March 0108:25 AM

 

Broadband — an internet connection with sufficient speed to deliver online experiences including full-motion video without significant lag time — is increasingly seen as a requirement for modern life. In its 2010 National Broadband Plan, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stated that “like electricity a century ago, broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life.”

Texas Lawmakers Face Tough Choices Over State Budget Impacted by COVID -19

State lawmakers were prepared for a budget crunch, since the COVID-19 pandemic slashed revenues from sales taxes, energy taxes, and other sources. The question they now face is how to close the shortfall without choking off long-term growth.  The answer is far from clear, but it’s certain to involve cuts to popular programs.  In fact, such cuts are what's expected this session. The state comptroller's office says lawmakers need to close a shortfall of nearly $1 billion in revenues. And Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton of Conroe, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, noted that Gov. Greg Abbott has asked state agencies to reduce budgets by 5%. view article  

50 percent capacity for Abilene ISD baseball and softball

ABILENE – The Abilene ISD is opening baseball and softball contests at both high schools to 50 percent capacity at all four fields for the 2021 season. Fans will be allowed to enter this weekend’s baseball tournament games at Blackburn Field (Abilene High) and Cougar Field (Cooper) at no charge, but beginning with next week’s home games, all games for baseball and softball will be $4 for adults and $2 for students. Full-time AISD employees will be allowed to enter for free, but only with a district-issued ID, and that ID only gains entry for the employee. view article  

Pay It Forward: Giving back to a Lubbock ISD teacher

This week, Westex Federal Credit Union stopped by Lubbock ISD’s Wolffarth Elementary School to surprise one of its teachers. Melissa Catano nominated her daughter, Vanessa for this Week’s Pay It Forward. “She is so devoted to her students and she sincerely cares about each one of her students and goes above and beyond to fill that need,” said Melissa. “Vanessa believes in her students and she has high expectations for each and every student to succeed in her classroom and outside of her classroom. She does everything power to help her students.” view article  

Humble ISD Extends Free Meals Through May 28, 2021

Curbside meals will resume Wednesday, January 20. Meals will not be served on Monday, January 18 due to the holiday. Free school meals for ALL Humble ISD students extended through May 28, 2021 All Humble ISD students, regardless of meal eligibility (free, reduced, or full paid), will continue to receive one breakfast meal and one lunch meal per school day at NO COST for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. view article  

Katy ISD board considers demographics ahead of possible new bond

The Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees looked at demographics and plans for a possible May 2021 bond election at its Monday, Dec. 14, meeting. view article  

Spring ISD outlines changes ahead of spring semester, announces districtwide virtual academy opening August 2021

Ahead of the spring semester, Spring ISD officials have announced that changes will be implemented in hopes of improving remote and in-person instruction for teachers and students. In a presentation at the Dec. 8 board meeting, Lupita Hinojosa, chief officer of school leadership and student support services, announced that not all teachers will have to teach online and in-person students concurrently in the spring semester, as is currently the case. view article  

Bryan ISD teachers to receive $500 bonus

Bryan ISD's Board of Trustees have approved a one-time $500 supplement for their salaried employees. Teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses, administrators and professional staff receive their pay bonus on their Dec 15 paycheck. view article  

Fort Bend ISD moves meal pick-up to 2 days a week, begins offering dinners

Beginning Dec. 7, Fort Bend ISD will provide grab-and-go meals for students two days a week instead of daily, according to a Dec. 1 press release from the district. FBISD will also begin offering dinner meals for pickup. On Mondays, families will be able to pick up breakfast, lunch and dinner for Monday through Wednesday, and on Thursdays, meals will be available for Thursday through Saturday. view article  

Cleveland, Liberty ISDs join other Houston-area school districts in canceling virtual learning

Cleveland and Liberty ISDs became the latest school districts on the outskirts of the greater Houston area to cancel their online learning options this week, joining Barbers Hill and Navasota ISDs in requiring the majority of their students to return to campuses. Liberty ISD, which educates 2,266 students about 50 minutes northeast of downtown Houston, told parents at the end of October that remote learning would be offered only to medically fragile students, students who have tested positive for COVID-19, students who are quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure and students whose schools temporarily were closed due to positive tests. view article  

November 1908:20 AM

 

Nine positive COVID-19 cases have been reported among the various campuses within Henrietta Independent School District according to letters sent by their superintendent. Wednesday, November 18, Henrietta ISD Superintendent of Schools Scot Clayton confirmed two positive COVID-19 cases at Henrietta Elementary School and three positive COVID-19 cases at Henrietta High School.

Friendswood ISD officials, parents clash over potential restrictions on virtual learning

During and after a Nov. 9 meeting, Friendswood ISD board members and parents discussed the merits and challenges of structural changes to the district’s virtual learning program. Guidance from the Texas Education Agency released Nov. 5 gave the district significantly more options when it comes to virtual learners, officials said. But that guidance continues to change. view article  

Waco ISD teacher accused of murder in shooting of son, 17

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‘I love my kids’: Eanes ISD honors longtime teacher with parade

A Hill Country Middle School teacher in the Eanes Independent School District got a special sendoff Thursday afternoon. Pam Fletcher-Friday has taught theatre at the middle school for more than 30 years. She’s preparing to retire soon, so the district wanted to honor her with a parade. view article  

2020 Tax Ratification Elections

Tax Ratification Election results for 2020 updated as we find them.

KEMP ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

The board of trustees of the Kemp Independent School District has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Arrow president/ CEO Dr. Russell Marshall and lead consultant/COO Jim Dunlap will conduct the search. The timeline is posted on arrowsearchinc.com and the TASA career center. Updates will be available on arrowsearchinc.com and TexasISD.com as the search progresses. view article  

Most Poth ISD students will return to the classroom Monday, district officials say

After months of online learning, most students who go to schools at Poth ISD will be required to return to the classroom starting Monday, except for those with certain medical issues or those who have high-risk family members in their home. School officials said productivity was low with virtual learning. Their decision to bring students back to campus was made with consideration of research in collaboration with health officials and a low number of coronavirus cases in Wilson county. view article  

Professional Architect Joins Dallas ISD Career Institute To Help Build Futures

She's a first-year educator and the leading instructor of the Principles of Architecture course at the new Career Institute East. After earning a masters in Architecture at Texas A&M University in 2004, Toffer began working for Corgan – a leading architecture and design firm based in Dallas. She was ultimately promoted to senior project manager, where she fully supervised projects from first sketches to construction. view article  

Fitch Rates $50.8MM Garland ISD, TX ULTs ‘AAA’ on PSF Guaranty; ‘AA+’ Underlying; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has assigned a 'AAA' rating based on the Texas Permanent School Fund (PSF) guaranty and an 'AA+' underlying rating to the following Garland Independent School District, TX unlimited tax bonds (the bonds or ULTs): view article  

Ector County ISD shares revised academic calendar for 2020-21

Ector County ISD is sharing its revised academic calendar for 2020-21 to clear confusion for parents. According to ECISD, the original calendar that was adopted in February included two student holidays on September 25 and 28. Changes made over the summer eliminated those holidays and both days are now normal class days for students. You can view the updated calendar below. view article  

Joe’s Commentary: Where have All the Kids Gone?

A Texas school district's greatest asset is its students and from the articles I have read in the past few days, many districts have lost some of their students (compared to 2019). It is too early to draw conclusions about enrollment -- unless you are the superintendent or CFO and are counting the money. 

Fort Worth ISD Delays Start of In-Person Class After 11-Hour Meeting, Protests

Hundreds of parents chimed in Tuesday night as Fort Worth ISD took another stab at deciding when to send kids back to the classroom. This comes after voting just last week on a date for in-person learning. In a meeting that went until 4 a.m., the board took a series of votes on everything from upholding last week's vote to open school October 5, to pushing it back to the end of October with different outcomes with each vote. view article  

Sara Leon: The Legal Brief: New Title IX Regs Apply to Employee Complaints of Sexual Harassment

On May 4, 2020, the Department of Education (“DOE”) issued new Title IX regulations, which direct how educational institutions receiving federal funds must address reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault involving both students and employees. view article  

Sara Leon & Associates: THE LEGAL BRIEF: PRACTICE AREAS

At SL&A, we offer a full array of legal services for our school law clients throughout Texas. We strive to deliver a high-level of client service through teamwork, calling upon our attorneys’ decades of public and private experience to provide practical solutions and advice for all school needs. view article  

Parents weigh in on Fort Worth ISD’s plan for in-person learning

Fort Worth ISD's superintendent recommended that students who choose to can return to in-class instruction starting Oct. 5. The district's school board was presented plans for the return to in-person learning on Tuesday afternoon. Parents also got to weigh in. One week after Fort Worth ISD students started back-to-school learning virtually, the school board is already talking about what to do next. view article  

Four Killeen ISD students test positive for COVID-19 as of Monday

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Pflugerville ISD begins in-person learning while staying flexible about the future

Here in Central Texas some public schools are just now beginning to welcome students back to the classroom for in-person learning. And they're taking every precaution to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Austin ISD just started class 100% online last week, but Pflugerville ISD students started back on August 13 and they're already four weeks into the school year. view article  

Deadline extended for Fort Bend ISD parents deciding between virtual or in-person learning

The deadline has been extended for Fort Bend Independent School District parents deciding if they want their children to continue virtual learning or head back to the classroom. This comes as a special board meeting scheduled for today was canceled. Ft. Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said board members wanted to give more parents time to decide. view article  

Austin ISD’s first day of school was all virtual

First-grade teacher Karen Preston is all about meeting her students. "I love it because I love getting to know the kids," Preston said. While excited for the first day of school, Preston said teaching online does have its challenges. view article  

Dublin ISD Sees Smooth Start a Month Into Classes

The Dublin ISD in Erath County was one of the first districts in Texas to go back to school. The year started back on Aug. 4 with the majority of students in the classroom and a small group opting to learn at home. Now a month later, the superintendent tells NBC 5, it's been a smooth start. view article  

Majority of Waco ISD students registered so far pick remote learning

The Waco Independent School District and its charter school partner, Transformation Waco, could see more than half of their students start the school year Sept. 8 via remote instruction, according to registration numbers provided by both entities. view article  

Lubbock ISD confirms first COVID-19 case at Mackenzie Middle School

Mackenzie Middle School has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 at the school. Mackenzie Middle School release a statement to parents confirming the case of COVID-19 on August 26, 2020. view article  

Comal ISD students are back in class

The Coronavirus pandemic has all districts adapting and getting very familiar with technology. Roughly 12,000 CISD students, or 41%, are learning remotely. view article  

Bryan ISD discusses protocols for extracurricular activities as district gears up to reopen

School districts across the Brazos Valley will be heading back to school in the next few weeks but many are dealing with new protocols as the pandemic continues into the new school year. One area that many districts are dealing with is extracurricular activities. KBTX spoke to Bryan ISD’s Fine Arts Director, Patrick Corbett about how the district’s protocols are adjusting to fit the needs and safety for those who choose to participate. view article  

Chambers county, Barbers Hill ISD at odds regarding the district’s reopening plan

David Lothridge of Mont Belvieu represents many if not the majority of the parents in Barbers Hill Independent School District. He said the children need to be back in school. Nearly every parent with children in the district that KPRC 2 came across Thursday was in favor of sending kids back to school for in-person instruction with no delays. "You can learn more in class than on the computer," Lothridge added. view article