Plano ISD has just lost $59 million in funding over the next 2 years. We eliminated about 408 positions, and 253 of those were teachers. In the midst of the largest cut to public education funding ever, we are, in a few weeks, opening a new high school in Murphy to serve 1200 students, preparing for the implementation of the state’s new STAAR and end of course exams with higher standards, and dealing with the increasing consequences from the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and the federal cuts that will result from the recent debt ceiling deal.   In spite of any challenge thrown at us, we have always continued to remain focused on improving student learning for 55,000 students where 1 in every 4 students lives in poverty, and there are more than 80 different languages spoken by our students.

In spite of all of these realities, we’ve never chosen to just survive in Plano ISD. We have always chosen to thrive, set high expectations for all students, and stand on the cutting edge of pioneering education. Our current financial challenges along with our own quest for excellence present an opportunity for us to continue to rethink and restructure the learning environment for our students to bring all of our teaching and learning up to the 21^st century standards.

Two years ago, we addressed the issue of where students would go to school because 2 new schools were being built.   As a result of that decision, the administration created a transition plan that is now a year and half into its implementation. Is repeating the realignment process and potentially un-doing that transition plan really this new board’s #1 priority in our current reality?   Does repeating the realignment fulfill the district’s goal of continuously improving student learning for all students?  If I felt that repeating the experience would improve student learning district-wide, then I would be the first person to advocate for a repeat performance. However, I do not believe that repeating the realignment should be our #1 priority.  Doing so is a distraction from what is really important which is transforming education while tackling our financial challenges.

I’ve experienced more than 1 feeder pattern or boundary change during my 5 years on this Board. And, I am 1 of the 2 trustees here who were on the Board at the time of the realignment process I will share some of my reflections of that experience.

Families rode an emotional roller coaster. Neighbors were pitted against one another and one school community was willing to throw another school community under the bus for its own benefit. Personal friendships were damaged, and reputations were stained. The very public, emotional, and painful process consumed all of the Board’s, community’s, and Staff’s time and energy for the Fall of 2009. Many parts of the community were engaged in the process, and they literally have the t-shirts to show it. Unfortunately, some parts of the community whose direct feeder pattern was not changed did not get involved.  

Generally, people were okay with change as long as it happened to someone else.   Every change that may have positively impacted one party resulted in a negative consequence to another party.   Some people felt like they were “winners” because they got what they wanted while others felt like “losers” because they didn’t. The outcome of repeating the realignment process and changing the solution would only create a different group of unhappy constituents who will work to change the board membership to promote their agenda and bring up this topic yet again. When does it stop? When does the healing ever begin? When can this Board return its focus to transforming education with less funding?   Just look north to Frisco to see how divisive revisiting an issue is. It sets a cycle in motion that just doesn’t end.

I have serious concerns about taking a path that realigns or redefines the district. I’m not convinced that this will improve education in Plano ISD.   I trust that the Administration will increase the facilities, where needed, on time without overbuilding by August 2013, and I trust that the campus leadership will make every effort to address parent concerns about opportunity at the campus level.

Once this occurs, community anxiety about the unknown will subside.  Before every vote, I ask myself whether it will contribute to fulfilling the vision, mission, and goals of this district.  I will not compromise on the quality of education.  I would urge my fellow Trustees to focus on the efforts that improve education and not the number of kids in a school.  I'm prepared to roll up my sleeves to improve the quality of education for our children, but this effort does not do that.  I will cast my vote to stay focused on the issues that positive impact student learning.