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Nov 20, 2008 10:59 pm US/Central
DISD Board Votes To Extend Trustees' Term Limits
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
An $84-million deficit; hundreds of teachers laid off; an investigation into fake social security numbers issued to employees.
The past several weeks have been difficult at best for the Dallas Independent School District.
So how did school board members respond Thursday night? They gave themselves an extra year on the job.
They voted overwhelmingly to extend the trustees current three-year terms to four and the change will include the current school board.
This comes despite recent protests and calls for across the board administrative resignations and terminations following DISD budget mistakes, teacher layoffs and scandals.
Still, the trustees argue that this will save taxpayers about $300,000, which is what elections cost and that it puts their terms in line with other major cities.
"Almost every other district in the state has four-year terms," said Jack Lowe, DISD Trustee, District 2. "You could argue is this the right time? I feel it is. There is never a perfect time. We ought to just keep moving forward. I think this provides more continuity, fewer disruptions."
But some laid off teachers were so upset by the decision it drove them to tears.
"I believe they're doing it to cover up something that they don't want someone else to come in here and see," said Meco Robinson, former teacher. "It's time to get it cleaned up. It's time for them to rehire teachers that they wrongfully terminated. Those are the things that need to happen."
Parent Michelle Davitt supports keeping Hinojosa, and says it doesn't matter if school board members serve three or four year terms.
"If you have a poor board, you want them out faster, but if I don't know if I have a strong sense of the individual people and their abilities and whether I would want them out sooner or not," said Davitt.
Samuel Vasquez, a local barber, says the call to extend elected terms to four years is uncalled for.
"Just by seeing what's happened now with three years of being in office, I think that's more than enough," said Vasquez. "By them having an extra year, what's going to make a difference?"
Meanwhile, supporters and opponents of embattled Superintendent Michael Hinojosa were out in force. Thursday afternoon, rallies were held in support of Hinojosa, and protestors want him out.
With groups still protesting DISD over the budget, layoffs and leadership, educator John Fullinwider says he's suspicious of extending terms for trustees.
"So this is kinda a cynical move to cancel next spring's election," said Fullinwider. "With this board, I think they can be clueless for four years just as easy as three."
There were three trustees who would have come up for election in May of 2009. Now they will not have to face re-election.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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