Wichita Falls ISD officials said a social media post about virtual ceremonies for this year's high school graduation is false, and the district has made no decisions about commencement yet. WFISD officials became aware Monday morning about the fake post. "The post appears to be from WFISD superintendent Mike Kuhrt and includes the school district logo," officials said in a press release Monday afternoon.  view article

Austin district Superintendent Paul Cruz and school board President Geronimo Rodriguez on Monday will provide updates on the district’s response to the coronavirus and its search for a replacement for Cruz, who announced last month he was stepping down.  The Austin school board will conduct its regular board meeting virtually on the videoconferencing platform Zoom at 6 p.m. Monday. The meeting moved online as a health safety measure amid the coronavirus pandemic.  Since March 13, district schools have been closed. Cruz said the district will remain closed until at least April 13, which is when stay-at-home orders from Austin and Travis County authorities could be lifted.  But several Austin-area school districts are preparing for an even longer time away from campuses. Last week, the interim public health authority for Austin and Travis County, Dr. Mark Escott, recommended that schools remain closed for the rest of the school year. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended that schools be closed for up to 20 weeks to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. view article

The Katy ISD board of trustees voted 5-0 to postpone the May 2 elections to Nov. 3 at the regular March 30 meeting. Board Vice President Bill Lacy was absent. KISD General Counsel Justin Graham explained this move means current board members serving in positions on the ballot will serve until the November election. Those elected to the positions in November will serve 2.5-year terms instead of 3-year terms so that the positions remain on the May election cycle. view article

Austin ISD is hoping to put the final touches on its plans to switch to online education and is holding a virtual meeting Monday evening. The board is still hearing from the community -- just in a different way. Instead of in-person, it'll be questions people left on the voicemail system. view article

On Monday, April 6, the Cedar Hill ISD Board of Trustees is expected to vote to postpone the May 3 Election to November 3. Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently gave public entities the option of postponing their spring elections until November. view article

Rio Grande City C-ISD superintendent Vilma Garza informed students and families that due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their campuses will be closed for the remainder of the school year. As of 9 pm tonight, Starr county has reported a total of three people tested positive for coronavirus.  Rio Grande City C-ISD decided the 2019-2020 school year is now officially canceled for in-classroom learning as a precautionary measure. However, Garza says teachers will still be available for students remotely and will provide distance learning through digital devices.   (27) view article

While schools are closed in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, many districts have been turning to remote instruction to continue teaching students. On Monday, March 23, Friendswood ISD had its first day of virtual instruction for students.  At the special meeting of the board of trustees that evening, Superintendent Thad Roher commended the district employees who worked to get remote instruction up and running on their quick work. view article

North Lamar ISD trustees on Monday postponed both a bond election and school board election scheduled May 2 until the Nov. 3 general election, a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  Action took place during a sparsely attended meeting at the administration building with trustees spread out across the front of a large meeting room that once served as the sanctuary of a church. Only school officials and a sole media representative were present in the audience. view article

Like many governing bodies across North Texas, Little Elm ISD is moving its Board of Trustees election, which was set for May 2, to Nov. 3.  Monday's vote by the board comes as concerns over the COVID-19 spread continue to increase.  There was just one contested race in this year's LEISD election. Incumbent LeAnna Harding will face Monique Thompson in Place 1. view article

Board extends leave, staff pay, postpones election

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Longview Independent School District trustees passed several measures in response to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, during their regular meeting Monday, March 23rd.  The board unanimously approved an extension of leave and wage payments for employees while public schools are closed, and postponed board election to Nov. 3rd, following a proclamation Gov. Greg Abbott issued on March 18.  "Obviously we're trying to adjust to a 'new normal' here," said Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox. "At the same time, we've got to do whatever we can to provide as much continuity for our students and staff as possible."  According to both resolutions approved by trustees, LISD will provide additional paid leave to all regular employees (contractual and non-contractual, salaried and non-salaried) who are instructed not to report to work due to pandemic fears. view article

In order to comply with state mandated social distancing guidelines, tonight’s Huntsville ISD meeting will be live streamed on the district’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/HuntsvilleISDTX. The meeting can also be viewed on the district's website at www.huntsville-isd.org.  The public will be able to call in and participate in the scheduled public hearing and during the public comment period by emailing their name, address, phone number and topic they are wanting to discuss to sodom@huntsville-isd.org by 5 p.m. today. view article

Garland ISD held a special board meeting on March 19, the first all-virtual board meeting for the district. During his report, Superintendent Ricardo López said that on March 18 alone the district served close to 5,500 meals, including breakfast and lunch. They also sent out a survey to students in need of devices and received 22,000 responses, and with that in mind the district rolled out a plan for device usage for students who do not have one at home. view article

Because of concerns over the coronavirus, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted March 23 to postpone the scheduled May 2 election. “Due to the public health crisis that we are facing—not only in Fort Bend ISD, but around the state, nation and the world—I believe that it's in the best interest of our public [and] of our community to ... consider postponement of the election for on behalf of students, our staff and our community,” Trustee Kristin Tassin said. view article

Wichita Falls ISD Superintendent Michael Kuhrt is slated to give a report on the district's COVID-19 preparedness at a regular school board meeting at 5 p.m. Monday. The district is limiting public access to its facilities beginning Monday to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, but WFISD typically provides video of the meetings accessible on www.wfisd.net. view article

Wichita Falls ISD Superintendent Michael Kuhrt is slated to give a report on the district's COVID-19 preparedness at a regular school board meeting at 5 p.m. Monday. The district is limiting public access to its facilities beginning Monday to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, but WFISD typically provides video of the meetings accessible on www.wfisd.net. view article

When the University Interscholastic League last week extended a suspension of activities through May 4, one aspect Galveston County high school athletic directors and coaches touched upon was keeping the lines of communication open with their student-athletes.  “We’ve just been trying to keep in touch with the athletes the best that we can, and mostly checking on their health right now to see if there’s anything that can be done, or if they need information, sending them in the direction that they need,” Galveston ISD athletic director Walter Fortune said following the UIL’s most recent announcement. view article

Decatur ISD will hold its board meeting Monday with trustees utilizing video conferencing and the district streaming the meeting on Facebook.  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week granted the Attorney General’s request for a suspension of certain open meetings statutes to allow teleconferencing and videoconferencing of meetings as the state tries to control the spread of COVID-19. view article

The City of Baytown is restricting the public from attending meetings at city hall in response to the COVID-19 virus.  “Public meetings will be held via teleconference or video conference. Smaller meetings are teleconferenced while city council (meetings) will be held via videoconference,” Alice Jauregui, City of Baytown spokeswoman, said. “We are adhering to the public gathering guidelines of 10 people or fewer issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will not have more than 10 people in the room at one time.”  Jauregui added if someone on the board or council does not feel comfortable attending a meeting in person, they have the option of using the teleconference or videoconference method.  view article

The local elections can be delayed from May 2 to Nov. 3, according to a proclamation by Gov. Greg Abbott.  AUSTIN — Local governments will be allowed to delay May 2 elections until November, after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott suspended the rules over coronavirus concerns.  While Abbott stopped short of ordering a delay, he strongly encouraged local officials to postpone their elections until Nov. 3 — the same day as the 2020 general election, when voters will pick a president. view article

Dallas City Council Members extended the corona virus disaster declaration until April 29th at a special meeting Wednesday. Mayor Eric Johnson first issued the declaration last week.  The declaration initially called for limiting the size of public gatherings and was followed Monday by an order closing bars, restaurant dining rooms and many other business and city buildings to keep people apart. view article

Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged on Tuesday that he has the authority to postpone May 26 runoff elections or conduct them exclusively via mail-in ballots in response to the coronavirus.  “Everything’s on the table,” Abbott told reporters when asked about expanding vote-by-mail.  On Monday, Hearst Newspapers reported that state officials have been kicking around the idea. Currently, Texas allows limited use of vote-by-mail. view article

Tornillo ISD and San Elizario ISD are set to hold emergency meetings this week to discuss their contingency plans moving forward in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. San Elizario will meet Thursday, March 19 at 9 a.m. in the SEISD Board Room. The board is expected to discuss “emergency purchasing in response to COVID-19 pandemic and throughout the duration of the District’s related closure.” view article

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - A Special teleconference meeting of the Board of Trustees of Lubbock Independent School District was held Tuesday to discuss a resolution dealing with district school closures and how to use public funds from the State of Disaster declaration by Governor Greg Abbott.  The proposed action will also delegate emergency authority to the Superintendent for 45 days. According to the proposal, this authority is “to react to the situations that may be present in the District during the state-declared disaster period in order to mitigate the public health risks of COVID-19,” including instituting remote classes, or closing LISD schools.  (18) view article

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday suspended portions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, the law that ensures public access to and participation in government meetings, amid the coronavirus pandemic.  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had requested some provisions of the law be put on hold temporarily to pave the way for city councils, school boards and county commissioners courts across Texas to conduct meetings by telephone or video conference, according to a news release from Paxton’s office.  The lifting of the requirements comes as the Austin City Council is weighing how it will continue to conduct its business amid the outbreak. The city canceled all upcoming meetings related to the council’s controversial overhaul of the land development code. The effort to update the city’s rules on what can be built and where likely will be postponed as a result. view article

The Frisco ISD Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Sunday, March 15, to consider a resolution declaring an emergency closure of schools as part of the district's response to the spread of coronavirus. view article

The Eanes Independent School District gave authority to its Superintendent Tom Leonard to respond to COVID-19 at an emergency meeting on Saturday. view article

At a March 3 meeting, Plano ISD trustees updated district policies governing student transfers within the district and across districts.   As part of the changes, a student who moves out of the district after the school year begins will be allowed to continue to attend PISD for the remainder of the school year and be allowed to remain enrolled in an academy program for that year.  Students who are not residents before the start of the school year will not be able to attend school at PISD. view article

fter 24 years, San Marcos school board Trustee Lupe Costilla, 71 , is stepping down. The San Marcos native, who is one of the longest-serving Central Texas school board members, has been sitting behind the dais ever since 1993. On the last day of application filing for May elections, Costilla withdrew her application to give her 30-year-old grandson, Nicholas Costilla, who works for the Hays County district attorney’s office, a chance to run for her District 3 seat. University Star newspaper coordinator Mayra Mejia, 32, also is competing for the spot.  San Marcos school board members serve staggered three-year terms without pay. Costilla will be finishing her eighth three-year term as the trustee representing District 3, which represents a central sliver of the district. In 2008, she did not run, but then decided to run again in 2011.  “It just doesn’t seem that long,” Costilla said. “It has not been burdensome. It’s been a matter of interest in continued involvement.” view article

Manor school board Trustee Sam Samaripa filed a lawsuit Monday through the District Court in Travis County to remove board President Elmer Fisher Jr. from office.  In the lawsuit, Samaripa stated Fisher must be removed from the office for “incompetency” and “official misconduct.” Samaripa, in the court documents, accuses Fisher of committing 12 acts of misconduct, including approving the appointment of a third-party investigation against the superintendent without the rest of the board’s consent and planning to help oust the superintendent, among other things. view article

In an effort to ward off any potential threat of the new coronavirus, Pearland ISD has amended its attendance policy for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, according to a statement from Superintendent Dr. John P. Kelly.  The first Houston-area case of the pneumonia-like disease was confirmed Wednesday night when a 70-year-old Fort Bend County man was diagnosed ‘presumptive positive’ for COVID-19, the new coronavirus, the Houston Chronicle reported. Officials said the man had recently traveled abroad and that he is stable condition. Many other factors surrounding the case are still unknown, but as of Thursday morning, Fort Bend County officials have set up a hotline to answer resident view article

Parents at soon-to-be-closed Pease Elementary are again frustrated at Austin ISD leaders after the district revoked student transfers for next year from Pease to campuses that had already reached their maximum capacity for enrollment.  Shortly after AISD's board of trustees voted in November to close four elementary schools, district staff began working with the Pease school community – the most active and vocal in opposing the School Changes plan – to ensure a smooth transition for its students, all of whom are already transfers from other schools and now need to choose new campuses to finish out their primary education. That outreach included a meeting with district staff and parents on Dec. 10, where the district assured Pease families they would be able to transfer their children to the schools of their choice. view article

Fort Bend ISD trustees approved a new public comments policy at the Feb. 24 regular meeting. According to trustee Grayle James, some of the proposed changes are needed to comply with a new state law.  New Texas law means new rules for public meetings  Put forward Representative Terry Canales (D - Edinburg), House Bill 2840 became Texas law on September 1, 2019 and stipulates people must be allowed to speak in public meetings about agenda items either at the beginning of the meeting or during the meeting when the agenda item is being considered by board members view article

Missing among the names of candidates vying for election to Pearland ISD’s board this May is that of Position 2 incumbent Mike Floyd, who drew widespread attention when he was elected while still in high school in 2017.  Floyd plans to head to law school after he graduates this semester from the University of Houston with a degree in political science. view article

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

Trustees with Port Neches-Groves Independent School District are looking at ways to sweeten the pot for custodians. Trustees will hold a called meeting at noon Tuesday at the administration building, 620 Ave. C, in Port Neches where they will consider increasing the hourly starting pay rate for custodians from $8.51 per hour to $9.50 per hour. They will also consider offering additional summer work days to encourage current and future custodians a broader annual salary, which could assist in alleviating the custodian vacancy issues, according to information from the district. view article