DISD Cuts Magnet School Funds

DALLAS - After hours of heated debate from teachers and students, Dallas ISD trustees voted to cut positions at its magnet schools and learning centers.

The school board finally voted at 1 a.m. Friday to take 276 teachers and other staffers from every magnet school except Townview and Travis and reassign them to other schools within the district.

The vote was 5 to 4.

DISD says if the changes were not made, the district would lose $105 million in funding because federal guidelines say districts must spend the same amount per student.

Dallas was spending more on magnet students than other students.

But magnet students pleaded with board members in Thursday night's hearing.

"That is not called trimming the program, not cutting the program, that is simply reaching in and gutting it," said one passionate teenager.

"To lose 25 percent of their teachers is a disaster," said a parent. "But for it to happen needlessly when it could be avoided, is a disgrace."

Trustees Adam Medrano, Ron Price, Lew Blackburn, and Carla Ranger all voted against making the cuts.