Author: The Hub

A strong majority of voters have approved Dallas ISD’s proposed $1.6 billion bond package that is anticipated to fund nine new schools, 326 new classrooms, facility enhancements that support academic programs, and facility improvements at almost every district school. Preliminary results show that approximately 60 percent of voters supported the bond, which is not anticipated to raise school district tax rates. The preliminary results will become final when the board canvases the votes on Nov. 12. “The passage of this bond allows us to make significant strides in creating learning environments that will help all of our students graduate college…

Thanks to proceeds from the Modern Mile home tour held in early October, the Walnut Hill Neighborhood Association presented a $22,352 check to Walnut Hill Elementary School on Nov. 2. The neighborhood association hosted Modern Mile Dallas, which spotlighted mid-century and architecturally significant modern homes in the Walnut Hill neighborhood, as a fundraiser for the district school. The proceeds will help fund Walnut Hill Elementary School’s sensory garden, which will support the school’s autism program, as well as a butterfly garden. The improvements come as the school celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. “We value our relationship with the community,” said…

The Dallas Morning News reports on teachers who were named “distinguished” under Dallas ISD’s Teacher Excellence Initiative, but were already making more money above the salary range for that performance level. The affected 148 teachers could each receive a $1,000 retention stipend. Read the full story here.

Fox 4 profiled a new approach that six Dallas ISD schools are taking in handling discipline issues. The schools are testing a program that uses circles, which are known as discipline discussions, that help students and teaches find common ground. Click here to view the report from Fox 4.

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, is Veterans Day, an annual holiday designated by Congress in 1954, to honor American veterans of all wars. During the next week, Dallas ISD will salute the hundreds of district employees who are veterans of military service. Each day, the series will feature a video produced by Dallas Schools Television focusing on a veteran from one of the five branches of the U.S. military. On Nov. 11, Veterans Day 2015, we will recognize all Dallas ISD military veterans on the district website. Schools are also recognizing veterans with breakfasts, flag-raising ceremonies and other activities, and the high…

Great things are happening in Dallas ISD schools every day. Show and Tell is a feature on The Hub that rounds up some of the news happening across the district into one place. If you have any story ideas for Show and Tell, email thehub@dallasisd.org. Matthew McConaughey stops by Pinkston High School File this under alright, alright, alright: Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey visited L.G. Pinkston High School last month as part of his Just Keep Livin Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering high school students by providing them with the tools to lead active lives and make healthy choices for a better…

The sound of the award winning David W. Carter High School Cowboys drumline welcomed community members, parents, students and Dallas ISD employees to the D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 22. The ribbon cutting marked an especially joyous occasion for the community as it celebrated the official reopening of D.A. Hulcy, which closed in 2012. Several Carter High School students who performed at the ceremony said that it was especially exciting to see the school reopen, as they had been part of the last sixth-grade class. Jonica Crowder-Lockwood, principal, noted that scholars learn in a different…

After eighth-graders spend this week taking a closer look at Dallas ISD high school options, parents and students are invited to learn about specialized programs during the Magnet and Public School Choice Fair on Saturday. The event is set for 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Dec. 5, at Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St. Admission to magnet programs carries an academic requirement, but public school choice options – fairly new to Dallas ISD – do not. The application period for either type of program is Jan. 11-29, 2016. Learn more about the process here.

Solar Preparatory School for Girls at James B. Bonham has been named a recipient of a $100,000 grant from NewSchools Venture Fund, an organization committed to supporting innovation in education. Solar Prep is a Transformation School launching under Dallas ISD’s Public School Choice initiative. In the summer of 2015, NewSchools Venture Fund launched NewSchools Catapult, the first endeavor of their Innovative Schools strategy.  Its purpose is to create a bellwether for innovation in PreK-12 education by supporting promising school teams from around the country in creating the kinds of incredible, inspiring schools that all students deserve. Solar Prep was one of 14…

Dallas ISD’s César Chávez Learning Center celebrates Halloween with the annual “Once Upon A Time” event. Faculty and staff dress up as storybook characters and read to classes throughout the morning – which they did Friday, Oct. 30. The event culminates in a costume contest that awards the most creative, funniest, most elaborate, character most similar to the book and best all around. The winners each win a pumpkin full of candy to share. These great photos were submitted by the campus.