DeSoto teachers, students criticize school district

by Jill Quarles of DeSoto TODAY

DeSoto Independent School District teachers, students, parents and taxpayers had vocal comments at the regular May 11 board meeting, addressing discipline, academics and campus safety.

Meeting agenda items were straightforward and included approving a bank in which to place district money, discussing an added 15 minutes to the school day and allocating possible stimulus money, but eight DeSoto citizens, including Mayor Pro Tem Carl Sherman, shifted the meeting's focus to what they believe are important district problems.

Karen Daniel was the first of three DISD teachers to address the board, and in doing so, expressed concerns about, discipline, safety academics and economics in the high school.

Daniel has taught in the district for almost 30 years and said she believes DeSoto school administrators are attempting to turn the district into a “mega school,” and sited this as cause for academic and disciplinary problems.

She referred to the school's academically unacceptable state TAKS test ranking and told the board.” We didn't have this problem as a community school,” adding that 63 percent of unacceptably scoring students are economically disadvantaged, compared to a significantly smaller percentage of DeSoto residents.

Two students also addressed academic issues. Both have attended other high schools, one student in Irving and Grand Prairie, the other in Duncanville, before moving into the DeSoto district. The two said there were significant differences among the academic programs' quality, specifically listing advanced placement curriculum and TAKS test readiness.

“Teachers can't teach the students because of discipline problems,” one student said, while the other said school disciplinary personnel are “too friendly” with students

Ian Bell, a senior advanced placement student said teachers are expected to teach specific TAKS test objective, but aren't given the proper environment or materials with which to do so. He asked the board rhetorically why the high school has two plasma screen televisions, but books that are in poor condition or that aren't sufficient in number for the number of students.

Daniel further discussed TAKS scores, suggesting that administrators adjust procedures for district mandated TAKS intervention. Daniel has taught English for 40 years, but told boardmembers she has had to teach TAKS math and science at certain times.

“I'm not qualified to do that,” she said. “I haven't taken a math class in 40 years. Teachers should be teaching what they know.” She also said teachers and administrators seem to be “on different sides.”

Another high school teacher, Janice Hall, echoed several of the same concerns, but said discipline problems most interfere with her teaching.

“Our students cheat all the time,” she said,” and they don't have a problem with it. They brag about it.”

She said the existing cellular phone policy makes it difficult to prevent students' sharing answers, as many are able to text message with their hands in their pockets. Boardmembers discussed cellular phone policy problems at their previous meeting, but did not enact changes.

Hall continued, saying students don't fear disciplinary consequences. “If we take a phone away, they can get it back before the end of the day,” she said and told boardmembers one student became irate when she confiscated his phone. Because of his reaction, she feared for her safety.

Carl Sherman, Jr., a Freshman Campus teacher, also mentioned safety concerns, saying a student threatened his life and faced no consequences. A DHS graduate, he told the board that as a student he carried a knife in his pocket for safety until his mother made him stop. He mentioned other area schools with metal detectors and other strict safety measures in place.

Boardmembers were unable to take immediate action on any issues raised because state law and local policy prohibit board actions regarding discussions that have not previously been placed on the agenda. One parent addressed Boardmember Kenzie Moore, who read the board's mission statement.

“Right now, that's just words on paper,” he told Moore.

Mayor Pro Tem Carl Sherman expressed the same sentiment when he told the board DISD isn't producing “a product that's ready to make it on Main Street or Wall Street.”

Superintendent Lloyd Treadwell thanked participants for addressing the board and said he looks forward to working with concerned teachers, students and parents to correct problems.

During the regular agenda, the board voted to extend the middle school's instructional day by 15 minutes. It discussed using possible stimulus funds, to be allocated specifically for special education, to hire inclusion staff and build tutoring and TAKS coaching programs not only for students deemed “in need” by state statistics, but also for others who want or need assistance.