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Congratulations to the following New Supers
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Superintendent Vacancies
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| Vacant | Rusk ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Martin's Mill ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | 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 | 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 | 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 | Vacant | Killeen ISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses, David Thompson & Dr. Curtis CulwellINFO | Vacant | Premont ISD; Search by: Doug Arnold & Arte AlmendarezINFO | Vacant |
Executive Director Region 11 ESC; Thompson & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike MosesINFO |
Vacant | Nederland ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO | Vacant | West Hardin Co. CISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO | Vacant | Lago Vista ISD; Search by: Leon|Alcala PLLCINFO | Vacant | Goose Creek CISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses, David Thompson & Dr. Curtis CulwellINFO | Vacant | Howe ISD; Search by: Howe ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| 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 | 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 |
| Lone Finalist | Levelland ISD - Dr. Don Heseman, Superintendent,West Hardin CCISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Conroe ISD - Dr. David Vinson, Superintendent,Wylie ISD; Search by: Texans for Excellence in Education, President, John Petree, 432-557-6581INFO |
| 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 | Industrial ISD - Michael B. Colvin, Director,Comfort ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Charlotte BakeINFO |
| New Super | Whitney ISD - Todd Southard, Superintendent,Pilot Point ISD; Search by: Whitney ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| New Super | Dilley ISD - Kelli Dubose, Interim Superintendent,Dilley ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?Attorney General Ken Paxton Instructs Texas Schools to Display the Ten Commandments in Accordance with Texas Law
Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following statement directing all Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs) not enjoined by ongoing litigation to display copies of the Ten Commandments once Senate Bill 10 takes effect on September 1, 2025. “From the beginning, the Ten Commandments have been irrevocably intertwined with America’s legal, moral, and historical heritage,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Schools not enjoined by ongoing litigation must abide by S.B. 10 and display the Ten Commandments. The woke radicals seeking to erase our nation’s history will be defeated. I will not back down from defending the virtues and values that built this country.”
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Preventive Law: HB 6 and Special Education
During the 89th Regular Legislative Session, HB 6 made a number of changes to Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code and the content of the 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct. Many of these changes will likely be welcomed by Texas public schools, such as the ability to have more discretion in the determination of appropriate behavioral consequences for a student found in possession of a VAPE device.
Houston oil giant to revamp Baytown site, bringing 700 jobs
The company is looking to increase production of diesel and base stocks. ExxonMobil is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Texas as the company announced plans for a major reconfiguration to its Baytown campus, the oil giant said earlier this week
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Spared from dissolution, Texas Lottery gets a second chance under new management
After months of controversy, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must tackle poor sales and legislative scrutiny as it takes over the games on Sept. 1.
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“Bathroom bill” aimed at trans people approved by Texas House after decade of failed attempts
Senate Bill 8 will restrict restrooms in government buildings, public schools and universities based on sex assigned at birth and apply $25,000 fines for violations. Texas House members clashed over a bill that would restrict which restrooms transgender people can use in government buildings and schools, but ultimately approved it late Thursday. Representatives approved Senate Bill 8 on a 86-45 vote after several hours of tense debate that was at times interrupted by people in the gallery shouting insults at lawmakers who supported the bill. The House gallery, where visitors can watch proceedings, was emptied out by staff and Department of Public Safety officers after the disruptions continued. SB 8 would restrict bathroom use in government-owned buildings, public schools and universities based of sex assigned at birth and would not allow exceptions for transgender inmates’ housing in prisons and jails. It would also bar those assigned male at birth from accessing women’s domestic violence shelters, unless they are under 17 and the child of a woman also receiving services.
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A rigorous accreditation program inspired Texas’ camp reforms. Here’s what that process looks like.
More than 75 Texas camps have met dozens of safety standards to become accredited by the American Camp Association, which can be a lengthy and costly process. Train staff on various emergencies, file emergency plans with local emergency personnel, maintain communication methods in case phone and internet services go down, and teach campers how to respond during crises. Seventy six youth camps in Texas must meet these requirements and dozens more to be accredited by the American Camp Association — the gold standard of camp safety and operation — and some of those measures are among the camp reforms that Texas lawmakers seek to implement following the deadly July 4 floods.
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Northside ISD starts school year with smaller budget deficit, fewer vacancies
Northside Independent School District is entering its new school year planning to spend roughly $1 billion, which would mean a $38 million budget deficit. The district’s board of trustees approved the 2025-26 budget on Tuesday, after months of budget talks and negotiations over how much funding could be expected under House Bill 2, the $8.5 billion public school funding bill passed by state lawmakers in May. Never miss San Antonio Report's biggest stories. Sign up for The Recap, a newsletter rundown of the most important news, delivered every Monday and Thursday.
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Feds cut $15M grant championed by TCU to reduce maternal mortality
The federal government slashed a $15 million grant aimed at lowering maternal mortality rates in North Texas. The $15 million grant was awarded to the North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator, a coalition created to apply for the funds. The federal money was part of Health Care Rewards to Achieve Improved Outcomes, or HEROES, a program that began accepting proposals last year. The grant was requested through the Maternal Health Accelerator, led by the Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University and UT Southwestern, and managed by the Child Poverty Action Lab, which brought together five local health systems.
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Plano ISD Under Investigation Following Reports of Antisemitic Incidents
Attorney General Ken Paxton said the investigation is in response to community concerns. This article has been updated since publication to include a statement from Plano ISD. Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced a formal investigation into Plano Independent School District after multiple reports of antisemitic incidents and school-sponsored activities perceived as anti-Israel.
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Lubbock County Commissioners Stop Property Tax Increase
Three commissioners voted to save taxpayers money. County employees complained because it could cut their raises. Three Lubbock County commissioners have stopped a county property tax increase, but not everyone is happy about it. During a meeting this week, the five-member Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to approve the no-new-revenue property tax rate for 2025, which will be used to budget the county’s spending for the upcoming year. Some county employees fear that without a property tax increase, they may not receive raises.
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Senate Moves To Ban Fundraising During Special Sessions After Quorum Break
In response to the Democrat quorum break earlier this month, the Texas Senate advanced legislation to prohibit lawmakers and statewide officials from raising campaign funds during special sessions. Senate Bill 19 by State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) expands existing state law, which already bans campaign contributions during regular legislative sessions, to include special sessions convened before September 1 of an odd-numbered year.
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Border Communities Have Lower Crime Rates | The Texas Tribune
Texas counties along the Rio Grande are relatively safe, state and federal crime statistics show, and they seem to be getting even safer as more law enforcement resources pour into the area. Texas counties along the Rio Grande are relatively safe, state and federal crime statistics show, and they seem to be getting even safer as more law enforcement resources pour into the area.
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1 in 4 Texas school districts signs up for new Bible-infused curriculum
The numbers may grow as the state collects more data. Some districts adopted the plan not for its religious emphasis but for more funding and to better align with teaching requirements.
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About 750 new laws will go into effect in Texas on Sept. 1. Here are some of the significant ones.
New laws range from school vouchers and water infrastructure funding to a ban on city and county-funded abortion travel funds.
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Conroe ISD names Superintendent Lone Finalist
The Conroe ISD Board of Trustees has named Dr. David Vinson as the Lone Finalist for Superintendent of Schools during a special called board meeting on August 27. The announcement comes after a comprehensive three-month search that attracted interest from exceptional leaders across Texas and the nation. Trustees emphasized their unity and confidence in selecting Dr. Vinson, noting that his experience, vision, and proven leadership align with the values and aspirations of the Conroe ISD community.
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Parents try to convince education commission not to take over Fort Worth ISD
This month, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath didn't mince words: Fort Worth ISD's uptick in scores isn't enough.
"Fort Worth has significant academic challenges; its level of grade level proficiency is materially lower than Dallas, even though demographically they are not any different," he said as he released accountability scores.
Soon, Morath will be in Fort Worth touring different campuses as he plans the district's next step, which could include replacing the school board and the superintendent despite the improvement seen recently.
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Pay-for-performance dispute between Houston ISD and its largest teachers union continues in court Thursday
The Houston Federation of Teachers is seeking an injunction to prevent HISD from doling out state-funded raises based on performance rather than years of service. The relationship between the union and Superintendent Mike Miles has been fraught since the beginning of the state takeover.
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Family sues Lockhart ISD over volleyball coach’s alleged assault of student
A family of a Lockhart ISD student is suing the district after their child was allegedly sexually assaulted by a former volleyball coach, according to court documents obtained by KVUE. The lawsuit claims the district failed to protect the student in connection to sexual assault by former volleyball coach Aaron Aguilar and did not provide a safe learning environment during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
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Ysleta ISD approves plan to cut healthcare costs by $10 million
Healthcare costs for the Ysleta Independent School District are projected to exceed $43 million next year if no changes are made. In response, trustees voted 6 to 1 on Wednesday to approve a plan aimed at reducing these expenses.
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Mike Brooks named Executive Director of Bond Projects
Round Rock ISD welcomes Mike Brooks to the Bond team as the Executive Director of Bond Projects. He previously served the district as the Director of Maintenance. “I am honored to serve as Round Rock ISD’s new Executive Director of Bonds,” Brook said. “I’ve seen firsthand how well-planned and well-executed facilities projects directly support student learning and staff success.”
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Waco High School aide charged with felony grooming in case involving 16-year-old student
A Waco High School campus aide was arrested Tuesday on felony grooming charges after school officials learned of his inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old female student. Jody Deshawn Edwards, 34, remains in the McLennan County Jail under $10,000 bond and faces up to 10 years in prison after his arrest on the third-degree felony charge.
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1 in 4 Texas school districts signs up for new Bible-infused curriculum
The numbers may grow as the state collects more data. Some districts adopted the plan not for its religious emphasis but for more funding and to better align with teaching requirements.
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NEISD hasn’t held a bond election in 10 years. Superintendent Sean Maika explains why they need it now.
Putting a $495 million bond package up to voters in North East Independent School District this November — after going 10 years without a single bond election — was not a spur of the moment decision for Superintendent Sean Maika. It was a yearlong process, he said, sparked by a 2021 incident in which the district spent $2 million replacing an R-22 chiller at Madison High School. That kind of chiller became obsolete in 2010, and Maika became superintendent at the NEISD in 2019. “I really started to ask a lot of questions” after the chiller incident, Maika said. “How didn’t we know this needed to be done? I don’t like unexpected surprises.” To understand exactly what the school district facility needs were, NEISD hired government contractor Gordian and put together a steering committee of community members to take inventory of everything the district owns and prioritize what needs fixing or replacing. The findings of that study, Maika recalled, took him by surprise.
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A Texas congressman is quietly helping Elon Musk pitch building $760M tunnels under Houston to ease flooding
Experts in Houston have been studying the idea of building massive tunnels to divert floodwaters. Musk’s company wants a piece of the project.
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A Texas congressman is quietly helping Elon Musk pitch building $760M tunnels under Houston to ease flooding
Experts in Houston have been studying the idea of building massive tunnels to divert floodwaters. Musk’s company wants a piece of the project.
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Did Harris County slap Daikin Park with 1st-ever property tax bill? Astros aren’t happy.
Houston's home ballpark is at the center of a lawsuit filed by Houston Astros LLC late last week, which challenges a pain all-too-familiar to residents of the Lone Star State: property taxes. The Astros aim to avoid paying any form of property taxes on Daikin Park, claiming Texas tax code exempts "large-scale sports venues" from taxation. Friday's lawsuit added that Harris County "has no authority beyond what is conferred by the Texas Constitution or statute."
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RFK Jr. joins Greg Abbott in Austin to tout new ‘Make Texas Healthy Again’ laws
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., stopped by the Capitol on Wednesday to tout new Texas laws requiring warning labels on food products containing certain chemicals and mandating exercise and nutrition courses in schools as critical to his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
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Driver involved in Leander school bus crash no longer employed by district
The driver of the Leander school bus that rolled over on Aug. 13 no longer works for the district, officials said in a letter sent to parents. A district spokeswoman on Wednesday said she did not know if the driver, Tim Gall, quit or was terminated. He had been a driver for the district since 2019. Sixteen students and Gall were taken to hospitals on Aug. 13 after the bus Gall was driving rolled over in the 22500 block of a wet Nameless Road in western Travis County. None of the injuries turned out to be life-threatening.
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House Democrats’ frustration with STAAR bill highlights divide over how new test should look
Democrats say recent changes to the bill give too much power to the TEA and fall short of meaningfully easing the pressures of standardized testing.
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Fresh off Texas Senate’s approval, new congressional map is target of lawsuits
One lawsuit, filed by LULAC on behalf of 13 Texas residents, states that the redrawn districts in the new map are racially discriminatory and violate voter protection laws. Hours after the Texas Senate approved a new congressional map early Saturday morning that more heavily favors Republicans — legislation Gov. Greg Abbott plans to “swiftly” sign into law — a lawsuit against the governor was filed, alleging that the redrawn districts are racially discriminatory. The 67-page complaint against Abbott and Secretary of State Jane Nelson supplements legal action filed by LULAC in 2021 challenging the state’s original maps and argues that redrawing districts mid-decade is unconstitutional.
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Texas lawmakers delay bill keeping unsubstantiated complaints against officers from the public
Senate Bill 15’s supporters say police shouldn’t be publicly maligned for unproven allegations. Critics say the bill disincentivizes agencies from properly investigating complaints.
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State After Regular Session Defeat, House Votes To Restore AG’s Election Fraud Powers
This renewed effort comes after a breakdown earlier this year, when similar legislation advanced during the regular session but died in conference committee.
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Trial Court Shields LGBT Organization From Investigation
PFLAG refuses to produce documents for Attorney General Ken Paxton. An LGBT organization is fighting a demand to produce records regarding illegal gender mutilation procedures on minors and has taken the Texas attorney general to court. After more than a year of litigation filled with delays, a trial court ordered sweeping injunctions against the attorney general in favor of PFLAG. The Supreme Court of Texas is set to hear this case in October, which may determine the future of the attorney general’s investigative powers.
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Marfa ISD Teacher Arrested for Sexual Misconduct With Student
Educational aide Rebecca Ontivero is charged with a second-degree felony. A teacher for Marfa Independent School District is accused of sexual misconduct with a student. Rebecca Romijn Ontiveros, 25, was arrested and charged with improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. The offense includes sexual contact or sexually explicit communication with a student, regardless of the student’s age.
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Adult charter school New Heights plans expansion into former Fort Worth ISD campus
Kendra Howard-Horn dropped out of high school in the late 1990s but always knew she wanted a diploma. The 42-year-old Fort Worth resident tried different paths over the years, including GED classes, but they never fit her learning style, she said. She needed accountability. She needed structure. Now Howard-Horn is one of hundreds of adult learners at New Heights High School, a Fort Worth-based charter that’s the first in the state to offer adults a pathway to earn a diploma. Soon, New Heights will expand, moving into a former school building owned by Fort Worth ISD. The charter’s new home will be at the former Rosemont Sixth Grade — and Applied Learning Academy — campus on McCart Avenue. The school plans to open Oct. 20, doubling its capacity across two sites.
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