29 Nov 2005
Hinojosa: Significant Improvement Will Not Be Possible Absent Major Change
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent Michael Hinojosa Tuesday announced a bold assessment plan that when completed will make the district the top in the nation within five years by reaching newly adopted academic goals and ensuring all tax dollars are spent more wisely and efficiently.
The superintendent said assessments are underway and about to be conducted that will bring about recommendations this spring that can be applied to the 2006-07 fiscal year beginning July 1.
On Day 201 of his tenure, Hinojosa said that meetings conducted last summer as part of his entry plan, including those with staff, community members and the board helped to spell out the district’s top priorities—focus on the schools and academic achievement. In addition, he said, the financial accountability of the district is imperative.
The superintendent and the board announced a decisive action plan that entails:
"The public education system in Dallas has reached the point where significant improvement will not be possible absent major changes. This school district has to get better and it has to get better faster than our urban counterparts. My tenure as superintendent, and the tenure of this board, will be judged by the success of evaluating how well the district educates its children, how well we apply our resources, spend taxpayer dollars, and what we then do with that knowledge," Hinojosa said.
"We have no option but to succeed."
Hinojosa was joined by DISD Board President Lois Parrott who outlined the board’s close work with the superintendent since arriving in the district in May. She said that the board has held three retreats with the superintendent and said that the conclusion to call for the assessment project was a result of the third retreat held less than two weeks ago.
"From our universal desires to see Dallas students achieve greatness in our schools came the adoption of the academic performance targets we approved at the November board meeting," Parrott said. "We also came to the conclusion that doing the same things and expecting a different outcome was not wise and that something needed to be done. This announcement today is a result of trustees and this superintendent working toward the same goals."
Hinojosa said that the NCEA audits of the district’s education system already has begun and an initial report will be presented in a few weeks. He is working with local business officials about an alliance of Dallas area organizations to underwrite the work of the accounting firm that will conduct the financial and staffing review of the district.
DISD adopts its operating budget traditionally in June of each year. The budget goes into effect on July 1. Hinojosa said that the work done to affect resource and employee allocations must be done well before June in order to be included in planning for the next school year.
"We are in a time crunch to get things done to apply to next year, but it is this immediacy that will help give us added momentum," Hinojosa said.
The superintendent said a broad review of the district will be conducted, including the use of consultants and staff throughout the district.
"Everything is on the table," he said.
"We are going to be focused on two types of principles—the one where we do the right thing, and the other where we provide the right resources to the leadership on the campuses," Hinojosa said.
Board of Trustees Vice President Ron Price also said the board had established the goal of becoming the top large school district in the nation within five years.
"Over the last several years the foundation has been set in this district for us to be where we are today. The time has come for us to push the district to the next level so that we may become the best large district in the nation," Price said.