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Dash Weerasinghe
Dash Weerasinghe ran for election to the Plano Independent School District school board to represent Place 6 in Texas. He lost in the general election on May 3, 2025.
Weerasinghe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Dash Weerasinghe earned a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in 1999. His career experience includes working as an education consultant.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Plano Independent School District, Texas, elections (2025)
General election
General election for Plano Independent School District school board Place 6
Elisa Klein defeated Dash Weerasinghe and Andrew Rettke in the general election for Plano Independent School District school board Place 6 on May 3, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Elisa Klein (Nonpartisan) | 56.8 | 13,321 |
 | Dash Weerasinghe (Nonpartisan)  | 30.4 | 7,133 | |
| Andrew Rettke (Nonpartisan) | 12.8 | 3,007 | ||
| Total votes: 23,461 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Weerasinghe in this election.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dash Weerasinghe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Weerasinghe's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I know Plano ISD and I know education systems. I have been an K-12 educator for 28 years working on managing academic performance, accountability, and school improvement.
When my sons attended Plano ISD, we were an “A-Rated” district. Today, Plano ISD is a low “B-Rated “ district, with some schools rated D and F. Our students and families deserve our best effort to turn that around. Young families who are moving to Collin county have many choices. Plano’s declining enrollment indicates that these families are choosing other options, but together we can make a difference. Let’s return Plano ISD to the A-Rated district that our students, staff, and families deserve.- Return Plano ISD to an A-Rated District Plano ISD has had a tradition of being an exemplar district in TX and was an “A-Rated” district for decades. Today, Plano ISD is a low “B-Rated “ district, with five schools rated D and F. Our students and families deserve better. Young families who are moving to Collin county have many choices. Plano’s declining enrollment indicates that these families are choosing other options. From day one, my goal will be to set policies that ensure that academic improvement is top priority. I will hold the superintendent accountable for ensuring that improvements are taking place.
- Retain and Recruit the Best Teacher First we need to retain our “best” teacher. Second, recruit the best experienced teachers and the new teachers that have the best potential. Plano is is lagging behind in these efforts. Today, we provide additional stipends for special education and bilingual teachers. But our English, Math, and Science teachers are not considered a priority. We need merit pay for our best teacher to help with retention and recruitment. Plano ISD also needs policies of supporting our teachers by ensuring that better and experienced campus leaders are hired to mentor teachers.
- Financial Responsibility and Planning for Future Plano ISD enrollment is declining at an alarming rate. The district’s enrollment has dropped from 55K to 47K in the last 12 years. Projections indicate Plano will be losing about 800 students each of the next 10 years. We need to approach this from two perspectives. When academic performance is declining enrollment goes down. We have to turn this district around and ensure that our students are successful. Second, we have to right size our facilities. Enrollment is dropping, but central office staff is increasing. We need leadership at the trustee level to address these challenges.
Ensure more funds are directed to the classroom
Make Plano an “A-Rated” district
Improve our “D” and “F” Schools
Setting High Academic Standards for All Students
Serve the Plano ISD Community by Listening to All Parents
Making decisions based on principles, not personal gain or external pressures. Taking responsibility for decisions and actions.
Being willing to explain and justify policies and decisions to the public. Prioritizing the well-being of the community over personal or political interests.
Demonstrating dedication to the mission of public service. Possessing the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex issues.
Continuously seeking to learn and improve. Setting clear, achievable goals for the community’s future.
My dedication to serving the community is driven by genuine concern for providing every child with a quality education.
Developing a strategic plan that aligns resources with district goals. Creating policies that ensure high-quality education, safe learning environments, and effective governance.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Plano Independent School District school board Place 6 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 24, 2025
