Dad's club for Prestonwood Montessori at E.D. Walker. Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Montessori.

Dad’s club for Prestonwood Montessori at E.D. Walker. Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Montessori.

Happy New Year!

Students and teachers are back in the classroom, basketball and soccer seasons are in full swing, and the board is moving closer to finalizing a potential bond program for 2026. There’s a lot happening across Dallas ISD and District 1. Read all the details below.

Dallas ISD Updates

Overview of a potential 2026 Bond Program: At December’s Trustee Bond Workshop, held before the board meeting and summarized in this Dallas Morning News article, Dallas ISD staff presented an outline for a potential 2026 bond program. The proposed framework, developed via a thorough process combining objective data and community feedback, was presented to the board for discussion and feedback. This month, we will further consider a potential 2026 bond, with a possible vote anticipated in February.

I appreciate feedback as the board evaluates whether to move forward with a potential 2026 bond proposal. If you have thoughts about things that should or should not be included, amounts, priorities, or anything else, I’d love to hear from you.

Dallas ISD changes election terms: Earlier this year, the City of Dallas moved its mayoral and City Council elections to November of odd-numbered years. In accordance with state law, Dallas ISD is required to align its trustee election schedule with the City of Dallas and Dallas College.

As part of this transition, trustee terms will move to four years, and the following adjustments will occur:

  • May 2026 trustee elections will proceed as scheduled.
  • Trustees previously set for May 2027 and May 2029 elections will transition to November elections in those respective years.
  • Trustees scheduled for May 2028 elections will shift by random drawing to either November 2027 or November 2029.

As a result, five trustees will be up for election in November 2027, and four trustees will be up for election in November 2029.

Student experience: According to the annual student survey administered in October, the percentage of students reporting a positive campus climate increased by four percentage points compared to last year, reaching 59%. Dallas ISD continues to focus on strengthening student engagement through instruction, extracurricular opportunities, campus community-building, and student leadership initiatives to support continued progress.

District 1 Updates

Here are highlights from our District 1 schools. Please e-mail any ideas you have for highlights to LanceCurrie@dallasisd.org.

Principals of the Year:

Congratulations to the District 1 Regional Principals of the Year:

Their leadership and dedication continue to make a meaningful impact on students and school communities across District 1.

 

Prestonwood dads step up:

Thank you to the Prestonwood Montessori dads who volunteered their time to welcome students back to campus following winter break. Their support helps create a positive and welcoming environment for students and staff.

Thomas Jefferson High School alumna Cynthia Izaguirre:

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson High School alumna Cynthia Izaguirre on celebrating 18 years with WFAA. We are proud to see our alumni making a lasting impact in the community.

Rodeo Goat Supports Bush Elementary: 

Thank you to Rodeo Goat for providing lunch to the staff at George H. W. Bush Elementary School. Community partnerships like this play an important role in supporting our educators.

Upcoming Events

Board meeting: 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22

Thank you for the opportunity to serve our students. If you have questions, thoughts, or want to talk about how we can work together to make Dallas ISD the best school district, please reach out at LanceCurrie@dallasisd.org.

Best,

Lance Currie