News Briefs

Approximately 20 Dallas ISD assistant principals completed their fellowship with School Retool this month. Brought to the district in partnership with the Personalized Learning Department, School Retool helped local assistant principals use small changes called “hacks” to make a big impact on their campuses. “One of my first hacks was to reduce the number of tardies we had every morning, so I created a note that made parents aware of the importance of their children arriving on time every day,” said Kourtnei Billups, Assistant Principal of Anne Frank Elementary School. “In a week’s time we went from about 25 tardies…

Students and staff at Dallas ISD’s Everett L. DeGolyer Elementary School recently conducted the school’s first Autism Walk to recognize the month of April as National Autism Month. Autism is a condition that is usually present in early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. Estimates suggest that 1 in 68 American children, ages 3 to 17, have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A goal of National Autism Awareness Month is to educate the public about autism and find ways to increase inclusion and support to help each person…

Trustee Jaime Resendez is holding a District 4 community meeting on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. The meeting will be at the Eastfield Pleasant Grove Campus, 802 S. Buckner Blvd., Room 108. The meeting will include a discussion about a possible Tax Ratification Election for Dallas ISD. For more information, call 972-925-3721.

Monday, Aug. 28 is the first day of classes for the 2017-2018 school year. Each school day will have an additional 10 minutes during breakfast in the classroom. With the expanded day, the district will reach the state-mandated total minutes of instruction by June 1, the last day of classes. Other features: 171 days of instruction for students starting Monday, Aug. 28 10 teacher professional development/planning days, five preparation/work days and one day’s credit for teachers who attend both parent conference nights Two fair days for all students; elementary Fair Day, Friday, Oct. 13, and secondary Fair Day, Friday, Oct. 20; Elementary…