The dynamic force behind the Dallas Independent School District’s Minority/Women Business Enterprise Program can’t be attributed to solely one individual. The department’s success has been predicated upon an esteemed Board of Trustees, general superintendent, chief of staff, executive leadership, M/WBE Advisory Committee, M/WBE Advocacy organizations, and competitive business community coupled with a competent M/WBE team.
January is designated as School Board Recognition Month. DISD would like to recognize its Board of Trustees for their unparalleled support, vision, governance, and advocacy. The Board of Trustees must be accredited and acknowledged for establishing policies by which school districts operate inclusive of the M/WBE Policy, identifying needs and establishing priorities for the school system, allocating financial and human resources among the priority areas, and evaluating school performance.
The Minority /Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Department plays a vital role in Dallas ISD’s pursuit of becoming a leading urban school district. This award-winning department is dedicated to enhancing the involvement of minority and women-owned businesses across all stages of the district’s procurement and contracting processes.
Dallas ISD’s team educated us on current projects such as the Bond completion, M/WBE initiatives, and more:
1. What were the two major propositions approved by Dallas ISD voters on November 3, and what is the total amount allocated for these propositions?
Voters approved two major Dallas ISD bond propositions: Proposition A, which totaled $3.2 billion to fund repairs and upgrades to more than 200 of the district’s 230 campuses, and Proposition B, which totaled $270 million to cover the cost of purchasing and making updates to district technology. A portion of the Bond 2020 program calls for the replacement of 14 existing Dallas ISD schools.
2. How is Proposition A’s funding of $3.2 billion intended to be used, and what specific improvements does it cover for Dallas ISD campuses?
To fund repairs and upgrades to more than 200 of the district’s 230 campuses. Different campuses in the Bond 2020 initiative have their unique upgrades and builds. Most of the key components of the bond program included renovations and repairs to existing school buildings and the construction of new facilities to accommodate the growing student population. One design that has been chosen by many of the new campuses, is adding collaborative learning spaces so that students can increase their peer interaction.
Bond dollars will touch upon core classrooms, gymnasiums, storm shelters, library/media centers, science classrooms, special education classrooms, art classrooms, music classrooms, dance classrooms, maker spaces, flex spaces, exterior play areas, cafeterias, natural lighting, and sound systems, stage storage, equipment rooms, and multipurpose rooms, office spaces, safety and security enhancements, plus many more enhancements.
3. What is the purpose of Proposition B, and how does it allocate $270 million to enhance district technology?
To cover the cost of purchasing and making updates to district technology
4. Who are the key stakeholders that Dallas ISD aims to inform and engage regarding the Bond Program?
Parents, students, staff, business owners, and community leaders
5. How does Dallas ISD plan to communicate information about bond projects to stakeholders, and what channels will be utilized?
To provide timely information through the web, social media, public meetings, virtual meetings, school design charettes, polls and surveys, community events, and more
6. In what ways does Dallas ISD emphasize the importance of public education as a crucial infrastructure investment?
Public education is the most important infrastructure you can invest in.
7. Can you elaborate on the building boom initiated by Dallas ISD using voter-approved Bond money and its impact on campuses?
Dallas ISD is on a building boom using voter-approved Bond money to enhance, improve, and upgrade more than 200 campuses. There are new choice schools, reconfigured and updated high schools, a three-billion-dollar campaign to give Dallas ISD academic centers the same services found in schools in growing North Texas suburbs.
Our goal to change the landscape of urban education means more than just building schools. Since the completion of the Bond 2015 project, some athletic programs across the district have seen a significant increase in student participation and school spirit.
Dallas ISD launched career institutes: building new bridges to opportunity. Our students are very, very fortunate because they can get started on a career before they even leave high school.”
8. How does the M/WBE (Minority Women Business Enterprise) Department contribute to Dallas ISD’s commitment to maximizing the participation of minority and women-owned businesses?
One of the district’s goals is to ensure the inclusion of minority and women-owned businesses, in a legal and meaningful way, in all aspects of the district’s purchasing and contracting opportunities. The Minority/Women Business Enterprise Department maintains the responsibility for implementation, coordination, monitoring, compliance, and reporting.
9. What initiatives has the M/WBE Department implemented to encourage the involvement of minority and women-owned contractors in Construction Services/Bond projects?
The M/WBE department has witnessed an increased participation of minority and women-owned contractors on Construction bond-funded projects. The department has implemented many initiatives designed to grow minority and women-owned companies. Initiatives have included but are not limited to Bond Academies, Construction bid previews, Building B.I.G. Construction EXPOs, Conferences, “Doing Business with Dallas ISD” workshops, sending upcoming business opportunities to certified minority and women-owned businesses as well as M/WBE Advocacy organizations, and many more initiatives. Note: A few photos from events are included.
10. Can you provide examples of success stories within the Joint Venture program, where M/WBE contractors have evolved from subcontractors to General Contractors in Dallas ISD Bond projects?
Our Joint Venture program has been the catalyst for several M/WBE contractors’ success. The Joint Venture program has allowed several M/WBE contractors to grow their knowledge of the K-12 construction industry in areas such as successful estimating/bidding, responsive operations delivery, and relationship building. Several M/WBE contractors began to participate in early Dallas ISD Bond projects as subcontractors/tradesmen and developed into General Contractors. We also have experienced several Professional Service and Construction Service vendors grow their capacity doing business with Dallas ISD.
The chart below represents M/WBE businesses that have grown their capacity through the 2020 Bond Program. Each organization started transitioning from a trade contractor, joint venture partner, and prime/general contractor.
| Company Specialization | How firm began working with Dallas ISD | Total Number of Awarded Projects with Dallas ISD Bond Programs | Highest Dollar Contract Amount of Awarded | Total Aggregate Awarded Contracts with Dallas ISD Bond Programs |
| General Contractor | General Contractor | 9 | $5.3M | $13M |
| General Contractor | Trade Contractor in prior Bond programs | 4 | $60M | $112M |
| General Contractor | Trade Contractor in prior Bond programs | 30 | $52.9M | $157M |
| General Contractor | Trade Contractor in prior Bond programs | 12 | $12.1M | $30.5M |
12. How does the role entail overseeing the construction process of school projects funded by bonds?
The district secured the services of Program Management Firms to oversee and manage the 2020 Bond Program. To date, we contracted with several renowned firms: McKissack & McKissack, Jacobs, CBRE and Vanir Joint Venture, AECOM, Dikita Enterprises, and Dikita\\Vanir, a Joint Venture. Several have been recognized as one of the Nation’s Top 50 Program Management Firms by Engineering News-Record.
16. What valuable information do you want your audience to know regarding better interaction between Dallas ISD’s scope of business practices and potential partners?
Dallas ISD has garnered success relating to our 2020 Bond Program. We’ve witnessed successful outcomes regarding CMAR contracts as well. A few success stories have included:
“Our goal is for Dallas ISD’s M/WBE Department to become the gold standard for the nation. The M/WBE Department has nurtured relationships with preeminent contractor associations, chambers of commerce, and M/WBE advocacy organizations like Subcontractors USA. We recognize diversity is important in building our community and would like to thank organizations that have joined us in our efforts.” Leslie Williams, Deputy Chief of Special Projects, Dallas ISD
