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Sunday, January 15, 2012

EDITORIAL

TACTICS FOR A TURNAROUND William "Bubba" Flint/Special Contributor DISD’s Strengths LETTERS DART satisfaction is high they can’t see anything surely didn’t help. They would have been far better off left at Next superintendent will have assets going in Re: “Survey: DART losing ground — Rid- home in a kennel with a favorite toy. I’m sor- ers report lower satisfaction with safety, reli- ry the couple’s car was damaged, but if I had andidates to be the next superintendent of ability, cleanliness,” Wednesday news story. heard their dogs and thought they were Dallas schools will be flying into a city Aside from the fact that customer satis- locked in the trunk, I would have called C with construction cranes around the core, faction surveys are highly subjective and apt someone to get them out as well. a dynamic business environment and a healthy to vary, even for the same person from one Janis Hamilton, Fairview tax base. moment to the next, I believe the data tells a different story from the headline. Without Then there is the task at hand, urban educa- Rates could be lower … tion — a glamourless guarantor of struggle. getting into the theoretical weeds, a closer There’s no sugar coating DISD’s problems. The look at the report shows, for instance, that Re: “Texas homeowners again pay na- list is considerable and predictably similar to there is no statistical difference between the tion’s highest rates — Costs rise faster else- those of big-city districts nationwide. 2010 and 2011ratings for overall satisfaction where, but state still tops average for U.S. by Since candidates know that going in, we don’t The project and that nine out of 10 customers in both more than $600,” Tuesday news story. expect the faint hearted to apply. at a glance years are satisfied with DART’s service. Giv- The concerns of many Texans about the en the size and complexity of the DART sys- But candidates also should know the things Our goal: To advocate for hiring a strong change high rates they pay for property insurance tem, I for one find that pretty astonishing! that may set Dallas schools apart from many ur- agent and for instituting reform strategies with are legitimate. As the article highlights, the Lon Roberts, Plano ban districts across the nation. records of success. state’s overall average premium — nearly That list is considerable, too. Consider them Our work so far: Since August, we’ve published $1,500 per home per year — is the highest in footholds for a difficult climb. Consider them exclusive commentaries by national education Change the way we vote the country. The fact that premiums have selling points for the job of preparing the next experts on DISD’s future. declined slightly in recent years in some ar- generation of Dallas leaders. Next up: We begin a six-part editorial series The Dallas Morning News editorial goal eas is small comfort for many homeowners. outlining recommendations for DISD and its new to end straight-party voting in Texas is clear- However, blaming insurers for high rates superintendent: ly in the public interest. It’s also a threat to is a political maneuver that ignores the reali- The bosses TODAY: Footholds: Good DISD stories to build on the power structure of both major parties. I ties of the insurance industry. Insurers need Wherever you go, school boards will range Hiring: Priceless teachers and principals first learned about how party procedures to be able to react to risk and charge premi- from lapdogs to obstructionists. In Dallas, the Innovation: Shakeups that work and a wired electoral process tended to allow ums that allow them to remain solvent. The next superintendent will find neither extreme. Ross Avenue: Inject top business standards party elites to keep a grip on power while I truth of these high rates is simple: While The Dallas school board has a nucleus of Poverty: Break the cycle — or else was in college in the 1960s. Texas’ rates are high because natural risks Wish list: Our dream candidate thoughtful, service-minded members who set Well here we are, 50 years later, and rath- are high, faulty government and private ac- solid objectives. We trust that will come through READ the Tactics for a Turnaround series so far. er than achieving improvements through tions have made them higher than neces- as members interview superintendent candi- dallasnews.com/turnaround campaign finance reform, the problem has sary. dates through March. schools. The district has found novel ways to re- become a national disgrace. The obscene In the short term, increased competition Board President Lew Blackburn and mem- make and reignite lethargic campuses. One focus amount of money flowing into the system can reduce the rates, and in the long term, bers Eric Cowan, Edwin Flores, Mike Morath has been to upgrade the corps of principals by has allowed the party elites, with their deep the elimination of subsidies for develop- and Bernadette Nutall have emerged as a bloc finding talented, decisive reformers and giving pocket cronies, to expand control of the sys- ment in dangerous areas can make Texas that appreciates the value of education reforms. them latitude as turnaround agents. Last year, tem. safer. Plus a new PAC has emerged, EducateDallas, the district committed to work with the George Americans are waking up to this crisis. Julie Drenner, Texas director of the Center with plans to recruit board candidates who sub- W. Bush Institute on a principal recruitment and Many are taking action to bring the system on Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate at the scribe to that philosophy. training program. Again, the theme of friends in into balance. One such group is Americans Heartland Institute, Austin The next superintendent will have bosses high places. Elect (americanselect.org). The intriguing who are interested in strategic goals. They are Other efforts have paired up individual school thing about AE is that they will put a presi- … But comparison is flawed there for the kids and to build a better communi- communities with outsiders. An example is the dential candidate on the ballot in every state ty. A big plus. Southern Methodist University Center on Com- in 2012, yet AE has offered no candidate and The National Association of Insurance munities and Education’s stewardship in West no stated platform. AE is using the Internet Commissioners should have pointed out in The rear guard Dallas, which aims to harness the energy of par- to allow any registered voter to log on and their study of Texas homeowners’ rates the ents, community leaders and nonprofits to sup- have a direct voice in choosing the candidate effect of such things as increases in property Dallas’ political, philanthropic and business port educators and deliver resources. It’s an or- and the platform. values, building costs and the consumer leaders will have the next superintendent’s back. ganic effort, sparked by the Dallas Faith Commu- Backroom politics vs. the Internet vil- trend of insuring property to the current They recognize that healthy schools are vital to nities Coalition. lage? cost to rebuild the home. reigniting the city’s growth and continuing to at- Students at select elementaries are taught in Dan Prevo, Ovilla Some mention of the reality of Texas se- tract major employers. Thus they have pledged dual-language programs, where English and vere weather and its impact on the price we to help transform the school district into an asset Spanish speakers help teach one another. Some Full-time school works all pay to insure our homes should not go to place on civic brochures. high schools have partnered with Advanced unnoticed. Also according to NAIC, “The That’s a tall order, but the influence of City Placement Strategies to dramatically boost the Re: “Try, try again on year-round Florida data excludes policies written by Cit- Hall and Mayor Mike Rawlings, plus the Dallas number of graduates with AP credits. schools? District seeks ways to keep poor izens Property Insurance Corporation, the Regional Chamber, is being brought to bear. kids engaged; cost, effectiveness are con- state’s insurer of last resort, and therefore is Rawlings has said he will ask the next superin- cerns,” Tuesday news story. not directly comparable to those of other tendent what he or she needs to be more effec- Parent, community involvement Year-round schools? When our daugh- states.” tive, and he will tap businesses to make it hap- We could say “challenge,” or “opportunity,” but ters were at Big Springs Elementary School Let’s admit we’re comparing apples to or- pen. It could be coming up with resources, part- the message is the same: room for improvement. 20 years ago, Richardson ISD tried year- anges and refrain from misleading the end nering at schools or offering sheer moral sup- Still, focus on the footholds. And that starts with round schools for a couple of years. users of insurance. port. Dallas school trustees have also committed the loyal parent groups already mentioned. Add Our children loved it; their grades were Jerry Johns, president, Southwestern to a new coalition, Commit, made up of educa- Woodrow Wilson High School and Stonewall higher because they didn’t forget over a long Insurance Information Service, Austin tors, philanthropists and business leaders who Jackson and Rosemont elementaries to the list. summer vacation. pledge to encourage research-driven changes. The district is resuscitating one important Teachers loved it; they had more small Politics pollute process The bottom line is that the next superinten- tool, online “parent portals,” which will provide vacations for them, and students didn’t for- dent could whip out a cellphone to reach en- access to a child’s grades and homework assign- get over the summer. Re: “Texas called biggest polluter — Coal lightened reformers and friends in high places. ments and allow communication directly with Parents loved it; we were able to go on va- plants, refineries released 294 million tons teachers. cations during cheaper off seasons, and our of greenhouse gases in 2010, EPA data Centers of achievement And remember that theme of friends in high students made better grades. shows,” Thursday news story. places? The new superintendent could call on However, the haters were in power. They Let’s see. The EPA labels Texas as the na- National rankings on the best high schools them to help continue another valuable program, ran after-school programs and activities, tion’s worst air polluter, and most of that routinely place a few select Dallas magnet parental-involvement classes conducted in many child care centers and sports. The haters pollution comes from the state’s aged coal- schools at the top. Beyond the brochure names, low-income schools by the Dallas Concilio. The hounded the school board, silenced the fired electric power generating plants. The about 30 career-oriented magnet programs and district canceled the contract with the Concilio PTA, had stories in the newspaper and won! EPA also wants to shut down the majority of schools are now operating districtwide, attract- for lack of money, but the group has been able to The only real losers are the students. these coal-burning stations and have them ing fierce loyalty from parents. They represent a stay active in fewer schools with money scraped Donald Wright, Garland replaced with modern natural gas plants. philosophy of establishing and building on together from other sources. However, various parties with financial achievement. These are foothold schools. I would have called for help interests in maintaining the old facilities Beyond the magnets, many neighborhood el- and their accommodating politicians cry out ementary schools reflect solid academics, but The educator corps Re: “Rescue is a bone of contention — that shutting the coal plants will cost jobs — too often they feed into middle or high schools The district, overall, has a stable, committed Pair say city overreacted in prying dogs from a questionable retort, especially when new where achievement drops off sharply. The chal- workforce and is focused on making it better. car,” Tuesday news story. construction is calculated into the issue. lenge for the next superintendent is to find out Acrucial effort is already under way — a multi The couple that left their two dogs in Thus, these Texas politicians, generally why and pursue policies to change that. year program to develop a data-driven system of their car while they went for lunch are upset Republicans, appear to oppose a business The district’s overall numbers are trending in teacher evaluation. It’s overdue, and all parties and think what happened was an over-reac- updating itself to address contemporary the right direction. Superintendent Michael Hi- seem to recognize it. Administrators are working tion. They say they didn’t leave the dogs at standards and to function in a more efficient nojosa never realized his goal of pushing to ensure buy-in from professional educators, home because of the dogs’ separation anxi- and more profitable manner. achievement by all demographic groups in all and indications are positive so far. Consider this a eties. I see a couple of things they surely Isn’t such modernization akin to the pos- grades to 90 percent passing on state tests. work in progress. didn’t consider. itive spin that Republicans put on the “vul- But DISD students in fourth and eighth The aim is to find excellence to encourage, Leaving them in the car doesn’t solve the ture capitalism” actions which their candi- grades beat their peers in other major cities on weaknesses to address. separation anxiety. Dogs can’t distinguish date Mitt Romney practiced at Bain Capi- the math part of the latest National Assessment The board has also been focused on finding distance. In addition to that, the added anxi- tal? of Educational Progress exams. It was DISD’s pipelines for superior classroom instructors and ety of being left in a small dark space where Ed Kominski, Weatherford first year of participation, and the results shone. thus has a new deal with Teach for America to Of course, gaps remain, including lagging provide recruits. And a collaboration with SMU’s achievement by minority groups and, especially, Teaching Trust master’s program has potential LETTERS & VIEWPOINTS POLICY English-language learners. for developing teachers for leadership positions. We value reader submissions. We receive far more than we can print and MAIL ONLINE publish a representative sample. Letters should not exceed 200 words. Letters From Readers www.dallasnews.com/ Innovation These are among the selling points for the dis- Viewpoints columns, which may be submitted through viewpoints@dallas- The Dallas Morning News sendletters trict. The weak points are out there, too, and can’t news.com, should not exceed 600 words. Letters and columns are edited for Box 655237 length and clarity. Include your name, address with ZIP code and daytime Dallas, Texas 75265 Tolerance is short for business-as-usual atti- be ignored. Addressing those is a subject for an- phone number. Submissions become property of The News. tudes toward chronically low-performing other day. Page 4

P2 01-15-2012 Set: 18:02:55 Sent by: [email protected] Opinion CYANMYBELLOWLACKAGENTA