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Johnson won’t run again for HISD board
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| Johnson |
By STEVE MARK
Dianne Johnson has told The Examiner she will not seek another term as trustee of Houston ISD District V, which includes West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place and much of southwest Houston.
“If eight years is enough for the president of the United States, it ought to be enough for a board member,” she told The Examiner Thursday.
“It’s time to move on,” said Johnson, who was first elected to her seat in 2001. “It’s good for other people to have that opportunity.”
Johnson, a longtime committee member at Bellaire High School, Pershing Middle School and Condit Elementary, was re-elected to the school board in 2005, when she was elected board president. Johnson was weighing her decision on whether to run for another term while she and fellow board members have been wading through the process of selecting a new superintendent. There has been considerable speculation that that process, and the relative delay in finding a successor to Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, played a part in Johnson’s decision.
“No,” said Johnson. “I hope I’ll be a part of the selection. I’ve been listening to the community intensely as we’ve looked for a new superintendent.”
Five of the nine board seats are up for election. Larry Marshall and Greg Meyers have indicated they will run again, while Natasha Kamrani and Harvin Moore have not committed. Filing starts next month, with the election in November.
During her nearly eight years on the board, Johnson is especially proud of the strides HISD has taken in teacher pay structure. “When I was board president in 2005 we started talking about performance pay,” said Johnson. “HISD is pretty far ahead of the game now. It’s a delight to have been part of the differentiated performance pay — that said, we’re still in the infancy of all of that.”
As with any position, Johnson will finish her term knowing there is “unfinished business.”
“One of the things that’s clear is that we’ve got a lot of kids in District V,” said Johnson. “We’ve got to look at enrollment and make sure everybody’s getting their fair share of the resources — not just in my district, but the entire district.”
“HISD has to pick up the pace of strong neighborhood schools, We have to look at market share — our population in Houston is being replaced, and we have to look at how we’re serving taxpayers. I’m sure that some of the private schools, charter schools and home school programs in our area don’t get the kind of scrutiny HISD does. By the same token, HISD is going to have to be competitive.”
Added Johnson: “If we don’t do it right, we’re going to be in the school consolidation business. We have an opportunity, if we will, to offer people interesting choices and meet changing needs.”
Johnson expressed positives for HISD’s roles in early college programs and the new virtual school alliance.
Enduring “a good deal of arm-twisting” during her decision process on whether to run for another term, Johnson said: “It’s my turn to go. It (her election) came at a time in my life when I could give it my all, and I was very fortunate to be able to do that.”
Johnson was a longtime teacher in the Spring Branch district before her long list of committee and advisory roles in the region, and wants to stay active in an education capacity.
“Sure, but I don’t know what,” Johnson told The Examiner. “Education is absolutely my passion.”
“If eight years is enough for the president of the United States, it ought to be enough for a board member,” she told The Examiner Thursday.
“It’s time to move on,” said Johnson, who was first elected to her seat in 2001. “It’s good for other people to have that opportunity.”
Johnson, a longtime committee member at Bellaire High School, Pershing Middle School and Condit Elementary, was re-elected to the school board in 2005, when she was elected board president. Johnson was weighing her decision on whether to run for another term while she and fellow board members have been wading through the process of selecting a new superintendent. There has been considerable speculation that that process, and the relative delay in finding a successor to Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, played a part in Johnson’s decision.
“No,” said Johnson. “I hope I’ll be a part of the selection. I’ve been listening to the community intensely as we’ve looked for a new superintendent.”
Five of the nine board seats are up for election. Larry Marshall and Greg Meyers have indicated they will run again, while Natasha Kamrani and Harvin Moore have not committed. Filing starts next month, with the election in November.
During her nearly eight years on the board, Johnson is especially proud of the strides HISD has taken in teacher pay structure. “When I was board president in 2005 we started talking about performance pay,” said Johnson. “HISD is pretty far ahead of the game now. It’s a delight to have been part of the differentiated performance pay — that said, we’re still in the infancy of all of that.”
As with any position, Johnson will finish her term knowing there is “unfinished business.”
“One of the things that’s clear is that we’ve got a lot of kids in District V,” said Johnson. “We’ve got to look at enrollment and make sure everybody’s getting their fair share of the resources — not just in my district, but the entire district.”
“HISD has to pick up the pace of strong neighborhood schools, We have to look at market share — our population in Houston is being replaced, and we have to look at how we’re serving taxpayers. I’m sure that some of the private schools, charter schools and home school programs in our area don’t get the kind of scrutiny HISD does. By the same token, HISD is going to have to be competitive.”
Added Johnson: “If we don’t do it right, we’re going to be in the school consolidation business. We have an opportunity, if we will, to offer people interesting choices and meet changing needs.”
Johnson expressed positives for HISD’s roles in early college programs and the new virtual school alliance.
Enduring “a good deal of arm-twisting” during her decision process on whether to run for another term, Johnson said: “It’s my turn to go. It (her election) came at a time in my life when I could give it my all, and I was very fortunate to be able to do that.”
Johnson was a longtime teacher in the Spring Branch district before her long list of committee and advisory roles in the region, and wants to stay active in an education capacity.
“Sure, but I don’t know what,” Johnson told The Examiner. “Education is absolutely my passion.”
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