Superintendent Search: Dripping Springs ISD Hires TASB ESS to Conduct Search

Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Superintendent Search: Irion County ISD Hires TASB ESS to Conduct Search

Irion County ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Superintendent Search: Quanah ISD Hires Education Solutions and Services to Conduct Search

Quanah ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Education Solutions and Services to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Superintendent Search: Kermit ISD Hires TASB ESS to Conduct Search

Kermit ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Superintendent Search: Danbury ISD Hires TASB ESS to Conduct Search

Danbury ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Questions swirl as fate of HISD board remains uncertain. Here are a few answers.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath came to and left the Greater Houston area Thursday without addressing one of the biggest issues on his agenda: the fate of Houston ISD’s school board.In the coming weeks, Morath likely will be forced to decide whether to replace all trustees governing Texas’ largest school district or close one of HISD’s most historic campuses, the consequence of historic Wheatley High School failing to meet state academic standards for a seventh consecutive time. While Morath was in no mood to discuss the looming decision following the release of academic accountability ratings Thursday — he hurried out of an Aldine ISD school without answering questions or making a statement on HISD — a review of comments by the commissioner, his top deputies and state education leaders offers insight into the likely process.  Barring a successful appeal of Wheatley’s grade, which became public Thursday, Morath is widely expected to strip power from the nine HISD trustees and appoint a new board of managers comprised of Houston-area residents. view article  

Texas put billions more into schools. Is that enough to help this high-poverty school district break out?

SAN ANTONIO — Palmira Aguirre has seen her fair share of principals come and go during her 23-year tenure as a teacher at John F. Kennedy High School — including most of a year when there was no permanent principal at all.  The Edgewood Independent School District physics teacher used to feel ashamed telling people where she worked — a school district managed by a board so mired in personal conflict that they couldn't make crucial hires to lead their high schools or their school system.  "It's like a revolving door," said Aguirre, who heads her high school's parent-teacher association. "There's no stability at the upper level." view article  

Preventive Law: Vexing Sexting

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently ordered Facebook to pay $5 billion in fines due to violating the privacy rights of its users, but the FTC is not the only entity dealing with digital criminal activity. As the phenomenon of teen sexting continues to grow, school districts must be ready to address the fallout when it enters the schoolhouse.

May 2019 Bond List

Bond Election Data collected by TexasISD.com for public school bonds in the upcoming May 2019 election cycle.

Beaumont ISD superintendent ‘surprised’ by board president’s resignation

Few details have emerged in the days following the Beaumont ISD board president announcing his most recent intent to resign. A.B. Bernard, who said in a Thursday evening board meeting that his resignation would be effective Friday, had not tendered his official resignation as of Friday afternoon. view article  

Superintendent, principal both resign from Kountze ISD

The superintendent and the principal both quit after the school board voted to propose the principal's termination, according to a statement from the district. view article  

South San ISD reopening three schools in bid to boost enrollment

Three formerly closed South San Antonio Independent School District campuses, dressed up with nearly $3 million in improvements, will welcome students Monday after a seven-month sprint by administrators to reopen them in time for the new school year. Edgewood, North East, Alamo Heights, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and East Central independent school districts also start classes today, with several other districts starting the year in the next week. San Antonio ISD and others began last week. view article  

Carthage ISD taxpayers to pay more because of increased appraisal values

Carthage ISD is dropping its tax rate, but a $400 million increase in property value appraisals means the average taxpayer will see a $35 increase this year. That increase in appraised values also means Carthage ISD will pay more in recapture fees to the state — aka “Robin Hood” payments — than originally anticipated. view article  

We await HISD’s fate

I mean, I think we know what it’s going to be, but there are still some questions. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath came to and left the Greater Houston area Thursday without addressing one of the biggest issues on his agenda: the fate of Houston ISD’s school board. In the coming weeks, Morath likely will be forced to decide whether to replace all trustees governing Texas’ largest school district or close one of HISD’s most historic campuses, the consequence of historic Wheatley High School failing to meet state academic standards for a seventh consecutive time. view article  

School finance changes result in increased teacher pay, but falls short of lawmaker promises

While lawmakers never quite reached the $5,000 teacher raises they tried to sell the public on, local districts are doing what they can to ensure teachers are seeing their biggest raises in years. An analysis of data from local school districts shows that Smith County area districts are digging deep into local funds to ensure teachers are getting bigger pay bumps than usual. While most teachers will not see a salary increase of $5,000, most in the area will benefit from raises at least twice as large as those given in the past two years, if raises were given at all. view article  

La Joya ISD warns AFT about ‘threatening’ signs

When the La Joya school board met to discuss teacher pay last week, members of the American Federation of Teachers had signs ready. Superintendent Gisela Saenz and the school board discussed a $2,000 raise for teachers during July. After reviewing the raises approved by other districts, though, the AFT pushed for higher pay. view article  

Belton school board to consider naming interim superintendent

As students across Belton ISD find their way to classes on the first day of school, the school board is expected to begin its search for a new superintendent. view article  

Students, Teachers Return to School in Fort Worth ISD

Around 85,000 students in Fort Worth ISD will return to school Monday morning. Teachers in the school district will see a pay increase ranging between 5% and 7%. "We made a significant investment in our teachers. The most important thing a community can do for its future is invest in its schools," Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner said. "Making sure that the professionals in the classrooms are paid appropriately helps us recruit, helps us retain." view article  

Austin Failed At Desegregation Before. That History Influences Today’s School Closure Decisions.

In 1987, the Austin ISD school board voted to end crosstown busing for elementary students. The decision created 16 elementary schools made up almost entirely of minority students. “Now, when I look at the schools that are under-enrolled and low performing, they tend to be those same schools,” said Roxanne Evans, who reported on education for the Austin American-Statesman in the 1980s. view article  

10 Charter Schools Fail State Standards as Most Charter Districts Improve

San Antonio charter schools received grades from the Texas Education Agency on Thursday that evaluate the previous year’s performance and show whether district and campus performance grew, declined, or remained flat.  In most cases, local charter school districts improved year-over-year. However, five charter districts – including KIPP Texas and Great Hearts Texas, which last year operated a total of 10 campuses in San Antonio – received lower grades than in the previous year. Great Hearts Texas fell from an A to a B, while KIPP Texas got a B for the second year in a row. view article  

Kountze ISD statement following the resignation of Superintendent John Ferguson

John Ferguson has announced his resignation as Superintendent of Schools for the Kountze Independent School District. An Agreement has been reached which allows Mr. Ferguson the ability to peruse other interest and permits the Board to peruse hiring another Superintendent. The Board and Mr. Ferguson have entered into the Agreement believing it is in the respective best interest and in the best interest of the District. On behalf of the entire District, the Board of Trustees expresses its sincere appreciation to Mr. Ferguson for his efforts while serving as Superintendent of this great school district and its wonderful students, parents and administrations, and for the many achievements and accomplishments of the entire District team during Mr. Ferguson’s tenure as Superintendent. view article  

Is It For Whom the Bell Tolls Time for HISD’s Trustees, Despite Kashmere’s Success?

It was an almost completely glorious day for Houston ISD Thursday as dignitaries, staff, district officials and true believers gathered at Kashmere High School to celebrate that school finally scoring a "C" in the state accountability ratings.  Because when you're looking at another "F," clearing the hurdles with a "C" is next to a miracle. U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee and Mayor Sylvester Turner were among those addressing the packed room, praising all concerned including the students. As Turner put it, "Today is a big deal for the city of Houston as a whole." view article  

Hearne ISD Superintendent looks forward to new school year

Hearne ISD Superintendent Adrain Johnson appeared on Brazos Valley This Morning to discuss the new school year and the district's TEA accountability rating. Hearne ISD earned a "B" grade from the Texas Education Agency. The high school also moved up to a "B", the junior high received a "C", and the elementary school is still failing with an "F". view article  

Belton ISD Board discussing interim superintendent

The Belton Independent School District’s special meeting to discuss a new superintendent is underway. Since the district has selected their current superintendent as it’s lone finalist, the district’s Board of Trustees is figuring out the next steps forward. view article  

New From TEA

• Information for Districts, Campuses, and Charter Schools with Areas of Need Identified through the 2019 State and Federal Accountability System8/13
• Interim Assessment Registration and Updates
• Reading Language Arts (RLA) Assessment Transition 8/9
• Update on the Single, Statewide Assessment for Identification of English Learners, Effective 2019-2020 School Year
• House Bill 3 (HB 3) Implementation: College, Career, or Military Readiness Sections
• Preliminary School FIRST Ratings 2018-2019
• Preliminary Charter FIRST Ratings 2018-2019 8/9
• 86th Legislation on Student Discipline Under Chapter 37 8/9
• Update on the Single, Statewide Assessment for Identification of English Learners, Effective 2019-2020 School Year 8/9
• House Bill 3 Pre-K
• Home Schools(1)  7/12
• State Application to Renew Ed-Flex Authority Available for Public Comment 7/12
• Statewide Waiver for Out-of-District Transportation Interlocal Agreement Requirement of TEC §34.007(1) 7/12
• The Tax Information Survey (TIS) for the 2018–2019 7/2

Hallsville ISD trustees discuss possible bond, proposed surplus budget

Hallsville ISD trustees on Friday discussed the possible exclusion of certain aspects of the proposed bond after hearing from community members and bond steering committee members, while also looking to adopt a proposed surplus budget for the 2019-20 school year. The Hallsville ISD trustees are set to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday to host a public hearing and vote on adding a proposed $55 million bond to the upcoming November ballot. The board is also set to host a public hearing on a proposed budget for the 2019-20 school year before placing their votes. view article  

Muri: School plan will be rolled out this winter

With 16 Ector County Independent School District campuses receiving a failing grade from the Texas Education Agency this past week, Superintendent Scott Muri said there is immediate and long-term work to do. This is the first year the state has gone to the A-F grading system for campuses and districts. The district has 43 campuses, the TEA website details. Public Information Officer Mike Adkins said the district does not plan to appeal the ratings. view article  

Lewisville ISD gets “B” rating, but officials dispute the system

Just as quickly as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released its district ratings Thursday, Lewisville ISD released its thoughts on the system. For the second year the TEA assigned districts across the state with a letter grade based on three categories – all of which stem from student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. LISD, also for the second year, received a “B” with a composite score of 89 out of 100. view article  

Alto ISD embraces challenges of new school year as students return for first day

Students, faculty, and staff returned to Alto Independent School District campuses for the first day of school on Monday. It was the first time many students returned to their respective campuses since a tornado damaged the high school building on April 13. The theme for the district is ‘Meet the Challenge’, which is appropriate considering much of the high school building is still closed while repairs are completed. Students and teachers are working out of portable buildings during that time. view article  

Brock ISD approves calling bond election

Brock ISD board of trustees approved calling a bond election in November during their meeting on Monday morning at Brock ISD administration building. Trustees made the decision in a 5:2 vote, with members John Brunner and John McGuire voting opposed.  view article