17 Apr 2006
Plan designed to direct more resources to DISD classrooms
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has unveiled a major reorganization of the district that will bring about a savings of nearly $1.7 million.
The plan includes the elimination of 17 central office positions. The changes will go into effect June 1.
"These changes are intended to create a more streamlined organization that will focus on improved student achievement," said Hinojosa. "The Board of Trustees has set aggressive goals to make DISD the best large school district in the country in five years and this reorganization is one of the first steps toward achieving those goals."
Among the eliminated positions are two deputy superintendent positions, three associate superintendent positions, operations executives, executive directors and one school attorney position. No staff will lose their jobs under the reorganization. The plan relies heavily on the conversion of old positions to new or different responsibilities.
The only new position will be an Executive Director of the proposed DISD Foundation. The job will be funded by DISD for a year with plans to have future funding paid by the Foundation.
"The DISD Foundation will be a major boost to the efforts of this school district," said Hinojosa. "In many other communities throughout Texas and the country, school foundations are major catalysts in building support and providing additional resources to school districts."
The new plan calls for collapsing five major reporting divisions to the superintendent to three: Business Services, School Support and Curriculum and Instructional Services. The district's Human Resources department will now report to Business Services; the Police and Security Services, Athletics, Equity and School Choice and Planning and Project Support Departments will report to School Support; and the After School Program and Evaluation and Accountability Departments will report to the Curriculum and Instructional Services.
In order to best serve the needs of schools and school principals, the DISD will continue to have six areas that report to School Support. The area offices, however, will be realigned by moving magnet schools into their respective geographic areas.
There will be some realignment that will take place with a few high schools as well. The district's alternative programs will continue to report to School Support.
A director of magnet schools will report to the School Support Division. Additional department restructuring calls for an Associate Superintendent for Communications and Community Relations. Reporting to this department will be Communications, Board Services, Governmental Relations and the DISD Foundation.
A project manager will be named to implement the recommendations of the Dallas Achieves Commission. This position will report directly to the superintendent.