Memorial Day Salute

Please join us in rememberance of those that have given the ultimate sacrifice in order to secure our freedom. TexasISD.com will resume posting on 27 May. 

Supreme Court Deadlocks, Leaves in Place Block on Nation’s First Religious Charter School

With a tie result, the high court upholds an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that found it was unconstitutional to give the school taxpayer money.  The Supreme Court’s unsigned opinion consists of one sentence: “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court.” No reasons for the ruling were provided. How the individual justices voted was not disclosed. view article

Preventive Law: Hit the Ground Running: Setting Yourself up for Success at the Beginning of a Construction Program

Moderna Withdraws Application for Combination COVID-19–Influenza Vaccine

Moderna on May 21 said it withdrew its application for a license for its combination vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza.  The move came “in consultation with” the Food and Drug Administration, which decides on licensing applications, the Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company said in a brief statement.  The combination shot is known as mRNA-1083. view article

Substitute Teacher Accused of Showing Students Sexually Explicit Videos

Substitute Teacher Accused of Showing Students Sexually Explicit Videos view article

Time Running Out for Senate To Pass GOP-Backed Bill Ending In-State Tuition for Illegals

Currently there are over 59,000 illegal aliens enrolled in colleges and universities across the state. view article

Spring ISD breaks ground on $141M Education, Performance and Instruction Center

Spring ISD has broken ground on its new Education, Performance and Instruction Center, according to a May 20 news release. The $141 million project is funded by a $850 million bond package voters approved in 2022. The 148,000-square-foot center will include an indoor arena, performance hall, an art gallery and a 250-seat academic and recital hall, Community Impact previously reported. view article

These Texas companies’ reputations have taken a hit, new ranking finds

The companies aren't held in high regard, according to the Axios Harris Poll 100. view article

More Texas children are getting vaccinated early against measles

Fear of babies contracting the contagious and potentially deadly virus has spurred the surge in vaccinations amid Texas’ historic measles outbreak. view article

Texas Legislature on verge of completely banning THC products after key House vote

The Texas House late Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that would ban all products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, likely spelling the end for the state’s short-lived hemp industry.  Under the legislation, which is nearing the governor’s desk for approval, adults would face up to a year in jail for possessing hemp products with any amount of THC — a stricter penalty than what is on the books for possessing up to 2 ounces of marijuana. view article

Another big tax cut for Texas homeowners appears imminent

Providing bigger tax breaks to homeowners is a key component of a deal brokered by Republicans in the Texas Legislature to lower tax bills for Texans.  Texas homeowners are one step closer to a bigger tax break after the Texas House gave unanimous final approval to a set of legislative proposals Wednesday.  House members approved bills aimed at giving homeowners relief on the property taxes they pay toward school districts, the biggest chunk of a property owner’s tax bill. Senate Bill 4 by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican, would change the state’s homestead exemption, which reduces how much of a home’s value can be taxed to pay for public schools, from $100,000 to $140,000.  Senate Bill 23, another Bettencourt proposal, would raise a separate homestead exemption for homeowners who are older or have disabilities from $10,000 to $60,000. view article

Classroom violence went up in Texas after the pandemic. Is more discipline the answer?

Texas lawmakers are poised to make it easier to suspend disruptive students. But some teachers and school psychologists say discipline alone won’t meet the mental health needs at the root of their behavior. view article

Ysleta ISD faces $35.2 million deficit despite recent efforts

Despite some progress, the financial outlook for the Ysleta Independent School District remains concerning, according to a board member. The district is currently grappling with a $35.2 million budget deficit, and its fund balance is expected to decrease from $61 million to approximately $37 million. view article

Klein ISD student faces felony charges and expulsion after handgun found on campus, district says

A Klein High School student has been expelled after bringing a gun to campus. The district says that the incident happened prior to classes starting on Tuesday morning, where a student had been threatened by another student. "As this took place and was completely handled before school was in session, normal school operations were not impacted. We appreciate your understanding and support as we address this situation. We want to thank the individual who reported this concern," Klein ISD said. view article

Fort Worth ISD plans teacher raises — how much depends on the Texas Legislature

Trustee Tobi Jackson has one wish for Fort Worth ISD’s teacher pay. The school board heard plans May 20 outlining the district’s $22 million teacher compensation package for the 2025-26 academic year, including a self-directed bump in starting teacher pay and likely mandated raises from the Texas Legislature. view article

School closures on the horizon for Austin ISD

There is big change coming to Austin ISD as the district is beginning the process to close and consolidate schools. The district said the move comes after six years without an increase in school funding from the state, as well as declining enrollment. There were 74,645 students in Austin ISD in the 2021-22 school year and in the 2023-24 school year there were 73,707. view article

Judson ISD board votes against closing three schools despite declining enrollment, financial challenges

Judson Middle School, Candlewood Elementary School and Franz Leadership Academy will remain open for the time being. Board members in the Judson Independent School District passed motions on Wednesday night to not close the campuses. Families and students expressed strong feelings about the potential school closures. The district cited financial hardships and declining enrollment as reasons for considering the closures. view article

‘A bad judgement call’: Woodville ISD parent speaks out after son burned in track exercise

Parents in Woodville ISD are left appalled following their middle schoolers coming back home with burn injuries Monday. Investigations are underway in Tyler County after students claimed they were forced to bear crawl. “I think he made a bad judgement call, very bad,” said a Woodville ISD mother, Latasha Hubbard. view article

Socorro ISD reinstates seven teaching positions amid budget cuts

Seven teachers in the Socorro Independent School District who were initially laid off as part of budget cuts have been reinstated. The school board unanimously approved their contracts during a meeting on Tuesday night. These positions were among the 43 that the district had cut earlier this month to address a $38 million budget deficit. view article

Union leader says dozens of Houston ISD custodial, maintenance jobs at risk

Dozens of maintenance and custodial workers in Houston ISD could soon be out of a job, according to the union that represents them. Hector Mireles, president of the Texas Support Personnel Employees Local 1, tells FOX 26, that an estimated 60 to 70 positions — including supervisory roles — are expected to be eliminated as part of a district-wide restructuring effort. view article

Questions linger after Prosper ISD seniors taken to hospital following graduation event; 2 suspects arrested

There's still no confirmed explanation as to why multiple Prosper ISD seniors were transported to the hospital after attending an overnight event this past weekend, but the city said two teens have been arrested in connection with the incident. For the past few days, CBS News Texas has been working to learn what happened to those students and has spoken with multiple district parents. Many of them share a common question: Were drugs involved? view article

As measles outbreak continues, new parents in Lubbock face unexpected fears

Many of the patients are being treated in Lubbock, a medical hub for the South Plains where the outbreak originated. view article

Canutillo ISD accepts superintendent’s retirement, makes plans for transition

The Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, May 20 officially accepted the retirement notice of Superintendent Pedro Galaviz, effective Dec. 31. Galaviz, who has been superintendent in Canutillo for nearly 13 years, will continue serving in that role through July 31. view article

Senators Hear Bipartisan Bill Requiring Schools To Regulate Cell Phone Use

Senators Hear Bipartisan Bill Requiring Schools To Regulate Cell Phone Use  The House-passed measure requires school districts to adopt policies restricting students’ cell phone use “from bell to bell.” view article

In El Paso, measles is infecting more adults than children

Adults who are unsure whether they’re vaccinated can get additional shots, health experts say. As soon as measles started spreading in West Texas, El Paso health officials began preparing schools and day care facilities for the day the virus would inevitably arrive.   But now that it's here, it’s not kids who are making up the brunt of the cases — it’s adults. Two-thirds of El Paso’s cases so far are among people over the age of 18, and only 7% are among school-age children.  Anyone unvaccinated can contract measles, but it tends to hit children first and hardest. Most children are not fully vaccinated until they are five years old and they spend more time than adults in congregate settings where the virus can spread quickly. More families of young children are opting out of vaccines, leaving them exposed.  Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, followed this traditional path, starting with school-age children before spreading to adults. Almost six months into what is now the country’s largest measles outbreak since 2000, Texas’ 722 cases are about evenly spread between the three age groups the state divides them into: under four, 5-17 and adults. view article

Texas House Committee Advances Bill To Abolish Lottery Commission and Overhaul State Lottery

Texas House Committee Advances Bill To Abolish Lottery Commission and Overhaul State Lottery view article

Project Homecoming: First Charter Flight From Houston Returns Self-Deporting Illegals

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a new chapter in immigration policy with the inaugural charter flight under “Project Homecoming,” a voluntary self-deportation initiative.   On Monday, a flight departed Houston carrying 64 illegal aliens who chose to return to their home countries—38 to Honduras and 26 to Colombia—using the newly introduced CBP Home App. view article

Seguin ISD brings the community along its superintendent search process

The Seguin ISD will not be left in the dark when it comes to the search for the next superintendent. That’s according to Emily Allen, the Seguin ISD director of communications. With Superintendent Dr. Veronica Vijil set to retire later this year, Allen says the district has launched a structured, transparent timeline to select her successor. She says the official application deadline for the superintendent position wraps up this week. view article

El Paso ISD board reverses plan to close Lamar Elementary

Lamar Elementary School, one of eight El Paso Independent School District schools that was to close next year, will remain open indefinitely after the newly elected school board on Tuesday voted 5-2 to reverse the previous board’s decision. Daniel Call and Valerie Ganelon Beals, the only remaining trustees on the board who voted in favor of the closures in November, voted against keeping the school open. view article

McKinney ISD employee arrested for indecency with a child, officials say

A McKinney ISD employee was recently arrested for indecency with a child, officials say. Andrew Hansen, who worked in McKinney ISD's technology department, was arrested May 15 on a complaint of indecency with a child, the district confirmed. He was booked into the Collin County Jail May 15, but didn't appear in Collin County jail records by May 20. view article

Texas Legislature passes bill aimed at improving school shooting response

A bill filed by former Uvalde mayor, State Rep. Don McLaughlin (R-Uvalde) aimed at improving law enforcement responses to active school shootings is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. The Uvalde Strong Act would require municipal, county, school, and campus police to implement standardized active shooter response policies. If departments do not participate in multi-agency drills at least once a year, they could jeopardize their accreditation. The law would also create a grant program for first responders and telecommunicators to train. In addition, the bill would mandate every school district to have at least one breaching tool, such as a sledgehammer, and a ballistic shield. view article

Fort Bend ISD could close or consolidate 19 elementary schools under budget cuts

Fort Bend ISD is built for more than 100,000 students, but recent demographic projections show enrollment stagnating around 80,000 students until 2034, an outlook that could force school closures to save money, officials told a full boardroom Monday. Closing or consolidating some of the 19 elementary campuses with less than 600 students could save the district $13 million, auditors said. view article

El Paso ISD votes to reopen Lamar Elementary amid budget concerns

The El Paso Independent School District's board voted 5-2 to reopen Lamar Elementary, one of eight schools previously slated for closure as part of a district-wide redesign plan aimed at addressing a $32 million deficit. Board member Daniel Call strongly opposed the proposal, stating, "This is an arbitrary reopening of only one school, with no real rationale." He added, "Reopening Lamar Elementary is going to cost 3.2 million dollars per year." view article

Questions linger after Prosper ISD seniors taken to hospital following graduation event

There's still no confirmed explanation as to why multiple Prosper ISD seniors were transported to the hospital after attending an overnight event this past weekend. For the past few days, CBS News Texas has been working to learn what happened to those students and has spoken with multiple district parents. Many of them share a common question: Were drugs involved? view article

Multiple Houston ISD schools coping with HVAC problems as weather warms up

As Southeast Texas heats up ahead of summer, so have some campuses in Houston ISD. After multiple HISD schools experienced air-conditioning issues on Monday – when Heights High School dismissed students early because of elevated classroom temperatures – at least two more schools dealt with problematic HVAC units on Tuesday, according to the district. Some students at Harvard Elementary in the Heights were temporarily relocated Tuesday "to ensure their comfort," according to an email to parents from Principal Wendy Hampton that was provided by the district to Houston Public Media. Wheatley High School in the Fifth Ward also had HVAC issues on Tuesday, but students there and at Harvard remained on campus throughout the day. view article