Texas makes mess of taxes

Count on the Texas Legislature to come up with a painfully complicated and inefficient way to repeal a painfully complicated and inefficient tax. Lawmakers deserve praise for targeting the Texas Franchise Tax, but their methods are unsound. The franchise tax, also called the margins or business tax, ranks consistently as one of the worst taxes anywhere in the country. It was the convoluted response to the Texas Supreme Court declaring the public school finance system unconstitutional. Lawmakers had to lower property taxes to comply with the court order, so to find replacement funds they rewrote the franchise tax, what businesses pay for the privilege to operate in our great state. view article  

Abbott skirting traditional media surprising, effective

When Gov. Greg Abbott signed one of his top legislative priorities into law, the key players who shepherded perhaps the most controversial bills through Capitol’s sausage-grinding process were not at his side to receive a commemorative pen or to take part in a photo-opportunity handshake. Neither were the constituency groups and activists who clamored for the clamp-down on so-called sanctuary cities. As for the reporters who had filed the daily dispatches about the protests and side deals that go along with passing divisive legislation, they were at home about to sit down to Sunday dinner. About 20 minutes earlier, they received a cryptic message urging them to log onto the governor’s Facebook page, where the first-term Republican would announce to a video camera that showed a near-empty office that his signature was on Senate Bill 4. view article  

Winners & losers in Round Rock ISD school bond election mull future

The Round Rock school board is focused today on the end of the school year. But it will need to regroup after all three of their school bond proposals were voted down on Saturday The district had half a billion dollars in projects riding on this vote. $572 million to be exact. view article  

Gravely & Pearson, LLP Donates $1 Million to the “Restore West Foundation”

Gravely & Pearson, LLP, a leading Texas law firm specializing in insurance and construction defect litigation, will donate $1 million to the West Independent School District's "Restore West Foundation," four years after the April 17, 2013 West Fertilizer Plant Explosion. On May 10th, 2017, Gravely & Pearson will formally present the check during the district's May board meeting. view article  

Q&A: Why is Houston ISD voting on recapture, and what is recapture anyway

On Saturday, voters who live within the Houston ISD will go to the polls to determine how - or if - the district will pay the state millions in "recapture" fees. Whatever voters decide on Proposition 1, the Houston ISD will take a financial hit, officials say. Recapture, and school finance, can be difficult to grasp. To help, here are the answers to some questions about the ballot measure. view article  

Public support of STEM education is key to student success

Gov. Greg Abbott has rightly pointed out that if Texas were a country, its economy would rank 10th in the world. Our businesses here in Houston, and across the state, regularly invest in science, technology, engineering and math industries, making us a significant producer of the most sought-after goods and services in the global marketplace. To maintain our position of strength, we must align our education system to our state's employment needs. Maintaining a pre-eminent economy and workforce begins with giving students the skills needed to adapt across multiple jobs and even careers within a lifetime. view article  

Texas Board of Education approves changes to biology standards for public schools

Texas may change how your child understands biology when taught in a public high school classroom. The Texas' Board of Education tentatively approved changes to portions of the states Biology curriculum. Instead of asking Texas public school students to “evaluate” scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and the complexity of certain cells, the state will now ask that the students "examine" the scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and complexity of certain cells. In the past, some educators have argued that the word "evaluate" encouraged students to challenge the scientific theory of evolution and opened the door to teaching creationism. view article  

Solis named TREA Superintendent of Year

Gene Solis who has served as superintendent of the Whitney ISD since 2008 was recently named the Texas Rural Education Associations’ Superintendent of the Year. Solis will be honored at the TREA Summer Conference on June 24 at the DFW Marriott Hotel in Fort Worth. The TREA awards committee was impressed with his servant leadership and ability to motivate his instructional staff to make Whitney ISD an excellent rural school district. Gene Solis is a 1978 graduate of Spur High School view article  

Texas Senate passes anti-cyberbullying bill David’s Law 31-0

It was unanimous. The Texas Senate voted 31-0 to approve SB 179, legislation that will crack down on online bullying in state schools. SB 179 is, also known as David's Law named for David Molak, a local student who took his own life at just 16 years old. His family says he was tortured by cyberbullies from Alamo Heights High School. view article  

DeSoto ISD board punts amid report football coach’s job was in danger

The concerned citizens who spoke at the DeSoto school board meeting Monday in defense of football coach Todd Peterman numbered only four, because reports that the board might vote against his return began circulating just an hour and a half before the meeting was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. view article  

Pharr: PSJA ISD Officials: Middle Schooler Hid Unloaded Pistol in Backpack

Police in San Juan took a middle schooler into custody after the student took an unloaded pistol to school. According to a PSJA ISD press release, the Raul Yzaguirre Middle School student showed the pistol to a classmate. The eighth-grader had the weapon and some bars of Xanax hidden inside his backpack. We’re told the classmate immediately reported the incident to school staff. The student was removed from the classroom. He’s expected to face legal consequences and the maximum school discipline. view article  

Abilene: AISD sees challenges and reacts

The Abilene ISD has begun looking in earnest at its near future, a challenging task because change moves rapidly these days. The district has hired a consultant to work with a group that is studying the direction of the district the next five years. view article  

CAR HITS CONROE ISD SCHOOL BUS WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD

Several Conroe ISD elementary school students had minor injuries after a car slammed into their school bus. School officials said 58 students from Ford Elementary were on board at the time of the incident this morning. view article  

Shakeup in Marfa ISD’s head football coach & AD

According to Oscar Aguero, Marfa ISD Superintendent, Wayland Jenkins is no longer Marfa High School Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. Jenkins left the district the in January to pursue an 11 man coaching job according to Aguero. view article  

East Texas turns black and gold for Mount Pleasant ISD

School districts across East Texas are showing their support for Mount Pleasant ISD. Pittsburg ISD is wearing black and gold in honor of the district. On Thursday a horrific crash involving an 18-wheeler, took the life of Angelica Beard. Beard was a track team coach at Mount Pleasant High School. The crash also left several students and coaches injured. Mount Pleasant ISD Superintendent, Judd Marshall, says the remaining student has been released from the hospital and coaches Van Bowen and Ryan Stanage are both recovering after surgery. view article  

Joe’s Commentary: We are Going in the Wrong Direction!

The Texas Supreme Court believes “minimum is good enough” and in their opinion our current school funding does meet constitutional requirements.  However,  the current  public education funding system barely meets that very low standard.  I repeat: Our system is MINIMUM.  This says a lot about how we value our teachers and students.  The Supreme Court also said the system needs to be improved.  Many, myself included, have little faith (based on history) in the legislative process to provide improvement and a more equitable funding solution for Texas school districts and students.

Lockhart ISD teacher arrested for improper relationship with student

A Lockhart High School science teacher has been arrested for having an improper relationship with a 17-year-old male student. Sarah Fowlkes started at the district in October 2014. On March 10, 2017 a school administrator reached out to Lockhart Police after receiving a "concerning report." LPD launched an investigation and determined Fowlkes was engaged in sexual contact with the student. view article  

Copperas Cove ISD on high alert after someone threatens school shooting

Copperas Cove ISD was notified Friday evening of a threat directed at the high school. The threat, "I'm going to shoot up Copperas Cove High School on 3/20/17," was painted on the wall of a car wash on Casa Street. view article  

Father, counselor testify in Title IX case against Lewisville ISD

The plaintiffs continued building their case Tuesday in the instance of a student at Lewisville ISD who is suing the school for Title IX violations. The girl was 14 years old when she said she went to a high school party and got sexually assaulted by two high school football players at Hebron, a school in the Lewisville district. view article  

Floydada ISD working on bond proposal to renovate high school

Floydada ISD officials are preparing for a bond election to fund renovations to their 62-year-old high school. A recent assessment determined that the school needs major renovations. The superintendent says voters will have the choice of whether to authorize the bond issue in May. "We're having several issues that we are having to repair throughout the school year from plumbing, to structural issues, to roofing issues, but, my biggest concern is just the security of the campus," says Gilbert Trevino, superintendent for Floydada ISD.

A lesson on the formal education, segregation and integration of Waxahachie ISD

African American children in the United States were not always guaranteed the right to a formal education. For decades, racism, segregation, and unequal opportunities were the barriers, which stood between black students and the educational standards of their white neighbors. view article  

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