Want to get an update on what’s happening at DISD? Dallas School Board Trustee Edwin Flores can fill you in.

Tonight at 6 p.m.,  Flores will host a forum to inform on DISD’s new Superintendent Mike Miles. Flores will also give an update on the new Teacher Evaluation System, talk about the budget, and will open the floor for questions.

It will take place at the Town North Family YMCA, in the 4300 block of Northaven Road. For questions or directions, give them a call at 214-357-8431

Speaking of financially related DISD matters, the Dallas Morning News is reporting that prospective members of W.T. White cheerleading and drill team had to pay $5 before being allowed to tryout. In the article, district spokesperson Jon Dahlander characterized the fee as minimal and said the practice was used by other school districts in the past.

Paying to tryout for a public school sport strikes me as odd, but even more so since the fee is attached only to cheerleading and drill team tryouts. If you’re going to tack on a price tag, do it across the board.

Who knows, maybe the money will go toward a scholarship for students with perfect attendance? Win-Win, DISD, Win-win.

When he stepped down in February, DISD trustee Edwin Flores briefly left the District 1 bid to newcomer candidate Michael Greenberg, who stayed unopposed for all of two weeks.

Now, with a filing deadline that’s just around the corner on Monday, three hats are in the ring: Greenberg’s; that of RN/stay-at-home mom Jennifer Levy, who filed Feb. 21; and — as of today — another contender: Elizabeth Jones, a business adviser and UTD visiting professor.

You might know Jones’ campaign treasurer; she’s none other than 100-year-old real-estate maven Ebby Halliday.

Debate team members were all smiles after their victory over Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet this weekend.

W.T. White defeated a team from Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet to clinch the DISD City Debate Championship this weekend. Luke Strother and Joseph Reyes will represent the Longhorns at the Chase national competition in Washington D.C. April 12-15. It’s an all-expenses-paid trip for Luke and Joseph, so hopefully they’ll spring for souvenirs for the rest of the team back in Texas.

That’s the question DISD is asking and hoping parents will answer. To contribute to the conversation, drop by a community meeting today between 6:30 and 8 p.m. at W.T. White High School (4505 Ridgeside Drive).

The district is deciding between two versions of the 2012-2013 school calendar, and it wants your help in choosing the best one. The original survey deadline didn’t yield as many responses as hoped, so you now have until 4 p.m. to weigh in on this change. In a Mission-Impossible-esque-twist, the link will self-destruct at 4:01 p.m. You have been warned.

After you’ve reviewed the differences between the two options (outlined in the above link), vote here.

There’s nothing better than a two-week vacation from school filled with diligent essay writing—or at least that’s what the folks at DISD headquarters are hoping.

The Winter Writing Contest, which uses the same format as the STAAR test, begins Friday and ends Jan. 6. Third through ninth grade students with the best essays will win prizes including movie passes and restaurant gift cards.