COVERITLIVE.COM

11:21

Jason Sickles/Web Editor - Thanks for joining us. Tawnell and Diane will we on hand shortly to begin the discussion. In the meantime, feel free to start submitting your questions and/or thoughts.

11:29

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - Yes, this live blog is only for the DISD election.

11:30

[Comment From 1-0-0]
Are we only talking about the election here?

11:31

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - @1-0-0: Yes, we're only talking about the DISD election.

11:31

[Comment From 1-0-0]
Does this thing work? Where is my question?

11:32

[Comment From Casey Thomas]
What is being done to address the lack of preparedness for middle school by the district and what do the candidates suggest should be done?

11:33

Diane Rado/Reporter -

@Casey Thomas: It's important to know there's a problem, and we know that there's a problem because the district collects data on this issue. I haven't seen 5th-grade-on-track data elsewhere in the states I've worked. But data is worth nothing if you don't use it. Elementary principals should be looking carefully at the data.

11:33

[Comment From magnet_dad]
the two run off elections in Dec. will each have only the two top vote getters in each race running, is that correct?

11:34

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - @magnet_dad: Yes, that's correct. Only the two top vote getters will be in the runoffs. In District 9 that would be Bernadette Nutall and Sally Cain. In District 3 it is Bruce Parrott and incumbent Leigh Ann Ellis.

11:35

[Comment From 1-0-0]
Hmm. Since she's an incumbent and in a run off, my question to Ms. Ellis is... Last week, some 80+ new elementary job vacancies were posted. Where did those jobs come from? Who has been staffing them for the last 2 months? Who is staffing them now?

11:36

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - @1-0-0: Good questions. We'll have to look at the staffing situation. But if Ellis is watching this live blog, she could call me up and give me the answers to your questions.

11:36

[Comment From Casey Thomas]
What were some of the key issues that came up both of the races that have runoffs?

11:40

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - @Casey Thomas: Well, race was the big issue in District 9. Some black leaders fear that Cain, who is white, will win a seat only ever held by blacks. Also, in District 9, questions centered on whether Cain is plugged into local education issues. In the District 3 race, most of the concerns centered on the performance of the district and school board in the last year. District 3 incumbent Leigh Ann Ellis spent time during the race defending controversial decisions and incidents in the district, such as the decision to extend board terms.

11:40

[Comment From loridjf]
Do you know, on average, how much was spent by the candidates?

11:41

Diane Rado/Reporter - @loridft. I don't have averages yet. I know that Flores (District 1) and Cain (District 9) raised the most -- more than $20,000, based on the most recent campaign expenditure reports. But some candidates raised almost nothing. Money didn't always guarantee victory. We'll have more on that in tomorrow's paper.

11:42

[Comment From 1-0-0]
Oh no, a white! boogedy oogedy! will we ever grow up? No.

11:43

[Comment From Mike MacNaughton]
In a normal election cycle with a 15 month lead-in the average spent for this type of election has been in the range of $40,000 to $50,000---all that for a job that has long hours, no pay and zero perks.

11:45

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - @Mike MacNaughton: An average of $40,000 to $50,000? That seems kind of high. But I guess it depends on how competitive the race.

11:45

[Comment From loridjf]
It would seem to me that Flores' reelection is a stamp of approval for Hinojosa, do you agree?

11:50

Tawnell D. Hobbs/Reporter - @loridjf: That depends. Obviously, Flores is a big Hinojosa supporter, but a stamp of approval? I don't know. Flores is the incumbent who is very knowledgable about DISD matters, so it wouldn't have been hard for him to outshine Renard, a political newcomer, during forums. Some folks have said that Renard's performance at those forums was less than stellar. What would have been a definite stamp of approval is if trustee Jack Lowe's picks (Cain, Andery and Flores) would have all won seats or at least placed in the runoff. Cain did make the runoff, but not Anderly.

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