TOBI JACKSON, FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEE, representing most of this part of East Fort Worth, has been taking her message about our schools to as many organizations as she can lately. I first heard her “good news, bad news” speech at Rotary East, and was so impressed with her pas- sion and knowledge that I invited her to my neighborhood association which is West Meadowbrook. Being a supporter of the public school sys- tem, once again I invited her to share the message with another of our local organizations, East Fort Worth Business Association. This is a voice our area needs to hear. Our schools are vital to the business and real estate health of this community.

An interested group of around 50 gathered at Smokey’s for the April meeting of the business association. Jackson has updated the information as she has made the presentation to the different groups. She is particu- larly enthused about the progress she sees occurring at Eastern Hills High School. With the school in jeopardy because of sub-par academics, the principal, Cherie Washington, and her staff have faced a daunting two years. Upgrades to the facility have given a new sense of pride to the stu- dent body, and efforts by Washington and her staff have kept the students engaged and on campus. More stu- dents graduated from Eastern Hills last year than had graduated in the past ten years. The bar has been raised for the students to stay in school and graduate. It is expected that the num- ber of graduates will be even higher this year. Good news indeed for the business community, for the real estate community, and for the police department, which sees the number of children staying in school as a plus forreduction in crime caused by young people who are equipped for holding better paying jobs.