A First: Texans to Elect Appraisal District Directors in May

Voters in Texas counties with a population of 75,000 or more will elect three new members to their appraisal district board of directors. On May 4, many Texans will have their first opportunity to elect representatives to the governing boards of their local appraisal districts, making the agencies that assess property values for tax purposes more accountable to citizens. A new property tax relief law, passed last year and approved in November by voters statewide, included a provision for voters in counties with a population of 75,000 or more to elect three new members to their county appraisal district board of directors. The three elected board members will serve alongside the five appointed directors and the county tax assessor-collector, who will become an ex-officio board member. Directors elected in May will take office on July 1 and serve a term that expires on December 31, 2026.
Bonham ISD hires new superintendent, Dr. Joy Wilson

The board unanimously approved hiring Dr. Joy Wilson as the new superintendent and approving the superintendent contract. The meeting adjourned amid applause for the new superintendent. Wilson signed the contract after the meeting ended and then stayed for multiple photographs, including one with Audrey Rayford, who was Wilson’s Head Start teacher in Bonham many years ago.
Bobby Donald Browning - Obituary

Bob was a principal in Laneville, Duncanville, and Desoto ISD, then became a Superintendent in Tyler, Elysian Fields (twice), Waxahachie, and Hallsville. Not known for always following the rules, he definitely followed his heart in serving people- especially kids.
Patrick move to eliminate Texas property taxes would destroy public schools

MESQUITE, Texas — The U.S. Marshals Service North Texas Fugitive Task Force arrested a Mesquite ISD teacher on Wednesday accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. The suspect, 32-yearold Cesar Jimenez, was a teacher in the automotive program at Vanguard High School. In a statement on Tuesday, Mesquite ISD said Jimenez had resigned from his position after learning of the district's concerns and the police investigation. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s fantasy of abolishing property taxes would set the state up for financial failure and end public education as we know it by placing a greater burden on low- and medium-income Texans. The most powerful man in Texas politics wants you to believe he’s looking out for homeowners, but there’s always an unacknowledged goal for significant initiatives like this one. You need only look at who deposited $3 million in Patrick’s campaign account and who gave the record $6 million donation to Gov. Greg Abbott to boost private religious schools.
Gov. Abbott wants to end property taxes, but is that realistic?

AUSTIN, Texas — After months of delay, a plan to cut your property taxes is on the fast-track. On Wednesday, the Texas Senate passed a key portion of an $18 billion package that would help both homeowners and businesses. What You Need To Know On Wednesday, the Texas Senate passed a key portion of an $18 billion package that would help both homeowners and businesses While Democrats joined Republicans in passing the bills, they raised concerns about a lack of new money for schools One even criticized House leadership for removing a Senate-backed amendment to give teachers a bonus, which Republicans say that will be addressed in the next special session The full property tax relief package is expected to be voted on and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday While Democrats joined Republicans in passing the bills, they raised concerns about a lack of new money for schools. One even criticized House leadership for removing a Senate-backed amendment to give teachers a bonus. Republicans say that will be addressed in the next special session
Lufkin ISD taps James Hockenberry as superintendent finalist

James Hockenberry is now the lone finalist for the job of superintendent at Lufkin ISD, positioning him to be appointed once the state’s 21-day mandatory waiting period elapses. The Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to nominate Hockenberry as the lone finalist during a special meeting Monday. Wayne Haglund, the Lufkin ISD legal counsel, said that based on state law the board must wait 21 days after announcing a superintendent candidate before entering into a contract. Hockenberry has served for the last four years as assistant superintendent of Longview ISD, part of his 29 years of work as an educator. He also served as superintendent of Center ISD and Chireno ISD for a total of 13 years, said Lufkin ISD Board president Kristi Gay as she introduced Hockenberry. She also noted his experience as a teacher — including four years as a high school science teacher.

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Levelland ISD investigating ‘misconduct’ allegations against employees, students

April 1808:21 AM

Officials with Levelland ISD have opened up an investigation after allegations that district employees and students may have “engaged in misconduct.” A release from the school district did not specify the nature of the allegations. However, multiple employees were placed on paid administrative leave on Monday. On April 10, Levelland ISD leadership received the allegations and launched an internal investigation. The following day, local law enforcement was informed of the situation. view article

Hallsville ISD recognizes students who completed dyslexia program

April 1808:05 AM

The Hallsville ISD Board of Trustees recognized a record number of students who completed one of the dyslexia intervention programs at a recent regularly held board meeting. The district recognized a total of 65 students who each completed one of the dyslexia intervention programs. The presentation of recognitions was given by Administrator Amy Whittle, who congratulated each of the students and explained what the programs entail. view article

Whitehouse ISD names Dr. Casey Whittle as lone finalist in superintendent search

April 1708:42 AM

Dr. Casey Whittle is the lone finalist for the position of Whitehouse ISD superintendent, the Whitehouse ISD board of trustees announced Monday. This comes after former Whitehouse ISD Superintendent Dr. Christopher Moran headed to West Texas in January to serve as superintendent of San Angelo ISD. The move was announced in November about Moran, who was with the school district for eight years. “He left us in really good shape,” Whitehouse ISD Board President Dr. Todd Raabe said. “He did a wonderful job for us, so we were able to attract a number of really qualified applicants.” view article

‘Keep an open mind and proceed with caution’ | Texas schools will use AI to grade written questions on STAAR test

April 1708:40 AM

Educators say 75% of the written test will be graded by AI and 25% will still use human graders. The system will flag things it's unsure of for people to review. view article

Hundreds of CCISD teachers earn incentives towards annual salaries based on performance, student growth

April 1708:40 AM

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — Hundreds ofCorpus Christi ISD(CCISD) teachers will receive a raise after earning respected designations through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) process. Grounded in the Texas Education Code, the TIA was built for Texas schools to recognize teachers for outstanding performance in the classroom, offering them a pathway to a six-figure salary. The district said 1,026 teachers hoped to be on the list of educators that received a salary increase. However, only 305 of them made the cut. view article

After fatal crash, Hays CISD needs to spend $8.9M for seat belts on all its buses

April 1708:30 AM

The Hays CISD’s Board of Trustees has created a plan to ensure all school buses are equipped with seat belts following a fatal Hays CISD bus crash last month. A Tom Green Elementary School bus was returning pre-K students from a field trip to a zoo in Bastrop County when a concrete truck hit the front of the bus, resulting in two deaths. Hays CISD began buying school buses with seat belts after a state law passed in 2017 requiring them in new buses, but the bus involved in the incident was an older model and didn’t have seat belts. The district plans to have 100% of its bus fleet equipped with seat belts as soon as possible, according to a plan it published on its website Friday. But the turnaround time for school bus purchases is about a year long. This means it could be a while before Hays CISD meets its goal. view article

Tuloso-Midway ISD move STAAR testing dates due to internet outage at certain campuses

April 1708:30 AM

Corpus Christi At-Large Councilman Mike Pusley said that when he and other city leaders were notified, work crews were immediately sent out. Students and faculty over at Tuloso-Midway Independent School District experienced a temporary internet outage that primarily affected the intermediate school as STAAR testing was supposed to begin. The outage being caused by a downed powerline. Tuloso-Midway Superintendent Steve VanMatre said it all began when someone allegedly drove underneath the cable and hooked it with a piece of equipment, pulling down about 1,500 feet of cabling. As a result, he said that when he found out about the internet outage, he along with others decided to move STAAR testing dates. "On Tuesday we were scheduled to have STAAR testing," VanMatre said. "We would postpone those testing dates until Thursday." view article

Great Hearts teachers put on leave after TEA review of fingerprint submissions

April 1708:30 AM

An undisclosed number of teachers working at Great Hearts, a charter school with locations in San Antonio, have been placed on administrative leave after the Texas Education Agency found that background paperwork, including fingerprinting, had been improperly filed with the state. In an email sent to parents earlier this week, interim superintendent of Great Hearts Texas Kurtis Indorf said the issues were discovered during a review of HR-related compliance measures by the agency, which is currently investigating the district. view article

Kermit ISD’s Interim Superintendent takes over the helm

April 1708:30 AM

KERMIT, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – According to the school district’s Facebook post on Monday, April 15th, ‘Kermit Independent School District is pleased to announce the selection of our Interim Superintendent, Dr. Rodney Schneider.’ In March, the former Superintendent, Dr. Joe Lopez was announced as the lone finalist for Superintendent of Greenville ISD. Per the district, ‘Dr. Schneider has over 34 years of experience in Education. Over twenty of those years were spent in the role of Superintendent. He has many years of experience leading districts similar to Kermit ISD. He has a proven track record of improving educational outcomes, leading his last school district, Dublin to an “A” rating.’ view article

Georgetown ISD starts Grow Your Own program for uncertified teachers

April 1708:30 AM

Aspiring educators with a bachelor's degree, but no teaching certification, will soon have a new inroad to the classroom in Georgetown ISD after trustees approved an amendment to the District of Innovation plan. During an April 15 board meeting, GISD administrators approved three amendments to the district's DOI plan. As a DOI, GISD can be exempted from some state laws listed in the Texas Education Code, said Wes Vanicek, the district's chief strategist for assessment and feedback, during an April 2 board workshop. However, the district cannot be exempt from federal laws, he said. view article

Clint ISD, Spectrum to open new internship program

April 1708:30 AM

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Spectrum will have a paid internship program for Clint ISD high-school students during their senior year, the local office from the communication network announced. Clint Independent School District (Clint ISD) and the communications company Spectrum are collaborating to create a paid internship for high-school seniors. The meeting with all parties will be at Mountain View High School on Monday, April 15, with Clint ISD superintendent, Spectrum HR director, and two students who have graduated from the internship. view article

BRENHAM ISD NAMES DARRELL ST. CLAIR NEW CFO

April 1708:30 AM

Following an executive session during their meeting on Monday, Brenham ISD trustees unanimously approved the hiring of Darrell St. Clair for the CFO position. His official start date is May 6th. A graduate of Texas A&M University, St. Clair taught for 13 years before transitioning into a CFO role in 2006. He joins Brenham from Snook ISD. A press release from Brenham ISD stated that St. Clair received an “A/Superior” rating from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for 15 years. He holds certifications as a Registered Texas School Business Administrator, as well as TEA certifications in mathematics and computer information systems. St. Clair said he is “thrilled” to join the Brenham ISD team and looks forward to serving alongside the board, administrators and staff to “ensure fiscal responsibility and support student success.” Board President Natalie Lange said St. Clair’s “proven track record of fiscal responsibility and commitment to excellence will be invaluable as we work together to support the success of our students and staff.” Superintendent Clay Gillentine said Brenham ISD is “fortunate to have him as part of our team and look forward to the positive impact he will make.” view article

Audit finds AISD has significant work left to do with special education. What we learned.

April 1708:30 AM

view article

Second victim of SXSW hit-and-run identified as Texas Monthly executive’s son

April 1708:30 AM

The son of a longtime Texas Monthly magazine executive died Monday, more than a month after suffering critical injuries in a hit-and-run during South by Southwest in downtown Austin. William Dunham, 34, was struck while crossing East Seventh and Red River streets in the early hours of March 12, alongside his friend Cody Shelton, a local chef, who was killed. Dunham died at Dell Seton Medical Center, an obituary provided by his family said. Law enforcement had not previously disclosed Dunham's identity, only noting that a second person had been hospitalized in critical condition. view article

Announcement of new Superintendent for New Home ISD:

April 1708:30 AM

The Board of Education for New Home Independent School District proudly announces Mr. Toby Tucker as the new Superintendent of Schools. This action was taken at a Board meeting after the state-mandated 21-day waiting period was met. Mr. Tucker was then officially hired as Superintendent. Mr. Tucker and his family are looking forward to becoming part of the New Home community.

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The Legal ABCs of DAEPs

April 25, 2024

Texas Republicans urge Senate Democrats to give Mayorkas a full impeachment trial

April 1708:30 AM

Two Texans are among 11 House impeachment managers initiating a trial of the Homeland Security secretary in the Senate. U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, and nine other Republican impeachment managers presented the articles of impeachment Tuesday against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate, urging Democrats to give the secretary a full trial. “We did our job in the House, and I pray that [Senate Majority Chuck] Schumer will do his job in the Senate as he is required to do under the Constitution,” McCaul said during a news conference with other managers and several senators after delivering the articles to the upper chamber. view article

Announcement of new Superintendent for Ropes ISD

April 1708:29 AM

The Board of Education for Ropes Independent School District proudly announces Mr. Dade Cosby as the new Superintendent of Schools. This action was taken at a Board meeting after the state-mandated 21-day waiting period was met. Mr. Cosby was then officially hired as Superintendent. Mr. Cosby has 14 years of experience in Texas public schools and is currently the Superintendent at Cross Plains ISD. Prior to that, he served as a principal at Cross Plains ISD and served at Lubbock Cooper ISD and Knox City-O’Brian ISD. He and his wife, Laura, have an 18-month old son, Deacon. Laura is in the retail business. The Cosby’s are looking forward to becoming part of the Ropes ISD community.

Whitehouse ISD names lone finalist for superintendent position

April 1708:29 AM

Whitehouse ISD on Monday named the lone finalist for its superintendent position. During a special board meeting, trustees approved Dr. Casey Whittle as the top candidate for the role. This comes after former Whitehouse ISD Superintendent Dr. Christopher Moran left the school district to become superintendent of San Angelo ISD. Moran had been superintendent since 2016. view article

Tuloso-Midway ISD move STAAR testing dates due to internet outage at certain campuses

April 1708:28 AM

Students and faculty over at Tuloso-Midway Independent School District experienced a temporary internet outage that primarily affected the intermediate school as STAAR testing was supposed to begin. The outage being caused by a downed powerline. view article

Treat of the Day: Bryan ISD elementary schools hold pep rallies for test week

April 1708:10 AM

Bryan ISD elementary schools held pep rallies and events last week to encourage students before STAAR testing week. Bonham, Bowen, Henderson, and Jones Elementary had guests and teachers cheer them on before the week began. The district said that the older students have already been in testing mode, and they wish all students the best of luck on the state tests. view article

Willis ISD approves $1,500 teacher raises

April 1706:51 AM

Willis ISD approves $1,500 teacher raises Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect WISD Superintendent Kimberley James will be approved by the board at a special meeting on April 22. This story has also been updated to clarify which positions will receive the $1,500 salary increase and that the increase will be applied to the district's pay scales. At its April 10 meeting, the Willis ISD board of trustees unanimously approved a $1,500 salary increase for teachers, counselors, librarians and registered nurses for the 2024-25 school year. The raise will be applied to each level on the pay scales for the applicable positions. view article

2024 Senate Interim Charges Released

April 1703:43 AM

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office has released the 2024 Legislative Interim Charges for the Texas Senate. No hearings on the charges are posted at this time, but we anticipate they will begin in a few weeks. See some of the charges related to public schools.

A South Texas candidate sues his town for records he says will prove his opponent’s corruption

April 1608:41 AM

Rio Grande City officials called Ediel Barrera’s requests “vague or ambiguous.” A South Texas political candidate is suing his town over a bevy of public records requests, accusing officials of delaying the release of records he wants to prove his opponent is corrupt. Rio Grande City officials took the unusual step of announcing on social media earlier this month that the request and subsequent lawsuit filed by Ediel Barrera was causing a backlog and that the public may have to wait longer than usual for their documents. view article

Tesla reportedly pauses Cybertruck deliveries amid issues

April 1608:41 AM

Tesla reportedly halted deliveries on its futuristic-looking Cybertruck that’s produced out of the EV-maker’s factory in Austin. Automotive website Carbuzz first reported on the temporary delivery break, after members of an online forum for Cybertruck owners noted that their deliveries got delayed. The culprit, buyers said, has to do with the accelerator pedal. Automotive website Carbuzz first reported on the temporary delivery break, after members of an online forum for Cybertruck owners noted that their deliveries got delayed. The culprit, buyers said, has to do with the accelerator pedal. Tesla hasn’t confirmed or shared why deliveries have stopped, but hundreds of the trucks were lined up at Giga Texas over the weekend, YouTuber Brad Sloan noted. Tesla hasn’t confirmed or shared why deliveries have stopped, but hundreds of the trucks were lined up at Giga Texas over the weekend, YouTuber Brad Sloan noted. view article

State Lawmaker Faces Heat for Employment by Lobbying Firm

April 1608:40 AM

State Rep. Gary VanDeaver is currently facing a primary runoff election against Chris Spencer. A new report reveals Republican State Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston was a paid consultant for a lobbying firm. A 2022 personal financial statement, first reported by the Dallas Express, shows that VanDeaver was employed by Powell Law Group from 2020-2022. According to the firm’s website, the group offers “turnkey public policy and governmental affairs programs for school district leaders and businesses in the education space who want to influence local and state legislative and regulatory matters.” While VanDeaver claimed the Powell Group “is not a lobby firm,” the group’s own website states that their government relations services include lobbying. view article

Humble ISD Athletic Director retires after report cites sexual harassment claims

April 1608:40 AM

The suburban school district official reportedly created a hostile work environment and made sexual comments about coworkers' bodies and clothing. A former Houston area school official is facing backlash after recent controversial comments emerged last week leading to his abrupt retirement. Former Humble ISD Athletic Director Troy Kite is being accused of creating a hostile work environment and making sexually explicit comments toward coworkers, according to a recent report by the Houston Landing. view article

Federal judge fines Texas child welfare agency $100K per day for foster care failures

April 1608:40 AM

A federal judge has ordered Texas health and human services officials to pay $100,000 per day in fines for routinely neglecting investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect by children in the state’s beleaguered foster care system, according to a Monday order. U.S. District Judge Janis Jack found Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Cecile E. Young in contempt of her court orders to fix the way the state investigates complaints by children in its care. It is the third time the state has been held in contempt of court orders since a 2011 lawsuit was filed about foster care conditions in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the child welfare arm of HHS. The judge’s decision was prompted by the “continued recalcitrance” to conduct thorough, accurate and timely abuse, neglect, and exploitation investigations by the agency’s Provider Investigations unit, which investigates those allegations, the 427-page decision reads. view article

AP Tennessee judge set to decide whether a Nashville school shooters’ journals are public records

April 1608:40 AM

Whether the journals of a Nashville school shooter can be released to the public will go before a Tennessee judge on Tuesday after nearly a year of legal wrangling over who can participate in the case.What started as a simple public records request has ballooned into a messy mix of conspiracy theories, leaked documents, probate battles and new legislation as different sides try to gain an advantage. And even though the main issue of which police investigative records can be released has finally made it to a court hearing, any decision by Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles is likely to be appealed view article

Faith-based film crew whose visit to Keller ISD school sparked controversy releases documentary: ‘God, Jesus, Trump’

April 1608:31 AM

More than a month after the fallout from a faith-based film crew’s visit to a Keller ISD school, the documentary series has released its episode. On Sunday, Netherlands-based Evangelische Omroep (EO), an Evangelical broadcast television network, released its new episode of ‘God, Jesus, Trump!’ view article

State Lawmaker Faces Heat for Employment by Lobbying Firm

April 1608:30 AM

A new report reveals Republican State Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston was a paid consultant for a lobbying firm. A 2022 personal financial statement, first reported by the Dallas Express, shows that VanDeaver was employed by Powell Law Group from 2020-2022. According to the firm’s website, the group offers “turnkey public policy and governmental affairs programs for school district leaders and businesses in the education space who want to influence local and state legislative and regulatory matters.” While VanDeaver claimed the Powell Group “is not a lobby firm,” the group’s own website states that their government relations services include lobbying. view article

Parents of Slain Parkland Students Applaud Utah for $100M School Safety Bill

April 1608:30 AM

‘We put our money where our mouth is’ for future generations, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson says during ceremonial signing. The mother of Alyssa Alhadeff, a student who was killed in her English class during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, stood before a room full of lawmakers and state officials on Wednesday. Lori Alhadeff held a portrait of her daughter in her arms as she applauded Utah for becoming the sixth state to pass “Alyssa’s Law,” legislation mandating silent panic alarms in classrooms that are directly linked to law enforcement. “We are taking momentous steps forward in safeguarding our children’s well-being,” Alhadeff said, adding the bill represents “our collective commitment to providing a secure learning environment for every child in Utah.” view article

Central Texas School Districts use different strategies to help students on STAAR test

April 1608:30 AM

Waco, TX (FOX 44) — We’re in the middle of STAAR testing and school districts in our area have made instructional changes in the classroom to help students meet the mark. Waco and Academy ISD say they’re closing the gap on where student test scores were before Covid-19. Waco ISD used funds during Covid-19 to get additional intervention specialists to help students who were falling behind. “Our campuses have now incorporated that for next year into their campus budgets because we know that’s so important, so [we’re] really trying to provide extra intervention and really intervention that is really aligned from early elementary all the way up through high school,” said Deena Cornblum, Waco ISD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. view article

Biden administration agrees to provide $6.4 billion to Samsung for making computer chips in Texas

April 1608:30 AM

The Biden administration has reached an agreement to provide up to $6.4 billion in direct funding for Samsung Electronics to develop a computer chip manufacturing and research cluster in Texas. The funding announced Monday by the Commerce Department is part of a total investment in the cluster that, with private money, is expected to exceed $40 billion. The government support comes from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022 with the goal of reviving the production of advanced computer chips domestically. "The proposed project will propel Texas into a state-of-the-art semiconductor ecosystem," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters. "It puts us on track to hit our goal of producing 20% of the world's leading edge chips in the United States by the end of the decade." view article

State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucio’s death sentence

April 1608:30 AM

In a rare joint statement, the district attorney and the defense agreed that prosecutors withheld evidence that could point to a Rio Grande Valley woman’s innocence in the death of her toddler. A district judge who previously presided over a woman’s capital murder case recommended last week that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturn Melissa Lucio's 2008 conviction after a district attorney’s office admitted that prosecutors withheld evidence from her defense. Decades after a jury sentenced Lucio to death for the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, the Cameron County district attorney and Lucio’s legal team cosigned court filings that found key evidence, which included interviews with Lucio’s other children, was suppressed by prosecutors at the time of the case. view article

Dozens of Texas water systems exceed new federal limits on “forever chemicals”

April 1608:30 AM

In Texas, 49 public water utility systems have reported surpassing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever limits for five “forever chemicals” in drinking water, according to data submitted to the federal agency. Experts say there are likely more since not all water systems have submitted their data. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widespread and long lasting in the environment. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don't break down and can persist in water and soil, and even human blood indefinitely. The chemicals have been used since the 1940s to repel oil and water and resist heat. They have been included in thousands of household products from nonstick cookware to industrial products like firefighting foam. There are more than 12,000 types of individual forever chemicals, but new EPA standards announced last week set new limits for five of them: PFOA and PFOS have a limit of 4 parts per trillion while PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA have a limit of 10 parts per trillion. view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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