Funding Fiasco in DISD: A Superintendent’s Gain, at the expense of Teachers’ Pain
Educational Hypocrisy in DISD: Equity Talk but Disparity Walk
Ignoring the Failing Schools: Elizalde’s Legacy of Neglect in South Dallas and Oak Cliff
Board OF Trustees are Complicity: Justin Henry and Maxie Johnson’s Approved her raise in spite of Special need’s education in Dire Straits.
In the midst of the Dallas Independent School District’s (DISD) financial disparities, Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde’s recent actions have sparked a well-deserved uproar. Her opposition to HB1, which included provisions for school choice, directly impacted the financial well-being of DISD’s teachers and support staff. This opposition contributed to the stalling of the legislation in #txleg, denying significant raises to those who needed them most.
While Dr. Elizalde comfortably accepted an annual raise of $53,000, the hardworking teachers and staff of DISD were handed a meager 3% wage increase. This increase fails to even scratch the surface of the current inflation rates, leaving many educators struggling to make ends meet. The irony is bitter; the person at the top gets a substantial raise, while those nurturing our future generations are left grappling with financial instability. The disparity here is not merely numerical. Dr. Elizalde now earns over five times more than the lowest-paid DISD worker. This shocking gap lays bare a bitter truth: while those at the top bask in the glory of financial gain, those on the front lines of education – the teachers, the support staff – are left grappling with crumbs. In a district that proclaims its dedication to equity, this is nothing short of hypocrisy.
Dr. Elizalde’s history of overlooking accountability in failing schools, particularly those in South Dallas and Oak Cliff, only adds to the outrage. Instead of tackling the systemic issues crippling these institutions, there’s been a concerning pattern of avoidance and neglect. This isn’t just a failure of policy; it’s a betrayal of the very students and educators she’s meant to uplift.
True leadership is measured not by one’s salary but by one’s actions. If Dr. Elizalde genuinely prioritized the well-being of teachers and the future of students, this pay raise could have been a moment of true solidarity. Redirecting this increase towards mentorship programs, local activism, violence prevention, and vocational training for juveniles would have been a profound testament to her commitment. But instead, we see a choice that serves self-interest over community welfare.
The ongoing narrative of diversity, equity, and inclusion within DISD has been rendered farcical by this decision. It’s a classic case of preaching water and drinking wine. The superintendent, a supposed flagbearer of DEI, turns out to be its primary beneficiary, while the district’s poor children are left as mere pawns in a larger game of financial and administrative chess.
The community is fed up with this grand illusion of progress and equity in DISD. It’s time to strip away the pretense and demand actual change. We need leaders who walk the talk, who put students and teachers before their gains. Dr. Elizalde’s raise is not just a personal gain; it’s a public statement of priorities gone awry. The recent decision to grant Dr. Stephanie Elizalde a substantial raise has been a wake-up call, unveiling the stark realities of a district grappling with deep-rooted issues. DISD must reevaluate its direction and reaffirm its commitment to those it serves – not through words, but through meaningful, equitable actions. The future of countless students hangs in the balance, and it’s time DISD took this responsibility seriously. This isn’t just about one individual’s financial gain; it’s a reflection of a system that has lost its way.
On top of this, the role of board members Justin Henry and Maxie Johnson in approving this raise is particularly disconcerting. Both hold sway over districts that are home to dozens of failing schools. Their support for Dr. Elizalde’s raise, amidst such glaring educational challenges, is perplexing and deeply troubling. Those funds could have gone to special needs and after school programs. This decision, made while overseeing schools struggling to meet basic educational standards, is indicative of a leadership more invested in maintaining appearances than addressing the real needs of their constituents. This means moving beyond grand statements and taking tangible steps to uplift the district’s educational standards. It involves making hard decisions that may not always align with personal or political gain but are in the best interests of the students and educators who form the backbone of DISD. This means addressing the need for educational reform beyond accessing the purse strings of public property tax.
It means allowing for the benefit of school choice to take place in order for the Black community to address the obstacles we are facing on an everyday basis with our youth.
