Dr. Mike Moses will brief Chamber members and other local leaders on where Dallas schools stand and how business can help, at the superintendent's annual State of the District Address.

The annual luncheon, scheduled for noon September 23 at the Adam's Mark Hotel, is sponsored by ALON USA.

As Dr. Moses begins his third school year with Dallas ISD, more than 164,000 students are expected to enroll this fall, about 1,500 more than last year. Teacher vacancies the week before schools start had dipped below 50. There are 850 teachers new to the district. The new hires include 93 Alternative Certification interns recruited in Mexico and 309 Alternative Certification interns recruited locally.

Dr. Moses spearheaded the successful 2002 DISD school bond election. One of the largest in the nation, the $1.37 billion capital improvement program includes renovations of existing schools and construction of 20 new schools.

Mike Moses took the helm of DISD Jan. 1, 2001. He has served in Texas public education for more than 25 years, first in the Duncanville and Garland school districts, then as superintendent for the Tatum, LaMarque and Lubbock school districts.

From 1995 to 1999, Dr. Moses served as Texas Commissioner of Education. President George Bush has said that naming him as Commissioner of Education was the "best appointment that I have ever made" while governor.

Dr. Moses was named Texas Superintendent of the Year and was one of four finalists in the 2003 National Superintendent of the Year program.

The Greater Dallas Chamber encourages the business community to be a part of the present and future of education in our community. Registration is available online at www.dallaschamber.org. For any questions or sponsorship information, please contact Whitney Williams at 214-746-6741.