DISD Makes The NY Times:

Dallas Schools Used False Hiring Data

DISD is just filled with wonderful news..
Failing schools, missing money, fake social security numbers...

How much more are we going to take before we get new leadership in DISD?

This is a national embarrassment.

Collateral Damage:

DISD Board votes (5 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstaining) for a “reduction of forces” also known as…firing teachers.

Funny how Price seconded the motion…but abstained from voting.

Would it be such a bad thing if the TEA came in an appointed a conservator to oversee the budget? Surely they could do no worse than what is happening now.

Dallas ISD targets about 900 excess jobs in early look

Dazed And Confused:

Dallas ISD budget woes threaten teachers' job security

If the budget shortfall was because the District hired too many teachers so they could reduce class size and increase test scores (Hinojosa says test scores increased)...then why are the teachers the first to go?

More teachers and smaller classes = higher test scores.

So why go back on that and fire teachers...and go back to larger class sizes?

I don't hear any top officials offering to take pay cuts...not like they're doing much good for the District...they lost $84 million.

As tax payers...shouldn't we be outraged?

DISD Lost More Than Just Students:

They lost $64 million.
More money than all of us will ever see.

Hinojosa says Dallas ISD is in 'crisis mode'

NOW we're in crisis mode?
Why weren't we in crisis mode when 30,000 some odd students went MIA on the first day of school?
Why weren't we in crisis mode when all of our high schools missed AYP?

When money goes missing DISD is in crisis mode...when students go missing and don't succeed...it's just another day on Ross Ave.

Hinojosa blames it on hiring too many certified teachers...a teacher surplus I guess you could say.

If that's true then...why did Kim Olson tell Angelica Perez that DISD didn't have enough certified teachers to send to Spruce?
Was it that...DISD didn't have the teachers to send...or that DISD just didn't want to send them?

If Hinojosa wants to stop the bleeding...maybe he should start with his paycheck.

Where Have All The Students Gone:

Looks like more than just Spruce needs reorganization...

KERA reports about 30,000 students were no-shows on the first day of school in Dallas ISD.
Absences Mark Start of New School Year

First Day Of School:

How did your first day of school go?
Would anyone like to share?

Which Would You Rather See:

D.C. Tries Cash as a Motivator In School

So which is worse...or which will work better?

Paying students to goto school and work hard, or lowering the standards?

Spruce Fought DISD And DISD Won:

For now at least.

Last-ditch effort to keep students at Dallas' Spruce High fails

Reading some of the comments left on the article...we can really see how many people even paid attention to what was happening to Spruce. Over and over again we said that Spruce has been forgotten...well...those comments serve a proof.

Read the application for an injunction filed by Spruce parents (on behalf of their children) and community members HERE

Read DISD's response HERE

DISD's response reads like a New York Times Best Seller for Fiction.

In the mean time...The Wall Street Journal published an article on DISD's new grading policy. In case you haven't heard...it's more of the "ignore the real problems, implement a quick fix, and push students through the system" formula that DISD is so good at. Read the Journal article HERE

Spruce Community Forum:

WHO: LULAC & NAACP
WHEN: Thursday, August 7 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
WHERE: Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center
8701 Greenmound Ave Dallas, TX
WHY: Air your thoughts and concerns on Spruce HS and the greater Pleasant Grove neighborhood. Tell us what you were not allowed to say at the original Town Hall Meeting where DISD discussed the fate of Spruce HS.

Why Blow Up One Dallas High School When You Can Blow Up All Texas High Schools:

Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott has given the green light on Option A, Amended. He even went so far as to praise DISD for their proactive innovation and hoped that other schools will look to DISD for inspiration. Read the article here Failing Texas Schools Face Dwindling Options. While outside managers seem to be holding TX schools at arms length...they seem to be flocking to help Los Angeles schools. Watt's Locke High School Is Getting Whipped Into Shape.

So what's really wrong with education in Texas?

Spruce, Meet Your New Principal:

Last week DISD made the official announcement, Dr. Lucy Hakemack will be the new principal at Spruce.
Just About everyone at Spruce already knew this.
Dr. Hakemack was the principal at Early College High School...sources say she plans on removing all sports from Spruce (not that there would be much sports with 10, 11, and most 12 graders gone), and maybe even extracurricular activities, and focus solely on academics.
My question is...why punish incoming 9th graders by taking away sports and activities when they have shown progress coming out of Comstock?

Here are a few articles on Dr. Hakemack...
Dallas ISD Blog on the Dallas Morning News
DISD official announcement
TX High School Project Spotlight: Early College at Mt. View

Are You Better Off At Madison Than At Spruce:

A civil rights group and parents filed a lawsuit against DISD alleging discrimination against African Americans and lower income students.

Madison High School, where the Board of Trustees has voted to send Spruce 10th and 11th graders is listed as a example of a campus that DISD has neglected. The suit cites declining enrollment due to "dilapidated facilities, inadequate equipment and libraries, and fewer educational opportunities, such as advanced classes, internships, or special programs."

See the original complaint filed July 14, 2008 here.

Get Your Kicks In The Grove:

The Spruce Student Council will be blocking walking every day in the evening to collect signatures for a petition we will be sending to DISD as part of our plan to overturn the Board decision to relocate 10th and 11th grade.

Our goal is to get as many signatures as possible!

If you want to help please e-mail us and our Stu. Co. President Angelica Perez will get in contact with you! savespruce@gmail.com

Calling All Timberwolves:

H. Grady Spruce High School located in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas, TX is fighting for its survival. We are trying to save it and need as much help as possible. We have set up this blog so people can share their views and experiences as students, educators, or friends, and keep you updated on our fight to save our school.

As it stands DISD has chosen an option that will only allow incoming freshman and seniors to stay at Spruce while sending sophomores and juniors to other schools across town. This plan is not realistic on many different accounts which is why we are trying so desperately to keep Spruce open to all its students.

If you do not know what is going on at Spruce please visit us and open your eyes to the truth that DISD has forgotten about us and never gave us the chance to succeed.