Another letter from a MCHS parent to DISD trustees to use as a template

[Amy Grissom]

Greetings. The purpose of this letter is to express to you our
concerns and support, as parents, tax payers, voters and stakeholders
in our community, for Middle College High School (MCHS) during this
DISD budget crisis.

We would like to explain what MCHS, a school in Exemplary academic
status, is and how it benefits the community:

• MCHS is a small dual credit high school that partners with El Centro
Community College by holding high school classes on the community
college campus. Students learn from traditional high school
classrooms, but also integrate into El Centro Community College
courses where students who successfully complete the courses receive
dual credit.
• This partnership already yields DISD considerable cost savings
measures while providing superior academic results, without additional
financial cuts to this school. In fact, DISD receives funds from the
state for these students’ attendance in community college courses.
Dual credit courses are not paid for by DISD, only textbooks are paid
for by DISD.
• DISD pays minimal costs to El Centro for facility use ($51,000 per
year) for Middle College High School. As such, the large space and
facilities associated with other campus locations that include
utilities, maintenance, insurance, security, etc., in addition to
basic building expenses are not associated with this school.
• DISD pays minimal costs for student transportation by providing DART
passes verses school busing system. Ultimately, cutting the need to
pay salaries and benefits for drivers, maintenance on the vehicles,
and gas.
• Middle College High School students that are accepted into the
program are not chosen on grade merit, but on lottery system so that
the student population is a mirror of Dallas’ diverse community. Most
of these students that are accepted into the program enter the school
with multiple high risk factors that would typically cause them not to
be successful in school.
• Due to these student high risk factors, teachers at MCHS commit to
student success by not only teaching the children, but also making
themselves available for tutoring, coaching and advising students.
• 95% of Middle College students graduate. They not only graduate
with a high school diploma, but also college credit and/or college
degrees.
• As an Early College, Middle College High School has significant
legal, program, and college admissions requirements regarding the
program it offers. Any changes need to account for those TEA
requirements.

Middle College High school is a premier flagship school in Dallas
ISD. This school has not only historically saved DISD significant
funds, but has produced Exemplary academic status and graduates
prepared young people who are ready to be productive members of
society whether they immediately enter the work force with an
associate degree or they further their education by attending a four
year university.

We are in full support of Middle College High School and the out of
the box measures that are already in place to save the district
money. We request that you consider these cost savings measures and
NOT cut any positions at Middle College High School. We further urge
you to fully disclose information to and give Principal Eric Markinson
the authority to make decisions on the best way to handle any cuts
that we may be required to make. As an Early College, Middle College
High School has significant legal, program, and college admissions
requirements regarding the program it offers. Any changes need to
account for those TEA requirements and Mr. Markinson is the best
person to account for these requirements and make decisions that are
in the best interest of the students enrolled at Middle College High
School.

We appreciate your time and support in this matter