Dallas Independent School District, Texas

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The Dallas Independent School District (DISD), is a public school system operating schools throughout Dallas County, Texas. It is the second largest school district in Texas and the twelfth largest school district in the country. It was established in 1884.

The district has 28 high schools, 32 middle schools, three "primary/secondary" schools that include grades normally in both middle schools and elementary schools, more than 150 elementary schools, and one early childhood development center.

[edit] Auditing and accounting

The accounting firm Deloitte and Touche reported in April 2008 that their audit of DISD demonstrated "an environment where policies and procedures in major departments are absent, ineffective or inconsistently applied". Auditor Reem Samra said, "The district has not developed an effective internal control environment."

The audit is not complete, but some school trustees said that they're glad the report doesn't indicate "theft or criminality".[1]

DISD officials said that delays in the long-awaited audit are the fault of a poorly implemented computer accounting system and inadequately trained employees.[2]

In November of 2008, DISD administrators warned school board members that they will likely be receiving another highly critical audit report, as they have failed to address the problems contained in the first one. [3]

[edit] Superintendent Salary

According to records received through the Texas Public Information Act, Dallas ISD has the highest paid school superintendent in the state. Michael Hinojosa earned base pay of $327,600 in 2007/08.[4]

[edit] Questionable credit card purchases

Reporters for the Dallas Morning News who requested FOIA'd for copies of DISD credit card spending found expenditures on "blanket and pillow sets, Star Trek DVDs, iPods, and a subscription to an online dating service."[5]

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Texas taxpayer-funded lobbying

Dallas Independent School District has five lobbyists with the Texas Ethics Commission for 2009. [6]

The school district belongs to the Texas School Alliance and the Texas Association of School Administrators, both taxpayer-funded lobbying associations.[7] [8] [9]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Dallas Morning News, Audit firm faults Dallas ISD accounting policies, April 24, 2008
  2. ↑ Dallas Morning News, Dallas Independent School District officials take blame for delays in audit, April 18, 2008
  3. ↑ Dallas school trustees are told new audit won't be positive, Dallas Morning News, November 7, 2008
  4. ↑ 2007-2008 Texas Superintendent Salaries
  5. ↑ The Leading Source, Don't wait for the press-look into your finances now, May 8, 2008
  6. ↑ Lobbying Client Search
  7. ↑ Texas School Alliance, 2007-2008 Directory
  8. ↑ TASA Executive Committee
  9. ↑ TASA Legislative Committee
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