dallas news

Dallas school board weighs superintendent plans 

DISD board member Carla Ranger (right) discussed possibilities for interim leadership to replace Superintendent Michael Hinojosa (center) as board President Adam Medrano listened at a meeting Tuesday.

Dallas school trustees on Tuesday briefly discussed attributes they would like in an interim superintendent, with some emphasizing knowledge of Texas school finance and a familiarity with Dallas and its schools.
But much of the discussion centered on a request by trustee Carla Ranger that the board consider forgoing the traditional interim superintendent and instead run the district with an “administrative council” made up of top district administrators.

The council idea didn’t appear to have support from the majority of trustees, but the board will vote on the proposal next week. Ranger said using a council could save the district money by not having to hire someone.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first time trustees have met since Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced last week that he is the sole finalist to lead the Cobb County School District in suburban Atlanta.
Hinojosa has said he plans to stay in Dallas through June, the month that trustees will approve an annual budget expected to come with deep cuts.
During the meeting, Ranger voiced concern that Hinojosa is still leading the district and asked trustees to consider placing him on paid administrative leave until June 30.
“I’m very concerned that we have the superintendent still on duty and still in charge at a time we are making some very critical decisions,” she said.
Hinojosa, who was at the meeting, didn’t seem fazed by Ranger’s request, which received no response from other board members.
Trustees talked of finding an interim superintendent who would hold the position from six months to a year.
“I see someone who knows Dallas, someone who knows our areas and our schools,” trustee Edwin Flores said.
He added that the district also needs someone familiar with dual language education and Texas school finance.
Part of Tuesday’s meeting was held behind closed doors.
“We’re discussing what we want to do and how to move on,” board president Adam Medrano said of the closed session.
He said the conversation included discussion of current top administrators in the district.
Trustee Lew Blackburn said trustees will bring lists Tuesday of possible candidates for the interim position, and they could interview candidates next week. He said he hopes to have someone named on June 3.
The Cobb County district is expected to name Hinojosa as the next superintendent after a required 14-day public comment period, which ends June 2.
Some Dallas trustees have voiced concern about the timing of the Cobb County offer as district administrators and trustees are making plans for deep cuts. DISD could lose about $120 million in state funding as legislators reduce education spending.
Trustee Mike Morath has said the budget issues call for a leader with an understanding of Texas school financing. He also believes the ideal candidate could be a recently retired Texas superintendent.
“You need a steward over the ship during this massive budget-reduction environment,” Morath said.
Trustee Eric Cowan said he would prefer that the interim superintendent not immediately change the way the district operates.
“I don’t see the interim as a visionary,” he said. “He needs to be a manager.”
An interim superintendent would have important duties the next few months as next year’s budget is implemented. Class sizes are likely to increase in some grades, and course offerings could be trimmed.
While trustees search for a new superintendent, Blackburn said, the district doesn’t need an interim superintendent who will “turn things upside down and start all over.”
“We need to keep us rolling and hopefully move upward and onwards,” he said.
Morath urged board members to come together to figure out what characteristics they want in the next superintendent. He said doing so would speed up the process.
“There are a lot of people in this town who believe that we couldn’t form a consensus to run out of a burning building,” he said.
thobbs@dallasnews.com; mhaag@dallasnews.com
WHAT’S NEXT
Dallas school board trustees have a full day of workshops and meetings Thursday.
At 1 p.m. at the Dallas ISD administration building, trustees are expected to meet to discuss next year’s budget. Texas lawmakers have proposed cutting public education funds by several billion dollars, and Dallas ISD could lose at least $120 million next school year. The budget discussion could last a few hours, but trustees won’t approve the budget until June.
At 3:30 p.m., trustees are scheduled to hear a report on recent internal audits and receive a financial update from chief financial officer Alan King.
At 5:30 p.m., during the board’s regular meeting, trustees are scheduled to decide staffing formulas at the district’s 225 schools, one of the first steps in approving next year’s budget. The formulas dictate how many teachers, assistants, librarians and other employees are at each school. The formulas don’t include individual names of employees who might have to be laid off.
Also during the regular meeting, trustees are expected to select new board officers, including the president, who will play an important role in setting the course for finding a new superintendent.