Equity Center: House Budget Numbers Released

The initial House budget has been released and true to the commitment of incoming Speaker Dennis Bonnen, public education has been made priority one. The budget calls for $9 billion in new state funding for public education over the next two years contingent upon legislation passing that "...increases the state share of the Foundation School Program, enhances district entitlements, reduces recapture, and provides local property tax relief, while maintaining an equitable system of school finance." The budget language specifies that a portion of the new funding will be used to provide local property tax relief; however, no specific amount is provided. It should be noted that the proposed $9 billion increase is above the $2.4 billion appropriated for student enrollment growth and the $2.2 billion included for the increase in the Golden Penny Guaranteed Yield, which increases to $126.88 in 2020 and $135.92 in 2021. You can view the proposed 2020-2021 House budget. The relevant language regarding the increase is located in Article III on page 27 in Rider 77.   

The Threat of a Hostile Takeover of Houston ISD - All Part of the State’s Plan to Privatize Public Education

Background: Under the politically-motivated disguise of saving students from the ineptitude of community-based school districts, the State’s potential “hostile takeover” of Houston ISD (“HISD”) is all part of the State’s master plan to privatize public education. The State does not want to assume control of HISD. If that was the goal, the State would have already taken over HISD for having a conservator for more than 2 years. Rather, the State’s threatened “hostile takeover” of HISD is simply the deployment of another privatization strategy approved by the Texas Legislature in 2015. Unfortunately, it is only one of the many strategies deployed by the State to expedite the privatization of public education in local communities across Texas. A common feature of each of the State’s strategies to privatize public education is that they are deployed without community or taxpayer approval. In each case, the State’s strategies unilaterally divert local school district property taxes from community-based school districts to State approved, privately-operated charter schools. In each case, the State’s strategies serve to undermine the power of community-elected school boards and local taxpayers by transferring the control of public education to the “appointed boards” of State controlled, privately-operated charters schools. view article  

Principals see progress, uncertainty remains at 4 long-struggling HISD schools

The principals of four Houston ISD schools in danger of triggering major state sanctions this year are encouraged by progress at their campuses, but district administrators say it’s too early to predict whether the schools will stave off punishment by meeting academic standards. view article  

Superintendent Search: Houston ISD Hires Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to Conduct Search

Houston ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Superintendent Search: Buna ISD Hires Region 5 ESC to Conduct Search

 Buna ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Region 5 ESC to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

Texas House proposes a massive increase for public school funding

As Texas’ Republican leadership calls for property tax cuts and a school finance overhaul, the Texas House on Monday pitched a bold proposal: Pump roughly $7 billion more state funds into public schools — but only if lawmakers can satisfactorily overhaul the school finance system to slow the growth of property taxes.  Budget documents published Monday evening show the House has offered up a whopping 17 percent increase in K-12 public education funding so long as lawmakers achieve a few lofty goals in reforming how the state pays for public schools view article  

North East ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Gottardy announces retirement

SAN ANTONIO — During a board meeting Monday night, North East ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian G. Gottardy announced his plans to retire, effective June 30, 2019.  Gottardy has been the district's superintendent since 2011.  view article  

Texas Inaugural Ball

The Inaugural Ball is sold out. If any additional tickets become available, we will update this page. In honor of the Inauguration of Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the 2019 Texas Inaugural Committee cordially invites you to the Texas Inaugural Ball view article  

Analysis: Big things can happen in Texas without court orders, sometimes

The Republican era in Texas government got its real start 40 years ago this week, when Bill Clements became the first GOP governor of the state since Reconstruction. He wasn’t the first modern Republican in statewide office — that was John Tower, elected to the U.S. Senate in 1961. But Clements was the trailblazer for the party that now dominates state government, holding all of the elected statewide offices.  It took two decades for the GOP’s candidates to gain full control of the executive branch, but they swept those elections in 1998 and never looked back. Starting with Clements, Republicans have won nine of the last 11 gubernatorial elections, Democrats only two. view article  

Brownsville Schools Superintendent on Paid Leave Amid Review

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS (AP) — The superintendent of a South Texas school district has been put on administrative leave with pay amid an investigation into what she said involves facility projects.  Trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District voted unanimously Friday night to place Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas on immediate leave during the review. School officials, who met in executive session prior to the 7-0 vote, did not provide a reason. view article  

Brownsville:  BISD takes administrative action against superintendent

By a unanimous vote Friday night, the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees placed Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas on administrative leave with pay effective immediately pending further review.  The action came at the end of a three-hour special-called board meeting, almost all of which took place in closed executive session. The vote was 7-0. view article  

Give your input on the Houston ISD Superintendent search

Public meeting notice. The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent, and trustees are seeking input from the community about the qualities and traits they would like to see in their next district leader. HISD Board of Education trustees have scheduled several meetings to gather feedback from the community that will be used to develop a superintendent candidate profile. The dates and times for the meetings are listed below. view article  

New From TEA

• State Board of Education UpdateState Board of Education hosts free conference Jan. 30 1/15
• 2017-2018 Federal Report Cards are now available 1/10
• TEA releases 2017-2018 Texas Academic Performance Report
• 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 Testing Calendars 12/13
• TEA releases final 2018 academic accountability ratings 12/13
• Applications Open for Joining the System of Great Schools Network 12/7
• Update to HHSC ‘Third Party Liability for SHARS Interim Claims’ 12/7
• Required Residential Facility Tracker Data Collection – Students with Disabilities 11/16
• Official Notification of the 2017–2018 Release of Final FIRST Ratings 11/16
• Statewide Indirect Cost Rate Proposal and Additional Costs Workbook Training 11/16

Preventive Law: Who Needs Bus Driver Certification?

Texas Education Code § 34.007 allows (but does not require) a district to operate “an economical public school transportation system.” That same section requires that all bus drivers must be certified in accordance with Texas Department of Public Safety rules. Employees who drive regular bus routes must be certified by the DPS or be currently enrolled in an approved school bus safety education course. Tex. Transp. Code § 521.022(e). Because some employees who are not regular bus route drivers, especially extra-curricular coaches, must sometimes transport students, it is important to know if they must also hold school bus driver certification. The answer to the question is found by a combination of the Texas Transportation Code and the Texas Administrative Code.

Bye Bye, Bathroom Bill: Bonnen to Run Texas House the Straus Way

For the first time in a decade, the Texas Legislature has opened its session without San Antonio’s Joe Straus in the powerful post of Speaker of the House. Happily, his spirit is still strong in Austin. Straus’ successor, Dennis Bonnen of Angleton, has sent strong signals that he will follow Straus’ model in two important ways. The first is as a “servant leader,” rather than the dictatorial model presented by Straus’ predecessor, Tom Craddick of Midland. The second: Focus on what’s important, in contrast to Straus’ Senate counterpart, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. view article  

Watch Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick take the oath of office

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who both won re-election in November, will kick off their second, four-year terms on Tuesday after being sworn into office on the steps of the Texas Capitol.  The inaugural ceremony will begin in the morning, with speeches from both Republicans — Abbott first, Patrick second — set to begin at 11 a.m. Check back on this page for a livestream of the event. view article  

Public addresses search for Superintendent of Yorktown ISD

At a special Yorktown ISD Board of Education meeting on Monday, Jan. 7, the public had the opportunity to express what characteristics and qualities they would most like to see in YISD’s next superintendent.  view article  

Beaumont ISD to vote on handing 3 campuses to charter operators

Beaumont ISD will vote this week on whether to hand over control of its three longest-struggling campuses to two charter operators. Fehl-Price Elementary, Jones-Clark Elementary and Smith Middle School have been "chronically" flagged as improvement required by the Texas Education Agency for at least four years, according to previous reporting from The Enterprise. view article  

Combs tapped to lead Alvin ISD

A familiar face will lead Alvin ISD — at least on a temporary basis — as the district searches for a new superintendent. The Alvin ISD Board of Regents voted Tuesday to name Assistant Superintendent Daniel Combs as the interim superintendent beginning Wednesday. Gilcrease served as superintendent for five years, leading the district during a time of rapid growth. He announced last November that he was retiring this spring and was taking a job with a consulting firm in Austin. Tuesday was his last full day as superintendent of Alvin ISD.  view article  

Representative Thierry Announces Three-Pronged Strategy to Address Mental Health in Schools and Keep Texas Schools Safe from Threat of Gun Violence

Austin, Texas: (Monday, January 14, 2019) State Representative Shawn Thierry (D - 146) announced three pieces of legislation tackling public school safety and addressing the mental health needs of Texas' children. The impetus for the bills is the alarming rise in student suicide and school violence in Texas.  As the mother of a six-year old child attending a Houston area public school, Representative Thierry said she deeply identifies with the fears parents now face on a daily basis, as they drop their children off at school. “Most would agree that children are our most treasured assets. They should be able to learn and thrive without the fear that at any given moment, they may be the next next victim of a school shooting. I am striving for school environments that support mental wellness and are free from lethal weapons entering the building,” remarked the Rep. Thierry. view article  

Brownsville ISD could name interim superintendent

Brownsville Independent School District trustees will consider the appointment of an interim superintendent of schools during a rescheduled regular Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday. The matter of an interim superintendent became necessary after the board placed Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas "on administrative leave with pay pending further review' at the conclusion view article  

Katy ISD officially names Ken Gregorski as new superintendent of schools

KATY, Texas (KTRK) -- The Katy ISD board of trustees voted 7-0 on Monday night to appoint acting superintendent Ken Gregorski as the district's permanent leader.   Gregorski assumed the interim position on Dec. 1, as the district worked to identify a candidate to replace outgoing Superintendent Lance Hindt.  Gregorski is a 26-year public school veteran, first teaching in the classroom before serving as an assistant principal, principal, and then assistant and deputy superintendent. view article  

Central ISD Board of Trustees votes not to extend Superintendent Allen Garner’s contract

The Central ISD Board of Trustees voted not to extend Superintendent Allen Garner’s contract following a closed session of its monthly meeting Thursday evening.  Garner has been superintendent since 2007, when he followed former superintendent Vernis Rogers. He did not respond to attempts for comment.  The board voted this in a 5-2 decision. Board president Tim Sprinkle said he would not comment on matters of personnel — what prompted the board to make this decision and how members voted.  Garner still has two years left on his previous contract, so Sprinkle said there are no plans yet in regard to searching for a new superintendent. However, he said the board plans on continuing to work toward improvement for the district. view article  

Superintendent Search: Carrizo Springs ISD Hires New Superintendent

Carrizo Springs ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Alberto Gonzales, Interim Superintendent of Carrizo Springs CISD, as the district’s new superintendent for Carrizo Springs ISD Superintendent of Schools. Details and updates will continue to appear on our search page.

Coahoma ISD announces new superintendent

COAHOMA -- Coahoma ISD has a new superintendent.  In a meeting on Tuesday night, the Coahoma ISD Board of Trustees named Brad Cox to the role.  Cox had served the district as assistant superintendent since 2014 and has 17 years of experience in education.  He's taking the role after Dr. Amy Jacobs announced that she was leaving the position in October to work with nonprofits. view article  

Tax attorney defends collection record to White Oak ISD

 A tax attorney defended her company’s track record of collecting unpaid taxes to White Oak trustees Monday, touting her statewide firm as more aggressive and effective at delivering revenue for the Roughnecks. “We’re not the largest firm that does this, but bigger doesn’t always mean better,” Liz Bonn, of the firm McCreary Veselka Bragg & Allen, told the school board near the end of a presentation in which she mentioned “our competitor” several times but never by name. view article  

Frisco ISD new enrollment numbers show continued growth for the fastest-growing district in Texas

Frisco ISD remains one of the fastest growing school districts in Texas with new enrollment numbers showing continued growth. The district has added more than 1,900 students since this time last year, according to figures presented during FISD board of trustees’ first meeting of the new year on Jan. 14. Todd Fouche, deputy superintendent of business and operations, provided the latest figures to the board. From Dec. 10-Jan. 14, the district added 243 students with 186 of those being elementary students. Since Labor Day, the district has added 740 students; 582 of those were elementary students. view article  

Pine Tree ISD receives nasal spray to counter possible opioid overdoses

Pine Tree ISD has responded to the national opioid crisis by obtaining two nasal spray boxes to provide immediate relief in case of a student overdose on opioids — something that has not occurred yet. Pine Tree officials believe the district is the first in the area to receive the Narcan packs, which each contain two doses that the district’s seven nurses and two athletic trainers are authorized to administer. view article  

Texas Tech receives grant to expand program aimed at rural schools

Texas Tech’s College of Education recently received grant funding from the Texas Education Agency that will be used to expand efforts to increase the quality and diversity of teachers in rural school districts.  The $484,000 that Tech received through TEA’s “Grow Your Own” grant program will go toward growing the TechTeach Across Rural Texas, a program dedicated to recruiting and preparing teachers for rural schools. The program launched last year after Tech received $411,000 from the same grant opportunity. view article  

Stories to watch in 2019 #9: School finance to be a top legislative issue in Texas as CISD funding slows

This story is part of our Annual Community Guide, which takes a look at some of the biggest stories to watch in The Woodlands and South Montgomery County in 2019. Stay tuned throughout the week as we countdown to the No. 1 story to watch this year. What we reported A commission on school finance reform was created by House Bill 21 in the 85th Texas Legislature after lawmakers set out to fix the school finance system but could not agree on a solution. After a series of meetings throughout the year, the commission delivered a report to the Legislature at the end of 2018 with recommendations for how the school finance system could be improved. In past budget cycles, Conroe ISD has attributed losses in state funding to the “Robin Hood” plan, which uses recaptured revenue from wealthy districts to fund less-wealthy districts. State funding accounted for 40 percent of CISD’s budget in 2009, while funding dropped to 26 percent in 2018.    view article  

Demographer’s report: Richardson ISD enrollment to grow by 5 percent over the next 5 years

Richardson ISD enrolled 205 fewer students in school year 2018-19, but a demographer’s report presented Jan. 14 shows that trend will reverse over the next half decade. Today, roughly 39,109 students attend RISD schools. In five years that number is expected to grow by 1,980 students, or 5.1 percent, according to the district’s demographer Bob Templeton of Templeton Demographics. Factors consistent across North Texas are behind the projected increase, such as a strong housing market and historically low unemployment rates, Templeton said. view article  

Rubin: Voters are watching for lawmakers’ commitment to children

As Texas kicks off another legislative session, the Legislature is under the microscope in a way this state hasn’t experienced in years.  Whether you pore over November election data or simply listen to the chatter around the state Capitol, the conclusion is clear: Next year, state legislators are likely to face the most competitive elections they’ve seen in a decade, and those elections will be shaped by policy decisions they make this year. view article  

Peter Greene: The L.A. Teachers Strike is a Different Kind of Strike

Peter Greene nails it again, in this brilliant article that appeared in Forbes,which is typically read by people in the business world. He begins: Teachers don’t want to strike. Teacher strikes happen because teachers believe they are out of alternatives. There has never been a union meeting in which members said, “The board says they’re willing to talk, and we trust them to do so in good faith, but we think we should strike instead.” view article