Memorial Day Holiday

In observance of Memorial Day, TexasISD.com will not publish on Monday, May 27. Posting will resume on Tuesday, May 28. 

Superintendent Search: TASB ESS Announces Lone Finalist for San Diego ISD

San Diego ISD Board of Trustees has chosen Rodrigo Pena, Director of Instructional Implementation of San Benito CISD, as Lone Finalist for San Diego ISD Superintendent of Schools. Details and updates will continue to appear on our search page as things progress. 

Superintendent Search: TASB ESS Announces Lone Finalist for Gonzales ISD

Gonzales ISD Board of Trustees has chosen John Schumacher, Superintendent of Mason ISD, as Lone Finalist for Gonzales ISD Superintendent of Schools. Details and updates will continue to appear on our search page as things progress. 

Superintendent Search: Region 16 Announces Lone Finalist for Channing ISD

Channing ISD Board of Trustees has chosen Michael Stevens, the Principal of 7-12 Grade of Electra ISD, as Lone Finalist for Channing ISD Superintendent of Schools. Details and updates will continue to appear on our search page as things progress. 

Superintendent Search: Monte Alto ISD Hires O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo to Conduct Superintendent Search

Monte Alto ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our search page as things progress.

San Diego: SDISD names lone finalist for superintendent

SAN DIEGO - School boards members for San Diego Independent School District announced the lone finalist for the district’s new superintendent on Wednesday night. The lone finalist is Dr. Rodrigo Pena who is currently employed with the San Benito Consolidated ISD as the Director of Secondary Instructional Implementation.  He is currently responsible for curriculum updates and alignments, TEKS resource system scope and sequence, common formative assessment, meetings with campus principals and more. view article  

Superintendent Search: Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle P.C Announces Lone Finalist for Crystal City ISD

Crystal City ISD Board of Trustees has chosen Edward Churchill, Director of Student Services of Mercedes ISD, as Lone Finalist for Crystal City Superintendent of Schools. Details and updates will continue to appear on our search page as things progress. 

SCHULENBURG ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

The board of trustees of the Schulenburg Independent School District has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Click here for the TexasISD.com Advertising  view article  

Preventive Law: Measles!!!

Texas is in the middle of the biggest measles outbreak in years. Across the nation, the 2019 outbreak is the largest (more than 681 reported cases, including at least 10 in Texas) in the United States since the year 2000, when the disease was declared eliminated. Other infectious diseases that were considered rare, such as whooping cough, are also on the rise.

May 2019 Bond List

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

Statement from TASB on school finance reform compromise announced by Gov. Greg Abbott

The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) commends Texas House and Senate members for working together and with Gov. Abbott to develop a school finance and property tax reform proposal that provides an unprecedented level of resources for Texas public school students and teachers.

State Leaders Announce Compromise that Increases Funding for Schools, but Sadly Prioritizes Tax Breaks over Texas Kids

AUSTIN, Tex. – This afternoon, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced a legislative “compromise” on school finance (HB 3) and tax legislation (SB 2).In response, CPPP CEO Ann Beeson issued the following statement:  “We are pleased to hear that the House and Senate have reached agreement on landmark school finance legislation, which CPPP will support. There’s no question that this is a step forward, and we support the bill and the increased investment in our schools. We applaud the increased compensation for teachers and other school personnel, support for low-income students and English language learners and early education. view article  

Statement from Texas AFT President Louis Malfaro today on HB 3

The Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker held a press event today regarding the school finance bill (HB 3). There is currently no copy of the bill available to the public, so we are relying on their statements and the legislation passed by each house to understand what might be included in the legislation. The bill appears to direct four to five billion dollars of new state dollars for public schools in Texas. This increased funding is an important first step toward fully funding a high-quality system of public schools that will help our schools as they attempt to reach the goals of higher achievement for all students, especially as we educate a growing and more diverse population of learners.   view article  

PTC Statement on HB3

We are gratified to report that the stalemate has ended on House Bill 3, the historic public school funding bill passed with virtually unanimous approval by the House of Representatives earlier this session. The bill has been held up for weeks over intense debate about certain measures attached to the bill by the Senate, mainly around property tax relief policy. While we are waiting for the actual bill language, it is clear that our neighborhood and community Texas public schools will get several billion new dollars in funding, that this support will not be contingent on our children’s performance on any standardized test, that teachers will receive a desperately needed pay increase, and that full-day, high-quality Pre-Kindergarten instruction will finally be implemented. view article  

Wealthy school districts are complaining in Austin about a budgeting fix designed to address equity

The Texas Legislature is considering closing a loophole in the way school districts tally their property tax values that will result in $3.6 billion to fix inequities. Those complaining that the proposal will drain money from key districts are not seeing the way the math would help property-poor districts.  School districts base their budgets on current-year property tax valuation, because those are the values on which they collect taxes for that school year. However, the state of Texas still uses a pre-computer-era system to determine a school district's state aid or recapture based on prior year tax valuations.  view article  

Deal apparently reached on school finance

Texas’ top three political leaders declared Thursday that the Legislature had reached agreements on its three main 2019 priorities: A two-year state budget, a comprehensive reform of school finance and legislation designed to slow the growth of rising property taxes.   Republican Gov. Greg Abbott broke the news on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion in Austin, just a few days before the Legislature is scheduled to gavel out.  view article  

Tax deal reached, Legislative leaders say

Texas’ top three political leaders declared Thursday that the Legislature had reached agreements on its three main 2019 priorities: A two-year state budget, a comprehensive reform of school finance and legislation designed to slow the growth of rising property taxes.  Republican Gov. Greg Abbott broke the news on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion in Austin, just a few days before the Legislature is scheduled to gavel out. Both chambers will need to sign off on the three negotiated bills — House Bill 1, the proposed budget; Senate Bill 2, the property tax bill; and House Bill 3, the school finance bill — before the regular session ends Monday. Language for the compromised legislation, much of which was worked out behind the scenes between lawmakers from the two chambers, had not yet been made public as of Thursday afternoon. view article  

Texas Leaders Reach Multibillion-Dollar School Finance Deal

Texas' big three — Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen — effectively ended the state's 2019 legislative session Thursday, announcing that the Legislature had reached a deal on school finance reform. With the agreement, the Legislature has settled its three biggest priorities for 2019: the state's two-year budget, property tax reform and school finance, which has been a problem around the state for decades. view article  

New From TEA

• Professional Service Provider (PSP) Network Dissolution-July 31, 2019 5/21
• Factors Influencing Teaching Choice Survey
• Financial Accounting Standards Board Topic 958 Update 2016-14
• 2018–2019 Additional State Aid for Ad Valorem Tax Credits under Texas Economic Development Act 4/26
• TEA announces eight school systems named to second Lone Star Governance Exemplar Cohort 4/23
• Statewide Birth-Five Needs Assessment Survey (3-25-2018)

Dallas school kids won big because Mayor Mike Rawlings stuck his nose into DISD

The toughest work that Mayor Mike Rawlings put his shoulder into this last eight years wasn’t even in his job description. But he persistently stuck his nose into Dallas’ public schools — even when that offended a lot of folks — and DISD students came out the winners. The Dallas ISD board of trustees celebrated Rawlings’ tenure Thursday night with a resolution proclaiming him “The Education Mayor” and noting that since his election, the district “has found no greater partner in government committed to its success” than him. view article  

Teacher raises and all-day pre-K: Here’s what’s in the Texas Legislature’s landmark school finance bill

After weeks of tough negotiations, lawmakers have come up with a final deal on how to increase public education funding and cut school district taxes — and it includes a compromise on raises for full-time teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians. House Bill 3, a copy of which was obtained by The Texas Tribune after it began circulating in the Capitol on Thursday, includes money for free, full-day pre-K for eligible 4-year-old students; creates a more complex method of funding the cost of educating low-income students; pays school districts that want to offer merit pay programs for teachers; and creates a permanent state fund to lower school district tax rates. view article  

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Announces $1.6B In Teacher Raises

AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) –  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that $1.6 billion in teacher raises are coming.  Abbott trumpeted the pay hikes near the end the Texas Legislative session.  “In the inauguration I made some pretty bold promises to the people of Texas,” said Abbott, who was sworn into a second term in January. “I said we must reward teachers in school districts that achieve results, we’ve done that. I said we must prioritize spending in the classroom, we’ve done that.” view article  

Analysis: Texas lawmakers struggling to find a loveable tax

The first real sign that this might be a shoot-the-moon year on financial matters came early, when the state’s top leaders said they wanted school finance and property taxes to be the central issues of the session.  The school finance deal announced on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Thursday was the bookend to that announcement — a $9.5 billion package of education spending and tax buydowns delivered just in time for lawmakers to vote before the Memorial Day end of the session. view article  

Texas lawmakers OK massive flood control package in response to Harvey, send measure to Abbott’s desk

The Texas Legislature has approved a bill that marks its largest response yet to Hurricane Harvey, potentially directing billions of dollars from the state’s savings account to repairs and flood-mitigation projects — steps that lawmakers say will speed up recovery and help prepare for the next major storm.  Senate Bill 7, an omnibus flood-control package authored by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk after the upper chamber agreed to a series of House tweaks late Wednesday. view article  

Texas’ legislative leaders say they have a deal on school finance and property tax reform

Texas’ top three political leaders declared Thursday that the Legislature had reached agreements on its top three 2019 priorities: A two-year state budget, a comprehensive reform of school finance and legislation designed to slow the growth of rising property taxes. view article  

Watch Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dennis Bonnen address the press

With the Texas legislative session drawing to a close, the state's top leaders are set to speak to news outlets at a 2:30 p.m. press conference on Thursday afternoon. view article  

Cameron ISD hires new superintendent

Cameron ISD has a new man in charge. The CISD Board of Trustees made it official and hired Kevin Sprinkles as superintendent during a special meeting on May 9. CISD Board President James Burks said the board is extremely excited about bringing Sprinkles aboard. Sprinkles said he is just as excited to begin working in Cameron. view article  

Lois Kolkhorst, Rising Star in the Texas GOP, Won’t Back Down

State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican from Brenham knew that politics could be rough and tumble, but she didn’t imagine that a bill she authored would provoke death threats. Kolkhorst authored the most divisive bill of the 2017 legislative session — the so-called “bathroom bill.” The measure would have prevented transgender people from using bathrooms in public schools and buildings that match their gender identity. Kolkhorst said the bill was intended to protect women from inappropriate behavior by men in bathrooms. Critics said the bill was an attempt to marginalize transgender people. The measure led to death threats, Kolkhorst said. view article  

Friendswood ISD to vote on dropping class ranking for most students

Friendswood ISD trustees are poised to vote on a proposal to eliminate class ranking. The vote, scheduled for June 10, comes after a three-month evaluation process in which a committee studied other district and state polices and college admission practices. view article  

Royse City ISD names new Ruth Cherry Intermediate principal

The Royse City Independent School District has named Kara Onken as its new principal for Ruth Cherry Intermediate School. Onken joins the Royse City ISD team from Garland ISD, where she served as a campus principal. Before taking on a campus administrator role, Onken was a kindergarten and 4th grade teacher. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. view article  

Fort Bend ISD responds to school finance reform deal

Fort Bend ISD officials said they will continue to monitor the Texas Legislature’s movements announced May 23 that included legislation aimed at reforming school finance and property taxes. “We are appreciative of our lawmakers’ efforts to reform school finance, as Fort Bend ISD agrees that the current system is broken,” the district told Community Impact Newspaper via email. “We look forward to learning more about the final details of the plan announced Thursday, as we do not yet know how it affects FBISD’s financial forecast for 2019-20 and beyond.” view article  

Abilene ISD finds Taylor, Ward, Bassetti elementary principals

It's been a busy spring for Abilene Independent School District Superintendent David Young, who Thursday continued filling vacant principal positions. Dawn Ripple, assistant principal at Ward Elementary, was named the school's next principal. Its current leader, Alison Sims, was promoted to a district level position as executive director of elementary education. view article  

Simple but genius: Program turns leftover school lunch into a buffet for take-home meals

As teachers dismiss classes for the day and high school students flood the hallways, ready to go home, three juniors are set up in the cafeteria, prepared to serve food. The halls are buzzing with chatter as the Detroit-area students grab their bags and wrap up, but inside the school lunchroom, it’s fairly quiet. Those three 11th-graders, Anthony Mendoza, Aleksandra Kole and Jenna Chimenti, talk among themselves until they realize they should flag down some students themselves. An announcement blares over the loudspeaker, mentioning One More Meal -- the reason Mendoza, Kole and Chimenti are here -- but the cafeteria isn’t filling up as quickly as these student-volunteers would like. view article  

Texas school safety measures expanded with House amendments to sweeping legislation

The Texas House expanded a sweeping school safety bill that now calls for students to learn about domestic violence prevention, requires certain training for school resource officers and would provide an undetermined amount of state money for campus security measures and mental health initiatives. Some of the lower chamber’s additions to Senate Bill 11 on Tuesday revived the language or intent of a handful of House bills that were presumed dead after they failed to gain traction throughout the legislative session that ends Monday. Those successful amendments and the bill itself are lawmakers’ response to last year’s deadly shooting at Santa Fe High School. view article