

Why does 3700 Ross not support the effort of removing kids from Skyline that don't belong there?

Talk about mixed messages. Downtown tells Skyline that they won't "tinker with magnets" Then they say that they are going to rob Skyline in the guise of removing magnets to reduce population after they have approved (HOW MANY) hardship and AYP transfers to a school that was already notably overcrowded.

3700 Ross should be kissing Skyline's bounteous backside and offering every solution known to man to help reduce the excess population that was added to Skyline by downtown. It is heinous that downtown has held Skyline hostage and responsible for reducing the population that was forced upon it.

3700 Ross should be doing backflips and telling Skyline that they have solved all the crowding problems rather than placing the solution on the school itself.

I'm a taxpayer. I support this district. Since WHEN is an individual school responsible for fixing a mess that the district created? DISD, you need to fix this mess. Skyline didn't create this. Downtown created this mess. Let's talk about accountability. HOW can you penalize a school for not being able to fix the mess that top level administration created.

That is abominable.

Dr. Hinojosa, what do you say? You are where the buck stops.

Posted by Skyline_insider @ 11:27 PM Tue, Feb 12, 2008

Hey theSKY'sthelimit, When did the date get moved up? Just Monday we had a meeting that said we had until March 7. Was something said at the meeting tonight to change the date. I like you am beginning to feel like we are chasing our tail. Is the whole plan to make it look like they gave the students, faculty and community a chance to come up with something then reject it?

Posted by Joshua B. Perry (SHS '07) @ 8:14 AM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

theSKY'Sthelimit,

ever since Jack Lowe walked out on us(since he was "sick") I have distrusted DISD, except for Lew Blackburn, Carla Ranger & Ron Price.

Posted by Momto3inDISD @ 10:22 AM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

Please get your facts straight - DISD has NO ability to deny AYP or other transfers from "poor performing" to acceptable schools required by Federal govt or State law.
Also, it is the Principal at Skyline (not anyone in DISD admin) who approves curriculum or hardship transfers. If you have reason to believe there are a high number of these students, talk to your Principal. Also, your SBDM can vote to implement a policy that restricts the terms under which discretionary transfers can be allowed. The power over this issue is in the hands of the parents and local school administration.
Moving some programs to a new campus where they can grow and be accessible to more students is not going to damage the magnet programs. It may give Skyline the opportunity to grow the programs which remain there.
Hopefully a compromise can be made, but if parents aren't willing to accept that some programs must be moved at some time and only seem to oppose change merely because it is change without considering possible beneficial results for the kids throughout the District (rather than looking only at how it effects their kids), then nothing will be accomplished no matter how long it is discussed/considered.

Posted by Amy S @ 3:15 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

C'mon Maria - "cut their throats" is a little strong.

Can Conrad's students, and the population that it serves (one of the highest density in the city, even with the apartment teardowns that have taken place) have had NO magnet programs since the courts opened the many apartment complexes to family living in the 1980's. Little things like court oversight, unstable leaderships, small bond packages have meant that the people who want to stay in school and learn a trade have to travel across the city to do so. And people wonder why the north neighborhoods have such a high drop out rate?

The issue isn't Skyline vs. Conrad, the issue is serving the needs of all the students in DISD, including those in the North that desperately need these programs. Do these people really have to wait 3-4 years to get a couple of magnet programs up and running? It's already been far too long.

You can take a stance of all or nothing, or even look at the "conspiracy of DISD" angle, both sound shallow and self serving to the students at Conrad.

Posted by Joshua B. Perry (SHS '07) @ 4:15 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

Amy,

if DISD keeps the clusters @ Skyline, then what they can do, which is what some of us have suggested, is copy the clusters at Conrad. This way, Skyline won't lose what makes it so special & Conrad can attract students that would like to learn a special trade without having to travel so much.

Posted by Maria Villalobos @ 6:37 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

Momto3:

Surely there is some limitation on the number of AYP transfers that one overcrowded school can endure. Otherwise Skyline would technically have to take the entire population of all the surrounding schools should the parents request it. 5000 is tough, 10000 would have class meeting in the vacant lot across the street.

Sadly the principal who accepted all the hardship transfers is not around to solve the problem.

What's wrong with mirroring the programs at the new school? That makes a good thing more accessible to even more students district wide. What's wrong with asking for volunteers to attend the programs there? There are certainly benefits to be had in such a nice facility. It's not just about being unwilling to change. There is a lot of change going on at Skyline right now. Change can be painful and often is. There are good changes going on and I am hopeful the future holds more good things.

Obviously a number of people think it would be detrimental to remove programs from Skyline. I truly can't see what advantage there would be for Skyline to lose clusters. That removes opportunity for some of our students who do NOT live in North Dallas and are not willing to travel that much more. The current plans to cull student population seem well able to reach the target enrollment.

Posted by Anonymous Ones @ 6:52 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

Hey "Momto3"--

We are starting to think you are a shill for the DISD executive staff.

Your comment that moving clusters from Skyline to Conrad won't damage magnet programs shows your complete lack of understanding of the unique character of Skyline and how it works. (Just like the exec staff, which is why we think you work for or with them.)

The magnets/clusters MAY survive, but the move will severely damage Skyline. At present, the move is so unpopular with the kids who are actually affected by this decision, they may not make the move to Conrad. What then, DISD?

"Momto3" talks about parental involvement. If so, then she should be the angriest about how this has been--and is being handled! First, they ignore the LAW to include the SBDM--please sue, somebody! Secondly, PTA and others were not warned at all. Finally, parents were--and are still being ignored by the guys at the top. (Unless someone knows of any long-lasting meeting Hinojosa has held since he answered a measely 5 questions after the board meeting, and basically referred to the concerned parties as a "mob.")

Uh-uh. Keep up the fight, Skyline. We voters will remember how this one is dealt with. No joke there. However, the scuttlebutt downtown is that it is still a "done deal," and they want to give the impression that alternatives are being considered, when in fact, they are NOT.

Posted by Skyline_insider @ 11:06 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008

Momto3 you talk about getting the facts straight. Well here's one to think about. I know for a fact that a hardship transfer was denied by the Skyline principal, denied by the area superintendent, denied by the lady over hardship transfers, then okayed by a man(I will not name)from the Admin building. Didn't you say it was the principal at Skyline and not the DISD Admin. that approves hardships? I too am beginning to think you work at 3700 Ross Ave. Also you stated that moving some magnets to Conrad where they can grow and be more accessible to other students would be a good idea. Maybe, so why don't we move some of the magnets from Townview over to Conrad. I hear there is a long list waiting to get in at Townview. If those clusters are moved to Conrad just think how many students on the waiting list for Townview would get access to those great programs already developed.

Posted by Dallas_Teacher @ 6:35 AM Thu, Feb 14, 2008

Amy,

Just wondering, if Conrad's population is the highest in the city then why is it so underpopulated? I seriously doubt that parents in the neighborhood who have students at St. Mark's will be pulling them to go to the Hospitality Cluster. If the students that remain at Conrad would like to participate in our Skyline Clusters they are more than welcome to apply and, if accepted, come here.

Why do you and so many others view a 35 year history and tradition of excellence as something that is portable? If you want it AT Conrad, then I suggest someone from downtown or the Conrad administrative team get off of their duffs and put in some WORK to achieve what we have! I truly wish that some of you who seem terribly naive to the work involved in creating the successful programs that we have at Skyline recognized the tremendous effort on the part of teachers and administrators to make the clusters not just operational, but successful. There appears to be a misguided impression that simply offering clusters creates success. You are incorrect in your assumption. The students work very hard and have a desire for success and achievement; more times than not that desire for success is instilled by the faculty that gives countless hours to our students.

Posted by Waiting to Hear the Truth @ 9:13 AM Thu, Feb 14, 2008

Perhaps the grade change scandal serves to work against trusting the words of some of the folks at Skyline. Hard to talk quality while giving away grades.

Don't count on much help from this segment of the public!

Posted by Waiting to Hear the Truth @ 10:13 AM Thu, Feb 14, 2008

To Mom

Don't worry about being labeled a DISD insider. These folks have an agenda. They have a standard assualt for those who disagree - assualt the messenger. Never answer the message!

Posted by Amy S @ 2:22 PM Thu, Feb 14, 2008

Conrad, which has been open for 1 1/2 years and opened the first year with only a freshman and sophomore class. This year they have added a junior class, next year it's a full 4 year school.

I think the transition in the TIF's housing (some apartments have been torn down) has had an effect on student population, but by no means has this very densely populated area grown in class or income. Some of our most transient, poorest and high crime areas in all of Dallas are in Conrad's neighborhood. The school district needed a high school in this area, still does, and it needs to focus on programs that will help these kids the most.

I'm not being naive to think that if a few were relocated north, all of the programs (even the ones that stay at Skyline) would have room for growth, and have more to offer all kids of DISD. It's called asset allocation, and as a business owner, I have to employ this every day to make our business work. There are not two Booker T's, there are not two TAG's, there are not two SCE's. As a taxpayer of DISD, I think that the issue is more than what Conrad or Skyline wants, it's what's best for all of the students in DISD and the taxpayers who foot the bill.

Change is hard, and I really hope that Skyline and the district can come up with a solution that works.