Former Lake Travis football parent sues school district over peanut allergy incident

The family of former Lake Travis High School football player Carter Mannon has filed a lawsuit against the school district alleging officials failed to address an incident last fall in accordance with bullying and discrimination laws after two of Mannon's teammates stuffed his gear and shoes with peanuts before a game last fall. In the lawsuit, the family alleges the district failed to take any action to prevent bullying against their son and that the teammates knew Mannon was severely allergic to peanut products. The lawsuit was filed Saturday by Shawna Mannon, Carter's mother. "There's no rhyme or reason to the timing (of the complaint)," she told the American-Statesman on Tuesday. "We had exhausted our resources. We had done our due diligence. We're going the legal route because we didn't get what we wanted."
Bonham ISD hires new superintendent, Dr. Joy Wilson

The board unanimously approved hiring Dr. Joy Wilson as the new superintendent and approving the superintendent contract. The meeting adjourned amid applause for the new superintendent. Wilson signed the contract after the meeting ended and then stayed for multiple photographs, including one with Audrey Rayford, who was Wilson’s Head Start teacher in Bonham many years ago.
A First: Texans to Elect Appraisal District Directors in May

Voters in Texas counties with a population of 75,000 or more will elect three new members to their appraisal district board of directors. On May 4, many Texans will have their first opportunity to elect representatives to the governing boards of their local appraisal districts, making the agencies that assess property values for tax purposes more accountable to citizens. A new property tax relief law, passed last year and approved in November by voters statewide, included a provision for voters in counties with a population of 75,000 or more to elect three new members to their county appraisal district board of directors. The three elected board members will serve alongside the five appointed directors and the county tax assessor-collector, who will become an ex-officio board member. Directors elected in May will take office on July 1 and serve a term that expires on December 31, 2026.
Gov. Abbott wants to end property taxes, but is that realistic?

AUSTIN, Texas — After months of delay, a plan to cut your property taxes is on the fast-track. On Wednesday, the Texas Senate passed a key portion of an $18 billion package that would help both homeowners and businesses. What You Need To Know On Wednesday, the Texas Senate passed a key portion of an $18 billion package that would help both homeowners and businesses While Democrats joined Republicans in passing the bills, they raised concerns about a lack of new money for schools One even criticized House leadership for removing a Senate-backed amendment to give teachers a bonus, which Republicans say that will be addressed in the next special session The full property tax relief package is expected to be voted on and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday While Democrats joined Republicans in passing the bills, they raised concerns about a lack of new money for schools. One even criticized House leadership for removing a Senate-backed amendment to give teachers a bonus. Republicans say that will be addressed in the next special session
Lufkin ISD taps James Hockenberry as superintendent finalist

James Hockenberry is now the lone finalist for the job of superintendent at Lufkin ISD, positioning him to be appointed once the state’s 21-day mandatory waiting period elapses. The Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to nominate Hockenberry as the lone finalist during a special meeting Monday. Wayne Haglund, the Lufkin ISD legal counsel, said that based on state law the board must wait 21 days after announcing a superintendent candidate before entering into a contract. Hockenberry has served for the last four years as assistant superintendent of Longview ISD, part of his 29 years of work as an educator. He also served as superintendent of Center ISD and Chireno ISD for a total of 13 years, said Lufkin ISD Board president Kristi Gay as she introduced Hockenberry. She also noted his experience as a teacher — including four years as a high school science teacher.
Bonham ISD names superintendent lone finalist by MyParisTexas March 21, 2024

Bonham ISD Board of Trustees named Dr. Joy Wilson as the lone finalist for Superintendent of Schools for Bonham ISD at their Mar. 20, 2024, meeting. After the state-required 21-day waiting period, Dr. Wilson is set to become the district’s next leader following the retirement of current BISD superintendent, Kelly Trompler. Dr. Wilson is delighted to return to Bonham ISD where she began her education, attending kindergarten at Stephenson School. Her mother, a class of 1969 Bonhi graduate, is thrilled to have her daughter serve as the next superintendent at her alma mater.

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Clear Creek ISD completes 86% of intruder detection audit, remedies exterior door audit findings

April 2308:40 AM

Clear Creek ISD has completed 86% of its intruder detection audit, or IDAs, throughout the district and has had to remedy nine doors throughout the entire district based on audit findings. What you need to know The Texas School Safety Center, or TxSSC, provides safety and security information through research, training and technical assistance for K-12 schools, according to the center’s website. Through Region 4, the TxSSC conducts comprehensive IDAs to assess the security measures of school campuses on an annual basis. view article

HISD high schools ranked among best in Texas in 2024 U.S. News rankings. Here’s how each campus did.

April 2308:40 AM

Two Houston ISD high schools continue to rank among the best 10 public secondary schools in the state, according to the 2024 rankings from U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News listed Carnegie Vanguard High School at No. 5 and DeBakey High School for Health Professions as No. 8 in Texas in its annual ratings Tuesday. The two HISD high schools also were ranked as No. 31 and No. 70, respectively, in the U.S. among a list of nearly 17,660 charter, magnet and traditional public schools.The annual review ranks schools based on six factors: college readiness, student performance on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and state standardized exams, graduation rates and academic outcomes for Black, Hispanic and low-income students. The data is based on scores from exams taken during the 2021-2022 academic year. view article

Migrant apprehensions are down at the Texas border. Have state policies had an impact?

April 2308:40 AM

Abbott has credited his Operation Lone Star for a recent drop in migrant encounters on the Texas-Mexico border. To Gov. Greg Abbott, the results of his multibillion-dollar border security initiative are clear. In a recent television interview, Abbott highlighted a decrease in the number of migrants trying to enter the country through the Rio Grande into Eagle Pass after he ordered the state National Guard to seize a 50-acre public park there. He also noted another statistic: Texas has more than two-thirds of the U.S.-Mexico border, but has recently seen fewer illegal crossings than other border states. “We are having a profound impact in stopping the flow of illegal immigration into the state of Texas,” Abbott said in the interview, crediting Operation Lone Star, the border security initiative he launched in March 2021. Federal statistics confirm Abbott’s claim that overall more migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents outside of Texas each of the first three months of this year. During the 2023 fiscal year, Texas on average accounted for roughly 59% of migrant encounters along the southwest border. During the first half of the 2024 fiscal year, which began in October, Texas has on average accounted for 43% of migrant encounters. view article

Seattle Children’s Hospital won’t have to provide trans patient records to Texas under new settlement

April 2308:40 AM

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suspected the hospital was helping Texas kids access puberty blockers or hormone treatments that are outlawed for juveniles. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will drop his quest to seize transgender patients’ information from a Seattle children’s hospital, according to a court settlement Paxton’s office announced on Monday. Seattle Children’s Hospital officials have said in sworn depositions that the facility does not have staff who treat trans kids in-person within Texas or remotely from Washington. As part of the settlement, the hospital will withdraw its business license in Texas, though it wasn’t immediately clear Monday for what purposes that license was used. The agreement comes as Paxton and the hospital face off over a November investigation opened by the attorney general two months after a new Texas law banned the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth. view article

Governor Abbott Announces Over $2.1 Million In Career Training Grants To Seven Gulf Coast Area Schools

April 2308:35 AM

Governor Greg Abbott today announced seven Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants totaling $2,103,320 have been awarded to seven schools in the Gulf Coast area by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The JET grants will support career and technical education (CTE) training programs by helping the schools purchase and install equipment to initially train more than 1,500 students for high-demand occupations as welders, registered nurses, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, and more. view article

It’s official: URHCS is sports medicine provider for WFISD, thanks to innovative agreement

April 2308:30 AM

An innovative partnership to step up sports medicine care for student athletes in Wichita Falls ISD heralds a new era of community involvement, WFISD School Board President Katherine McGregor said. United Regional Health Care System and WFISD recently announced a groundbreaking agreement to improve athletic care for student-athletes, according to a media release. The partnership means URHCS is the official sports medicine provider for WFISD athletics. A staff member at the United Regional Center for Advanced Orthopedics provides a demonstration Tuesday, April 16, 2024, as Wichita Falls ISD and United Regional Health Care System enter into a sports medicine partnership for student athletes. "The partnership is another example of our larger community working together, and our local families and students are the winners," McGregor said in a statement. "What a blessing for all!" view article

Dr. Elaine Howard, New Leadership and Visions for Sharyland ISD

April 2308:30 AM

Sharyland, TX – On Friday, April 19, 2024, Sharyland ISD welcomed a new chapter in its history with the introduction of Dr. Elaine Howard, the incoming superintendent. The event, hosted by Superintendent Dr. Maria M. Vidaurri and the Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees, provided an opportunity for Texas Border Business and community members to engage in meaningful dialogue with Dr. Howard. Getting to Know Dr. Elaine Howard Originally from Albuquerque and a longtime resident of San Antonio, Dr. Howard brings over 17 years of educational experience to Sharyland ISD. “This feels like coming home,” she shared, emphasizing her connection to the community despite being new to the Rio Grande Valley. With a robust background in educational leadership, including a tenure as deputy superintendent at Bernie ISD, Dr. Howard is ready to tackle the challenges of her new role. view article

‘They come home crying, they can’t eat, they can’t sleep’ | Texas families take action against STAAR

April 2308:30 AM

TEXAS, USA — UPDATE: 'A constant insane amount of pressure' | Central Texas mom opts student out of STAAR test, despite TEA saying the law does not allow for it Texans are taking action against the state's testing program, known as STAAR. Parents are opting out of the assessment which is possible but not easy. A minimum of 95% of students must participate in STAAR testing or the state might penalize the district, according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). However, students and parents face no consequences for opting out. view article

l Paso ISD offering vocational training with a modern approach

April 2308:30 AM

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — You might call El Paso ISD’s Center for Career and Technology Education its secret weapon. For the past 30 years, CCTE has been teaching students marketable skills and trades while getting them ready for a profession, not just a job, said longtime Principal Matthew Farley. “We have traditional shops. We have (automotive) collision. We have welding. We have the traditional cosmetology, cosmetology nails but we have unique programs like cyber security, 3D animation, vet tech where kids can become certified vet assistants and actually work with veterinarians in the clinics,” Farley said. view article

North Texas schools want $2.5B for safety, upgrades and more

April 2308:30 AM

Safety improvements, technology, new campuses and stadium upgrades are on the ballot for North Texas schools this May. Voters will decide billions of dollars worth of bond packages as about a dozen area districts have proposals on the May 4 ballot. ADVERTISEMENT “It’s really about upgrading the learning environment for our students so that it can make it more conducive to learning,” Cedar Hill ISD Superintendent Gerald Hudson said. “Not only for the students but also for the teachers.” The districts’ appeals come as the success of school bonds has diminished in recent years. In 2019, for example, Texas voters approved about 77% of such propositions, according to state data. view article

Gov. Abbott ‘certain’ school vouchers will pass next session

April 2308:30 AM

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's push for school vouchers has been a large part of the 2024 election cycle. Education savings accounts, also known as school vouchers, failed to pass in the Texas Legislature multiple times in 2023. view article

Longview: Trustees approve curriculum for new gaming program

April 2308:30 AM

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved curriculum plans for new grant-funded gaming and multimedia programs, during their regular meeting Monday, April 22. Board members received a presentation from Ms. Rewa Conner, LISD Gaming Coordinator, about the proposed Gaming Development & Digital Multimedia Art Pathway courses for Bailey Elementary, Forest Park Middle, and Longview Early Graduation High. "The courses requested for approval are: (Level 1) Video Game Design, (Level 2) Game Programming and Design, (Level 3) Web Game Development, and (Level 4) Career Preparation I or Student to Industry Connection," Conner said. view article

May 4 election: Here’s what’s on the ballot in Georgetown

April 2308:30 AM

Voters throughout Texas—including those in Georgetown—will head to the polls to vote for city council members, school board trustees and local propositions. With early voting underway, here's a quick guide to what's on the ballot. view article

Opinion D.C.’s truancy problem won’t get better without involved parents

April 2308:30 AM

Opinion D.C.’s truancy problem won’t get better without involved parents Mr. King has done D.C. a service on this vexing and chronic issue once again. He very correctly points out the shortcomings of the D.C. government’s policies in this problem area. Clearly, the deputy mayor for education and the schools need to play a crucial role in dealing with this. But, as Mr. King points out, unless and until the parents are required (and helped) to meet their responsibilities, major improvements are unlikely to happen. Two issues remain unaddressed, however: First, does the deputy mayor have the will and capacity to take the needed actions? And second, to what degree are poverty and, say, single-mother households behind the problem, and if so what problem-solving options do we have? view article

Dr. Amy Anderson named Lone Finalist for Royse City ISD Superintendent

April 2308:29 AM

At a special meeting on Monday, April 22, the Royse City ISD School Board approved by unanimous vote the naming of Dr. Amy Anderson as the lone finalist in the superintendent search. Dr. Anderson has served as the interim superintendent since the retirement of longtime superintendent Kevin Worthy in December. She first joined Royse City ISD in the Summer of 2022 as chief academic officer and was later promoted to deputy superintendent. Texas state law requires school districts to implement a 21-day waiting period before an official contract may be offered. Dr. Anderson is scheduled to sign her contract on Monday, May 13. view article

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Gladewater ISD opts out of Mondays with four-day school week move

April 2308:28 AM

Gladewater ISD board of trustees unanimously made the decision on Monday to move to a four-day school week and opted not to have classes on Mondays. Unlike other districts that decided on having a four-day school week with Fridays off, the district of Gladewater will not be in session Mondays of the coming school year. The school board president said this will help attract and retain teachers, giving them more flexibility in their personal lives. view article

Kaufman: Local ISD Seeks Voter Approval of $171M Bond

April 2308:25 AM

Voters in Kaufman ISD, located just 45 minutes southeast of Dallas, will consider a $171 million bond to improve safety and security and create more space to address aging facilities. The district is expected to reach over 5,000 students in five years. Kaufman County is the second-fastest growing county in the United States. Enrollment has increased by almost 10% over the last three years, according to the district. view article

Cy-Fair ISD discusses budget-cut proposals

April 2308:25 AM

This special meeting came after a nearly $70 million budget shortfall. view article

Granger ISD teacher placed on leave after allegations of inappropriate behavior

April 2308:25 AM

A Granger ISD teacher has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate behavior. Granger ISD said district officials have received reports of inappropriate behavior by a teacher in the classroom. Upon learning of the allegations, Granger ISD said it immediately contacted Child Protective Services (CPS) and placed the teacher on administrative leave. view article

West ISD placed on lockdown April 18 after student typed reference to gun in Google slides presentation

April 2308:21 AM

The West Independent School District was placed on lockdown April 18 after the school’s security software detected a student typing threatening language in reference to a gun in a Google slides presentation, the district told KWTX. West ISD said its Gaggle Safety Team sent administrators an alert about the student’s message at 1:47 p.m. “We received a notification from Gaggle, it’s our filter system, that there was some inappropriate language being typed into a Google product,” Assistant Superintendent Amanda Adams said. view article

11 Year Old Bryan ISD Student Is Charged With Assaulting An Educator Resulting In A Traumatic Brain Injury

April 2308:21 AM

The Bryan ISD school board hears from the husband of an educator who was assaulted by a student. During the public comment portion of the BISD board’s April 15th meeting, James Long said his wife sustained a traumatic brain injury. Among other things, Long said “Bryan ISD teachers are being assaulted and victimized across the district. And it appears that the district is not only not doing anything about it, but they are actively trying to cover it up.” view article

Rockdale ISD teacher in the running to win America’s Favorite Teacher award from Reader’s Digest

April 2308:21 AM

A Central Texas teacher is in the running for a Reader's Digest magazine award. Brittany Young, a Kindergarten teacher at Rockdale Elementary School, has made it to the most recent round of the 'America's Favorite Teacher', which is put on by Reader's Digest to celebrate one educator with some incredible prizes, including a trip to Hawaii, $25,000, and a spot in the magazine. view article

College Station ISD looks to pass athletics upgrade bond in third ballot appearance

April 2308:15 AM

If the upcoming bond package passes, the district's debt load--including interest--could swell to nearly a billion dollars. view article

In one Texas county, elections officials shoulder new costs and burdens to appease skeptics

April 2305:48 AM

Brazos County election officials are responding to demands from skeptical residents by expanding hand counts and ordering special paper. In Brazos County, suspicions about elections burst into the open last fall, just weeks after a visit from an out-of-state group calling for ballots to be hand-counted. “Everything seems great. But if you study this, you’ll find that it’s possible to pre-program electronic voting machines and make it do whatever you want,” one resident said at a commissioners court meeting last November, without evidence to support the claims. “Ever since these machines came along, I’ve heard nothing but accusations of fraud,” said another resident. “I am asking you to investigate. Something was wrong in the 2020 election. Voting machines do only what they’re programmed to do.” view article

Cactus Elementary builds tornado shelter in new school

April 2208:40 AM

CACTUS, Texas (KFDA) - The new state-of-the-art tornado shelter in the middle of Cactus Elementary School is where all 480 of their students will be able to escape should a storm happen. “We’ve got a lot more technology integrated into the whole building. We’re really proud that we have a storm shelter that will house all of our students. Our old building, you know, the winds we’re having today can almost push it over. Just everything new, just move in ready, so that’s going to be nice,” said TJ Funderburg, Cactus Elementary principal. In 2019, a $107 million bond was approved for three new elementary schools, two in Dumas and one in Cactus. view article

Texas public school districts warn of budget deficits amid stagnant funding

April 2208:40 AM

AUSTIN, Texas — Public school districts across Texas are warning of budget deficits as they workshop their 2024-25 budgets. Bastrop Independent School District Superintendent Barry Edwards sent a letter to families and staff last week warning of a budget shortfall of nearly $8 million for the 2024-25 school year. Edwards said several factors are contributing to the deficit, including the end of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding created during the pandemic, an increase in the cost of living and the Texas Legislature not providing additional funding to public schools. While Bastrop ISD has seen an increase in enrollment — unlike many public school districts across the state — the district is still seeing a budget shortfall. Most of the district’s funding, like all public schools in the state, comes from student attendance, and the superintendent said attendance percentage was down compared to pre-pandemic numbers, causing revenue to be down. Edwards said before the pandemic average daily attendance was 94.6%, while this year it was 92.11%. view article

Newly released documentary alleges former Keller ISD trustee ‘begged’ crew to not air interview

April 2208:31 AM

After two months of anticipation among Keller ISD parents and staff, parts of an episode shot at Central High School were recently featured on an international TV show called “God, Jesus, Trump!” A film crew hired by a Netherlands-based broadcasting channel called Evangelische Omroep — or EO for short — visited the school in February to film an interview for an episode titled “Texas – War on Woke” with Sandi Walker, a Keller ISD trustee who later resigned. Show host Tijs van den Brink said during the April 14 episode that the aftermath of the visit had “traumatized” Walker and that the show had decided not to broadcast her interview per her request. view article

QISD purchases new science curriculum

April 2208:30 AM

After a presentation by Quitman Elementary School Principal Kelli Fortner, the Quitman School Board decided to purchase a new science curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The purchase is a cutting-edge textbook and lab kit set from McGraw-Hill. QISD will be purchasing the curriculum for $50,924. Fortner mentioned that the kits are “non-consumable,” so they will be able to be re-used. The board also approved the annual agreement between Tyler Junior College and QISD. There are only a few changes in 2024’s MOU, as Superintendent Chris Mason mentioned. The only significant change, Mason says, is that “we actually expect that our dual credit cost (will) go down.” One item of interest at the meeting was Jordan Watts and Abby Day acting out a scene from Quitman High School’s recent one-act play, “The Lost Boy.” In the production, Watts plays J.M. Barrie (the author of “Peter Pan”), and Day plays Barrie’s mother. view article

Prosper ISD officials OK 3.5% raise in 2024-25 compensation plan

April 2208:30 AM

Prosper ISD leaders have approved the largest pay raise in the district’s history. The district’s board of trustees unanimously approved a compensation plan for district employees that included a 3.5% raise for full-time staff to encourage retention and recruitment April 15. “This is the biggest raise that has ever happened in the history of Prosper ISD,” Superintendent Holly Ferguson said. view article

Plano ISD projecting 4.6% increase to department budgets for 2024-25

April 2208:30 AM

Plano ISD is projecting a 4.6% increase to department budgets heading into the 2024-25 school year, according to a staff presentation during the district’s April 17 board of trustees meeting. The presentation included a full breakdown of changes to the district’s departmental budgets as PISD nears final approval of its budget for next school year. The overview PISD is projecting an increase in total department budgets from $81.69 million this year to $85.42 million next year. view article

Odessa: ECISD to host workshop aimed at preventing sextortion

April 2208:30 AM

Ector County ISD is seeing a rise in cases of blackmail among students. This kind of blackmail is called “Sextortion”. Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri explains more about what it is and how students are targeted. “This summer, we were visited by the Department of Homeland Security, and that raised the alarm. Children specifically in our area [are] being targeted by adults, not only in the United States but adults from around the world, accessing our kids through many times, their cell phones. They are convincing our children to take inappropriate images of themselves and then to share those images. And then these adults really extort or in this case, sextort those kids and make them send money or intimidate them in some way to get view article

Cy-Fair ISD board to consider 2024-25 budget cut recommendations

April 2208:30 AM

Cy-Fair ISD board to consider 2024-25 budget cut recommendations Selling alcohol at the Berry Center and eliminating some district-level positions are among the top ideas in a list of cost-saving measures Cy-Fair ISD’s budget reduction advisory committee ranked by priority earlier this month. The 66-member committee includes teachers, principals, parents and administrators and launched in March. The committee ranked the recommendations by priorty April 9-15. Citing fiscal challenges, Superintendent Doug Killian asked for input from the community on how the district can generate new revenue and cut costs, Community Impact previously reported. view article

Celina ISD announces new human resources director, administrative roles

April 2208:30 AM

Melissa Kelly was appointed as the new director of human resources by the Celina ISD board members March 25. Before joining CISD, Kelly served as the associate superintendent of learning and leading in Fort Worth ISD, according to a district news release. She will lead the expansion of the human resources department’s support for district staff as CISD undergoes significant growth. "Her experience as an educational leader in districts of excellence and her personal understanding of our Celina community position her as an invaluable asset to our district,” Superintendent Thomas Maglisceau said in the release. “We look forward to the innovative contributions she will bring as we continue to strive for excellence in serving our students, staff, parents and community." view article

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Music Program receives 17th national recognition

April 2208:30 AM

The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD) has been named one of the best communities for music education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). This is the 17th time that CFBISD has been granted this award. The CFBISD website states “this honor is awarded to school districts that demonstrate outstanding commitment to music education and provide music access and education to all students.” To qualify for this designation, CFBISD answered many detailed questions about graduation requirements, funding, music class participation, facilities, instruction time, support for the music program and community music-making programs. view article

Texas is struggling to diversify its mental health workforce as the state becomes less white

April 2208:30 AM

More than 40% of the state’s population is Hispanic, but its mental health provider population is more than 80% white. Lynette Carrillo felt alone. Looking around at her small doctoral psychology class at Texas Woman’s University in 2021, she realized she was the only Spanish speaker. At that point, Carillo had almost grown used to it. After nearly a decade pursuing degrees at Angelo State University in San Angelo and TWU in Denton, she could count on one hand how many professors and classmates came from diverse backgrounds. It’s just how the mental health field is, she thought. “For a long time, I didn’t know that there were clinicians who spoke Spanish or who came from diverse backgrounds like me,” she said. “In the Latin culture, community is important, so I had to put in that extra effort to find common ground with my classmates. I had to have that mindset with myself in order not to feel like I was so alone.” view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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