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For as long as I can remember, school district administrators have been comfortable placing employees on paid administrative leave in the best interest of the district and reassigning even Chapter 21 contract employees to another department, position, or campus so long as the reassignment did not result in a change in the employee’s contract or pay, and the new position was in “the same professional capacity.”
Why a West Texas county is building a new courthouse even after voters rejected the proposal
Officials took the extraordinary step of taking on new debt to replace the old courthouse, which has been plagued by rats and other pests, elevator breakdowns and flooding. view article
Anas Said was arrested and indicted for attempting to provide material support to foreign terrorist group ISIS. view article
AG Ken Paxton Sues Dallas Over Decriminalization of Marijuana According to Paxton, the charter amendment renders marijuana statutes unenforceable by local law enforcement in violation of Texas law. view article
We simply can’t let the CCP keep winning in Texas, and we can’t let them take over our land. Texas belongs to Texans. So does Texas land. However, as of today, anyone in the world can come to Texas to buy land—no limits, no restrictions, and no questions asked—even if the land is next to a military base, and even if the buyer is a citizen of an adversarial nation such as China or Iran. The fact is, a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) member and retired Chinese army officer already bought a big piece of Texas land close to a military base. That’s why last year, Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst proposed Senate Bill 147 to restrict foreign land purchases in Texas. However, the bill faced strong opposition from Chinese groups which described SB 147 as a “racist bill” and organized numerous protests and complaints against it. Finally, the bill was dead! Can anyone believe that this happened in Texas? view article
Former Round Rock ISD police chief Dennis Weiner is suing the school district, claiming they violated the Texas Whistleblower Act. This stems from an incident where a student was apparently sexually assaulted by another student on a school bus. view article
HERMLEIGH, Texas — Hermleigh ISD is cracking down on negative behavior at its sporting events. view article
Katy ISD parents file complaint with the TEA, claim son isn’t receiving proper special education services
A Katy ISD family is speaking out after claiming their son, a special education student, has not been receiving the appropriate educational support required by law. Cassi and Randy Baden have filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency (TEA). They're accusing the district of failing to provide the services their 5-year-old son, Ezra, is entitled to under his Individualized Education Plan (IEP). view article
Student alleging horrifying bullying, harassment and sexual assault by former peers files lawsuit against Crawford ISD
The family of a former student at The Crawford Independent School District filed a lawsuit seeking damages against the school district after it allegedly failed to protect their son from intense bullying that escalated into sexual assault, according to documents obtained by KWTX. The victim, diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and prescribed medications that stunted his growth, is described in the lawsuit as “the smallest boy in his class.” view article
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has launched an investigation into Katy Independent School District (Katy ISD) following a formal complaint filed by local advocate Karen Mayer Cunningham on behalf of an elementary student. The complaint alleges violations related to special education services provided to the student between October 30, 2023 and the filing of the grievance in November of this year. view article
‘You have a dead body on you all,’ Manor ISD vows better safety after heated board meeting
Manor Independent School District's Board of Trustees held a meeting Monday night and discussed school safety in the wake of a deadly stabbing last month at Manor Senior High School. It was the first board meeting since the deadly incident. Tensions boiled over from Manor ISD parents during public comment who said, they've had enough of the district's lax attitude on safety. view article
Student sues Austin ISD, alleging bullying, harassment. Appeals Court upholds dismissal
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a 2022 U.S district judge’s ruling to dismiss a 2020 lawsuit in which a student, who is white, sued the Austin school district for failure to prevent bullying and harassment that the student said he experienced due to his race and conservative political beliefs. view article
San Antonio ISD trustees approve terms to start negotiations of land sale for Missions ballpark
Trustees for the San Antonio Independent School District approved terms Monday night under which they would agree to sell land for the construction of a new stadium downtown for the San Antonio Missions minor league baseball team. Trustees also voted to give the parties involved with the ballpark development until Dec. 9 to accept the terms or respond with a proposal of their own. SAISD trustees plan to discuss the next step in negotiations over the land sale at their regular board meeting on Dec. 16. view article
San Antonio ISD approves terms for the possible sale of land to stadium developer
At a recent board meeting, members of the San Antonio ISD (SAISD) discussed the potential sale of 2.3 acres of land located on Cameron Street, which includes a parking lot. Tonight they agreed on specific terms they want met by Westin Urban before they move forward with the sale and were laid out earlier in the week. The district seeks around $45 million to help fund a new educational facility aimed at enhancing learning opportunities for students. They are asking for the county to build a parking garage and sky bridge near Fox Tech High School to address parking challenges and improve access to the area. view article
Grand Prairie ISD wants its suspended superintendent’s lawsuit against the district to be moved to federal court. In a filing last week , GPISD requested the case be removed from Dallas County District Court so it could be handled as a federal case because of Jorge Arredondo’s claims that he was the target of racial discrimination. view article
The parents of a former Crawford ISD student filed a federal lawsuit in October accusing the school district of failing to address severe bullying, harassment and sexual assault their son reportedly experienced over a two-year period. The lawsuit alleges that the student, who was diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed medication that reportedly stunted his growth, was targeted because of his small stature and perceived lack of masculinity by the other students. view article
Hardin ISD middle school principal arrested on child porn charges in Liberty County
Investigators in Liberty County want parents to talk with their children after a middle school principal was arrested. Hardin Junior High School Principal Chad Barrett is facing felony possession/promotion of child pornography charges. He was arrested on Thursday. That district, just north of the city of Liberty, has an enrollment of around 1,300 students. view article
Humble ISD police admit fault in runaway teen case after telling a stranger to take girl and drive
No explanation will be good enough, according to the mother of a Humble ISD student who said the district's personal police department refused to help her on Tuesday. Derranisha Taylor said she and her 14-year-old daughter got into a fight at about 6 a.m. on Tuesday before the girl went off to Humble High School. According to Taylor, her daughter left the apartment home at about 6:30 a.m., and she believed her teen was headed to the bus. view article
The nephew of a Spring Branch ISD Police Department dispatcher has been arrested, accused in his uncle’s murder. Jose Torres, 37, was shot and killed on Friday while working in the yard of his home on Mallard Stream Court in northwest Houston. view article
Fired special education aide charged with assaulting Woodridge Forest MS student with autism
A fired paraprofessionial in New Caney ISD, who was accused of assaulting a student with autism, has been charged with assault. Carson Martin, 24, faces two counts of injury to a child/elderly individual/disabled person, according to online Montgomery County records. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. view article
Three Fort Bend Independent School District staff members are reportedly on administrative leave as the school district investigates alleged misconduct. Fort Bend ISD parents are concerned after a principal’s email announced a staff member’s unexpected suspension. Now, they’re demanding to know why. view article
Grand Prairie ISD superintendent’s job in limbo after order blocking his firing expires
Grand Prairie ISD's superintendent remains in legal limbo after Friday's injunction hearing was canceled. The cancelation is the result of GPISD filing a motion that moves the case to federal court. It will now be up to a federal judge to decide whether a federal court or state court has proper jurisdiction. view article
Spring Branch ISD dispatcher fatally shot. His nephew was arrested in connection to his death.
A dispatcher with the Spring Branch ISD Police Department was found fatally shot Friday morning and authorities later arrested his nephew in connection with his death, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Around 7 a.m., deputies found Jose Torres fatally shot inside his home in the 12000 block of Mallard Stream Court, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a Facebook post. view article
Records show Northside ISD officer arrested, released in connection with October 2023 police shooting
A Northside ISD officer accused of shooting a woman at the Dub Farris Athletic Complex in October 2023 was arrested earlier this week. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kyle Joseph Kennedy, 31, on Thursday. He was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center just before 1:30 p.m. Kennedy was booked on three charges: aggravated assault by a public servant (first-degree felony), deadly conduct for discharging a firearm (third-degree felony) and official oppression (Class A misdemeanor). view article
A student at a Bryan ISD campus was arrested Monday after police say fire was set to toilet paper in a restroom. The incident happened on the campus of SFA Middle School. The fire was quickly extinguished and there was no disruption to the school, said authorities. The student who set the fire was arrested and charged with arson and taken to the juvenile detention center, Bryan police confirmed. view article
Austin real estate developer Nate Paul began serving a 10-day jail sentence for contempt of court Thursday night in connection with a civil lawsuit that is unrelated to his criminal indictment accusing him of financial crimes. According to records, Paul was booked in the Travis County Jail at 10:14 p.m., just hours before his court-ordered appearance time. view article
Former teacher accuses Wimberley ISD and Hays County leaders of framing him to end his career
A former Wimberley ISD teacher has filed a lawsuit, claiming he was framed by multiple school and law enforcement officials to end his teaching career. David Schachter, a teacher of 20 years, was arrested for misdemeanor offensive touching in September 2022. He claims he was then "maliciously prosecuted" for the offense in September 2023 before being acquitted by a jury. view article
A Massachusetts family is awaiting a judge’s ruling in a federal lawsuit that could determine their son’s future. To a few observers, it could also push educators to limit the use of generative artificial intelligence in school. view article
Texas teacher certification cheating scheme: Bond set for 4 Houston ISD employees
Bonds have been set for three Houston Independent School District educators who have been charged in a million dollar cheating scheme involving teacher certification exams. Friday morning marked the second court appearance for some of the educators accused of helping people cheat on teacher certification tests. view article
Houston ISD coach identified as ‘kingpin’, assistant principal charged in cheating scheme are out of jail
Two of the three Houston ISD employees who were charged in connection to a teacher-certification cheating scheme that allowed unqualified teachers to work in local school districts have bonded out of jail. Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School was identified as the “kingpin” in the scheme. He was released on a $150,000 bond. view article
Fairgoers join Ken Paxton in suing Texas State Fair for allegedly violating their gun rights
Three fairgoers are requesting up to $1 million in damages and to allow guns at the State Fair.
Three fairgoers have joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in suing the State Fair of Texas and the city of Dallas over the fair’s policy banning all firearms from its properties.
Monday’s filing is the latest maneuver from Paxton in an ongoing battle surrounding the State Fair and its gun ban. In September, a day before the event kicked off, the Texas Supreme Court denied Paxton's request to overturn the policy — stating it has no role to “decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision” — after a Dallas district court judge allowed the gun ban to stand.
Paxton filed the update naming the newest plaintiffs in his ongoing case before the Dallas district court, which is expected to have another hearing next year.
view articleSchool surveillance video among evidence against North Texas coach accused of child grooming, police say
A now-former coach with the Mesquite Independent School District was arrested Wednesday on allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a middle school student, according to the Balch Springs Police Department. In a Wednesday release, police announced the arrest of Sergio Gonzalez, who served as a coach at A.C. New Middle School in the Mesquite school district. Gonzalez faces a charge of child grooming, a third-degree felony, police said. view article
A 54-year-old former Mesquite ISD coach allegedly groomed a teen, engaging in inappropriate behavior such as "kissing on the forehead, hugging, (and) holding hands," according to a spokesman from the Balch Springs Police Department. Sergio Gonzalez, who served as a teacher and coach for 20 years at A.C. New Middle School, was arrested Wednesday and charged with the felony of child grooming. view article
‘I thought Mike Miles was the problem:’ Residents react to $1M Houston-based teacher-certification scandal
It wasn’t just any coach though, this was Vincent Grayson, who was nominated for High School Coach of the Year at the Houston Sports Awards and was said to have an impact on the basketball court at Booker T. Washington High School by leading their team to the first ever UIL state tournament in 2023. view article
A coach in the Mesquite Independent School District was arrested early Wednesday morning after police said he had an inappropriate relationship with a middle school student. According to the Balch Springs Police Department, Sergio Gonzalez is charged with child grooming, a third-degree felony. Police said Mesquite ISD notified them about a possible inappropriate relationship between an educator and a former student at A.C. New Middle School in Balch Springs. view article