By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 Reporter
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: The letter from Dallas superintendent Bill Rojas said, "Although I've made every attempt to show my good faith in improving relations with the board, it is clear to me my relationship with certain members are beyond restoration. Certain trustees made public statements repeating and reinforcing known falsehoods." Rojas's letter also cited continued Board bickering as a barrier to better education, and said the choices are simple: either the Board of Education resigns, or the General Superintendent resigns. I understand the latter is the most likely option. The letter surprised nearly everyone who read or heard about it, including Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk. As a parent with children in the district, he was upset and disappointed in both the board and superintendent.
Ron Kirk, Dallas Mayor: Although I know he has serious problems with the Board, he also made a commitment to 160,000 kids. I would only urge him to consider that commitment. I want them all to grow up, cut the b.s. and get back to work.
Zeeble: Rojas' expressed willingness to quit left Board President Roxan Staff stunned. She met with the superintendent last week and thought they'd worked out a way to "all get along."
Roxan Staff, Dallas School Board President: I've been out there saying we were going to make this work. I was totally committed to that. I thought he was also.
Zeeble: School district spokesperson Tomas Roman said Rojas was, but several Board members were not, though he wouldn't name names.
Tomas Roman, Dallas Public Schools Communications Director: It's an issue of one or two Board members who continue to basically malign, misinform and try to derail programs he's attempting to put in that have already shown results. People can say he's given up, but he's tried as much as he can. It's up to the people of the city to realize that this Board has made it impossible for him to work.
Zeeble: Roman mentioned some unsubstantiated accusations against the superintendent as evidence of bad Board behavior: claims that Rojas bought expensive cars for school officials, or that a trustee passed on false information to a community newspaper. But the paper(The White Rocker) backed its own independent research in its Rojas story. Roman also said some trustees continue to micro- manage, which isn't their job. Former school Board President Bill Keever agreed, saying the Board has been a problem for years. But Trustee Ken Zornes doesn't exactly buy that one or two trustees could derail the superintendent.
Ken Zornes, Dallas Public Schools Trustee: Out of nine people, one should expect not complete harmony all the time. You just need to work with that. Look at the vote. He's had almost every time, a 9-0 or 9-1, 7-2 vote. That's good! It's hard to beat.
Zeeble: Zornes said the Board has approved much of what Rojas wanted. Even if it took some effort, there are now Edison schools; Rojas's own, highly paid staff he wanted; and raises for teachers. Tomas Roman says the superintendent has no other job offers. And with his letter, the next move is up to the Board. It can accept or reject his offered resignation at a future Board meeting. Rojas is expected to say more about his intentions this afternoon at the district administration building. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.