Tonight, six trustees, Dustin Marshall, Dan Micciche, Miguel Solis, Jaime Resendez, Edwin Flores, and Dr. Lew Blackburn all voted to proceed with the DOI support vote. What happened? Was it the passionate plea from young Bryan Tony? Was it the support of Mita Havlick? Trustee Solis appears to have been moved by the words of Dallas ISD alum and District 8 constituent Daisy Jamaica. Who knows what swayed this, but it's a good thing for Dallas ISD students that it.
Here's the tricky thing about politics. Not everything is always as it seems. An uncharacteristically silent and question free Lew Blackburn broke ranks with Nutall, Foreman, and Pinkerton to make this a possibility. When the TRE failed because Dr. Blackburn voted against something he wrote a piece in support of, I had my doubts about his future decisions. Today, he still leaves me confused, but no doubt the 3 no votes are even more confused. Perhaps some of them are even wishing they hadn't been so active in helping him keep his seat. These are strange times we live in, but it's good that, in this instance, our children won't have to pay the price.
I wonder what this spells for the future of the board. Despite the progress made tonight, there is still a seat hanging in the balance that could threaten the continuation of that progress. Were Trustee Marshall defeated a few weeks ago, would DOI have passed? I don't know, but what we do know is what happened tonight. Trustee Dustin Marshall made a vote tonight along with his colleagues that will help Dallas ISD students. This is just one of the many times he has done the same. When I think of a board without his vote, it truly makes me sad and afraid for our students. I wish DOI existed when I taught at L.G Pinkston High School. My students graduating this year that I taught just two years ago could have so many more opportunities that they most certainly deserve.
I'm excited for the future and I'm excited for our students. The possibilities for opportunity are expanding before our very eyes.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Dallas ISD District of Innovation
Dallas ISD District 2 Race 2017