by Michael Millican, President, Dan D. Rogers Elementary PTA

I am known as "El Presidente De Dan D. Rogers PTA."

There is something special going on at "Big D" (as I like to call Dan D. Rogers Elementary)

The Mouse That Roars!

We have along our Texas border an emerging insurgency of thugs crossing into our country with the soul purpose of creating a permanent drug mob within our Texas. It is of my own opinion that our best hope in stopping such a mob from becoming more established lay within the plight of our elementary children.

No parent I know would wish for their child's best financial future to be one of a drug pushing culture. But that threat is a real one and it's war now lay at our Texas State door steps.

The people of Dan D. Rogers, as an emerging community as they are, are our best line of defense in hopes of our continued area's prosperity and celebrated culture of class.

Update: Attendance zone changes PULLED from Thursday's agenda--won't be discussed at Board meeting!

Dan D. Rogers Elementary School is 81% Hispanic and 13% African American. DISD records show that 90% of them are on the "free/reduced" lunch program.

According to a concerned former Rogers parent, a group of Rogers-area neighborhood parents don't want their kids to go there.

"They want their kids in a little bit whiter school," the mother of 3 former students at the school told us. "My kids did just fine at [Dan D. Rogers] and I don't see what the fuss is all about."

Dan D. Rogers is rated Academically Acceptable.

Lakewood Elementary, by contrast, is 72% white with an Exemplary rating.

Pushing to alter the attendance lines for the parents group is newly-elected DISD board member Bruce Parrott. Parrott is sponsoring a proposal by the Ridgewood Park Homeowners Assocation. The proposal would put houses right across the street from Dan D. Rogers (shown above in yellow) in Lakewood Elementary's zone.

Edward Daley, general manager of The Galleria sent a letter around warning about a criminal incident last week at his mall.

The letter also notes that two similar incidents have recently occurred "at another area shopping center at Park Lane and Central Expressway."

Northpark Center is located at Park Lane and Central Expressway.

The letter follows:

Update: A security guard has been suspended and staff may be retrained at Atlanta bus terminal.

Passengers leaving from Dallas, bound for St. Louis and other places on Greyhound have been stranded for days at the Memphis bus terminal. A Greyhound security guard refused to allow a grandmother back into the station from the cold after she gave a news interview. Dallas-based Greyhound has, so far, refused interviews.

Greyhound is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstGroup America.

Action News 5 in Memphis has the story

Dallas School Board Trustee Bruce Parrott on Wednesday told the Dallas Morning News that the Texas Ethics Commission had dropped an ethics complaint against him concerning his campaign finance report.

According to Commission General Counsel Natalia Ashley, this is not the case.

Citing confidentiality laws surrounding ethics complaints, Ashley could not confirm details and could only say that the complaint was still in process.

Because of the structure of the Texas Ethics Commission, a complaint can only be settled or dismissed after the Commission has heard it. According to the Ethics Commission's calendar, the Commission isn't scheduled to meet until February 11, 2010. Ashley, again citing confidentiality laws, couldn't confirm if the Commission was due to hear Parrott's case at their February meeting.

Board passes public information transparency policy!

Specifically this item in particular--and who doesn't want it!

To quote the policy:

"The purpose of this policy is to provide transparency through an electronic central depository for the public to access frequently requested and available District information and documentation."

The policy creates an online server where frequently-asked-for information can be kept for the public to see along with copies of all public information requests made by the media and others (which are, by definition, public information themselves).

It also houses all required disclosures (financial, conflicts, etc.) and expense reports from all trustees.

It's 5:38 and we're live. Refresh your browser often. As usual, forgive the typos.

We're getting the Superintendent's report. Getting ready to see a video relating to Dallas Achieves...

WHO: The Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas

WHAT: The Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas is hosting its annual Race for Wishes in Irving, Texas. The North Texas Chapter is combining its Southwest and Central regions and encouraging both communities to put one foot forward to grant the wishes of children fighting life-threatening medical conditions. Participants of the 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run/walk will enjoy a day of exercise, breakfast, friendly competition and the opportunity to raise money for children in their communities.

WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2010
7:00 a.m. – Registration begins
8:15 a.m. – Pre Race Ceremonies
9:00 a.m. – 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and 5K Run/Walk Begins