The Super Speaks: Michael Hinojosa Talks About "Emerging and Evolving" Budget Process

By Robert Wilonsky Fri., Mar. 11 2011 at 8:00 AM

Categories: Edumication News

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Superintendent Media Availability from Dallas Independent School Dist on Vimeo.

When I asked Jim for his take on yesterday's board briefing at 3700 Ross Avenue, this was his initial pass: "My interpretation of the day's events is that we are all dangling on the end of Rick Perry's yo-yo string and nobody has any idea what is going to happen and I wish I had not attended this meeting." More upcoming shortly, though -- of course. Till then, the district has posted Dallas ISD Super Michael Hinojosa's one-man show, along with yesterday's "legislative update" given the board, in which he walks through the minefield of legislation that may or may not decimate the district and most others.

Superintendent's Legislative Update (March 10, 2011) from Dallas Independent School Dist on Vimeo.

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Let that sink in. Accoring to the Hiney and the current BoT, administrators are more important than teachers. Construction is more important than teachers. I am not a Tea Partier. I am not a Perry fan. But Republicans are not the bogey-men here. It is Hiney, Flores, and other BoTers that are wasting money building their feifdoms. The Tea Partiers and Perry should budge a bit. But keep pressure where the real problem is: Hiney, Flores, and the BoT.
RESOLUTION FOR RESPONSIBLE BUDGET CUTS http://www.dfpe.org/Resolution-For-Responsible-Budget-Cuts.asp Upon clicking "send" the document will be emailed to all 9 trustees.
Excellent point, Preston. Let's keep the 800 cuts in admin first and then move down to campus level. I am not a Perry fan at all, but Perry is right on this: until admin is cut and cut and cut, there is no reason to cut teachers. Our BoT is choosing to cut teachers. Our BoT is choosing NOT to cut administrators. Our BoT is choosing NOT to make athletic directors teach even 1 class. Our BoT is choosing an excessively expensive and intrusive bilingual program. The Board isn't deaf to parents. The Board hears them. The Board just doesn't care. Construction companies who deliver the votes and campaign contributions get heard.
Amen, McNaughton. One other way to look at things. "New Reality 1.0" had a deficit of $250 million and involved cutting 800 administration and 3000 teachers. So, remember that -- if push comes to shove, the DISD can do without 800 administrators. Now the forecast is that the deficit is really $150 million, not $250 million. Well, we've already established that if push comes to shove, DISD can get by with 800 less administrators. So, let's keep THOSE cuts and use all of the $100 million less in cuts to keep as many teachers as possible.
DISD could save tons of tax dollars by using Bond monies for Education not on paving in a concrete waste land of parking lots / playgrounds in-between homes. There is an alternate solution that would utilize our tax dollars more efficiently, but DISD refuses to seriously discuss the issue of an alternate solution or alternate site. Read all about it here http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/01/jubilee_park_residents_still_w.php Contact your elected DISD Board Member at 972-925-3700, or by visiting DISD’s website at www.Dallasisd.org. Tell them that you do NOT want to keep paying for unnecessary new schools and renovations when the state of DISD’s education system is still in dire need of its own repair. Learn More at www.StopDISD.org Click on the link below to view Satire Video on DISD's Land Grab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ms3yWn-BkI
I think we need to look at how a Karl Rove or Grover Norquist will spin the situation we are facing today on the National scene. We are thinking Local Perry is thinking Presidential (or what looks good as a candidate). This is more about How this will play out in 2012. Perry has no unions to fight . No fight at all this time to cut taxes. He has passed around Millions in Development money . Tort reform and less than supreme court has made teas great place to conduct business The TEXAS he said was okay is still okay we are just to foolish to see it . Or there is something wrong with US for not seeing it as he does . Meanwhile those who see things different are Vilified. Left to fighting off Straw man attacks from interconnected web sights of questionable origin. It is time to stop backing away from these and force issues that will wake the sleeping Giant up. We have all been brow beat into Submission that the Friday night entertainments are beyond being Touched . Lets change that and Make it an Issue .
Let me see if I have this right: 1,298 teachers would be cut, or 12.8 percent. 94 other campus professionals (counselors, librarians, etc.) would be cut, or 6.6 percent 1,152 support campus staffers (monitors, clerks, etc), or 32.3 percent The total cuts to the campuses would be 2,544 for a savings of $103 million. So is the plan to protect as many administrative jobs as possible at the expense of our children? The plan also calls for the elimination of over 200 custodial workers (for 227+ schools) and school supplies on an average of $15,000 per campus. What in the hell is wrong with you people? Thousands of parents rally to support teachers. Many of these parents send emails and speak directly to the Trustees at the board meetings. Are ya'll deaf? Perry says that it's not HIS fault that school districts have to fire teachers. Is that the official position of the Trustees also? It's not your responsibility?