Boyd ISD approves separation agreement with construction company

Boyd ISD is now looking for a new construction company after the district’s board of trustees approved a letter of separation with Gallagher Construction during its October meeting last week. Superintendent Tom Woody presented a letter from Gallagher Construction president Jeff Fisher citing the company’s desire to cancel its partnership due to a disagreement concerning the building of a road planned to be built on the district’s property on Cemetery Road. view article  

Celina ISD faces lawsuit for sexual misconduct under new state law

Texas school districts could be held liable for sexual misconduct involving teachers and students thanks to a new state law. State Representative Mitch Little from Lewisville discussed that law on Wednesday at a press conference at the Collin County courthouse in McKinney, where a pending lawsuit against Celina ISD accuses a former football coach of filming students undressing in the boys locker room. view article  

Austin ISD families rally to save Maplewood Elementary as district refines closure plan

Austin ISD is moving forward with updates to its sweeping consolidation plan that could close 13 schools, including Maplewood Elementary, a 74-year-old campus with a long community legacy and the district’s only “A”-rated school among those proposed for closure. As trustees listened to some of the adjustments during a Wednesday night work session, Maplewood families gathered in a different kind of meeting, one filled with music and messages of unity. view article  

Lockhart ISD to break ground on $90M middle school in early 2026

Lockhart Independent School District will break ground on a $90 million middle school in early 2026 after it got a donation from the Red Oak Development Group. In a news release from Red Oak Development Group, the 589-acre land is in the “interconnected community” known as Moxie. Construction of Phase One (infrastructure) will begin in fall 2025, with a grand opening set for spring 2026. view article  

Spring Hill ISD voters weigh tax rate election, $20 million bond for school upgrades

Spring Hill ISD voters will decide this November whether to approve a new bond package and a property tax rate increase. The district says the funds would support academic programs, facility upgrades and student services. Proposition A is the voter-approval tax rate election. Spring Hill ISD is asking voters to consider a 3.2-cent tax increase per $100 of taxable property value. The increase would provide additional funding for academic programs, extracurricular activities and student support services. view article  

Beaumont ISD teachers could earn six figures through state incentive program

Some Beaumont ISD teachers will soon be able to make six figures through the Teacher Incentive Allotment, or TIA program, which is in its early phases in the district. The Texas Education Agency approved the district's application in August for incentives in teacher pay. BISD receives an annual amount for each eligible teacher and may use the funds to incentivize teachers to stay. Teachers can also receive more money depending on the students they serve. view article  

Boerne ISD bets on high-tech defense: drones meant to confront school shooters in seconds

An idea plucked straight out of a sci-fi movie will soon land at Boerne Independent School District campuses — drones meant to stop school shooters. “I’ve grown so much to appreciate the concept now, but my initial reaction was no, this doesn’t make any sense,” said Rick Goodrich, the district’s chief of safety and security. KSAT Investigates view article  

Some Austin ISD parents plan to rally at Bryker Woods Elementary School against consolidation plan

Hundreds of people are planning to rally at Bryker Woods Elementary School in Austin against the school district's consolidation plan. view article  

Leon ISD school teacher fired following allegations of misconduct with student

The Leon school district in Leon County has shared a statement about action taken Monday evening on a teacher who was placed on leave last week by the school district. view article  

Celina ISD potentially facing more lawsuits in Caleb Elliott case

There are increasing calls for transparency, along with more threats of legal action, in the case of former Celina ISD teacher and coach Caleb Elliott. The community is also grappling with the district's decision to place Bill Elliott, the suspect's father, who is also the head football coach at Celina High School and the district's athletic director, on 'non-disciplinary' paid leave. view article  

Fort Bend ISD mom claims 6-year-old assaulted by other students

A Fort Bend ISD mother claims that her 6-year-old son with autism was sexually assaulted by other students back in September. The mother, who FOX 26 is keeping anonymous for the safety of her child, says that on the 17th, her son's elementary school called her to say that "her son was walking funny" and had to be picked up from school. view article  

ASPERMONT ISD APPROVES PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION FOR 2024 BOND PROJECT

The Aspermont ISD Board of Trustees approved the second phase of its 2024 bond construction plan during last week’s meeting, authorizing a major renovation project that will upgrade the district’s gymnasium, locker rooms, restrooms, and several classroom areas. The $3.78 million contract was awarded to Henthorn Commercial Construction of Lubbock, with Gallagher Construction Services managin.. view article  

Central Texas School District Reviews Books To Ensure Compliance With Law

New Braunfels ISD closed down school libraries for 10 days to review books for sexual content and DEI instruction.
  Trustees from New Braunfels Independent School District have reopened school libraries following a 10-day closure to review books in the district’s system.   The closure began on October 13, when trustees unanimously approved the closure of district libraries to review books and ensure compliance with Senate Bill 13. The measure is intended to protect children from sexual ideology and increase transparency in content accessible to children. During the closure, the district identified 80 books that will be reviewed, with several already having been determined to contain content that is not in compliance with SB 13. Among the titles that are still under review by the district are several that contain radical sexual ideology and sexually explicit content. view article  

$2.26 Billion Cash Injection Brings U.S. Lithium Explorers Back Into Focus

The White House and GM just backed Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass with an unprecedented investment - reshaping the battery supply chain and drawing new attention to the explorer next door.  The White House just made a power move.  In September 2025, they announced a 5% equity stake in Lithium Americas and another 5% stake in its GM joint venture at Thacker Pass. The package activates a $2.26 billion federal loan, with an initial $435 million draw to accelerate the project into productioni view article  

Texas Reports Record Honeybee Losses That Reflect National Decline

Texas has lost 61 percent of its honeybee colony population over the early spring and summer, a decline that reflects a similar trend across the U.S. This may have a national impact on food supplies. In January, reports from U.S. beekeepers of high honeybee colony losses began to surface. The data collected showed not only the highest loss of bee colonies on record, but also, unlike most years, the high loss mostly affected commercial operations.  With losses stacking into the summer, data from Apiary Inspectors of America shows that more than 55 percent of U.S. bee colonies disappeared, equating to a national loss of 1.7 million colonies out of about 2.7 million colonies in America.    In economic terms, that meant an estimated loss of $600 million.   Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that Texas is home to nearly 271,000 of these colonies, ranking third in the nation.  view article  

Federal Appeals Court to Reconsider West Texas A&M Drag Show Ban

The legal battle over West Texas A&M University’s drag show ban has taken a new turn after the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to rehear the case en banc—that is, before all 17 active judges of the appellate court.   This development means the court has vacated an earlier 2-1 panel ruling that had temporarily blocked the university’s drag ban and found that Spectrum WT, the campus LGBT student group, was likely to succeed on First Amendment grounds.​   The earlier ruling, issued in August, sided with the student group and said that the drag show was protected expressive conduct, and that the campus venue was a designated public forum subject to strict constitutional scrutiny.  view article  

Big pay hikes for school administrators in 2025, while outcomes remain low

The 2025 school year was déjà vu all over again – nice pay increases for many administrators and persistently low student outcomes. ACT college-readiness in English, Reading, Math, and Science set another low record, dropping from 32% in 2015 to just 17% in 2025.

Editors Note: We often post articles form organizations that are known for not supporting Public Ed. We post these for you to read because these are what your public is reading. The folks on your board or coming to your office and at TexasISD.com we think it is important to know and understand both sides of these issues to adequately debate and defend Public Ed.

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Texas education leaders ban foreign exchange students from high school sports

"They are allowed to get on a plane and come across to our state and play immediately, taking the place, many times, of a community kid."  The University Interscholastic League will no longer allow foreign exchange students to take part in varsity sports. view article  

Nacogdoches elementary school unveils new playground to students

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - After years of need and months of preparation, Raguet Elementary has now opened its new playground for all students to enjoy.​   Julia Wells, the principal of Raguet Elementary, said that the new playground for the over 400 students who attend the school was a long time coming.  ​Eight years of wanting change behind the scenes, to the approval for the new Raguet Elementary playground last April, all led to the last three weeks of it all being put together.​  “(It’s) something everyone can enjoy. Every student from our smallest kindergartner to our biggest fifth grader, that everyone has the opportunity, that there’s something that attracts them,” Wells said.​ “To see them enjoying this, my heart is so happy.”​ view article  

SNAP cutoff could hurt Texas grocers and the rest of the economy, experts say

The ongoing government shutdown means more than $600 million per month won’t go to millions of Texas SNAP beneficiaries who pump that money into the state economy. view article  

Houston ISD sues state AG to keep PR firm emails from 13 Investigates

The Houston Independent School District filed a lawsuit against the Texas Attorney General's Office in an attempt to keep public information from our 13 Investigates team. 13 Investigates has been formally requesting information about the district's relationship with the agency for months and hasn't gotten any answers, so sending an open records request for emails was our next move. view article  

Killeen ISD approves school closures, consolidations to save $100 million

The Killeen ISD Board of Trustees approved a series of school closures and consolidations Tuesday designed to save more than $100 million over five years, according to district officials. The optimization plan includes closing three schools at the end of the 2025-2026 school year and making several program changes as part of what district officials call a strategic effort to improve efficiency and strengthen student programs. view article  

Huntington class operates coffee shop

HUNTINGTON — Huntington High School special education students in Mario Sanchez’s life skills class now operate their own coffee shop.“Our first year, we started out with just a coffee cart,” said Sanchez, who also coaches baseball and football. “Now you can order anything Starbucks has, be it hot, iced, blended or whatever.” view article  

Ex-Killeen ISD custodian pleads guilty to illegally re-entering U.S. after deportation

A former Harker Heights High School custodian pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally re-entering the United States after her deportation 14 years ago. Ofelia Negrete-Arriaga, 57, who worked at different times for the Killeen school district for a total of 19 years, faces up to two years in federal prison and deportation after her guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Derek Gilliland. view article  

Half a million Texans voted in first week of early voting for the Nov. 4 Election

AUSTIN — Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson today released early voting numbers for the first week of early voting ahead of the Nov. 4 Election. Texas counties reported that as of Sunday evening, 561,819 ballots were cast. In-person voting reflected the vast majority of the votes. The vote-by-mail cumulative was 23,510.    “Statewide, Texans are going to the polls to vote on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, and many will also have the opportunity to weigh in on local or special elections,” said Secretary of State Nelson. “Now is a good time for eligible voters to make a plan for voting early or casting their ballot on Election Day.”  view article  

Unpacking the constitutional amendments

Texas Politics Project’s Joshua Blank joins the TribCast to walk through the 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot this November view article  

How a single Fort Worth ISD campus prompted a state takeover

The Texas Education Agency is taking over the Fort Worth Independent School District — a district with more than 70,000 students — because a campus with just over 300 sixth graders repeatedly failed to meet state academic standards. While Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade ultimately set off the state’s ability to intervene, the threat of a state takeover has been looming over the district for nearly two decades — with the first dating back to 2008. The district has a history of struggling to bring students’ grades up across the city, especially at campuses in low-income neighborhoods with large Black and brown populations.   TEA Commissioner Mike Morath announced last week his decision to remove all decision-making power from elected Fort Worth ISD school board members. Soon, the state will replace them with a board of managers and a superintendent handpicked by Morath. The new set of appointed leaders will wield substantial power. They will preside over one of North Texas’ biggest school districts — around 135 campuses — and their responsibilities will range from deciding how to spend the district’s $1 billion budget to hiring the directors who will lead day-to-day operations such as bus transportation and campus maintenance.  view article  

Texas attorney general sues Tylenol company over autism claims

This lawsuit comes a month after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. updated guidance discouraging pregnant women from taking acetaminophen, citing it as a possible cause of autism.  This lawsuit, the first of its kind from a state government, comes a month after President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced updated guidance discouraging pregnant women from taking acetaminophen, citing it as a possible cause of autism. The announcement set off a wave of controversy in the health care community, and confusion among pregnant women unsure how they should manage fever and pain during pregnancy.  The science around Tylenol and autism is uncertain. While some studies suggest a correlation between taking Tylenol while pregnant and having a child with autism, others have repudiated those findings. Major medical associations rejected Kennedy and Trump’s claims as overly generalized and potentially harmful. view article  

Fort Worth ISD superintendent must reapply for her job as TEA takeover begins

As the Texas Education Agency moves forward with its takeover of Fort Worth ISD, Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar’s contract will be reviewed in closed-door meetings this week, and she’ll be required to reapply for her position as part of the process. view article  

Celina ISD Employee Arrested for Child Pornography Draws Attention from Attorney General, Lawmakers

State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on October 23, requesting his office “undertake an outside and independent investigation into the shocking reports out of Celina ISD in Collin County.”  view article  

Veteran educator honored for dedication to English language learners

ABILENE, Texas — A longtime Abilene ISD educator was recognized on Saturday for decades of dedication to teaching English as a second language.  Clack Middle School teacher Veronica Long was honored during Summit K-12's annual award ceremony with the Lifetime Achievement Award. view article  

Milano ISD mourning death of superintendent Elisabeth Luevanos

Community members are mourning the death of Milano ISD superintendent Elisabeth Luevanos. According to a news release, Luevanos died Monday from injuries sustained in a recent accident. Further details about the accident were not shared. A statement from school board president Levi Keen says, “Superintendent Luevanos led with compassion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to doing what was best for children. She guided Milano ISD with vision and heart, and her loss is deeply felt across our district and community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.” view article  

Longview ISD, Kilgore College and UT Tyler set to expand college pathways for Longview students

In a milestone day for education in East Texas, Longview ISD, Kilgore College, and The University of Texas at Tyler formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) creating new college pathways for Longview students. The agreement was followed by two major family engagement events that drew hundreds of parents and students eager to learn more about higher education opportunities. view article  

After millions in cuts, Liberty Hill ISD’s Prop A would surge funding to the district

The Liberty Hill Independent School District is asking voters to weigh in on a proposed tax rate increase on Nov. 4. If passed, the measure, which appears on the ballot as Proposition A, would generate an additional $10.7 million in tax revenue for the 2025-26 school year. view article  

Dallas ISD names interim Woodrow Wilson HS principal after ‘incident’ at school

The principal of Dallas ISD's Woodrow Wilson High School has been replaced by an interim leader after three years in the job after a "recent incident" on campus. In a letter to families sent Monday, Aaron Aguirre-Castillo, executive director of the Woodrow Wilson vertical team, said Chandra Hooper-Barnett will be replaced while the district reviews the details of what happened. The incident did "not reflect the values and expectations of our community," the letter reads, but it doesn't include details. view article