Half way through March. Things are about to heat up. Some of the campaigns are in full swing while others are asleep at the wheel.
The thing I'm most excited for is seeing which of the board members speak out in support of which candidates. There's plenty of behind the scenes stuff that is and will be happening, but we'll focus on the key issues in each district since that, while less entertaining, is much more important.
Sometimes, Dallas is the dumbest, most small minded version of Game of Thrones ever. A bunch of people fighting for a"kingdom" of absolutely nothing. The saddest part is that none of the maneuvering is about students in most cases. That doesn't make it any less entertaining, but it does explain why our schools are the way they are.
What we'll do here is what we did last year, bring the candidates to you so that you can hear directly from them who they are and what they care about. You'll be getting written interviews, recorded interviews, and maybe even a debate or two as you make your decisions for election day, May 7th. No matter who you vote for, get out and vote.
The DMN has all the candidates in each district in a recent post.
What to watch as election season progresses?
District 4 key issue: TEI and ELL programs
Why? District 4 is unique in that they have a very rural part their district and are unlike them majority of the others. The largest issue here is the district wide one, TEI, that will be central to the discussion in other areas. There is also a growing Latino population and a need for more sophisticated ELL and duel language programs in the schools there and across the district.
District 2 key issue: TEI and Bond
Why? I've yet to talk to the two newest candidates, but Smith and Marshall are both savvy business people with a good handle on data, numbers, etc. With these two people sure to get the lion's share of the coverage, there will no doubt be extensive discussion of the business jargon heavy TEI policy in hopes they can bring resolution to the concerns of teachers in the district.
There will be some bond talk for the same reasons TEI will be discussed..
District 7 key issue: TEI and principal evaluations
Why? The dispute over the dismissal of the Rosemont principal is still fresh in the minds of D7 and with Audrey Pinkerton as a vocal community member and parent on the ballot, you're sure to hear about some if the painful hot button issues from the last year.
District 5 key issue: Low quality facilities, charter schools, TEI, Bond
Why? ven if you put District 6 in the discussion, there is no other district with such a disparity in quality and opportunities. D5 has the best schools in the district that everyone talks about (Townview, Barack Obama, etc) and the schools that everyone likes to pretend don't exist (SOC, Pinkston, etc). It's unlike any other district because you have a glamorous flagship school and other schools, like SOC, that are ready to fall down. As the only district with and incumbent, this race will likely be different than the others.
There's the additional wrinkle of the recent charter school battles and the district wide concern of TEI. The 15 year incumbent and charter school executive, Dr. Lew Blackburn, is facing former and current challenger, community activist Linda Wilkerson-Wynn as well as consultant Marquis Hawkins.
This district hurts in a different way than the others so expect a wide range of issues the candidates are going to be expected to fix.
About 2 months to election day. Time to pay attention.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Articles:
Dallas ISD Board Meeting: SOC, TEI, and Montessori
Dallas ISD Politics of Change
Dallas ISD Board Members Stand for SOC
DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - March Week 1
DISD Trustees stop by to visit with us
Sometimes, Dallas is the dumbest, most small minded version of Game of Thrones ever. A bunch of people fighting for a"kingdom" of absolutely nothing. The saddest part is that none of the maneuvering is about students in most cases. That doesn't make it any less entertaining, but it does explain why our schools are the way they are.
What we'll do here is what we did last year, bring the candidates to you so that you can hear directly from them who they are and what they care about. You'll be getting written interviews, recorded interviews, and maybe even a debate or two as you make your decisions for election day, May 7th. No matter who you vote for, get out and vote.
The DMN has all the candidates in each district in a recent post.
What to watch as election season progresses?
District 4 key issue: TEI and ELL programs
Why? District 4 is unique in that they have a very rural part their district and are unlike them majority of the others. The largest issue here is the district wide one, TEI, that will be central to the discussion in other areas. There is also a growing Latino population and a need for more sophisticated ELL and duel language programs in the schools there and across the district.
District 2 key issue: TEI and Bond
Why? I've yet to talk to the two newest candidates, but Smith and Marshall are both savvy business people with a good handle on data, numbers, etc. With these two people sure to get the lion's share of the coverage, there will no doubt be extensive discussion of the business jargon heavy TEI policy in hopes they can bring resolution to the concerns of teachers in the district.
There will be some bond talk for the same reasons TEI will be discussed..
District 7 key issue: TEI and principal evaluations
Why? The dispute over the dismissal of the Rosemont principal is still fresh in the minds of D7 and with Audrey Pinkerton as a vocal community member and parent on the ballot, you're sure to hear about some if the painful hot button issues from the last year.
District 5 key issue: Low quality facilities, charter schools, TEI, Bond
Why? ven if you put District 6 in the discussion, there is no other district with such a disparity in quality and opportunities. D5 has the best schools in the district that everyone talks about (Townview, Barack Obama, etc) and the schools that everyone likes to pretend don't exist (SOC, Pinkston, etc). It's unlike any other district because you have a glamorous flagship school and other schools, like SOC, that are ready to fall down. As the only district with and incumbent, this race will likely be different than the others.
There's the additional wrinkle of the recent charter school battles and the district wide concern of TEI. The 15 year incumbent and charter school executive, Dr. Lew Blackburn, is facing former and current challenger, community activist Linda Wilkerson-Wynn as well as consultant Marquis Hawkins.
This district hurts in a different way than the others so expect a wide range of issues the candidates are going to be expected to fix.
About 2 months to election day. Time to pay attention.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Articles:
Dallas ISD Board Meeting: SOC, TEI, and Montessori
Dallas ISD Politics of Change
Dallas ISD Board Members Stand for SOC
DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - March Week 1
DISD Trustees stop by to visit with us
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