Joe’s Commentary: Joe Straus Elected to Fifth Term as Speaker of House

Yesterday, Joe Straus, elected to a fifth term as Speaker of the House, made several encouraging remarks regarding education in his opening speech of the 85th Legislative Session.

January 0408:10 AM

 

Austin ISD’s responsibilities don’t change with the seasons. Through winter, spring, summer and fall, we are dedicated to educating students and keeping them safe. If predictions of inclement weather are made, safety takes priority. When inclement weather or hazardous road conditions force us to delay the start of school or close for the day, our first consideration is how the decision will affect our students and their families.

Jacksonville superintendent defends middle school rating

While Jacksonville Middle School recently was identified by the Texas Education Agency as a “struggling” campus, local officials took corrective measures long ago, ensuring that things were quickly back on tract, according to schools superintendent Dr. Chad Kelly. “During the 2014-15 testing year, we received a score of less than 50 percent in social studies in eighth grade – I think it was 46 percent,” Kelly recalled. “We met all criteria last year, but even if we meet it this next year, we are still on list (according to TEA rules). We are penalized for the next two years (because of the one particular score) even though we did make corrections … you are on the list for three years.” view article  

Waco ISD seeking private funds to get planetarium off the ground

Waco Independent School District officials are trying to raise between $700,000 and $800,000 in private sponsorships from businesses, grants from foundations and donations from alumni and individuals to cover the cost of renovating and reopening Waco High School’s planetarium, which has been closed for more than 20 years, district spokesman Bruce Gietzen said. view article  

Cool at School: The Kindness Campaign

Students across Austin ISD are learning about kindness and anti-bullying through a fluffy blue character named Enoughie. The Kindness Campaign is in fifty schools right now, but looking to expand. Chants and cheers overtake a lesson in learning inside a Cunningham Elementary classroom for Enoughie.  view article  

Secret Santa delivers $150,000 in gift cards to hundreds of Dallas ISD teachers

Dade Middle School's “Teacher Appreciation Celebration” pep rally came with a festive, Oprah-style twist. Amid the fanfare — including performances from the school’s cheerleaders and step team, and a video montage of students thanking their favorite teachers — Dade principal Tracie Washington stopped the proceedings to give her staff a holiday greeting. view article  

Pleasanton ISD charged over $236K in school construction fees, permits

After two previous failed attempts, many Pleasanton voters were elated when the $63 million school bond election passed in May of 2015. Pleasanton ISD residents showed their support by a vote of 780 to 643. As new construction and renovations continue, many residents are seeing red and alarmed at the $236,356 that the City of Pleasanton has charged Pleasanton ISD in fees and permits.  view article  

Plainview ISD may become District of Innovation

Plainview school trustees at Thursday’s session will be asked to adopt a resolution to initiate the process for PISD to become a District of Innovation under provisions of House Bill 1842, adopted in 2015.  view article  

Midland ISD: New ratings system doesn’t change mission

Midland ISD will not let the latest state accountability ratings system deter it from its mission to improve academic outcomes and student achievement. That is the opinion of MISD board President Rick Davis, who said the system — which will use a single-letter grade (A through F) to rate campuses and districts — doesn’t tell the whole story of what is taking place inside classrooms.  view article  

Austin implements safety changes on Sandy Hook anniversary to protect kids

Dec. 14, 2012 will mark the day 20 children and six educators died when a gunman went on a shooting rampage inside a Connecticut school. Firearms are now the second leading cause of death for children and teens across the country, according to Texas Gun Sense.  view article  

iGeneration students teach senior citizens about all things digital

Whas an app and exactly how do you download one? Does my iPad have chrome? Snapchat? What’s that? Learning to navigate a high-tech world can be frustrating for those who are digitally challenged, but students in the Keller school district are doing their part to teach their older friends the finer points of smartphones, iPads and laptops and help them better understand social media. view article  

Katy ISD board of trustees approves district legislative priorities, prepares for 85th Legislature

Katy ISD will work closely with local legislators on key issues in anticipation of the upcoming legislative session in January. KISD’s Legislative Priorities Advisory Committee presented its official recommendations to the district’s board of trustees at its Nov. 21 meeting.  view article  

School district opposes system

School districts across Texas are concerned about plans by the state Legislature to give schools districts an A, B, C, D or F. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Harlingen school board unanimously approved a resolution opposing the assessment of letter grades.    view article  

Lake Travis school district prepares for 85th session

I love the recent change in our weather. Clearly winter will soon be upon us, and the holidays are not far behind. Already it has been a very busy year. In October, 24 seniors at Lake Travis High School received recognition from the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program for their exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. view article  

Bastrop school board calls on state to repeal A-F ratings

The Bastrop school district joined other districts across the Texas Tuesday night in calling for the repeal of a 2015 state law that would assign school ratings on an A through F grade scale.  view article  

Longview ISD teachers to get $720,000 in bonuses

Longview ISD is giving teachers more than $720,000 in merit-based bonuses today as part of its Longview Incentive for Teachers Pay for Performance Award program. The teacher and campus personnel incentive pay is given as a reward for good performance during the 2015-16 school year.  view article  

School sounds off: San Benito lays out five-year strategic plan

During the last several years, the San Benito School District has utilized social media to inform parents, students and the community about what goes on inside the many school buildings. Most recently, Celia Longoria, the district communications director, has started to implement more awareness about the districts and its happenings on Facebook, Twitter and online. view article  

Magnolia ISD drug policy empowers parents

Earlier this school year, the Magnolia Independent School District made changes to policies to further empower parents by extending their control over what their children do after school. The updated drug policy was approved in September, requiring high school students who purchase parking permits to consent to random drug testing. The policy also provides parents the ability to request a drug test for their students. view article  

Austin ISD answers questions from T.A. Brown Elementary parents

Austin ISD says they’ll be ready on Wednesday for students who learned their school, T.A. Brown Elementary, will not reopen after structural problems caused it to be unsafe. Saturday morning, district and school leaders sat down with parents to answer some of their questions. Students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten will go to Reilly Elementary just over two miles away and the other students, grades first through fifth, will go to the district’s Allan facility. view article  

Seguin: SISD: Scoreboard largest among US high schools

Seguin High School is now home to what district officials are calling the largest scoreboard in the country. Recently, crews from Nevco worked to install the near 51-foot tall, 47-foot wide jumbotron in Matador Stadium, which was up and running Thursday night for the freshman game. view article  

Harris County, Aldine ISD making changes after fatal accident

It’s an accident that could’ve happened to any child, but what are officials doing to make sure it doesn’t happen again? That’s what parents and classmates of MacArthur High School senior Jose Torres want to know in the wake of his death. Parents said the school speed zone signs were not flashing when Torres was hit and killed. Torres was struck and killed by a driver reportedly going up to 40 mph on Aldine Mail Route. It was still dark outside. Several people told KHOU 11 that some of those signs were still not working properly on Thursday morning, the day after Torres’ death. view article  

Round Rock ISD trustees approved a District of Innovation plan. Here are 6 takeaways.

Here are six takeaways from the Round Rock ISD board of trustees voting Thursday to approve the RRISD District of Innovation plan: view article  

Frisco ISD to Address New Schools Issue

The Frisco Independent School District meets Monday to work on some of the problems associated with being one of Texas’ fastest growing areas. The board will be voting on a proposal to help balance its budget by delaying the openings of four new schools. view article  

Frisco ISD Could Delay New School Openings

A meeting in Frisco on Thursday night could determine the future of several schools which are currently under construction. The school board is considering a delay in the openings of four new campuses: Memorial High School, Lawler Middle School, Talley Elementary School and Liscano Elementary School. The new campuses are all being built to ease overcrowding at other schools. Currently, they are supposed to open in the fall of 2017. view article  

Fort Bend: Lawyer loses suit over FBISD truancy process

When Deron Harrington filed a lawsuit on behalf of three parents in May 2015, he was trying to make sure the district where his kids attended school was following student truancy laws. He had a hunch that wasn't the case. At the time, Fort Bend ISD was making headlines for referring thousands of students to the county's specialized truancy court. Data showed a disproportionate number of the district's students referred to truancy court were African-American. As a lawyer, Harrington thought he could make a difference. view article  

Christoval ISD Stem Academy Building Ribbon-Cutting

School is back in session for students around the Concho Valley, and at Christoval ISD, Monday also marked the ribbon-cutting for their brand new STEM Academy building. The new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classrooms will allow for a greater diversity of hands-on classes. Dr. David Walker, the Superintendent at Christoval ISD says, "We want our students to be marketable and adaptable, as you know the world is changing at a fast rate and as things change we want our kids to have those skill-sets." view article  

Dallas ISD Trustees Decide Not To Put Tax Ratification Election On November Ballot

The Dallas school board Thursday night voted against putting a tax ratification election before voters this fall. The proposed 13-cent tax hike would have given the district $100 million to fund early childhood education and early college high school programs. The district also wanted to expand a program that pays extra money to top teachers who take jobs in some of the district’s toughest schools. view article  

Four new schools to open in Frisco ISD this fall

Four new schools will be opening this August just in time for the new school year. These additions to Frisco ISD will open its doors to 3,600 new students. The shining new schools launching for the 2016-17 school year will be Miller Elementary, Vaughn Elementary, Nelson Middle School and Lebanon Trail High School. With these additions, the total number of schools in Frisco ISD rises to 68 and the total student population increases from 49,644 to 53,301. view article  

Wylie ISD board proposes tax cut, adds to teacher salaries

Trustees of the Wylie Independent School District proposed a tax rate of $1.13 per $100 of property value for the 2016-17 fiscal year — a tax cut of 2.4 cents — and added more money to the proposed budget for teachers' salaries during Monday's regular board meeting. Trustees conducted their third of three workshops for the 2016-17 budget of $32.340 million and set a special meeting for Monday, Aug. 29, at 6:30 p.m. to receive comments from the public on the budget and tax rate and then consider approval. view article  

Fort Worth ISD Finds Lead in School Drinking Water

Fort Worth Independent School District officials said they have been working to reduce the quantity of lead in school drinking water during the summer. Testing of drinking water at Fort Worth ISD schools in June and July revealed lead levels exceeding recommended Environmental Protection Agency levels — 20 parts per billion — in dozens of areas. view article  

Leander ISD names lone finalist for superintendent

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees named Dan Troxell, Ph.D., as the lone finalist to be the district’s new superintendent. Troxell has been superintendent of Kerrville ISD for 14 years, and was named Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards in 2008. Troxell also previously worked for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Allen ISD and Round Rock ISD. view article  

Round Rock ISD awards $1.9M to ‘innovation’ schools

The Round Rock school district awarded $1.9 million in grants to 34 campuses to help foster innovation in schools through programs, models or initiatives that enrich learning. The grants range from $7,500 to $100,000 and support the district’s strategic goal of implementing, enhancing and reinforcing innovative teachings and learning models, according to a district news release. view article  

West Oso ISD board to discuss superintendent’s job

West Oso Independent School District trustees are considering new leadership. Discussion on whether to appoint an interim superintendent if Elizabeth Saenz resigns had not concluded as of presstime Monday. The board called the special meeting to discuss and consult with legal counsel on Saenz's contract and possible resignation agreement, according to the meeting's agenda.

We Need a Brexit in Texas Education

The people of America recently woke up to witness the independent spirit of the people of Great Britain. Despite the polls, the people voted 51.8%to 48.2% to leave the  [Education schoolkids] European Union and chart their own path. What were the issues that the Brits were upset about? The first thing I thought about the morning after was, we need a Brexit in education. view article  

Proposed Judson ISD high school name change sparks community cry

A new Judson Independent School District high school is on the verge of changing its name before it opens. Mackey High School opens in August and nine trustees from Judson ISD host a special meeting to vote on a name change. view article