Michael Hinojosa, You're So Great. What Makes You, Michael Hinojosa, So Great?

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., May 30 2011 at 10:30 AM

Over the weekend, The Marietta Daily Journal pointed out that somewhere on the Cobb County School District's website is an interview with Michael Hinojosa that's supposed to be distributed district-wide on Wednesday. The chitchat, shot with Cobb County's spokesman during the outgoing Dallas ISD super's visit to Georgia last week, is an 11-minute getting-to-know-you ... or exit interview, I guess, depending on your perspective.

It's not terribly hard-hitting, more like The Chris Farley Show of public-ed web videos. Still, as The Man Known as "Coach" begins his not-too-long goodbye from the district in which he was educated, Hinojosa touches upon what he believes are his successes in Dallas ... and the challenges facing the next lucky son of a gun who gets to be DISD superintendent.

Says Hinojosa, the thing he's "most proud of" as he leaves here is the rising number of diplomas being doled out this spring: "We have 7,000 students graduating -- the most since the early 1980s." But there are plenty of challenges, he acknowledges, among them "a lot of issues with poverty ... demographics ... and a very political environment."

Hunh. I wonder if now would be a good time to post my interview with Mike Rawlings about DISD. Could be. Regardless, Hinojosa's interview follows.

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StopDISD.org

We need a Superintendent and Board that will listen to the voters and tax payers! Our new Mayor should question DISD's wasteful spending and start an investigation on many issues like how Innocent people lost their homes and innocent residents lost a community because of DISD's wasteful spending and greedy need to take land for parking lots in between homes that is...for now. Town homes are in the plans for later.

The voters and tax payers raised over 1,600 signatures opposing this twisted plan for O.M Roberts but, the Superintendent and Board refused to listen and continue to move forward destroying this historical community. This is real and it can happen to you! DISD must focus on better education not land development contracts! Learn more at www.StopDISD.org or StopDISD on Facebook View satire video about DISD's Land Grab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Bob

Here's a great idea: since Mike Rawlings thinks he can straighten out DISD, the DISD Board could elect him as Superintendent and when he is elected Mayor, he can run both entities and straighten everything out!

OED_Denizen

Wonderful idea but unfortunately I don't believe that City Charter permits it ... but only Tom Perkins knows and he probably will not tell.

DISD Teacher

Mike Rawlings could do alot for the students and taxpayers of DISD if he would start the ball rolling to have DISD's finances audited.

And, yes, I know the mayor has no real control over the school district, but any mayor could certainly start banging the drum about shining some FBI light into the dark recesses that have made DISD an unusable, tax-sucking entity for middle class families.

We all know DISD is a huge problem for the city.It's past time to stop the corruption killing the district and the city.

But do Rawlings' big donors want DISD cleaned out? Are they some of the very people profiting from the corruption and unmonitored spending? Do Kunkle's big donors want DISD cleaned up?

David_Wilson

@ DISD Teacher

Let's apply your question not just to the DISD (wherein it's questionable that City Hall could instigate an investigation) but City Hall.

Rawlings endorsement by names (not just plain names) are a litany of people who either have something to hide (for example Ron Kirk / Arena Vote) or any City Council member past or present who does not want their activities reviewed (for example Trinity River emails and influence peddling). In other words, not only the status quo but protection of the holy secrets for more years than we will be alive.

On Kunkle's side, you see very few active or recently active council people. You see some old-time (for example more than 20 years ago) idealogues who just want good government. They have nothing to hide, and in fact are scaring the crap out of Rawlings' supporters because they probably know where the bones are buried.

You decide.

DISD Teacher

I think either candidate could get LOTS of votes from teachers if they publicly called for audits and investigations of DISD.

Teachers are sick of the corruption; we certainly don't benefit from it and wouldn't want to.

If Kunkle's donors have nothing to hide, they should get Kunkle to make an issue out of DISD's corruption and he'd probably pick up some teacher votes. Not to mention votes from parents weary of paying tuition.

By continuing to act like only poor people need DISD or are affected by DISD, both candidates reveal that they are out of touch.