As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
13 Dec 2000
The Dallas Board of Education presented several Resolutions of Recognition at its November 30 meeting to honor individuals who have made important contributions to the Dallas Independent School District.
• The members of the Superintendent Selection Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Education of the DISD chaired by Board Trustee Ken Zornes, were recognized for assisting in the selection of the new General Superintendent. The four community leaders, William Robinson, Sylvia Lopez, Jan Hart-Black and Pedro Aguirre, assisted district trustees in overseeing the development and screening of a broad base of candidates, identifying candidates for consideration by the board, and being available during board interviews for consultation.
• Two Benjamin Franklin Middle School eighth grade students were recognized for their outstanding civic and artistic efforts. Kevin Thomas, an eighth grader, has been honored as a Millennium Dreamer by Walt Disney World and McDonald's for his volunteer efforts at the Rainbow Room at Child Protective Services. Kevin was adopted in 1994 and both he and his adoptive mother began volunteering two years later. In a written statement Kevin wrote, "I was one of those kids. I was in an orphanage and I was glad to get anything new, but the clothes were out of style and I got teased a lot at school." Kevin now works as the first and only child buyer for the organization. Rainbow Room has helped over 38,000 children since its inception.
Claudia Martinez, was honored in Austin on July 29 by the Texas Public Library Association for her state-winning license plate design "Texas Reads." The contest, sponsored by State Representative Jesse Jones contributes to raise funds for Texas Public Libraries. For every license plate sold, $25 will go directly to the Texas Public Library Association.
• The Young Strings program, which currently serves students in 150 Dallas schools, was recognized for its contribution to the discovery, development and promotion of the musical talent of outstanding young minority string players. It also provides young talents with the skills and resources necessary to pursue music careers. Dallas Symphony musicians Marion Davies and Dwight Shambley in partnership with community volunteers Dolores Barzune and Kevin Wiggins, founded Young Strings in 1992. In January 1994, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra assumed responsibility for the program with generous underwriting from 7-Eleven, Inc. District students receive personal mentoring, performance opportunities, chamber music instruction, concert tickets and support for summer studies. Program graduates have received music scholarships to prestigious institutions such as the Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory of Music.
• Texas Health Choice and Hilton Reservations Worldwide were recognized for their support to the district's CAST (Connect-A-Student-to-Technology) program. In total, both businesses contributed 430 computer systems to Dallas students. Several families in the DISD have benefitted from the use of these donated computers which will contribute to enhance the skills these students learn in the classroom.