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Congratulations to the following New Supers
72
Superintendent Vacancies
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| Vacant | Leon ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Ore City ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Anderson-Shiro CISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Mercedes ISD; Search by: Merceded ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Boyd ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Leslie VannINFO | Vacant | Lefors ISD; Search by: Lefors ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Knippa ISD; Search by: Knippa ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Highland Park ISD; Search by: Hazard, Young, Attea, and Associates: Max McGee, President & Dr. Jim Largent, AssociateINFO | Vacant | Liberty ISD; Search by: Liberty ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Mercedes ISD; Search by: Mercedes ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Kerrville ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO | Vacant | Callisburg ISD; Education Solutions and Services Mike Smith & Letha HopkinsINFO | Vacant | Corrigan-Camden ISD; Search by: Leon|Alcala PLLCINFO | Vacant | Buffalo ISD - Search by: SPALDING NICHOLS LAMP LANGLOIS; INFO | Vacant | Sheldon ISD - Search by: Sheldon ISD Board of Trustees; INFO | Vacant | Tom Bean ISD; Search by: Tom Bean ISD Board of Trustees & Kelly LuskINFO | Vacant | Maud ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, LLP, Dr. Danny Lovett (Short Timeline!)INFO | Vacant | Irion County ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESCINFO | Vacant | Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (Deadline Updated); Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO | Vacant | Montgomery ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO | Vacant | San Angelo ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike MosesINFO | Vacant | Coupland ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Saul HinojosaINFO | Vacant | Goldthwaite ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Ponder ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO | Vacant | Aransas Pass ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Itasca ISD; Education Solutions and Services Mike Smith & Letha HopkinsINFO | Vacant | Santa Rosa ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | New Diana ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Uvalde CISD; Search By: Region 20 ESCINFO | Vacant | Boerne ISD - Search by: TASB Executive Search Services; INFO | Vacant | Brenham ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Ingleside ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Miami ISD; Search by: Interim Supt. Steve Post and Miami ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | McAllen ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Arlington ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant |
Kennard ISD Seeking Search Firm & Interim; Search by: Kennard ISD Board of Trustees Assted by Thompson & Horton LLPINFO |
Vacant | Hale Center ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO | Vacant | Rotan ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO | Vacant | Rocksprings ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESCINFO | Vacant |
Vega ISD (Short Timeline); 
Search by: Ray Cogburn, Interim Supt.INFO
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| Lone Finalist | Florence ISD - Richard C. Kirkpatrick, Deputy Superintendent,Copperas Cove ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Sherri BaysINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Detroit ISD - Henry Sharp; Search by: Detroit ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Stamford ISD - Robbie Phillips, Superintendent,Highland ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | McKinney ISD - Shawn Pratt, Assistant Superintendent,McKinney ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Paint Creek ISD - Glen Hill, Principal,Albany ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey, Staci Robertson, & Rod TownsendINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Bluff Dale ISD - Jason Wells, Principal,Birdville ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Warren ISD - Rusty Minyard, Principal,Woodville ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Wolfe City ISD - Donna Pessel, Asst. Supt. Curriculum & Instruction,Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD; Search by: Region 3 ESC, Exec. Dir. Morris LyonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Iraan-Sheffield Collegiate ISD - Gary Laramore, Principal,Balmorhea ISD; Search by: Dr. Nelson Coulter assisted by Collegiate Edu-NationINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Henrietta ISD - Jaime Clark, Chief of Schools,Lewisville ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Thorndale ISD - Zach Kleypas, Principal,Pflugerville ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO |
| Lone Finalist | College Station ISD - Dr. Tim Harkrider, Superintendent,Willis ISD; Search by: N2 Learning, Dr. Eddie Coulson & Dr. Brad Lancaster (Updated Deadline)INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Bloomington ISD - Eric Cormier, Principal,Brazos ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | City View ISD - Dr. Jesse Thomas, Interim Superintendent,City View ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Pawnee ISD - Anthony Annis, Assistant Principal,San Antonio ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Argyle ISD - Dr. Courtney Carpenter, Deputy Superintendent,Carroll ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Windthorst ISD - Jason Nolan, Principal,Burkburnett ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Perryton ISD - Greg Brown, Superintendent,Claude ISD; Search by: Perryton ISD Board of Trustees & Region 16 ESC, Dr. Tanya Larkin, Exec. Dir.INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Evadale ISD - Kevin Shipley, Superintendent,Ranger ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, LLP, Dr. Shaun Barnett, Dickey HazlewoodINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Gold-Burg ISD - Jonathan Lloyd, Principal,Detroit ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Karnack ISD (Short Timeline) - Angela Fitzpatrick, Principal,Marshall ISD; Search by: Karnack ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | West Hardin Co. CISD - Donald Heseman, Principal,Clyde ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Spurger ISD - Jeff Burnthorn, Director,Silsbee ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESC (Short Timeline)INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Roby CISD - Kenny Border, Assistant Superintendent,Sweetwater ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Cotulla ISD - Dr. Ramiro Nava, Assistant Superintendent,Somerset ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Saul HinojosaINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Ganado ISD - Dr. Jonathon A. Szymansk, Assistant Principal,Wharton ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Mrs. Charlotte BakerINFO |
| New Super | White Oak ISD - William Paul, Superintendent,Windthorst ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Midway ISD - Chris Allen, Superintendent,Marble Falls ISD; Search by: N2 Learning, Dr. Eddie Coulson & Dr. Brad Lancaster INFO |
| New Super | Anton ISD - Freddie Tobias, Principal,Anton ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO |
| New Super | Navarro ISD - Mandy D. Epley, Assistant Superintendent,Comal ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Sherri BaysINFO |
| New Super | Hedley ISD - Tracey Bell, Principal,Vega ISD; Search by: Hedley ISD Board of Trustees & Region 16 ESC, Nathan Maxwell, Associate Exec. Dir.INFO |
| New Super | Venus ISD - Patrick Torres, Superintendent,Denver City ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Yantis ISD - Robyn Derington Deputy Supt. Banquete ISD, Deputy Superintendent,Banquete ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, LLP, Dr. Shaun Barnett (Short Timeline!)INFO |
| New Super | Morton ISD - Mario Aguirre, Principal,Slaton ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Dr. Kyle Wargo, Exec. DirectorINFO |
| New Super | Comfort ISD - Dr. Yvonne J. Munoz, Director,San Diego ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
| New Super | Midlothian ISD - Dr. David Belding, Superintendent,Aubrey ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?Fort Davis ISD partners with private, early childhood schools for funding boost
With public school funding in a state of turmoil across Texas, Fort Davis ISD is turning to an unorthodox solution to increase state aid: partnerships with early childhood programs wherein dual enrollment is meant to financially benefit both entities. Superintendent Graydon Hicks, who has long told of his district’s financial ruin at the hand of a flawed state funding formula, said he first became aware of the private school partnerships — a Texas Education Agency program — this summer and immediately “jumped on it and started working on proposals for these organizations.” “For Fort Davis, it is the only option left. [The school board] understands how much this means to Fort Davis and keeping our doors open and our kids serviced,” said Hicks. “We get the satisfaction on the other side of knowing that some other children are reaping benefits from this as well.”
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San Benito superintendent resigns following suspension; plans to retire
AN BENITO — Nearly three weeks after her suspension, Superintendent Theresa Servellon is resigning, planning to retire.
Meanwhile, school board President Orlando Lopez declined to disclose whether trustees agreed to pay Servellon as part of a settlement.
After a 90-minute closed-session meeting on Tuesday, the school district’s new board of trustees accepted Servellon’s resignation while she’s planning to retire at the end of December.
The meeting’s agenda called for “discussion and consideration of superintendent employment agreement/contract and evaluation.”
A year after the past school board hired her, Servellon had two years remaining on her contract paying an annual salary of $203,400.
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School vouchers are bad for business, bad for Texas and, most of all, bad for schools
Some parents may want their children to learn that Christianity is the only true religion, that African Americans benefited from slavery, or that LGBTQ people are perverts, but most Texans do not want taxpayer dollars paying for such indoctrination. Neither should business leaders, who constantly complain about schools and colleges not producing enough skilled workers. People who deny evolution, the foundation or biology, or reject medicine, including vaccines, or refuse to accept geology, because it contradicts the Bible, are not going to do well in the jobs of the future. Yet Gov. Greg Abbott has promised Christian conservatives he will ramrod a school voucher bill through the Legislature. He plans to send taxpayer dollars to private schools that are little more than conservative camp. Before you argue that private schools are better than public schools, the data shows that’s false.
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ORE CITY ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
The board of trustees of the Ore City ISD has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Arrow Lead Consultant/COO Jim Dunlap will conduct the search. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 10, 2023. More information including timeline is available at www.arrowsearchinc.com and the TASA website.
LEON ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
The board of trustees of the Leon ISD has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Arrow Lead Consultant/COO Jim Dunlap will conduct the search. More information including timeline is available at www.arrowsearchinc.com and the TASA website. Applications close on November 17th.
Kennard ISD Begins Search for New Superintendent
KENNARD – Kennard Independent School District (KISD) has begun the search for a new superintendent after longtime Superintendent Malinda Lindsey announced her retirement last month after 32 years in education. Lindsey told The Messenger at the time it was a tough decision to make. “This is the hardest decision I have ever had to make. To be superintendent of Kennard ISD has been the capstone of my career. The friends I’ve made throughout my years in education and seeing so many dedicated educators guide students to reach their goals has been a blessing,” Lindsey’s statement read. “Together, we have achieved so much over the past eight years and the key word ‘together’: from academic achievement, facilities upgrades and so much more.”
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26 Texas Public Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Honors
AUSTIN, Texas – September 19, 2023 – The United States Department of Education (USDE) today recognized 26 Texas public schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023. Nationwide, 353 schools received this prestigious honor. The Texas public schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were:
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November 2023 Bond List
Bond Election Data collected by TexasISD.com for public school bonds in the upcoming November 2023 election cycle.
Preventive Law: Pre-Pre-Construction: What the Commissioner’s Regulations Require at the Earliest Stages of a Facilities Project
In 2021, the Texas Education Agency adopted new Facilities Standards for projects beginning after November 1, 2021. While the bulk of these Standards impose technical requirements on the design of facilities (square footage, etc.), they also contain explicit, concrete steps that a school district must take as part of the process. This article covers three specific actions: (1) preparing a Long Range Plan, (2) adopting Educational Specifications, and (3) formally establishing a budget during the design process.
Canutillo ISD: Trustee Rodriguez earns Golden Molcajete Award from MASBA
Rodriguez, who is serving his fifth term on the CISD Board of Trustees and is the incoming president of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), received the Golden Molcajete Award for his long-standing service to MASBA and the students in the state of Texas. “The Molcajete is symbolic to our cultural heritage that gives a unique flavor to our dishes. The Golden Molcajete award recognizes the unique contributions to those individuals who have made a commitment to improve the lives of students in the state through public education and advocacy,” said MASBA President Ana Cortez. “Mando is widely recognized as someone who prioritizes children and families and believes in the transformative power of education.”
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Austin: AISD Accepts Monitor in New Deal With Texas Education Agency
It's a done deal – the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted 8-1 on Tuesday night to accept an agreement with the Texas Education Agency that will keep a conservator from taking over the district's special education services. Instead of a conservator, who could override district decisions, AISD will accept a monitor from TEA, who will sit in on board meetings and report back on the district's efforts to fix its broken special education department. As Board President Arati Singh said, "It's a tough pill to swallow, but for me a tougher pill to swallow would be inviting a conservator in." Tuesday's deal is the latest development since TEA announced its intention in March to take over the district's special education services, after receiving dozens of complaints that AISD was breaking state law by taking months to evaluate students requesting the services. District leaders asked the board to reconsider the appointment of a conservator in May. TEA responded with a version of the current deal on Aug. 30. That proposal was condemned by most parents and teachers as an infringement on our community's local control of its schools and as a first step by the state agency in taking complete control of the district. They asked the board to reject the deal.
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Following her suspension, San Benito CISD superintendent announces retirement
San Benito CISD will soon start searching for a new superintendent. District superintendent Theresa Servellon announced she is retiring as an educator and resigning from her position with the district, according to a Wednesday news release. “An agreement has been reached which allows Servellon the ability to pursue other interests and permits the board to pursue hiring another superintendent,” the news release stated. “The board and Servellon have entered into the agreement, believing it is in their respective best interests and in the best interests of the district.” PREVIOUS STORY: San Benito CISD superintendent placed on paid administrative leave The announcement comes after Servellon was placed on paid administrative leave on Sept. 8. The district did not provide a reason for the suspension. Servellon served as superintendent for just one year.
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Austin: AISD Accepts Monitor in New Deal With Texas Education Agency
It's a done deal – the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted 8-1 on Tuesday night to accept an agreement with the Texas Education Agency that will keep a conservator from taking over the district's special education services. Instead of a conservator, who could override district decisions, AISD will accept a monitor from TEA, who will sit in on board meetings and report back on the district's efforts to fix its broken special education department. As Board President Arati Singh said, "It's a tough pill to swallow, but for me a tougher pill to swallow would be inviting a conservator in." Tuesday's deal is the latest development since TEA announced its intention in March to take over the district's special education services, after receiving dozens of complaints that AISD was breaking state law by taking months to evaluate students requesting the services. District leaders asked the board to reconsider the appointment of a conservator in May. TEA responded with a version of the current deal on Aug. 30. That proposal was condemned by most parents and teachers as an infringement on our community's local control of its schools and as a first step by the state agency in taking complete control of the district. They asked the board to reject the deal.
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Academy ISD superintendent announces retirement
LITTLE RIVER-ACADEMY, Texas (KWTX) - Academy ISD superintendent Billy Harlan announced his retirement Thursday.
Harlan’s retirement will go into effect on Dec. 31, 2023. He has served as Academy ISD’s superintendent since 2019.
Previously Harlan worked as the chief administration officer at Corsicana ISD.
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Sherman ISD Superintendent speaks about Texas school choice vouchers
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - “We do not want to divert public funding away from public schools into private entities that does not have any kind of accountability within our community,” Sherman ISD Superintendent Dr. Tyson Bennett shared.
He said school choice vouchers would take money away from public education, in a time where inflation is impacting public school costs.
" We went through the entire legislative session with a $34 billion surplus, and no substantial increase in public school funding and no commitment to teacher pay raises. That’s a tremendous concern,” Bennett said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott wants school choice vouchers addressed, one way or another.
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Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.
Leon Alcala, PLLC
WEBINAR SERIES: K-12 U: Public School Finance Series - The Legal Perspective
Join us for our upcoming webinar series
Date: October 5, 2023 - October 26, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Where: Webinar Series
Cost: $175 Per Training or $600 for Full Series
Presented by:
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Texas “Ike Dike” coastal barrier project could cost $57 billion with inflation, Army Corps says
The latest figure is 68% higher than an earlier estimate of $34 billion, and it’s unclear when — or whether — Congress will appropriate the money to build the massive system of gates intended to protect the Houston region from storm surge. Inflation could push the cost of Texas’ coastal barrier project — already expected to be the largest civil engineering project in U.S. history — to $57 billion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. That’s 68% higher than the Corps’ most recent estimate of $34 billion to build the “Ike Dike,” the massive system of gates across the mouth of Galveston Bay intended to protect the Houston region from storm surge during hurricanes. The higher number is due to inflation and other rising costs if the project is paid for over the expected 20-year period it would take to design and build, the Corps said during the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership’s Wednesday night meeting. The lower price of $34 billion reflected the project cost in current dollars. As costs balloon, it’s unclear when — or whether — the project will begin construction: Congress must agree to fund the project over the coming decades, and voters in five Texas coastal counties would likely have to approve the use of tax dollars to meet a 35% local cost share, typical for such projects.
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Drug overdoes at Cleveland ISD high school continue to rise
Cleveland ISD confirmed that Wednesday morning a student overdosed on drugs at the high school. This marks the 15th drug incident of the school year in the district. They say in 8 of those cases an ambulance was called out to the school and in 4 cases, the student required Narcan.
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Northwest - NISD passes resolution opposing A-F rating system
The Northwest ISD Board of Trustees passed resolutions Monday to oppose assigning A-F ratings to districts this year and support adequate funding for public education. The resolution requests that legislators pass legislation to direct the commissioner of education to refrain from assigning A-F ratings during the first year of implementation of a new ratings system and in any year that there are changes to STAAR or EOC assessments.
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Former trustee named in-house counsel at McAllen ISD
McAllen Independent School District trustees named attorney and former school board trustee John Ball the district’s first staff attorney Monday after learning last month that the district’s general counsel intended to change its billing structure. Ball served on the board for four years, choosing not to run for reelection in 2017. He practices law in McAllen. The board picked him out of a pool of five attorneys it interviewed. Board President Debbie Crane Aliseda described Ball as a quality choice.
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Keller ISD superintendent search firm to hold 4 community engagement meetings
According to a district news release, the board’s search firm, Leasor Crass PC, will be hosting four community engagement meetings during the first week in October at each of the district’s four high schools. The news release stated board members are interested in what attributes the community is seeking in the next leader of the district and invite parents, staff, students, taxpayers, business owners, community members, grandparents and anyone who has a direct interest in Keller ISD to attend and provide feedback. These key stakeholders can attend any one of the four meetings, each of which will last no longer than an hour and a half.
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‘School choice’ main topic as next special session looms
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — “All of Texas students will be doing better with a robust school choice program in the state of Texas,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. It’s a top priority for Abbott: A ‘school choice’ program allowing parents to use tax-payer funds to send their kids to private or charter schools. Wichita Christian School Superintendent Kent Lemons said he’d be happy if parents received money but doesn’t want to impede on public schools. “We play a role and we want our role to fit the people that want us,” Lemons said. “We want the role they play to fit them and the people that they serve.”
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No verdict reached in fourth day of Loudoun Co. superintendent trial
No verdict was reached in court Thursday as the jury trial of former Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Scott carried on for a fourth day. Around 8:30 p.m., word was given that no more deliberations would be made for the night and jurors will reconvene for a fifth day on Friday. The jury deliberated over two misdemeanors related to Ziegler allegedly retaliating against special education teacher Erin Brooks and unlawfully discharging her from her position at Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School in May 2022. One of the charges has never been tried in a Virginia court — notion of retaliation from a public figure — which may be contributing to the lengthy timeline of the trial. NBC Washington reporter Drew Wilder joined WTOP on Thursday night to discuss the trial as it happened.
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In Florida schools, parent permission now a must for many more activities
Pinellas County high schools will now require permission slips for students to access library books deemed appropriate for juniors and seniors only. Pasco County school officials are revamping consent forms for after-school activities and events, including football games. If their parents don’t sign, kids can’t go. Hillsborough County schools have told students they must have written approval from home to participate in clubs. In past years, schools told families they could opt out if they didn’t want their children to read certain materials, take part in specific activities or receive available services. Non-responses were taken as passive consent. As state Republican leaders push to give parents more control over public schools, they’ve shifted the terms. Instead of having concerned parents opt out, they want all parents to opt in.
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ANSWER SHEET The big problems with college and K-12 school rankings
The U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 college rankings came out last week, as my colleague Nick Anderson notes, with a somewhat revamped methodology that does not escape what has been growing criticism of the enterprise. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona captured some of the criticism last year when he said that any college ranking system that values wealth, reputation and exclusivity more than economic mobility and return on investment is “a joke.” U.S. News college rankings are scrambled as its formula changes
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Don’t look at solar eclipse through bottles, wear protection, blindness prevention nonprofit warns
Want to look at the upcoming solar eclipse? Don't look at it through a green soda bottle, the nonprofit Prevent Blindness Texas advises. The nonprofit is trying to educate the public ahead of the Oct. 14 solar eclipse about proper eye protection and the dangers of looking at the sun during an eclipse. "The primary teachable moment during these events is proper eye protection, so students and adults alike can enjoy the solar eclipse while protecting their eyes from UV rays which can damage your eyes and hurt your vision," the nonprofit said in a statement. Dr. Tyrrel Grohman who serves on the Nacogdoches ISD School Board said when he was in school, his class looked through, "green 7Up bottles" to view solar eclipses.
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‘An understaffed and broken system’: 900,000 Texans have lost Medicaid as others struggle to access SNAP benefits
Almost 900,000 Texans have lost Medicaid since April and a backlog of applications has piled up, overwhelming the system and setting off a ripple effect that advocates worry is delaying families’ access to SNAP food benefits. During the pandemic, federal regulations prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid, and more than 5 million Texans were able to access healthcare continuously. But these protections lifted in April and the state quickly began rechecking the eligibility of every individual in the program. In the months since the state launched this “unwinding,” hundreds of thousands have lost Medicaid coverage. While some individuals have become ineligible because their incomes increased or they were children who aged out of the program, a majority — more than 600,000 — have been disenrolled in Texas because of procedural errors, according to KFF, a health policy research organization. This includes everything from sending in applications in the mail a day late to not including the correct documentation.
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Multiple drug overdoses reported at Cleveland ISD schools
There have been 15 drug-related incidents at Cleveland Independent School District since the start of the school year, according to officials. The latest incident happened Wednesday morning and NARCAN, which is a medicine used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, had to be used, officials said. It was Cleveland ISD's fourth drug-related incident where NARCAN had to be used, officials said.
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Fort Worth ISD moves forward on closing schools amid enrollment decline
Trustee Wallace Bridges knows difficult conversations are ahead for Fort Worth ISD as administrators determine which schools need to close. Enrollment declines have been too steep, and now the district is taking action, he said.
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Closing 19 schools will leave San Antonio ISD with a big task: Finding uses for the empty buildings
Plans to consolidate schools in the San Antonio Independent School District will leave 19 buildings empty, if the school board approves the plan in November. The district is planning to find other uses for those buildings, but some trustees are concerned those plans will fall through. During the initial consolidation recommendation presentation on Sept. 18, Deputy Superintendent Ken Thompson read a long list of uses suggested by community members during an initial round of neighborhood meetings held in August and September, including:
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Bryan and College Station ISD Superintendents advocate for fairness amidst school choice debate
In a year marked by several states passing school choice measures, Texas may soon follow suit if state lawmakers have their way. Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to push through a school choice bill and is expected to convene a special session in Austin next month to make it a reality. However, this move has sparked apprehension among educational leaders, particularly superintendents from the two largest school districts in the Brazos Valley, Bryan & College Station ISD.
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Angleton homecoming king says district’s passive response to hateful comments is disappointing
Eddy Wilson felt proud winning homecoming king last week, but the moment turned sour when hateful comments flooded a Facebook post congratulating him and his corresponding queen on the Angleton High School page. The school posted a photo of the homecoming king and queen on its social media platforms Saturday. Hateful comments regarding Wilson's "feminine appearance," prompted the school to take down the post on Facebook. Supporters of Wilson have since started their own movement with the hashtag #TeamEddy. The post is still up on the school's X account, formerly Twitter.
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Rockdale ISD teacher resigns following allegations of inappropriate relationship with student
A Rockdale ISD teacher has submitted her resignation following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student. The district said it received a report about an alleged inappropriate relationship between a high school teacher and a high school student. At that time, the district immediately began conducting a thorough investigation regarding the allegations.
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Katy ISD mother outraged after school-contracted doctor who took daughter’s pulse crossed the line
A Katy mother was outraged after she claimed a school-contracted doctor crossed the line when he took her teenage daughter’s pulse. She says despite the multiple pulse points on the body, the doctor took her pulse in the groin area. Furthermore, she says she doesn’t believe Katy ISD will stop it from happening again to other children. She says the physical happened at Woodcreek Junior High School back in May, but she still hasn’t gotten the response from Katy ISD that she wanted.
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No water, roads or emergency services: How climate change left a rural neighborhood nearly uninhabitable
In Liberty County, one neighborhood has been slowly abandoned as years of flooding and intense rains prompted a spiral of decline. A struggling buyout program shows the complexities and limitations of “managed retreat” from disaster-prone areas. --- LIBERTY COUNTY — By the time they finally left Texas for good, Thad Todd, 64, and Linda Nelson, 58, had sworn off driving the flooded-out roads to their home. It was easier to stuff backpacks with food and water and hike the mile through the thicket. The Trinity River washed away their old life during Hurricane Harvey. Repeated flooding and erosion since then never gave it back. The couple got rid of their Ford Mustang Cobra to buy a 1984 Chevrolet truck, until the mud and dirt tore up the truck’s bearings and seals. They traded the truck for a small four-wheel-drive Suzuki Samurai, until the makeshift trails that took over for the roads became too narrow. Then they traded that for a four-wheel ATV, which would often break down, forcing them to walk. “My next step was gonna be to buy a horse,” Todd said.
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In Florida schools, parent permission now a must for many more activities
Pinellas County high schools will now require permission slips for students to access library books deemed appropriate for juniors and seniors only. Pasco County school officials are revamping consent forms for after-school activities and events, including football games. If their parents don’t sign, kids can’t go. Hillsborough County schools have told students they must have written approval from home to participate in clubs. In past years, schools told families they could opt out if they didn’t want their children to read certain materials, take part in specific activities or receive available services. Non-responses were taken as passive consent. As state Republican leaders push to give parents more control over public schools, they’ve shifted the terms. Instead of having concerned parents opt out, they want all parents to opt in.
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