Darrell Porter
Darrell Porter was a candidate for Place 5 representative on the DeSoto Independent School District school board in Texas. Porter was defeated in the by-district general election on May 6, 2017.
Elections
2017
Three of the seven seats on the DeSoto Independent School District board of trustees were up for general election on May 6, 2017. Place 3 incumbent Karen Daniel defeated former board member Van Stripling and challengers Demetric Brown and Jeremy Woods. Tiffany Clark defeated Place 4 incumbent Jerry Hall, DeAndrea Fleming, and Krystal Denise Sams in the race for the Place 4 seat. In the race for the Place 5 seat, incumbent Aubrey Hooper defeated challengers A'Londa Barber, Laneshia Jordan, and Darrell Porter.[1][2]
Results
| DeSoto Independent School District, Place 5 General Election, 3-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Aubrey Hooper Incumbent |
41.50% | 849 |
| Darrell Porter | 23.51% | 481 |
| A'Londa Barber | 22.78% | 466 |
| Laneshia Jordan | 12.22% | 250 |
| Total Votes | 2,046 | |
| Source: Dallas County Elections, "2017 Joint Election," accessed September 20, 2017 | ||
Funding
Porter reported no contributions or expenditures to the Dallas County Elections Office as of May 1, 2017.[3]
Campaign themes
2017
Porter participated in the following survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News. The questions provided by The Dallas Morning News appear bolded, and Porter's responses follow below.
Why are you running for this office, and why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
| “ | I am running for this office because it is time to change both the culture and the conversation of this Board. It is currently a Board which has little civility and which fosters an atmosphere of mistrust in the public eye as well as among board members. I was appalled to read the conclusions of last year's audit review which constantly cast this board in a negative light and then to observe, as the Board moved forward, the audacity of some to continue in the very practices highlighted in the report. We need a Board focused on ensuring this District is a model of academic excellence and a partner in growing this community; a Board working towards consensus and not at creating voting blocks to further political agendas or aspirations; a Board where the children in the seats are more important than the "Seats"; a Board which knows it's role of governance and which sticks to that role. Voters who want to change the status quo should vote for me. Voters who want a focus on academic excellence and not politics should vote for me. And lastly, voters who want to get back to civility and away from the gamesmanship of in-fighting and politics should vote for me.[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
If elected, what two issues would you give the most attention and resources?
| “ | 1. Changing both the culture and the conversation 2. Pursuing the excellence in education goals set forth by the district to ensure it attracts and retains students[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
For non-incumbent trustees: Have you attended any school board meetings? If so, what have you learned about how a board member can be effective?
| “ | I have attended school board meetings, and as well, I often review the recorded sessions when I do not attend.[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
As you look around the country, what innovative ideas would you recommend for improving classroom performance?
Porter did not respond to this question.
Given the current funding structure, how does your district meet the academic needs of its low-income students? Are you willing to ask voters to approve a tax increase to create or expand these programs?
| “ | Each year, the district conducts a current needs assessment as part of its budget planning process. In dong so, it is able to look at projected enrollment and attendance numbers, look at where to make cuts if necessary, weight funding criteria, and allocate resources to ensure appropriate levels of funding is allocated towards the needs of low-income students. While I have oversimplified the process, this methodology has not only allowed the district to meet the needs of its low-income students, it has also maintained a balanced budget and given it flexibility to reallocate resources when and where necessary. I would not be in favor of asking voters to approve a tax increase as if state funding continues to be managed correctly, there is no need to do so[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
Many districts are exploring creative ways to save money or shift costs to parents and students. What creative measures would you favor or oppose and why?
| “ | One of the primary goals of this superintendent has been (and continues to be) to continually evaluate ways not to shift costs to parents and students. This has included partnering with local, state, and international business partners that have helped defray the costs in fees for extra-curricular activities and other critical student morale and welfare initiatives. There are other things in place to assist in defraying costs.[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
The state has adopted an A through F accountability system for district and campuses. Do you favor or oppose this system and why?
| “ | As HB 2804 is still a work in progress, I neither favor or oppose it at this time, but am concerned by the possibly negative impacts and implications it will potentially have on schools (and districts) with high populations of economically disadvantaged kids[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
How would you assess the district’s efforts to improve graduation rates and increase the number of students prepared for college? What further improvements would you advocate?
| “ | This district's graduation rates have been on the rise in the last few years; graduated over 600 students last year or approximately 92% of the Cohort that started as freshmen together. The district is poised to surpass that number with the 2017 class. The number of students prepared for college logically follows the graduation rates. Outstanding job by Administrators, Faculty, and Counselors![4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
What schools in your district have been particularly effective in getting every child up to grade level in reading and math?
Porter did not respond to this question.
How would you assess your district’s current school choice efforts, and what changes are needed?
| “ | I am pleased the district has already recognized if it is to be the education system of choice, it needs to be the standard by which all current or potential competing schools would have to measure up to. The programs offered in the district are already a attracting parents and students back to our schools as there is arguably no place in the metroplex, public, private, charter, or otherwise, where students have the exposure to the quality and magnitude of programs offered under one roof. The district simply needs to continue to press forward, continually reevaluating its offerings, and improving where necessary.[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
How would you assess your superintendent’s performance?
| “ | He was the Region 10 Superintendent of the year in 2016...speaks for itself[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
Where do you stand on the importance of early-childhood education? Would you support increasing class-size ratios at other grade levels in order to introduce or expand pre-K?
| “ | Early-childhood education is a must! Statistically, children who have grown up in this district (and city), pre-k through 12 have done very well academically to include excelling in testing benchmarks. No need to increase class-size ratios as pre-k has already been expanded in the district[4] | ” |
| —Darrell Porter (2017)[5] | ||
What resources are lacking in schools in your district? How could the district deliver services in the most cost-effective manner?
Porter did not respond to this question.
In what ways can your district’s communications with parents be improved? Likewise, how can parental involvement in your district improve?
Porter did not respond to this question.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DeSoto Independent School District, "Board Member Election," accessed February 19, 2017
- ↑ Dallas County Elections, "Unofficial Cumulative Results," accessed May 6, 2017These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.
- ↑ Dallas County Elections, "Campaign Reporting," accessed May 1, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 The Dallas Morning News, "Voter Guide: DeSoto ISD, Place 5," accessed May 3, 2017
| DeSoto Independent School District elections in 2017 | |
| Dallas County, Texas | |
| Election date: | May 6, 2017 |
| Candidates: | Place 3: • Incumbent, Karen Daniel • Demetric Brown • Van Stripling • Jeremy Woods Place 4: • Incumbent, Jerry Hall • Tiffany Clark • DeAndrea Fleming • Krystal Denise Sams Place 5: • Incumbent, Aubrey Hooper • A'Londa Barber • Laneshia Jordan • Darrell Porter |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
