By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B In August, Wilmer-Hutchins board President Luther Edwards described the troubled district’s leaders as a “team of nine” – the seven-member school board, Superintendent Charles Matthews and district lawyer James Belt. On Monday, the team’s roster shrank to seven. Under intense pressure from state officials, the school board fired […]
Category: DMN | Education
3 W-H figures may see their contracts end; School board set to consider interim chief’s recommendation
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B The Wilmer-Hutchins schools may soon be cutting ties with some of its most troubled figures. James Damm, the district’s interim superintendent, has recommended terminating the contracts of Superintendent Charles Matthews, maintenance director Wallace Faggett and district lawyer James Belt. The school board will consider the recommendations at its […]
Elementary principal resigns immediately
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 2B The principal of Wilmer Elementary School has decided to move up her resignation and make it effective immediately. Geraldine Hobson had said she would leave at the end of the current semester. Her sudden departure comes after a Dallas Morning News analysis found strong evidence of organized cheating […]
Wilmer Elementary principal to resign; District says decision not tied to questions about TAKS scores
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B The principal of Wilmer Elementary has decided to resign, less than two weeks after a Dallas Morning News analysis of TAKS test scores found strong evidence of organized cheating at the school. But Geraldine Hobson told district officials that her decision is based on family circumstances, not the […]
W-H custodian indicted on theft charge; 3rd person indicted in district inquiry accused of stealing computers
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 7B A Wilmer-Hutchins custodian is the third person indicted in the ongoing criminal investigations into the district. Willie Dunn is accused of stealing 18 laptop computers from the district’s administration building this summer. The charge, issued by a Dallas County grand jury on Thursday, is a third-degree felony and […]
Team meets trustees; State-appointed managers positive about job ahead at W-H
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B After being introduced to the Wilmer-Hutchins school board they will govern, one of the district’s new state-appointed managers had something to tell trustees. “God help us,” businessman Albert Black said. His statement – which prompted supportive noises from the audience at Monday night’s meeting – reflected the size […]
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A little help on TAKS; Exclusive: At W-H, students say teachers gave answers
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A James Wright was having some trouble with the science TAKS test last year at Wilmer-Hutchins’ Alta Mesa Elementary. He says his teacher was willing to help. “The teacher would walk around the class during the test and be like, ‘Hey, that’s wrong,’” said James, now a 12-year-old sixth-grader […]
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2 named overseers in W-H; Business leader, former DISD chief can overrule board, officials
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B A prominent business leader and a former interim Dallas superintendent will be the state overseers in Wilmer-Hutchins. The Texas Education Agency announced Friday that the district’s two-person management team will be Albert C. Black Jr., a former chairman of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and Robert Payton, […]
Judge allows W-H board to convene; 2 state managers must be at trustees’ meeting planned for Monday
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B The Wilmer-Hutchins school board is no longer grounded. State District Judge Merrill Hartman agreed Thursday to let the board hold a meeting next week. He had issued an unusual temporary restraining order last week banning the trustees from meeting or acting on any subject. “We’re happy with the […]
W-H can’t cover payroll next week; District hopes to pay workers by the end of the month, is working on a loan
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B The leaders at the top are changing, but the news is familiar: Wilmer-Hutchins will not be meeting payroll this month. Interim Superintendent James Damm said Wednesday that the district will not have enough funds to pay its employees their monthly paychecks Wednesday. The district is seeking a loan, […]