Touched by the news coverage of the destruction wrought by recent tornadoes, Cathy Vernon was overcome with the need to do something to help victims who had lost everything. The day after the storms, Vernon, the student activities coordinator and student council sponsor at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, began calling her students and the school’s PTA president to arrange a donation drive. With school out and everyone on winter break, Vernon said she was unsure what the group could collect. Nevertheless, they put out calls to colleagues and families via social media asking…

Dallas ISD is considering changing the attendance boundaries or feeder pattern options for select Dallas ISD schools next school year. District leaders held eight community meetings to discuss the proposed changes and gather feedback from the public. The proposed changes are not final and require board approval. The Hub has compiled the following guide to provide information on the proposed changes. Is the district restructuring all attendance boundaries? No. In fact, most attendance boundaries will stay the same. Why is the district looking to adjust some attendance boundaries? Adjusting attendance boundaries for select schools is a strategy to more effectively distribute…

A new law went into effect in Texas on Jan. 1 allowing a licensed gun holder in the state to carry their firearm openly in a holster. This is a change from the existing law that required a licensed gun holder to carry their firearm in a concealed holster. Here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions on what impact, if any, the new Open Carry law will have on Dallas ISD. How will the firearm law impact Dallas ISD? It remains illegal under the new law for a licensed gun holder to bring their firearm onto school property. This means, for example,…

The support of parents and citizens is essential to the success of a school district. Since returning to Dallas ISD, I have been uplifted by the enthusiastic reception and encouragement I have received from parents, business and civic leaders, educators and citizens. In this holiday season, I count as priceless gifts the parents who entrust our schools with their children, the businesses that invest in our students, citizens who engage in the challenging issues facing education, and educators who devote hours of service to our students’ success. Your support ensured the passage of the 2015 bond program, a much-needed package…