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Up to 50 Dallas ISD schools could have a changing of the guard next year, as principals announce their resignation or retirement. Superintendent Mike Miles has placed heavy emphasis on principal reform, including replacing those who underperform.
But around a dozen principals are not going quietly into that good night. DISD trustees were supposed to meet tomorrow to discuss forcing as many as 15 principals out of their jobs. But as the Morning News first reported, that discussion has been delayed until May.
“We’re going to get the recommendation from the administration next month,” DISD Board President told Unfair Park today. He explained that the decision was made to ensure that all the data presented is correct and the process handled fairly for the principals.
See also: DISD Trustees Are Ready to Fight for Principals
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Of the 223 principals in the district, more than 60 had been put on growth plans this year. Those who failed to rise to certain standards could be recommended for firing.
Tension has been mounting for a while now, and this gives principals and activists another month to fight and campaign for their jobs. At March’s board meeting, people gathered outside DISD headquarters to protest what they view as the unfair targeting of South Dallas principals. Inside the meeting many community members spoke out in support of Madison High School principal Marian Willard and Lincoln High School principal Leslie Swann.
Also last month, at a meeting at James Madison High School auditorium activists and elected officials, including Dallas NAACP president Dr. Juanita Wallace and City Council member Carolyn Davis, decried Miles’ plans.
“We are not going to sit by and allow our black principals to be railroaded out of their positions,” Wallace said.
There’s even been head butting between Miles and some of the trustees. Schutze wrote last week about the heated email exchanges between the superintendent and Trustee Bernadette Nutall stemming from concerns about principal firings, and accusations of Nutall telling executive directors “the community would come after you” if they didn’t keep their hands off certain South Dallas principals.
And now we have another month for both sides to keep building their forces. Think there’ll be a crowd at May’s board meeting?
