What the Flex: Trustees Find 2012-13 Dallas ISD School Year Calendar a Tad Confusing.

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., Jan. 12 2012 at 3:43 PM

Still watching that Dallas Independent School District trustee meeting; it's torture, man, torture. (Four hours after kick-off, we still haven't gotten 'round to the budget or campus consolidations.) Like, here: The board has spent the last 40 minutes talking about next school year's calendar. Shouldn't have taken that long. Except board president Lew Blackburn wanted to know why kids were getting off December 21, the Friday before Christmas and the two-week winter break. After much talk, talk, talk it's now back as a regular ol' school day. (Blackburn also suggested cutting winter break short, with kids coming back January 2; he was told, um, no.)

Then there was much talk, talk, talk about those so-called "flex" days. The way the calendar reads right now, elementary and middle-school students get out June 13, 2012. But high-school students could get out May 30 ... if, that is, they fulfill three criteria. The trustees were told students will be eligible for early release based on these things: academic assessment (they have to pass all their courses, for starters), attendance (can only miss seven full days) and discipline (they didn't commit an expellable offense during the school year).

Said one member of the panel of principals in front of the board: "We ask a lot of students and give nothing tangible back." Early release is their reward. But the trustees wondered: When will they know if they've got those two weeks off? When will they be evaluated? And how? And by whom? They were told: We're working on it. They're still talking about this. Dallas ISD 2012-13 School Calendar

We Recommend

It's So Sad

Since it is ALWAYS about the money, and not the students...1) Will TEA/State of Texas pay the district for the additional student days?2) Will teachers be paid for the extra teaching days? - If ALL of the teacher's students pass and get out of school on the flex days, is the teacher still paid for the extra days? Or only the teachers who's students are failing? (Sounds like a negative incentive to me.)3) Are the district's assumptions on paying for all this based on reality or wishful thinking? (Remember, Hinojosa hired 300+ teachers on the assumption that the state would let him redirect grant money. And that DID NOT HAPPEN!)

B.S.

Diane Birdwell

One more thing---- Does this mean we get to HONESTLY grade them, or do we still have to play by the "10-15%" rule of failure rates? DISD punishes the teachers who have higher than that failure rates. The kids know the system is rigged against us, not them.....Also, if the End of Course exams are---at the END, and they count for 15% of their grade, when are they taking them? We would have the scores back fro the State in time? Lord, if we could just end all the NEEDLESS testing---we have "mock TAKS- EOC''s" happening soon---not on our original schedules, by the way, More days lost. You know, because the more they test, the better they do, right? The more they test, the less we get to teach, so again, the better they will do, right? Why not just test them every freaking week.... By Christmas, they will be shining stars, right?

Diane Birdwell

We give nothing tangible back??? THIS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH DISD!!!! WHICH principal voiced this statement?

How about this-- as for WHAT we give them: AN EDUCATION. Sorry, a diploma, a future,and hopefully, a set of skills for the workforce to go with it. Yea, we give them nothing "tangible." The ethereal is beyond them--and apparently, our bosses, too.

primi_timpano

As much as you and your colleagues may try, it seems that way too many DISD students, I believe about 25%, fail to get even the diploma, much less a meaningful education.

Guest

(they have to pass all their courts, for starters)

Do they have to get a not guilty on all counts, or will a guilty verdict or plea without jail time be enough to get out of school on May 30th?

Diane Birdwell

"Expellable offense" pretty much means they did not kill someone, punch someone or set the school on fire. Anything else, whatever!!!!

Robert Wilonsky

As always, I explain away any typos by reiterating the obvious: I am a Dallas ISD product, and the son of one to boot. We're a three-generation DISD family, as a matter of fact. Pray for us.

primi_timpano

I think we should be praying for your kids.

JustWondering

The documentation given out just said "secondary schools", that's high school and middle school level. Figures they wouldn't make that clear while they asked teachers and parents to VOTE on it.So when big sis' gets out two weeks early, we expect the family will delay their trip to where-ever and not pull little brother out days early? Yeah, right.

What are you talking about

According to the TEA site, OFYP (Optional Flex Year Plans) can be whatever grades the district wants. The documentation sent out said secondary schools, which are middle and high schools. Did the board say high schools only, or are people just assuming that only high schools are being meant when "secondary schools" is the term used?

DISD Teacher

So if I'm a HS magnet teacher and all my kids qualify, May 30th is my last day?

And I get paid thru June 13th for doing nothing?

As for Lew Blackburn: Is this the correct timeline: He voted to hire a superintendent search firm and then that same firm recommended him for a superintendent job out of state? Is that correct? And if so, is that ethical?