Dallas schools are preparing for the return of students Monday with no chance of extra cash in the near future from taxpayers.
Dallas Independent School District Trustees Friday rejected several options for tax rate increases.
“I was disappointed. We worked on it for over a year,” said Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. “I presented multiple options at their request and unfortunately they did not support our recommendations. So we have a razor thin margin on this budget going forward.”
Property values have boosted property tax revenue but those increases have been offset by cuts in state funding to Dallas ISD schools.
The Dallas ISD property tax rate is second lowest in Dallas County. The six and 13 cent rate increase proposals that were rejected by trustees would still have left Dallas ISD well below the top rates. Board members failed to reach the two-thirds super majority vote required to put any of the choices before voters.
“The community didn’t have a chance to voice in,” Hinojosa said.
Hinojosa said Dallas ISD has still drastically reduced the number of low performing schools in recent years. But, 14 are still rated 'improvement required' as Dallas competes with charter schools and the suburbs for students and families. The tax increase proposals were intended to create programs to address all of those challenges.
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“We’ll just have to muscle up and try to go a different direction,” Hinojosa said.
Monday, teachers and staff from Dade Middle School near Dallas Fair Park rode buses to knock on doors and encourage kids to be back in school.
Parent Sheena Woodard helped the school people find students in her neighborhood.
“Some of our parents don’t have the money for school supplies or whatever and they have to wait,” Woodard said.
Dade Middle School Principal Tracy Washington said school staff members want to solve the problems that keep kids away.
“It is very important just to get them to jump right in,” Principal Tracy Washington said. “We can work out all of the things. We can work out shots. We can work out school supplies. We can work out uniforms.”
Parents and kids were very impressed to see the Principal and teachers in their neighborhood.
“They had chills going through me, for them to be out here in the heat and making sure that these kids are there on the first day of school and getting their education,” said parent Lanita Edwards.
Her 11-year-old daughter will start middle school Monday but her older children attended Dade Middle School in the past.
Edwards watched the Dade faculty on her street Monday.
“They’re wearing their schools colors. They’re out they’re excited and that’s a blessing. We need that. If we had more of that I guarantee we’d have more kids getting their education and graduating from high school and going to college,” Edwards said.
Regardless of the school board inaction Friday, Principal Tracy Washington said her campus will be ready for students Monday.
“We’re still ready, geared up to serve and be the best educators we can be because our parents are giving us their very best,” she said.
Hinojosa said Dallas County Schools, the agency that provides bus service, is around 170 drivers short on the number needed for Dallas ISD Monday. But the Superintendent said a similar number of his employees are certified drivers and they are becoming temporary DCS employees so necessary buses will be in service Monday.
