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Oct 24, 2008 8:06 pm US/Central
State Education Agency Won't Take Over DISD--Yet
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The Education Commissioner of Texas will not send in state managers to oversee the Dallas Independent School District.
At least, not yet.
DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa met behind closed doors Friday afternoon with Robert Scott, the head of the Texas Education Agency.The meeting centered on the district's huge financial deficits, which forced massive layoffs and whether t
he state should take over financial control of the district after the $84 million budget mistake.
After the meeting Scott said he doesn't see Dallas in the same light as other financially troubled Texas school districts, so for the time being there will be no state intervention.
"We're looking at a financial situation here that is not the best situation, but certainly not fatal," Scott said. "So, I do not have serious doubts about the long-term financial integrity of the district."Several local elected officials took part in the meeting, including State Senators Royce West and Florence Shapiro. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert participated via teleconference.
During the meeting, Hinojosa laid out the steps district leaders took to bring the district's budget back into balance.
It was clear after the meeting that the state will continue to let the DISD manage its own financial situation, but
Scott will be making a return trip to the district to provide another assessment.
"This is, I think, a short-term problem that we can address now, and then develop systems and management controls to make sure we never see this again," he said.Click here for more coverage of the DISD's budget meltdown.
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