Gov. Abbott appoints East Texan, Kevin Ellis, to Education Commission of the States

March 3105:00 AM

 

AUSTIN, Texas (KETK)- Governor Greg Abbott appointed East Texan Kevin Ellis to the Education Commission of the States. Ellis, of Lufkin, will serve a term with the commission. He is also the District 9 representative on the State Board of Education (SBOE), and has served as chairman to the board since September of 2019. He was elected to serve a four-year term in Nov. 2016. He also currently represents 31 Northeast Texas counties.    (31) view article

The La Vernia Independent School District will operate its own Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) for the 2021-22 school year. Trustees unanimously approved $99,255 to cover the first-year cost of the program during their March 15 meeting. Having its own DAEP will provide a savings compared to contracting with another district for the service, trustees heard, as well as allow the district to better monitor attendance and failure rates. Having the program in La Vernia also will eliminate the need to transport students to another district and will be easier for families, trustees were told. view article

Following Texas’ February freeze, Frisco ISD schools reopened to minimal damage as a result of proactive efforts to protect infrastructure across 79 district buildings. District staff disconnected 34 buildings from the power grid and completely drained most buildings of all water. This move, which staffers said was “unprecedented” for FISD, came at the request of CoServ, one of the district’s utility providers, Director of Emergency Management Jon Bodie said. view article

HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District announced Monday via social media that Grenita Lathan, the interim superintendent, is leaving the district, sharing a statement from her on Facebook.  Lathan made remarks Monday afternoon about her departure during a press conference. Lathan said she has accepted a new position as superintendent with the Springfield Public Schools in Springfield Missouri, starting on July 1.    (09) view article

NACOGDOCHES — The majority of members of the State Board of Education are urging the public health officials to move public school employees to front of the line for coronavirus vaccines. In a letter sent to the Texas COVID-19 Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel on Monday, 14 members of the 15-member board asked the state to add public school employees to distribution phase 1B, which currently includes adults over 65 and any Texans older than 16 with a chronic health condition. “In many parts of Texas, the pandemic has placed tremendous and sustained stress on efforts to staff classrooms — efforts which have been exacerbated by quarantines necessitated by COVID-19 exposures and a shortage of available full-time teachers snd substitutes,” says a portion of the letter whose primary signer is Dr. Keven Ellis, R-Lufkin.    (11) view article

Texas may change how your child understands biology when taught in a public high school classroom. The Texas' Board of Education tentatively approved changes to portions of the states Biology curriculum. Instead of asking Texas public school students to “evaluate” scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and the complexity of certain cells, the state will now ask that the students "examine" the scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and complexity of certain cells. In the past, some educators have argued that the word "evaluate" encouraged students to challenge the scientific theory of evolution and opened the door to teaching creationism. view article

The Georgetown Board of Trustees has hired Fred Brent as the district's newest superintendent. view article