- News Category
- Accountability/Accreditation
- Charter Schools
- Child Nutrition
- Construction/Bond Issues
- Governance
- Grants
- Health/Safety
- Joe's Commentaries
- Legal
- Legislative
- National News
- Newspapers
- Personnel
- Property Tax
- Risk Management
- School Finance
- Special Articles
- State Board of Education
- SuperSearch Page
- Technology in Education
- TexasISD General News
- Transportation
- Preventive Law
TexasISD.com
Endorsed Products
TexasISD.com
Advertising
TexasISD.com
Quick Links
Congratulations to the following New Supers
83
Superintendent Vacancies
Click to expand 
| Vacant | Rusk ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Martin's Mill ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Dickinson ISD; Search by: Dickinson ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Whitney ISD; Search by: Whitney ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Dilley ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Burton ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Dr. Danny LovettINFO | Vacant | Union Hill ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Grape Creek ISD; Search by: Grape Creek ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Santa Maria ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Vysehrad ISD; Search by: Region 3 ESC, Exec. Dir. Morris LyonINFO | Vacant |
Pettus ISD - Jesus Hernandez III, Chief of Staff,Southwest ISD; Search by: JCA Law, PLLC and DBU Educational Leadership Consulting Corporation.INFO |
Vacant | University of Texas High School Special Purpose District; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Scurry-Rosser ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Huntington ISD; Search by: Kelli Karczewski, Fisher FirmINFO | Vacant | Granger ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO | Vacant | Bremond ISD; Search by: Bremond ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Santa Rosa ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | San Isidro ISD (Short Timeline); Search by: Region One ESC, Exec. Dir. Dr. Daniel P. KingINFO | Vacant | Queen City ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO | Vacant | Commerce ISD - Search by: Commerce ISD Board of Trustees; INFO | Vacant | Gonzales ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Charlotte Baker,INFO | Vacant | Decatur ISD; Search by: Decatur ISD Board of Trustees INFO | Vacant | Bells ISD; Search by: Bells ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Gustine ISD - Coy Barker, Principal,McCamey ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO | Vacant | Comstock ISD; Comstock ISD Board of Trustees and O.K. Wolfenbarger IIIINFO | Vacant |
Frank Liu Jr. Academy of Music and Art (Houston) ; Thompson & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike MosesINFO |
Vacant | East Chambers ISD; Search by: SPALDING NICHOLS LAMP LANGLOISINFO | Vacant | Webb CISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Moulton ISD; <p>Search by: Region 3 ESC, <a href="mailto:mlyon@esc3.net">Exec. Dir. Morris Lyon</a></p>INFO | Vacant | Hidalgo ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Dawson ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Danny LovettINFO | Vacant | Banquete ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Rick AlvaradoINFO | Vacant | Levelland ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO | Vacant | Priddy ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESCINFO | Vacant | Sweeny ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO | Vacant | Ramirez CSD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Mart ISD; Search by: Mart ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Frost ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO | Vacant | Cedar HIll ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO | Vacant | Bowie ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO | Vacant | Abernathy ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO | Vacant | Kingsville ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | La Pryor ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Groom ISD; Region 16 ESC, Dr. Tanya Larkin, Exec. Dir.INFO | Vacant | Clarendon ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Spring ISD; Search by: Spring ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Marlin ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Deweyville ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO | Vacant | Centerpoint ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO | Vacant | Conroe ISD; Search by: Texans for Excellence in Education, President, John Petree, 432-557-6581INFO | Vacant | Kermit ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Huffman ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Jim Hogg County ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Hart ISD; Search by: Juan Dominguez and Hart ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Snook ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Hitchcock ISD (Interim Search); Search by: Hitchcock ISD Board of Trustees & Region V ESC - Dr. Rolando “Rudy” TrevinoINFO | Vacant | Laredo ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Valley View ISD - James Womack, Superintendent,Richland Springs ISD; Education Solutions and Services Mike Smith & Letha HopkinsINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Waco ISD - Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Superintendent,Buna ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Onalaska ISD - Dr. Kenneth Fraga, Assistant Superintendent,Onalaska ISD; Search by: Onalaska ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Graham ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Lueders-Avoca ISD - Dr. Joe Alcorta, Superintendent,Dalhart ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Calvert ISD - Latisha Crockett-Tennell, Interim Superintendent,Calvert ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Albany ISD - Daryl Stuard, Superintendent,Bremond ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Victoria ISD - Shelia Collazo, Deputy Superintendent,Somerset ISD; Search by: JCA Law, PLLC and Saul HinojosaINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Hawkins ISD - Jeff Hutchins, Director of Operations,Van ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Monte Alto ISD - Rashad Javed Rana, Assistant Superintendent,Donna ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Utopia ISD - Joshua Ham, Principal,San Saba ISD; Search by: Utopia ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Buna ISD - Dr. Julie Motomura, Superintendent,Schulenburg ISD; Search By: Buna ISD Board of Trustees INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Splendora ISD - Dustin Bromley, Deputy Superintendent,La Porte ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Mount Calm ISD - Jay Underwood, Deputy Superintendent,Anna ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun BarnettINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Waskom ISD - Chris Guastella, Principal,Ferris ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Deer Park ISD - Dr. Tiffany Reagan, Assistant Superintendent,Deer Park ISD; Search by: Deer Park ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Seminole ISD - Glen Teal, Superintendent,Jim Ned ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Needville ISD - Dr. Paul Drake, Superintendent,Chester ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist |
Compass Academy Charter School (Odessa) - Mark Dominguez, Principal,Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD; Search by: Kathy Killingsworth, Interim Superintent assisted by Larry Lee, Leadership Consultant with Region 18INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Bonham ISD - Lance Hamlin, Assistant Superintendent,Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Waxahachie ISD - Rebecca “Becky” McCutchen, Superintendent,Levelland ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Ennis ISD - Greg Bradley, Deputy Superintendent,Prosper ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Muleshoe ISD - Scott Bicknell, Superintendent,Jayton-Girard ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Forsan ISD - Michael Valencia, Superintendent,McCamey ISD; Search by: Region 18 ESC, Dr. Dewitt SmithINFO |
| Lone Finalist |
Edgewood ISD (Region 7) - Scott Tyner, Superintendent,Martins Mill iSD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Jim Ned CISD - Will Brewer, Superintendent,Paradise ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | New Home ISD - Julia Stephen, Director,Amarillo ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Palmer ISD ; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Hallsburg ISD - Dr. Staci Coleman-Kirk, Principal,Hubbard ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun BarnettINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Slidell ISD - Dr. Christopher M. Heskett, Superintendent,Covington ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun BarnettINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Seguin ISD - Dr. Jack Lee, Superintendent,Bullard ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Royal ISD - Dr. Megan Pape, Superintendent,Snook ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Lubbock-Cooper ISD - Aaron Waldrip, Superintendent,Abernathy ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Socorro ISD - James Vasquez, Interim Superintendent,Socorro ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Industrial ISD - Michael B. Colvin, Director,Comfort ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Charlotte BakeINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Gunter ISD - Dr. Brandon Enos, Superintendent,Cushing ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Rotan ISD - Trevor Edgemon, Superintendent,Happy ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Millsap ISD - Harper Stewart, Superintendent,Hamilton ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey, Staci Robertson, & Rod TownsendINFO |
| New Super | Plains ISD - Scott Mills, Principal,Quannah ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| New Super |
Olney ISD (Young Co.) - Dr. Matt Caffey, Principal,Olney ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| New Super | Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| New Super | San Benito CISD - Alfredo Perez, Interim Superintendent,San Benito ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Cameron ISD - Mistie Dakroub, Assistant Superintendent,Cameron ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Lipan ISD - Jimmie Dobbs, Interim Superintendent,Lipan ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Copperas Cove ISD - Brent Hawkins, Superintendent,Livingston ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Grandfalls-Royalty ISD - Carlos Contreras, Superintendent,Dell City ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Livingston ISD - Jeff Peck, Deputy Superintendent,Dickinson ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Groesbeck ISD - Scott Cummiungs, Superintendent,Westphalia ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Holland ISD - Jennisty Thomason, Principal,Holland ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Central Heights ISD - Justin Keeling, Superintendent,Douglass ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Borger ISD - Daniel Fuller, Superintendent,Sweeny ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Smithville ISD - Molley Perry, Deputy Superintendent,Elgin ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD - Stacy Parker, CFO,Marlin ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Ector County ISD - Search by: TASB Executive Search Services, Dr. Keeley Boyer,Ector County ISD; INFO |
How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?Texans, Democrats condemn GOP redistricting plans at first public hearing
Speaking to two dozen state lawmakers, a packed hearing room, two overflow rooms and a robust virtual waiting room, Texans condemned the Legislature’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional map at the House redistricting committee’s first public meeting on Thursday. “When I saw what you folks were doing up here in the Legislature, I got screaming mad,” said Christy Stockman, from Corpus Christi. “It’s a good old fashioned bait-and-switch, with a power grab added in.” At the first of seven public hearings, Democratic lawmakers echoed these calls, pressing their Republican colleagues on why redistricting was being pushed through during an overtime special legislative session. “The effort to change these districts at this time has nothing to do with representing people better,” said Rep. Jon Rosenthal, a Houston Democrat and vice chair of the House committee in charge of redistricting. “It's the opposite of that. It's a power grab at the expense of Black and brown communities.”
view article 
Gov. Abbott: Texas must ban intoxicating THC products in special session
Texas Senate committee doubles down on THC ban, saying state and local governments don’t have the resources for regulations Texas Senate committee doubles down on THC ban, saying state and local governments don’t have the resources for regulationsSenate Bill 5 would ban products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid, creating criminal offenses for possession of hemp-derived THC.
view article
Preventive Law: Innovation Interrupted? Why It’s Time to Rethink Your DOI Plan
If you’re one of the many Texas school districts operating under a District of Innovation (DOI) Plan, you’ve already embraced flexibility and local control. But with each legislative session, it becomes increasingly important to reevaluate whether your plan still fits within the legal boundaries.
August increase in Mexico tariffs could strain Texas economy
Importers and exporters based in Texas have so far avoided the harshest effects of the trade war sparked by President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from a host of countries, but they could be in for a rude awakening come Monday. Mexico, Texas’ largest trading partner, has been largely exempt from tariffs due to a March agreement that allowed an estimated 85% to 90% of all Mexican goods to avoid the 25% tariff the Trump administration placed on its imports. However, Trump earlier this month informed Mexico, two dozen other countries and the European Union that their exports will face an increase in the tariffs on their goods unless they quickly negotiate new trade deals with the U.S. Trump’s letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo promises to raise the rate against the country to 30% on Aug. 1 and makes no mention of extending the spring agreement exempting most Mexican imports.
view article
Union Grove ISD board accepts superintendent’s resignation
GLADEWATER – Union Grove ISD trustees accepted the resignation of Superintendent Kelly Moore during Tuesday night’s meeting. Moore resigned amid controversy regarding an incident in the spring in which a student recorded another student in a school bathroom stall. The student who was the subject of the video later held a gun to his head and threatened to commit suicide.
view article
Exclusive: Empower Pharmacy passed Texas inspections as FDA sounded alarms
In 2022, California regulators penalized a Houston compounding pharmacy for sending hundreds of vitamin injections they said were made with low-quality ingredients into the state. In 2024, Iowa restricted the same pharmacy’s ability to send drugs to its residents over “dangerous practices,” records show. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent the pharmacy a warning letter — its fourth in eight years — over quality control failures that the agency said put patients at risk. Empower Pharmacy, which bills itself as the nation’s largest and most advanced compounding pharmacy, has been under scrutiny from federal and state regulators for much of the last decade.
view article
4 Texas suburbs recognized as the wealthiest neighborhoods in America in 2025, reports say.
Two Houston-area suburbs have been ranked among the wealthiest neighborhoods in America, according to a GoBankingRates report. Houston suburbs West University Place and Bellaire listed in the top 50 American suburbs in the report. West University Place ranked No. 3, and Bellaire ranked No. 23, with home values in both areas around $1 million.
view article
Texas again trying to restrict the bathrooms transgender people can use
The bills would carry a $5,000 fine for a first-time violation and comes as momentum for such restrictions has increased in the state and nationally. Legislation identical to two failed regular session bills seeking to restrict what bathrooms transgender people can use in government and school buildings have been filed in the Texas House and Senate after Gov. Greg Abbott outlined the restrictions as a special session priority. State Sen. Mayes Middleton filed Senate Bill 7 on Thursday, days after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick indicated the Galveston Republican would carry the special session’s “bathroom bill.” The bill is identical to House Bill 32, filed by Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, as well as Senate Bill 240 filed by Middleton during the regular session. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, is also listed as a coauthor for SB 7. SB 7 and HB 32 would mandate that multiuse bathrooms at K-12 schools, public universities and state and municipal government buildings only be used by people of one sex or another, as indicated on their birth certificate. Violating the provision would carry a $5,000 first-time fine and $25,000 for any subsequent violations.
view article
Trump’s “one-two punch” targeting immigration courts will test Texas detention centers, experts warn
President Donald Trump recently made two big steps toward fulfilling his promise to carry out the largest deportation program in American history — changes some worry are denying due process to detained migrants. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration ended bond hearings for undocumented people in detention, eliminating the opportunity for them to have a judge “look at whether the detention was actually appropriate,” said Denise Gilman, a law professor who directs the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin. The administration also fired 20 immigration judges across the country earlier this month, bringing the total of judges who have either resigned or been fired since January to 106 — out of roughly 700 judges serving nationally.
view article
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is handing more of his office’s work to costly private lawyers
Despite having an office with hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton frequently opts to hire private lawyers. One cost taxpayers more than $24,000 in one day. One day in late May 2024, lawyer Zina Bash spent 6 1/2 hours working on a case against Facebook parent company Meta on behalf of the state of Texas. She reviewed draft legal filings. She participated in a court-ordered mediation session and then discussed the outcome with state Attorney General Ken Paxton. In her previous job as senior counsel on Paxton’s leadership team, that labor would have cost Texas taxpayers $641. But Bash had moved to private practice. Paxton hired her firm to work on the Meta case, allowing her to bill $3,780 an hour, so that day of work will cost taxpayers $24,570. In the past five years, Paxton has grown increasingly reliant on pricey private lawyers to argue cases on behalf of the state, rather than the hundreds of attorneys who work within his office, an investigation by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica found. These are often attorneys, like Bash, with whom Paxton has personal or political ties.
view article
Abilene ISD adult education program faces closure due to lack of federal funding
ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene Adult Education facility will be closing its doors. According to a post made by the organization on social media, the reason is due to a lack of federal funding.
view article
Killeen ISD superintendent leaving for San Antonio
The superintendent of the Killeen Independent School District is leaving for San Antonio. The Northside Independent School District tells FOX 44 News that its Board of Trustees approved the hiring and appointment of Dr. Jo Ann Fey to its position of Deputy Superintendent for Administration. This action was taken by the Northside ISD Board at its regularly called meeting on Tuesday.
view article
Union Grove ISD to consider superintendent’s resignation at special meeting
An agenda shows the Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees will meet to consider a resignation agreement with Superintendent Kelly Moore. The board will hold a special meeting Tuesday to address the issue and consider a possible interim candidate, the agenda says. This comes after several upset Union Grove parents voiced their concerns at a school board meeting last week. Sparking their concern is an investigation of a student for alleged invasive visual recording. This led to another case involving Moore, who they say failed to report the incident.
view article
Nacogdoches ISD reports $740K in federal funding freeze in jeopardy
Nacogdoches ISD says that they have lost around $740,000 in funding from the federal education funding freeze. They are currently allocating money to different programs but say that they will have to do budget re-allocation in a few months if the funding isn’t unfrozen. They are determined to make sure that all of their programs stay in place and are committed to student success always, according to Les Linebarger, the chief marketing and communications officer for the district.
view article
Cell Phones Officially Prohibited On Carroll ISD Campuses In 2025-26
A new bill passed by the 89th Texas Legislature will officially prohibit Carroll ISD students -- as well as all Texas public and open-enrollment charter schools -- from using cell phones once the 2025-26 school year begins. House Bill 1481 will "implement a new policy restricting the use of personal electronic communication devices during the school day" effective this upcoming school year, according to a Carroll ISD press release.
view article
Leon Alcala, PLLC
WEBINAR: LEGAL ISSUES FOR CAMPUS AND DISTRICT LEVEL STAFF
Date: August 7, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Read more and register here...
Please join us for our second webinar in the Back-to-School Series. Register up to 5 members of your team for the one low price of $250.
Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.
Argyle ISD approves flexible school day program to increase student retention, provide support
The Argyle ISD board of trustees unanimously approved a flexible school day program at a July 22 meeting. The program will be available for students for the 2025-26 school year.
view article
Fort Worth ISD moves to ban cellphones in response to new state law
Starting this fall, students across Fort Worth ISD will no longer be allowed to use their cellphones, smartwatches, earbuds, or other personal devices during the school day. The district’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new “Put it Away, Learn Today” policy at its July 22 meeting, aligning with a new state law that takes effect Sept. 1.
view article
Socorro ISD anticipates $7M surplus after turning around $38M budget deficit
The Socorro Independent School District (SISD) is on track for a financial turnaround, projecting a $7 million surplus for the next fiscal year after previously grappling with a budget deficit as high as $38 million. The district's Chief Financial Officer, David C. Solis, said,
view article
Socorro ISD anticipates $7M surplus after turning around $38M budget deficit
The Socorro Independent School District (SISD) is on track for a financial turnaround, projecting a $7 million surplus for the next fiscal year after previously grappling with a budget deficit as high as $38 million.
view article
Fort Worth ISD approves cell phone ban, complying with new Texas law
Districts across Texas are making decisions about student cellphone use ahead of a new state law taking effect this fall. On Tuesday, Fort Worth ISD joined that list.
During a board meeting on Tuesday, the district voted to approve a new phone policy that bans personal communication devices in schools.
view article
Northside ISD looking for ‘balance’ in cellphone use under new state law
Bexar County’s largest school district is developing a cellphone use policy that will allow students to bring devices on campus this fall but keep them turned off and out of sight during the school day, in compliance with a new state law.
view article
Beaumont ISD unveils new bus system ahead of school year to improve efficiency and safety
Beaumont ISD is rolling out a new bus system this school year in an effort to improve transportation efficiency, enhance student safety, and reduce delays. Starting this year, middle and high school students will ride the same buses, while elementary students will continue on separate routes. The district says the change will shorten ride times, reduce the number of stops, and help buses run more reliably.
view article
Houston could see storms later this week as tropical disturbance moves along Gulf
Chances of formation remain low, National Weather Service forecasters said. There is a 10 percent chance the system will develop into a tropical cyclone over the next two days, and a 10 percent chance it will develop into a cyclone over the next seven days. While much of the moisture comes from a typical Atlantic tropical wave, some of the rain will be fueled by the remnants of Invest 93L – the same system that brought rain to the region last weekend. The system will continue to move southwest into the north-central part of the Gulf over the next few days.
view article
Killeen: KISD Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Fey leaving district to serve as Dr. John Craft’s #2 at Northside ISD
The Northside Independent School District Board of Trustees on July 22 approved the hiring of Dr. Jo Ann Fey, currently the Superintendent of the Killeen Independent School District, to serve as their district’s Deputy Superintendent for Administration. Killeen ISD Board of Trustees President Brett E. Williams confirmed in a statement that Dr. Fey informed the Board of Trustees of her pending resignation as superintendent of Killeen ISD.
view article
Tejano singer Bobby Pulido forms exploratory committee for South Texas congressional bid
Tejano superstar Bobby Pulido is forming an exploratory committee for a congressional bid in South Texas as he considers challenging Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg. Pulido, a Democrat and Edinburg native, is a titan of the music genre that has its roots in South Texas. Thirty years after the release of his debut album, he plans to both retire from music and make a decision about pivoting to politics by the end of the year. Under the current map, De La Cruz is the only Texas Republican that Democrats are targeting in 2026.
view article
Dallas-Fort Worth area grows ever richer with 570 more tech jobs
Governor Abbott Announces Collins Aerospace Expansion In Richardson Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, will expand its aerospace manufacturing and research and development (R&D) operations in Richardson. Collins Aerospace is a global supplier of aerospace and defense products. The project will create more than 570 new jobs and more than $57 million in capital investment. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $3,718,000 has been extended to Collins Aerospace. “Texas is ranked as the No. 1 state for attracting aerospace manufacturing,” said Governor Abbott. “This $57 million investment by Collins Aerospace to expand their manufacturing and R&D operations in Richardson will create more than 570 good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans and deliver innovative solutions right here in Texas. Partnering with industry leaders, we will ensure Texas remains the hub for aerospace, aviation, and defense for generations to come.”
view article
Texas State Technical College launches new programs at Abilene, Sweetwater campuses
ABILENE, Texas — Texas State Technical College (TSTC) is set to launch three new technical programs this fall at its Abilene and Sweetwater campuses, beginning September 2. The Abilene campus will introduce a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program, while the Sweetwater campus will offer Building Construction Technology and Culinary Arts programs.
view article
Faith-based refugee organization calls on Christians in Fort Worth to see immigration as a ‘biblical issue’
When Keller pastor Scott Venable thinks about the church’s role in immigration, his mind goes to two congregants who loved their neighbor. As federal funding paused for refugee resettlement agencies earlier this year, Northwood Church responded to Christian humanitarian organization World Relief’s call for congregations to help fill the gap. Since February, Northwood Church has been serving three refugee families who arrived in North Texas in December. While the two church members come from different ends of the political aisle, they were the first to carry a couch up flights of stairs into a refugee family’s apartment, take them to the grocery store and help them get jobs, Venable said.
view article
What to know as Texas’ search for flood victims stretches into a third week
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The number of people still missing in a Texas county ravaged by deadly flooding over the Fourth of July holiday weekend now stands at three, down from nearly 100. The announcement Saturday by Kerr County that the list of missing has shrunk came after people who were previously reported missing have since been accounted for and as state lawmakers prepare to discuss authorities’ initial response and the possible improvements to warning systems. Flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. The Hill Country is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain. The Texas Legislature is scheduled to convene Monday for a special session. Gov. Greg Abbott initially called lawmakers back to the Texas State Capitol in Austin for other reasons, but he and legislative leaders have added flooding-related issues to the agenda.
view article
Texas startups make products from the carbon in fossil fuels
As consumption of fossil fuels continues to rise, technologies developed by Texas companies could help change the view of carbon as a hard-to-manage waste product. At a San Antonio research campus, a four-story-tall contraption breaks apart the molecules of Texas shale gas, producing hydrogen and carbon. But that carbon doesn’t form CO2 gas and drift into the atmosphere where it fuels global warming. Instead, it comes out as black powder that can be stored in bins, moved by railcar and even made into commercial materials. “It’s a lot easier to handle solid carbon than it is to handle CO2,” said Zach Jones, CEO of Graphitic Energy, which commissioned its pilot project in San Antonio this year.
view article
Traces of measles were found in Austin wastewater. Does that mean an outbreak is imminent?
Traces of measles were found in Travis County wastewater, Austin Public Health officials confirmed Monday. The virus was detected during wastewater surveillance during the first week of July, and APH was notified July 18. Measles is a respiratory disease spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets can linger in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves an area. It’s extremely contagious and dangerous — nine out of 10 unvaccinated people near someone with measles will become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
view article
Meet the Californian who pushed Texas lawmakers to help fix the state’s housing crisis
Nosek had convened a coterie of local homebuilders and architects for a picnic at her home in the wealthy Austin-area enclave of West Lake Hills. It was fall of 2021, and she and her husband, Luke Nosek, a venture capitalist who cofounded PayPal with Elon Musk and sits on SpaceX’s board, had two years prior moved to Texas from California. The purpose of the gathering: figure out how to stop the state’s skyrocketing housing costs from getting worse. In Texas, Nosek recognized the same factors that contributed to California’s unattainable housing market and spurred people and businesses to flee the Golden State: strict building and zoning regulations that make it difficult for cities to solve their housing crises and a “not-in-my-backyard” mentality among elected officials and homeowners that prevented change.
view article
Texas Republicans aim to redraw House districts at Trump’s urging, but there’s a risk
Texas Republicans are poised to redraw the state’s congressional map during a special session that starts MondayAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Texas Democrat who represents a slice of the Rio Grande Valley along the border with Mexico, won his last congressional election by just over 5,000 votes. That makes him a tempting target for Republicans, who are poised to redraw the state's congressional maps this coming week and devise five new winnable seats for the GOP that would help the party avoid losing House control in the 2026 elections. Adjusting the lines of Gonzalez’s district to bring in a few thousand more Republican voters, while shifting some Democratic ones out, could flip his seat.
view article
Joe Rogan says this Texas Democrat could become president
"We need someone who's actually a good person."State Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat based in Austin, continued his schedule of news media interviews, sitting down with popular podcast host Joe Rogan to discuss how his Christian views contradict those of the religiously conservative politicians leading Texas.
view article
John Zerwas sole finalist for UT System chancellor; Jim Davis lone candidate for UT-Austin president
Both Zerwas and Davis have been serving as interim leaders of the university system and its flagship.
view article
