Thursday night at violate meeting the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) voted to not renew the contracts of hundreds of teachers throughout the system. There is a dispute on the exact number of teachers slated to receive non-renewal letters. Several outlets are reporting 440, however, WFAA Channel 8 claim an email received from district spokesperson claims the number is significantly less.
Also, the principals Leicha Shaver at Roosevelt High School and Marian Willard at Madison High School were fired as well. Each can appeal the board’s decision.
This was seen as a victory for DISD Superintendent Mike Miles whose reform program has come under attack by members of the community. While he has the support of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and other prominent business organizations such as the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Miles has little to no support from members of the African American community including Dallas Commissioner John Wiley Price. Many of the detractors to the reform program showed up for the school board trustee meeting on Thursday night.
The board left in a closed door meeting for over an hour before announcing their decision.
