Superintendent Search: Balmorhea ISD has announced a Lone Finalist

Balmorhea ISD Board of Trustees has chosen John Massey, Former Superintendent of Dalhart ISD,  as Lone Finalist of Balmorhea ISD Superintendent of Schools. Details and updates will continue to appear on our search page as things progress.

Criticized by former employees, Irving ISD superintendent calls it quits with no explanation

IRVING -- Irving ISD's Superintendent Jose Parra abruptly resigned Monday without a public explanation, ending his four-year tenure at the high-poverty, heavily Hispanic school district effective Friday. Parra will remain a district employee until March 31 to help with the transition, according to a voluntary separation agreement that wasn't made public Monday night. B view article  

Glenn Hambrick to retire as Carthage ISD superintendent

CARTHAGE — Carthage ISD Superintendent Glenn Hambrick has announced his intent to retire, effective Jan. 19. Trustees will consider accepting Hambrick’s resignation at a future school board meeting, the district said. Hambrick has been superintendent at Carthage ISD since 2008, coming to the district from Elkhart Independent School District in Elkhart.  In a letter submitted to school board officials Monday evening, Hambrick wrote it was his honor to serve as superintendent for Carthage ISD. view article  

November 2018 Bond List

Bond Election Data collected by TexasISD.com for public school bonds in the upcoming November 2018 election cycle.

SBOE gives preliminary approval to streamlined social studies standards and gives final approval to a Mexican American Studies course

Texas schoolchildren will still learn of the heroic "Victory or Death" letter penned by Lt. Col. William Barret Travis while besieged in the Alamo, under streamlined social studies curriculum standards given approval Friday by the State Board of Education to solicit public feedback.  The board rejected a proposal by an advisory group that suggested deleting the specific reference to the famous letter and deleting the word “heroic” when describing the Alamo heroes.  Instead the board unanimously voted to include this revised language to the seventh-grade Texas history standards: "Explain the issues surrounding significant events of the Texas Revolution, including the Battle of Gonzales, the siege of the Alamo, William B. Travis's letter 'To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World,' and the heroism of the diverse defenders who gave their lives there; the Constitutional Convention of 1836; Fannin's surrender at Goliad; and the Battle of San Jacinto." view article  

Marshall to leave Mabank ISD at end of school year

After 16 years as Mabank ISD's superintendent, Dr. Russell Marshall will end his education career at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.  He plans on continuing working at his search firm. Marshall has been a head hunter for school superintendents long before he became known as the top educator in Mabank.  Marshall is leaving behind what some have called a legacy of unmatched leadership. He is well-known in the education arena, but few people understand how sensitive he is.  “I cry at movies,” he said. view article  

New information from Lufkin SBOE member sheds light on high school cosmetology courses

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Two days ago, cosmetology courses were on the verge of possibly being eliminated by the Texas Education Agency. On Thursday, new details from Keven Ellis, a Lufkin representative of the State Board of Education reveal more information. Ellis said the Texas Education Agency is currently revisiting the guidelines of a federal grant that goes towards Career in Technical Education which includes cosmetologyy. view article  

New From TEA

• 2018-2019 Significant Expansion of Enrollment - Open-Enrollment Charter Schools Only 9/14
• Validations of Fiscal Data Reported by LEAs for Federal Grants 2018-2019
• Unallowable double funding for unaccompanied children held in custody by or for the federal government being served by Texas public schools 9/5
• Industry Certifications HB 2729 9/5
• A new To the Administrator Addressed letter, dated August 28, 2018, has posted on the TEA Correspondence page regarding statutory changes to the micro-purchase and the simplified acquisition thresholds under the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).Implementing Statutory Changes to Micro-Purchase and the Simplified Acquisition Thresholds under the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)
• Distinguished Teacher and Principal Talent Pool Recommendation 2018
• August 7, 2018 Subject: New Instructional Facility Allotment (NIFA); Online Application for Funding8/14
• School Year 2016–2017 (Fiscal Year 2017) Final IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Reviews
• 2018–2019 STAAR Interim Assessments Available 8/7
• Prekindergarten and the National School Lunch Program Guidance for 2018-2019 8/1
• Required Annual Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs 8/1

Preventive Law: Texas Supreme Court Achieves New Heights in Lows

In April this year the Texas Supreme Court appears to have sunk to a new low in rebutting not only the Me Too movement, but the common sense barometer. Before them was a sexual harassment case whose facts would shock the senses of most readers; the case involves a female school employee who claimed sexual harassment by her fellow female employees. See Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. 2018).

New Braunfels ISD will ask voters for $118.3 million in bond funding

With a price tag of $118.3 million, New Braunfels ISD will ask voters to approve the largest bond in its history Nov. 6. “As one of the oldest school districts in the state of Texas, we’ve got some facilities that portions of them are 95 years old,” NBISD Superintendent Randy Moczygemba said. Enrollment spikes have hit NBISD the hardest in recent years. So far for the 2018-19 school year, Moczygemba  said the district has seen an increase of 148 students and that two new kindergarten teachers had to be added a few weeks before the school year started. He added that NBISD saw an all-time high population increase of more than 300 students in 2017-18, with fast-paced growth expected to continue. view article  

Equity Center: Texas Commission on Public School Finance Update

Crosby ISD faces dire financial situation and need for layoffs and cuts

Crosby ISD Superintendent Scott Davis said at a board meeting Monday that mid-year layoffs and drastic spending cuts will be necessary this year to keep the 6,000-student school district from becoming financially insolvent.  Although the district's board approved a $57 million budget in June, former financial officials apparently over-estimated how much revenue the district would receive. Officials will not know how many teachers and other staff members will lose their jobs, or how much will need to be slashed from other sources, for at least another week as financial officers work to essentially create a new budget. view article  

Veteran Texas school superintendent joins Raymond James

DALLAS – Curtis Culwell, a former Texas school superintendent and senior associate with the Austin research firm Moak, Casey & Associates, has joined the Raymond James public finance practice as senior vice president, the firm said.Culwell “brings a wealth of Texas public school district knowledge that will continue to bolster our leadership role in underwriting Texas school district financings,” said Tom Oppenheim, senior managing director and head of Southwest Public Finance for Raymond James. view article  

Onalaska ISD superintendent apologizes for posting ‘you can’t count on a black quarterback’

Onalaska ISD Superintendent Lynn Redden said he wished he never posted a comment on the Chron.com Facebook page Monday morning saying "you can't count on a black quarterback." Redden, who oversees the Onalaska school district about 100 miles north of Houston, said he thought he was responding to a private message from a friend. Instead, he posted the comment on a Facebook post promoting a Chron.com story about the Texans' recent loss. view article  

Property taxes rise, state education spending falls. That’s the design.

The state’s budget situation improves as the financial load on Texas property owners increases. That makes for noisy and gnarly politics.   Officials from the Texas Education Agency gave state budget-writers an early look at their budget numbers this week, saying that thy expect property values to rise 6.8 percent per year over the next two years Their takeaway gives a new meaning to take-away: That means local property taxpayers will be paying billions more for public schools, and that the state will spend billions less than it would otherwise as a result. view article  

Pflugerville ISD launches bond election website

With fewer than two months before Election Day, the Pflugerville school district has launched a website to help voters understand how funds will be spent in a $332 million bond package. The website, pfisdbond.net, breaks down proposed bond projects included in the bond package up for vote on Nov. 6, which district officials say would accommodate growth in student enrollment, update aging facilities and address evolving student programs. view article  

Accountability improvements to go before trustees

The Huntsville ISD Board of Trustee will report on the district’s state accountability rating and discussing steps for improving when they meet Tuesday night. The district received a failing trade from the 2017-18 school year with a “D” grade for student achievement, a “D” grade for school progress and an “F” grade for closing gaps among students. Seventy percent of the score is from student progress. “We are working extremely hard to improve our district's accountability rating, which is a reflection of where we have been, not where we are going,” Huntsville ISD Superintendent Dr. Scott Sheppard said. “This year is off to a great start.” view article  

Hallsville ISD board approves guidelines for armed administrators

HALLSVILLE — The Hallsville ISD board of trustees approved guidelines Monday for its school guardian program.  Six board members voted to adopt regulations for the program that will arm three to five administrators by August 2019. Trustee Lee Gaw, who voiced opposition for the program in July, abstained from voting. view article  

Plainview ISD superintendent talks school enrollment, ratings at PARSPA meeting

The Plainview Area Retired School Personnel Association (PARSPA) held its first 2018-19 meeting at the Plainview Adult Activity Center. H. T. Sanchez, superintendent of Plainview ISD, was introduced as guest speaker. He announced that PISD had an enrollment of 5,200 students and that the District had earned in the past year a rating of 87.2--which is outstanding for this area. He added that this was higher than Lubbock Cooper. While his audience waited expectantly to hear what his plans were to build on this rating, Sanchez responded, "My first job priority is not to mess that up." view article  

Seminole superintendent earns top evaluation, bonus

Seminole County’s school superintendent earned top marks in his annual evaluation this year, winning praise from Seminole County School Board members who called him as a strong leader who hasn’t forgotten his time in the classroom. Walt Griffin’s “highly effective” evaluation, discussed by the board this month, earned him a bonus of nearly $12,000. view article  

Kilgore ISD trustees to start search for permanent superintendent

KILGORE — Trustees for Kilgore ISD plan to interview several search firms Monday in pursuit of a permanent superintendent.  The board convened in closed session Wednesday to review search firm applications but took no action in open session. Interim Superintendent Mike Morrison said trustees will interview the firms during a special-called meeting tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday. view article  

Leander ISD works to bolster safety practices with bond projects, local partnerships

As Leander ISD dives into the new school year, district personnel are working to improve emergency preparedness on campus. Brad Mansfield, senior executive director of student services for LISD, said the district wants to ensure the training for emergency situations is consistent across schools. “We found in talking with students across the district that not all of them knew what do in a lockdown,” Mansfield said. view article  

8-year-old dies after being found unconscious on school playground in The Colony

An 8-year-old boy found unconscious on a school playground Saturday died later that afternoon, authorities say. Landon Holland of The Colony was not breathing when officers found him under some playground equipment at Peters Colony Elementary School around 3:30 p.m., police told KTVT-TV (Channel 11). He was rushed to the emergency room at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center at Carrollton, where was pronounced dead just after 4 p.m. view article  

School Threats Being Investigated at Brock ISD

The Parker County Sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division is investigating suspected school threats posted on social media over the weekend. Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said the suspected threats were reported by several Brock Independent School District students and parents Saturday after they observed several Snapchat posts on a male student's account. Sheriff's investigators said they believe certain posts were screen shots of previous posts made last school year from an account, which were re-posted over the weekend, along with new posts. view article  

Conroe ISD marks 126 years of education in Montgomery County

For the past 126 years, Conroe ISD has been providing public education for the children of Montgomery County, shaping the past, present and future of the county through generations of students. “Being a school district with such history strengthens our connections with the community as we have been able to grow and evolve with the county,” CISD Director of Communications Sarah Blakelock said. On June 12, 1892, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court voted to consolidate the 12 common school districts that surrounded Conroe into one independent school district, called Conroe ISD, which covered 25 square miles. view article  

Student found with gun at Conroe ISD school

Conroe ISD says a student was found with a gun Monday at the 9th grade campus on Sergeant Ed Holcomb Boulevard. No threats were made, and district officials say it does not appear there was any intent for the student to use the handgun at school. The district did not disclose whether the gun was loaded. view article  

How Hutto ISD is using bond money 10 years later

More than 10 years after voters approved a $128 million bond in Hutto to accommodate growth, the school district is putting a big chunk of it to use. view article  

Texas DPS increases presence at Lake Travis ISD schools

Under the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott through his school safety initiative, the Texas Department of Public Safety began increasing their presence at all schools across the state. Lake Travis ISD is the fastest growing school district in Texas with more than 10,000 students and it continues to grow. Currently, the school district has two full-time resource officers at Lake Travis High School. They also get some help from the Bee Cave and Lakeway Police Departments, but this year DPS troopers are also patrolling the campus. A district spokesperson said their community has welcomed having added security to their campuses. view article  

Tempers flare at Santa Fe ISD board meeting, some parents call on members to resign

There is growing tension between the Santa Fe ISD school bard and family members of the mass shooting victims. Some have been critical of the board for not doing enough to punish two students accused of having what some believed to be a hit list. view article  

New grant to offer more activities, programs at La Joya ISD

La Joya ISD students can expect to see some changes outside the classroom thanks to a new grant. "We'll be able to provide after-school centers of education at ten campuses and many activities and programs for our students," Maria Leal, the district's grant coordinator, said. view article  

Notable sex scandals involving Houston-area teachers in 2018

At least four former Houston-area teachers accused of having inappropriate relationships with students have made court appearances so far in September, as the issue has grown more prevalent in Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law last year that increases the penalty for principals and superintendents who fail to report teacher misconduct, adding the possibility of a $10,000 fine and two years in jail. view article  

Tyler ISD enters agreement with Christus for Mike Carter naming rights

Tyler ISD has entered into an agreement to extend the naming rights of Christus Trinity Mother Frances to Mike Carter Field. The agreement will see Christus expand naming rights in exchange for the hospital system funding the construction of a batting facility and practice area at Mike Carter, which will help ease congestion at the field over the next few years as construction begins shifting and replacing fields at both high schools. The facility will be used by baseball, softball and golf teams from both Robert E. Lee and John Tyler high schools. By cutting Red Raider Drive through to Shiloh Road early in the construction process, the district saved about $250,000 but lost a practice field. John Tyler will lose its practice field later in the process, due to the layout of the school. view article  

Bryan ISD opens new admin office in a restored high school

The Stephen F. Austin building was built more than 70 years ago. On Monday, the Bryan Independent School District opened the doors at SFA once again, but not as a school. The district completely renovated the inside of the building.  view article  

Santa Fe parents blast school board for subpar safety, academic standards

A Santa Fe Independent School District board of trustees meeting turned rancorous Monday night, with survivors and family members of the victims of a May school shooting berating the board for the district's poor academic performance and inadequate safety measures in the wake of a recent threat against Santa Fe High School students. A group of family members of victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting on May 18, in which 10 people were killed and 13 wounded, claimed that the school district had continually denied them the opportunity to address the board of trustees in a public forum. view article