US school teacher stabbed to death in Abu Dhabi

Police in Abu Dhabi say an American school teacher has been stabbed to death in a public restroom at a mall by a suspect wearing the traditional black robe and full-face veil worn by many women throughout the Arab Gulf region. A statement posted on the Abu Dhabi Interior Ministry's website late Tuesday says the victim was stabbed Monday with a sharp tool that has been confiscated by police. They say the American woman was 37 years old. Her name has not been made public. view article  

Roadtrip Nation helps Keller ISD high school students map their future

Just before the Thanksgiving break, high school students across the Keller district took time to look at the road ahead en route to the future, thanks to Roadtrip Nation. “Roadtrip Nation” is both a movement and a program on public television that helps teens and young adults use their interests to map out possible careers. A group of “Roadies” brought their trademark “Big Green RV” to Keller, Central and Timber Creek high schools Nov. 20. Fossil Ridge High School has used the program in the past and plans to have the group visit in the spring. view article  

Upcoming legislative session preview

here was a preview Tuesday of what promises to be one of the hot topics during the upcoming legislative session. Both sides in the long running battle over school choice were at the state capitol laying the ground work for the coming debates. There are new holiday decorations in the Texas Senate chamber as well as a new "English" made carpet. Despite all the sprucing up a familiar and controversial debate was also being dusted off for the upcoming session. view article  

In SD-18 Debate, Kolkhorst Touts Conservativism

After fending off accusations of liberalism from opponent Gary Gates throughout their special election race, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, finally got to respond to her main challenger face- view article  

Martinez Elementary in Abilene set for hailstorm roof repair

Abilene ISD board approved the bid on Monday evening at its agenda review meeting. Construction coordinator for the district, Joe Humphrey, says Martinez Elementary took the brunt of the storm. view article  

75th anniversary celebration set for Cy-Fair HS on Dec. 9

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will commemorate its official 75th anniversary on the date the district was established with a ceremony in front of Cy-Fair High School (22602 Hempstead Highway) on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. view article  

Houston: Re-redistricting HISD

The Houston school board would grow from nine elected trustees to 17 under a bill filed by state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, who said she wants to give residents of the former North Forest school district increased representation. The Houston Independent School District took over the northeast Houston district in 2013 under orders from the Texas Education Agency. The seven-member elected North Forest school board dissolved, and HISD absorbed the schools and students. view article  

Midland: MISD “Heroes” cite training for quick reactions

When two medical emergencies arose in October, Midland ISD personnel nearby were ready to react. Fannin Elementary School PE teacher Jay Sherrill successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on a student who was choking on her lunch. MISD Police Department officers Lupe Sanchez and Pablo Loya applied tourniquets to a Midland High School student who had severely cut his arms and required 150 stitches. view article  

Belton ISD, residents discuss growth

The Belton Independent School District on Tuesday held its last community listening session to tackle the projected continued growth of the district. The session was the last of three held throughout the district this fall presenting the community with facts about the district’s growth in the past 10 years and its projected growth for the next 10 years. “In 2000, Belton ISD had 6,600 students,” Superintendent Susan Kincannon said. “Today, we have over 10,500 students.” view article  

High School Rezoning Draws Criticism in Frisco

Frisco Independent School District trustees will consider new, final attendance zones on Monday. Plans to ease crowding on the high school level have been in development since September. view article  

Austin ISD gears up to develop FY2016 budget - Community Impact Newspaper

 At a Dec. 1 work session, the Austin ISD board of trustees discussed plans for its FY2016 budget in the face of tight finances, an upcoming legislative session and declining enrollment. One question before the board is how it wants to address employee compensation, Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said. “We are looking at a multiyear financial plan by looking at our fiscal realities,” Cruz said. view article  

City Council appoints Boyd to fill Simms’ seat

The Amarillo City Council on Tuesday bid adieu to Councilman Jim Simms and named former two-term city commissioner and Amarillo businessman Ron Boyd to fill Simms’ unexpired term. view article  

Waxahachie: WISD shows 2-way dual language possibilities

With the final Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) meeting this Thursday, those interested in hearing about the future of Waxahachie Independent School District’s dual language program got an inside look at what two-way dual language would mean Tuesday night at Howard Junior High. view article  

Moldy sandwich served to student at West Brook High

Beaumont Public Health director Sherry Ulmer says West Brook High School cafeteria workers did not want old sandwiches to rot outside during the Beaumont Independent School District Thanksgiving week-long break, since they were not sure when the trash would be collected.  view article  

Funding for Texas public schools can’t stay frozen in time

Several days before the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature convenes on Jan. 13, newly elected Comptroller Glenn Hegar will release his first official revenue estimate—the document that will guide legislators as they proceed to write a 2015-2016 budget for state government. Based upon the revenue updates that have been issued in recent months by outgoing Comptroller Susan Combs, it’s clear the Legislature will have an enviable bank account, as it goes about its budget-writing responsibilities. view article  

TXU Hits Duncanville ISD With $1.2 Million Electric Bill

Duncanville ISD thought it was getting a great deal when, one year ago this month, it switched electric providers and signed on with the State Power Program through the state's General Land Office. Just like that, Duncanville ISD's price-per-kilowatt hour dropped almost 20 percent, from 7.3 cents to a maximum of 6 cents. view article  

New middle school attendance zones proposed for Waco ISD

Waco Independent School District’s board of trustees wants to hear from the public before any decisions are made on possibly redrawing middle school attendance zones to level the high school enrollment numbers. view article  

Conroe ISD substitute teacher under investigation

A teenager says a substitute teacher with the  Conroe Independent School District groped her in class. The alleged victim's mother tells Local 2 she wants the school to take a tougher stance. The family says there may be more victims out there who are afraid to come forward and that's why they want Oak Ridge High School to notify other parents about what happened to the girl. view article  

Frisco ISD pulls buses from fleet after fire

Frisco ISD has pulled four Blue Bird school buses from its fleet as a precaution after a bus that had been in service for five days caught fire on Tuesday. No one was injured. Representatives from manufacturer Blue Bird and dealer Rush Bus Center met with district staff Wednesday to view the burned bus and the four others. view article  

School board members get progress report on Allen ISD stadium repairs

Allen ISD school  board members received a progress report Monday night on the Eagle Stadium repairs. More brick has been added to the scoreboard to create a staircase-like structural support  system. Inside the stadium, crews are breaking out the bricks to allow for the installation  of horizontal steel beams.  Cracks in the concourse were first spotted shortly after the stadium opened in August of 2012. view article  

New Braunfels: NBISD Superintendent Invited to Today’s White House Ceremony on Technology in the Classroom

New Braunfels ISD Superintendent Randy Moczygemba is in Washington DC today, joining President Barack Obama for the "ConnectED to the Future" Event, a special conference including superintendents and other educators from across the country, who will lead their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning.  view article  

FBI investigating theft of former Whitehouse ISD student records

From Whitehouse Independent School District: Whitehouse Independent School District has received notification from a contracted archival company that a vehicle trailer containing certain records of some former students was recently stolen. As a part of the district's ongoing records management program, a third-party service located in Shreveport, Louisiana periodically archives a portion of WISD's paper files of former students. view article  

Fort Bend: FBISD bond proposition projected to pass by large margin

The $484 million bond initiative for Fort Bend ISD is projected to pass by an overwhelming margin with 73 percent of residents voting in favor and 27 percent voting in opposition. According to unofficial results, and with 73 of 97 precincts reporting, the bond proposition received a total of 59,681 votes, with 43,756 votes in favor and 15,925 votes in opposition. view article  

Crosby ISD warns parents about Halloween party invitation

A local school district is warning parents about a Halloween party invitation that asks partygoers to bring booze and dress provocatively. Word of the party spread by using the hashtag "#IzzyPromoHalloweenBash" on Twitter. The invite said there would be Jell-O shots, jungle juice and "slutty ladies." It said the party was expected to start at 11 p.m. Halloween night, but did not give an exact location. view article  

October 3108:10 AM

 

In the South San Independent School District, parents there are worried that if an emergency happens at a school, district police won't be able to respond because their police cars are in such bad shape. In the wake of last week's school shooting in Washington, KSAT's Defenders investigated the concerns of South San parents.

West ISD to break ground on new combined schools

West Independent School District is breaking ground Thursday on its new combined campus that will hold both its middle and high schools after its former schools were destroyed in the West Fertilizer Co. plant explosion in April 2013. view article  

Brass knuckles, pipe found in S.A. school employee’s backpack

South San Antonio ISD police received a tip Tuesday that district employee Jake Contreras was carrying brass knuckles and possibly a knife on school property. District police questioned Contreras At Madla Elementary, and searched his backpack and discovered a set of brass knuckles, as well as a pipe that appeared to be used for smoking methamphetamines. view article  

Brass knuckles, pipe found in S.A. school employee’s backpack

South San Antonio ISD police received a tip Tuesday that district employee Jake Contreras was carrying brass knuckles and possibly a knife on school property. District police questioned Contreras At Madla Elementary, and searched his backpack and discovered a set of brass knuckles, as well as a pipe that appeared to be used for smoking methamphetamines. view article  

Superintendent: 5 Dallas ISD students possibly exposed to Ebola

The sister of the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States says her brother told relatives he notified officials the first time he went to the hospital that he was visiting from Liberia. Our Dallas station WFAA has identified the patient as Thomas Eric Duncan. His sister, Mai Wureh, says her brother went to a Dallas emergency room on Friday and they sent him home with antibiotics. He told his sister hospital officials asked for his Social Security number and he said that he didn't have one because he was visiting from Liberia. view article  

Seven books removed from Highland Park curriculum

Highland Park ISD has suspended seven titles from the curriculum after a wave of criticism surrounding some content. view article  

Republicans oppose proposed early voting site at Canutillo ISD

Officials with the El Paso County Republican Party are questioning the legality of a proposed early voting site on the West Side. Two GOP leaders in El Paso said the proposed designation of the Canutillo Independent School District's administration building as a permanent early voting location "leaves the appearance of impropriety" because a school district trustee is on the ballot in a justice of the peace race. view article  

Waco ISD’s $1.2 million counseling grant will continue

Five Waco Independent School District elementary schools will keep their social workers after the board of trustees accepted the second installment of a grant funding the Waco Counseling Project. view article  

Comal ISD paying off debt early

The Comal Independent School District is paying off bond debt early in an effort to save taxpayers money. The district's board of trustees voted Thursday night to pay off $6.5 million in bond debt ahead of schedule. view article  

Three students taken to hospital as precaution after Aldine ISD bus wreck

Three students from Stehlik Intermediate School in the Aldine Independent School District were taken to an area hospital Tuesday morning after a minor collision with a cement mixer. The wreck happened about 8 a.m. on West Road at Deer Trail Drive as the bus was transporting students to the school at 400 West Road, a school district spokeswoman said. The school is just west of Interstate 45. view article  

Waco: Local school gets multimillion dollar grant to help improvement

A local school that has been underperforming for years, is shaking things up for the new school year with the help of a $4.8 million grant. Indian Spring Middle School is under a state mandate to turn things around and their principal is hoping this multi-million dollar grant will help them do just that. view article