News Briefs

The Parent Services Department in collaboration with some student attendance heroes want to remind students and families that if you are an on-campus or distance learner, attendance still matters. Regular school attendance is an important element for success in school. When a student is frequently absent, tardy or dismissed early from school, students lose valuable instructional time. Because regular attendance is necessary for students to succeed in school, Dallas ISD encourages all parents and guardians to stress the importance of punctuality and regular attendance with their children. Stay engaged for every class and #ShowUpDallasisd.

Recently, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, hundreds of pounds of food and hygiene products were picked up by schools to distribute among the almost 4,000 Dallas ISD students who are considered to be homeless. The food distribution is one of the highlights of activities by the Homeless Education Program during November, Homeless Youth Awareness Month. “We have been working with the North Texas Food Bank for a few years,” said Ashley Marshal, outreach manager for the district’s Homeless Education Program. “We are extremely grateful for this partnership this year since the pandemic has put such a strain on the usual…

Today, The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries announced that the Dallas Education Foundation is being awarded $500,000 for the direct benefit of Dallas ISD as it continues rebuilding from the October 2019 North Dallas tornadoes. Thomas Jefferson High School, Francisco “Pancho” Medrano Middle School, and Walnut Hill PK-8 will use the grants to expand, update, and diversify their library book collections.    “The tornadoes last fall destroyed parts of the Dallas community, including some of the schools our children attend. I am thrilled the Laura Bush Foundation will support three Dallas ISD school libraries affected by the storm,” Mrs. Laura Bush…

Dallas ISD administration has pulled a proposal to increase efficiency in its public participation process at board meetings. The recommendation was presented to the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees during its regularly scheduled briefing earlier this month. The proposal was intended to update the board’s public speaking policy BED (Local) by implementing new time limits for agenda items that would allow speakers to continue exercising their right to make public comment, while also allowing the board to efficiently maintain the flow of government. A second reading of the policy was expected during the board’s upcoming Dec. 3 briefing. The policy has been pulled…