Dallas Achieves Community Meeting

January 12, 2009

Next live blog: Thursday

We're live at Bryan Adams High School (but we're going to have to leave early). By our count, there are about 50 people here.

It's 6:40. Cindy Goodsell, Principal of BA, introduced the principals from the feeder schools. Much applause.

Tonight, we're going to hear form Arnie Viramontes. The title of the evening is: "Community Conversation About Dallas Achieves."

But, first, a few words from our sponsor: Superintendent Michael Hinojosa.

Thanks everyone for being here.

Virtually no applause as he sits down. That must be uncomfortable.

Viramontes is introducing the rest of the central staff. They're going to take written and oral questions and answer them to promote the "transparency" the District has become fond of.

Ground rules: the Q&A will be at the end of the session.

There's a Powerpoint--we'll try to get it and post it.

"What is Dallas Achieves."

"I am Dallas Achieves," says Viramontes. "Dr. Hinojosa is Dallas Achieves--every child--everyone in Dallas ISD."

Viramontes is laying out the blueprint (translation: presenting the slides) to answer the question: "what is Dallas Achieves?"

They're showing that TAKS Reading Performance has increased from 70% to over 80%... then he's cycling through the different disciplines (math, social studies, history...).

Exemplary and Recognized schools have gone from 32 to 103.

Talking about "empowering principals" (we really need these slides online).

Subject: RIF's.

"There will be no more campus layoffs this year," says Viramontes. "I promise we've put a lot of things in place to make sure that kind of thing never happens again."

Bonds.

"We were very fortunate to have sold $400M of bonds--especially in this economy." [Comment: the economy wasn't "this" bad when the bonds were sold.]

Viramontes is talking about what the result of the bond will be (how they're going to spend the money).

School Scorecards

The District is producing "static" documents that show how each school is doing overall. It is an annual report. "Not all [information] is positive."

7:07 - Wrapping up the Powerpoint slides.

Viramontes notes that there will be 22 of these community meetings across the District.

Viramontes asked the teachers to stand. Much applause. "I don't think we thank them enough for what they've done," added Viramontes.

Now opening it up to questions and answers.

First up: Ms. Sansone! She's asking what the teaching technology will look like. Computers. What will they look like. "Current resources...[seem] inadequate."

"You know that's my first love," answered Viramontes.

Viramontes notes that the reason he came to DISD was to help out with technology. It is interesting to note that Viramontes was promoted to "Chief Transformation Officer" and the District hired his wife, Patricia Viramontes to replace him.

Viramontes is talking about an initiative to extend the DISD network into some of the needier neighborhoods. That should be interesting.

We're going to have to cut it short, but we'll follow up with a live blog this Thursday.