Wonder Why Buyers Prefer the Burbs? Dallas Real Estate & DISD Schools
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The Dallas Observer reports that in 14 days, our DISD School Superintendent Michael Hinojosa will be moving to Atlanta’s Cobb County to take over as school superintendent. This comes after last fall when he was courted by Las Vegas, turned them down, promised Dallas he would cast his eyes no more and stay put. Then I guess he signed a contract for another three years, which leads me to wonder how he can wriggle out of that contract so cheaply and who in the heck drafted it? He was paid about $308,000 annually in Dallas and upon leaving, gets to pocket $180,000 annually, ANNUALLY, though the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. (Question: is that tax-free?) In Cobb County, Georgia, quite an affluent community, he’ll be paid less — $208,000, says Robert Wilonsky at the Observer, who I am sure will keep us very, very apprised of this story.
Frankly, I think he was making way too much here.
I often hear that Realtors “guide” buyers to buy in communities with better school systems than DISD, and they are chastised for it. No, they don’t guide: buyers ask for information on graduation rates and education excellence and agents provide. Yesterday, I was in Colleyville, which draws buyers with giant homes on leafy lots for $500,000 and exemplary schools. Was interviewing a Frisco broker today who tells me buyers up there LOVE the school district. Yeah,we’d love to ditch our cars and not drive so much but what are you going to do when the only affordable housing with decent school districts is in the ‘burbs? For as long as I can remember — and I am old — we have been trying to find a decent school superintendent in Dallas who could turn the schools around — not that the district is not a supreme challenge, and there are pockets of greatness in the system. But schools help real estate. And for some reason, today, all I could think of was Yvonne Gonzalez and that tacky awful bedroom furniture she bought with District dollars.
Update: I found Mr. Hinojosa’s contract while trying to find his home.
10 Comments
We bought in the DISD, thinking it couldn't be THAT bad.
We still live in the DISD, but send our kids to private schools. I would never consider sending them to public schools again, so the ISD where we live isn't as important as proximity to work, schools and shopping. Don't mean to sound snippy. I fully support the wonderful educators at DISD. We send our kids to private religious school.
And where's the pics of the tacky furniture?
We bought in the DISD, thinking it couldn't be THAT bad.
We still live in the DISD, but send our kids to private schools. I would never consider sending them to public schools again, so the ISD where we live isn't as important as proximity to work, schools and shopping. Don't mean to sound snippy. I fully support the wonderful educators at DISD. We send our kids to private religious school.
And where's the pics of the tacky furniture?
The Yvonne Gonzalez deal went down in 1997 prior to the weblog explosion. Trust me when I say any piece of furniture at Costco is in far better taste!
The Yvonne Gonzalez deal went down in 1997 prior to the weblog explosion. Trust me when I say any piece of furniture at Costco is in far better taste!
Lisa: curious — why would you not send your children to DISD again? Thanks!
All of our children attended a DISD elementary for at least a year. It was a fantastic school. I don't know if it's a breakdown in societal norms or just a seemingly moral decay, but parents aren't being parents anymore. The teachers spent so much time addressing discipline issues. Kids didn't know how to stop talking, how to respect authority. The classrooms were chaotic. The teachers had enormous pressure to perform for the standardized tests. It didn't seem that they were teaching, they were teaching to the test. Fantastic teachers but their hands were tied.
I LOVE Dallas proper—we live inside 635 and moved 3 years ago to another house inside 635. Close to everything, single level living, nice sized yard. We love our neighborhood (near Withers Elementary) and we see "contract pending" signs going up all over the area. Most of the folks on our block send their kids to private schools—religious or otherwise.
How about a rundown on Hinojosa's house? I'd love to see where this dude lives.
Lisa: curious — why would you not send your children to DISD again? Thanks!
All of our children attended a DISD elementary for at least a year. It was a fantastic school. I don't know if it's a breakdown in societal norms or just a seemingly moral decay, but parents aren't being parents anymore. The teachers spent so much time addressing discipline issues. Kids didn't know how to stop talking, how to respect authority. The classrooms were chaotic. The teachers had enormous pressure to perform for the standardized tests. It didn't seem that they were teaching, they were teaching to the test. Fantastic teachers but their hands were tied.
I LOVE Dallas proper—we live inside 635 and moved 3 years ago to another house inside 635. Close to everything, single level living, nice sized yard. We love our neighborhood (near Withers Elementary) and we see "contract pending" signs going up all over the area. Most of the folks on our block send their kids to private schools—religious or otherwise.
How about a rundown on Hinojosa's house? I'd love to see where this dude lives.