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Mar 12, 2009 7:12 pm US/Central
School Year Could Extend For Some DISD Students
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Dallas Independent School District leaders are hearing plans that could dramatically change the school year for hundreds of students.
DISD officials spent most of Thursday trying to figure out how to save low-performing schools from closing. One possibility: more time in school.
Two Pleasant Grove high schools, Samuell and Spruce, face the possibility of being closed or re-organized, if test scores don't improve by this spring.
"There's hope at both of these schools. But we have to be prepared," explained Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa.
District officials talked about ways to help the students, including extending the school year by a few weeks, or extending the school day.
"I think that would be fantastic," said Spruce High School Principal Lucy Hakemack. "We need the extra time for our students to get extra credit, to get extra time to do their work."
Hakemack said she would use the extra time to focus on improving students' reading and math skills. "Many of our students come to us and they don't know how to read or they are low in reading. We need to give them that."
District officials also discussed giving bonuses and contracts teachers who are willing to come to the neediest schools.
If the schools don't improve, the campuses could become magnet schools and the current students would go to other district schools. "But the best case scenario we have is that they both make it," said Hinojosa.
Hinojosa said the money for teacher bonuses and extended school year could come from federal stimulus dollars or by redirecting other district funds. A vote on the plans could happen next month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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