It鈥檚 7 p.m. on a school night at South Oak Cliff High School, and it鈥檚 dark out. Classes ended hours ago, but the cheer team鈥檚 still in the parking lot practicing as band members blow their horns in and out of the band room.
It鈥檚 not quiet in the auditorium either.
District 9 trustees Edward Turner and District 5 trustee Maxie Johnson share a microphone, taking turns as they explain the meeting鈥檚 purpose to about three dozen people in attendance. They鈥檙e parents, students, community members, and even some SOC alums, teachers and other employees.
They鈥檝e all gathered to help create a 5-year plan for the district. Trustees will then take what they hear to the superintendent, to plan it out.
鈥淭he board came up with the idea along with the administration. This is a team effort,鈥� Johnson explained. 鈥漌e鈥檙e all working together, because we want to get it right. We know there鈥檚 no silver bullet to this. However, we want to make sure we鈥檙e hearing from all of our communities. Their voice matters.鈥�
Hearing those voices is important to Turner, too.
鈥淲e鈥檙e asking for your input so we can establish the 鈥榳hat,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd after the 鈥榳hat,鈥� we want the superintendent to create the 鈥榟ow.鈥欌��
Those group is being asked what goals they have for South Oak Cliff and the district, and what constraints they see as possible obstacles.
They break out into smaller groups of 4 or 5 to answer the questions, written on a large sheet of paper.
Having her voice heard is important to Tonia Johnson, a graduate of Dallas ISD.
鈥淵ou always need to hear community input,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t's just that they鈥檝e got to devise a question so they can get the right input. We're not going to be bamboozled. You know, you can't ask us to extend the goal if we don't know what your goal is right now for the next five years.鈥�
SOC alum Natashia Gerald is passionate about her group鈥檚 goals. The first: 鈥淭o make sure that all of our kids are able to read and comprehend at grade level,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd then the second goal is basically focusing on safety and security, instilling a sense of community and accountability, not only for yourself, but for your peers.鈥�
For recently elected school board member Turner, these meetings provide their own learning experience.
鈥淎 lot of people want to see an increase in literacy, in reading,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 will say this is across the board.鈥�
Other goals are more nuanced. Some SOC students have been named to prestigious internship programs, but there鈥檚 no transportation to get to the companies running the programs.
It gets written down on the sheet of paper. On this night, no solutions are offered.
Dallas ISD will hold .
Bill Zeeble is 四虎影院鈥檚 education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at bzeeble@kera.org. You can follow him on X .
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