UPDATE: Voters pass $118.3 million New Braunfels ISD bond

After a majority of voters showed support for a $118.3 million bond package for New Braunfels ISD, the district will move forward with plans to build new schools, make facility renovations, increase security measures, upgrade technology, enhance transportation and expand athletic programs. “I mean it’s a significant percentage so first of all I’m really happy to see that that many people voted,” said NBISD Board President Sherry Harrison. “I’m very excited about that all by itself.” view article  

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Port Aransas ISD receives $1.2 million FEMA grant for Harvey recovery reimbursements

Port Aransas schools are getting reimbursed for measures they took to get things up and running after Hurricane Harvey. The district on Monday announced it had received a grant for more than $1.2 million Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for things such as generators, air dryers, portables and security. Those items and more were needed in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm hit the area Aug. 25, 2017. view article  

Big Country band directors step up to help Coleman directors injured in car crash

The spirit of the Big Country was in full effect over the weekend. The Coleman High School band director, Matthew Sowell and wis wife, Jackie, the assistant director were injured in a car crash the day before UIL marching contest in Mineral Wells. "My wife and I were coming [to morning band practice] and it was raining," Matthew Sowell says. "An 18-wheeler lost control right in front of us." view article  

San Eli ISD Teacher Using Real-World Law Enforcement, Investigation Techniques to Prep Students

As a forensics and biomedical sciences CTE teacher, Luna exposes her students to techniques used in real world law enforcement and crime investigations. Her lessons cover topics related to the collection of evidence including entomology, anthropology, ABO blood typing, fingerprinting, DNA, case studies, hair analysis and ballistics. view article  

Houston ISD bus woes continue despite changes

After four days of frustration over Houston ISD’s new transportation system, which parents widely have derided, Amanda Marshall wanted to know exactly how her 10-year-old son, Henry, was getting to his magnet school. view article  

Leander ISD works with Concordia University to offer new summer leadership program

Aspiring Leander ISD teachers now have the option to earn their master’s degree of education with a specialization in education administration through a unique partnership with Concordia University Texas. The new LISD Aspiring Leader program, which kicked off in May, offers district-specific coursework to groom potential and current LISD teachers for their careers with a distinctly LISD-oriented approach. view article  

Midland ISD announces new principal for Scharbauer Elementary

Midland ISD has announced the new principal for Scharbauer Elementary Deanna Flader, a former elementary teacher and assistant principal for Midland ISD will be the principal at Scharbauer Elementary starting in the Fall. view article  

Wichita County candidate’s request triggers statewide precedent in politics

The Texas Education Commission approved a groundbreaking request Wednesday in Austin from Wichitan Catie Robinson to pay for campaign-related child care with political contributions. The commission unanimously adopted a favorable ethics advisory opinion requested by the Democratic candidate, setting a precedent for state and local candidates across Texas. view article  

S.A. school districts made all eighth-graders take algebra — and it worked

Eighth-graders in Southwest Independent School District passed their standardized math exams at a rate 8 percentage points below the state average last year — but something different was going on at the district’s Scobee Middle School. view article  

Phone survey seeks input on potential Georgetown ISD bond projects

Georgetown ISD and a district-organized citizens advisory committee are using a phone survey to get community feedback regarding potential facility and equipment projects that could be included in a November 2018 bond election should district trustees vote to call one, according to a press release Monday. view article  

UPDATE: Texas school district where 10 fatally shot adds police

The Texas school district where eight students and two teachers were fatally shot last month has implemented security measures increasing the number of police officers and guards on campuses. The Santa Fe Independent School District said the increased security presence began Wednesday at the district's four schools southeast of Houston. view article  

Body of Pakistani Girl Killed in Texas School Shooting Is Returned Home

Sabika Sheikh finally returned to her family in Pakistan on Wednesday from her months away as a foreign exchange student in Texas. Her father was the first to meet her coffin, draped by a Pakistani flag, at Karachi’s airport in the dark of the early morning. view article  

Austin ISD: student, teacher numbers decreasing while admin salaries rise

Enrollment in the Austin Independent School District has been on a six-year slide with no end in sight. Consequently, the number of teachers has been steadily decreasing. During the same period, however, the number of administrators, the highest paid group of professionals in the district, has held fast, while their average base salaries have increased by 32 percent since the 2011-12 school year. view article  

In sudden move, Katy ISD board president steps down

Katy ISD continued to experience upheaval Monday as Ashley Vann suddenly announced she was stepping down as board president and two new board members were sworn in, just a few weeks after Lance Hindt, the district's controversial superintendent, announced he would retire next January. When the school board returned from closed session Monday night, Vann acknowledged how proud she was to serve the school district during Hurricane Harvey and of watching the community come together, but then her tone shifted. view article  

Shooting reported at Texas’ Santa Fe High School

A shooting has been reported at a high school in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, officials said Friday. A gunman walked into an art class at Santa Fe High School and began firing what looked like a shotgun, a witness told CNN affiliate KTRK. The witness told KTRK she saw a girl shot in the leg. view article  

Lometa ISD reinstates concealed carry for staff

Staff at Lometa Independent School District in Lampasas County will soon be able to carry concealed weapons after the school board approved their use at a recent meeting. The school board voted March 23 to allow volunteers with concealed carry licenses to begin carrying concealed weapons on campus after undergoing specialized training required by the state. “We have actually had this policy in place for three or four years,” Superintendent David Fisher said. “It was put in place by the prior administration.” view article  

Texas schools scramble after state’s $118M pre-K funding cut

Texas pre-K programs are just scraping by after losing millions of dollars last year — and without sustainable funding, they could see greater problems down the line, school officials say. During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers decided not to fund a $118 million high-quality pre-K grant program that was created in 2015 and championed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The money had gone to 573 districts and charter schools that pledged to meet measures such as setting a lower student-teacher ratio, avoiding Common Core curricula and reporting student progress to the state. view article  

After Parkland, Fort Bend ISD expedites security vestibules, stations guards at campuses

In the wake of last month's mass shooting when 17 high school students were killed in Parkland, Fla., a new awareness of school safety issues seems to have arrived for district officials and trustees at Fort Bend ISD. "I've heard a great deal from our students and staff who are concerned and feel like this school shooting felt different from any other school shooting in our nation" FBISD superintendent Charles Dupre said in a video posted on the district website. Awareness of the shooting seemed to be heightened because of media coverage and discussions on social media, Dupree said. view article  

Austin ISD Board of Trustees votes to approve ‘modernization’ of Norman Elementary

On Monday night, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the modernization of Norman Elementary School in East Austin. Under the $1 billion bond passed by voters in November 2017, Austin ISD will rebuild the school as a state-of-the-art facility that would turn it into a "21st century learning environment," according to the district. view article  

Houston ISD taps Joseph Williams as new principal of struggling Wheatley High School

The Houston ISD has announced the appointment of Joseph Williams, a 22-year veteran educator, as the new principal of Wheatley High School. The district said in a news release Tuesday that Williams is "known for transforming underperforming schools into thriving campuses." Wheatley High is in improvement-required status because it has not met state standards for six years, the news release said. view article  

Little Elm ISD to hire three special education paraprofessionals

In order to meet increasing demands, the Little Elm ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of three special education paraprofessionals. During Monday’s board meeting, Cortney Clover, executive director for special populations, said the student population has increased, driving the need for more special education teachers. The new staff members come with a $90,000 price tag. view article  

Flu outbreak causes two-day shutdown at Sunnyvale ISD

A flu outbreak has prompted the entire Sunnyvale school district to halt classes Tuesday and Wednesday, officials announced Monday. Not only are student absences soaring, but officials also believe kids needed to be separated to prevent further contamination. view article  

Former Killeen ISD teachers arrested for prostitution, deputies say

Two former Killeen ISD teachers were arrested in a prostitution sting in Bell County on Nov. 8, the Bell County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tuesday. Terrance Hockless, a former music teacher, and Aaron Daub, a former career builder teacher, were both charged with prostitution -- along with eight other individuals who were also arrested in the bust, according to BCSO Major T.J. Cruz. view article  

Aledo ISD voters reject $72.9M bond package

After Aledo ISD voters shot down a $72.9 million bond package Tuesday, the school board and administration said they will work to determine their next steps. According to unofficial election results, 71 percent of voters (2,454 votes) rejected a $64.1 million option to build a new middle school and renovate McAnally Intermediate School to use as an elementary school. Twenty-nine percent (1,020 votes) voted in favor of the option.

Announcer who called Arlington athletes ‘Cougroes’ fired from Cleburne sportscast

A JacketRadio.com announcer accused of calling Seguin High football players "Cougroes" and jesting about a cheerleader's weight was fired from the Cleburne sportscast and will not work Friday's game against Burleson, Cleburne school officials told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Mark Banton acknowledged being one of the announcers for last week's game between the Cleburne Yellow Jackets and the Seguin Cougars of Arlington ISD but would neither confirm nor deny making the remarks, the Star-Telegram reported. view article  

Children’s activity book brings aviation sciences to life

Baylor’s Institute for Air Science reached out to Baylor’s School of Education in early February to collaborate in making an activity booklet that would entertain and enlighten children about aviation sciences. The project had dragged on for several semesters, being passed between student workers with the task of finding and creating the activities. Kelley Oliver, the institute’s project coordinator and office manager, expressed her concerns over the dilemma to her assistant director, Tim Compton, who advised she reach out to the education department. view article  

Vidor ISD estimates more than $12 million in damages, hoping for state, FEMA assistance

Vidor ISD superintendent Jay Killgo estimates the district has $12-13 million in damages from Harvey. Both Oak Forest Elementary and Vidor Middle School are unusable right now. Those students are going elsewhere, which is overcrowding some schools. view article  

Christoval Cougars Fly Into the Future

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No injuries after Austin ISD buses involved in crash, APD says

Two Austin ISD buses were involved in a crash in southeast Austin on Wednesday morning, and both police and the district say no injuries have been reported. view article  

In response to Harvey, Houston ISD to provide 3 free meals per day for all students this school year

The Houston Independent School District announced on Wednesday that it had received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture to waive the required application process for the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program. "All HISD students will eat all school meals for free during the 2017-2018 school year," the district said in a release Wednesday morning. Families still need to apply for this waiver though. view article  

Speakers to discuss school finance at Democrat meeting

School finance was the big-ticket item this legislative session, said Emett Alvarez, Victoria Democrats Club president. "Education should be important to everyone," Alvarez said. "We are all taxpayers and are affected by it one way or the other." The Victoria County Democratic Party will host its club meeting Tuesday at VeraCruz Restaurant, 3110 N. Navarro St. Guest speakers will be Dwight Harris, former president of the Victoria chapter of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, and Ray Thomas, who is running for chief justice of the 13th Court of Appeals. view article  

Ector County: Cursive to be taught in second grade

Ector County Independent School District second-graders will be learning how to write in cursive in their spring semester. The State Board of Education decided to move the skill down a grade, ECISD officials said. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Carolyn Gonzalez said handwriting, which begins in kindergarten, has always been taught. “This coming year, cursive has been dropped down to second grade, so second-graders now have to begin to learn how to write in cursive. That is new.” view article  

State helps better prepare teachers

Will there ever come a day when our state leaders and lawmakers want to make Texas as good a place for children as it is for business? The 85th legislative session didn't seem often inclined in that direction, particularly in matters related to educating the state's schoolchildren. A massive funding failure for prekindergarten students. The state Senate's defeatist response to a solid House attempt at school finance reform. Out-of-proportion talk about vouchers for those attending private schools. But let's not overlook a couple of bright spots. Thanks to skillful work by three North Texas lawmakers, the state's youngest learners should eventually get the gift of better-prepared teachers. view article  

Baylor starts Freedom School focused on avoiding summer learning loss

About 50 Waco Independent School District sixth- and seventh-graders are getting a chance to reduce summer learning loss with the help of Baylor University and a nationally recognized reading program. Two weeks ago, Baylor’s School of Education started Waco’s first Freedom School endorsed by the Children’s Defense Fund. Held at Cesar Chavez Middle School through July 28, the program has deep ties to the 1960s civil rights movement and allows children to tackle controversial — though culturally relevant — topics through debate and book discussions. view article