White Rock ISD

[Lakewooder]

I don't think Woodrow is necessarily trying to go it alone. It's just where the idea has been hatched. If you check the Facebook page, it's really just a discussion of possibilities. I'm not even sold on it myself. Under the charter district idea, there is no population requirement. I know on that page quite a few BA-area parents have expressed interest. I'm not even sure how the taxation would work. I do think that's an up-and-coming area which would probably double in value if the new district happened.

Hexter has a fantastic level of parental support and so does Sanger to some degree. I don't know about Hill Middle School but BA is much smaller that it was in the past, so I would say it's under capacity.

Even if Woodrow took in Sanger and Hexter I don't think that would be enough population for the election route.

The Woodrow feeders are all over-capacity save Lee and Mata. Lee is currently planned to be an IB PYP school and Mata a Montessori. It's hoped that students may leave Lakewood or Stonewall to go to those to equal out the balance. I'm not so sure that will happen but the subject of the Stonewall/Lee borders has been broached.

[Lakewooder]

Incidentally, this idea did not really come from Woodrow as such. Former State Rep. Allen Vaught (with kids in private schools) and DISD Trustee Mike Morath have brought forth separate ideas coincidentally.

[HockDad]

Originally Posted by Gator-in-Steiner

I did some research and the new ISD gets a negotiated package of buildings and an allocated portion of the debt from the prior ISD. I think the consensus of parents in the district would be to keep the Mata as PK-8 Montessori concept that is currently in the works. Love the idea of a 9th grade center and converting Woodrow to 10-12. I would be interested to see how many private school parents would come back to public if there is the perception of more control of their local schools. The mayor cares more about having strong public schools and increasing the number of people who want to live and work in the city versus the burbs. I don't see how keeping DISD an inefficient behemoth furthers those interests.

Having said all that, the hurdles for getting this passed are astronomically high. The number of registered voters who would have to vote in a school election is higher than any turnout in recent history.

Let me throw a couple of points out for thought:

1) It is not quite so easy for a district to negotiate that a new district is going to take over a portion of the district's debt. DISD is loaded up with bonds. If I am bondholder, I have a contract with DISD to make payments. How in the world do you convince the bond holder to allow a substantial portion of the assets to be depleted (with only a promise to pay in the future)? Moreover, if I am a mutual fund, and my customers demand that I only invest in A bonds or above, why in the world would I agree to have my debt held by a new school district with no credit history.

2) Pensions would be another problem. If I am a retired teacher from DISD, I would have real concerns that the district is breaking up and my pension is no longer quite as safe. Likewise, current teachers would have similar concerns. I suspect that nothing passes without the teacher's union blessing the deal and I think that they would be hard pressed to agreed to it. In fact, I would think legally they may have standing to block the deal.

3) How do you raise the money on day one to start the schools? Lets assume that you pass all of the hurdles and you get the teachers, voters, and bondholders on board, how do you raise the money for day one of the new school district? School starts in August and taxes are not due until February 1? Is the new district going to take a loan from DISD for money?

[Lakewooder]

Good points to ponder HockDad. I've already heard a few teacher union rumblings about this idea. I would say Vaught and Morath have the knowledge to navigate a lot of this - they also plan to recruit others with such expertise. Former DISD superintendent Linus Wright used to live in the neighborhood and he has been mentioned. The Woodrow Community Foundation board also has quite a few qualified people. There are several high-finance types and banking executives who are parents at Lakewood. Oh yes and we have lawyers everywhere...

[Considering Coming Back]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

I don't think Woodrow is necessarily trying to go it alone. It's just where the idea has been hatched. If you check the Facebook page, it's really just a discussion of possibilities. I'm not even sold on it myself. Under the charter district idea, there is no population requirement. I know on that page quite a few BA-area parents have expressed interest. I'm not even sure how the taxation would work. I do think that's an up-and-coming area which would probably double in value if the new district happened.

Hexter has a fantastic level of parental support and so does Sanger to some degree. I don't know about Hill Middle School but BA is much smaller that it was in the past, so I would say it's under capacity.

Even if Woodrow took in Sanger and Hexter I don't think that would be enough population for the election route.

The Woodrow feeders are all over-capacity save Lee and Mata. Lee is currently planned to be an IB PYP school and Mata a Montessori. It's hoped that students may leave Lakewood or Stonewall to go to those to equal out the balance. I'm not so sure that will happen but the subject of the Stonewall/Lee borders has been broached.

I can tell you aren't sold, please don't take my frankness the wrong way. BA is 400 seats over capacity, Woodrow is 600. Are we building a new high school now too? All of the BA feeders save Reilly are over capacity, too.

I checked the Facebook page just now. There is a definite realization that they can't be 'too white', but if 75228 gets tagged on I really don't see what value is added. If Conrad is added, hoo-boy, that would be a cash poor failure of a district.

[Lakewooder]

I think adding Conrad is more a Dallas Morning News invention...however I do feel that area will eventually be redeveloped.

i know BA has been over 2,000 many years and over 2,500 at times. It's 1,854 now according to current DISD data.