Obituary: Sally W. Smith

For those of you that have known TexasISD.com for a long time. We lost our beloved wife, mother. editor and proofreader this past Monday.

In the age of AI, being human might be your best job skill. Find out how

With artificial intelligence on the rise, The Dallas Morning News will host a discussion about how students can elevate their “human” skills and use the technology in their job search. The panel on May 13 will be moderated by Wilborn P. Nobles III, The News’ workforce readiness and economic mobility reporter. High school and college students, parents and job seekers will hear from leaders in workforce readiness and education. The event is powered by the Education Lab and the Future of North Texas, The News' community-funded journalism initiatives. view article  

Wichita Falls ISD included in Texas AG probe over 10 Commandments laws

The Wichita Falls ISD is under investigation by the Texas Attorney General’s Office regarding the district’s compliance with Senate Bills 10 and 11. Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his statewide investigation into 29 school districts on May 7. Senate Bill 10 requires public schools to display donated copies of the Ten Commandments that meet certain requirements. Senate Bill 11 requires school boards to vote whether to allow time for prayer and bible reading. view article  

‘Deeply concerning’: Klein HS head football coach faces allegations involving ‘misconduct’ from past role in Tomball ISD

The head football coach and athletic director at Klein High School is being investigated for misconduct stemming from a previous job in another school district. In a letter sent to families and staff on Monday, Tomball ISD said Nick Codutti was being investigated for “allegations of misconduct that date back to his employment in Tomball ISD.” view article  

Albany voters back new school

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State-funded teacher incentives bring $210K to La Porte ISD educators

La Porte ISD on May 11 handed out $210,230 to teachers across the district, celebrating its first cohort of Teacher Incentive Allotment. These payouts from the state were awarded to educators who earned TIA designations through the state’s strategic compensation program for their impact on student learning and achievement. The TIA, established by the Texas Education Agency, rewards highly effective teachers who demonstrate strong instructional practices and measurable student growth. Educators may earn Recognized, Exemplary, or Master designations through locally developed systems approved by the state. “These educators are making a tremendous difference in the lives of our students every day,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Walter Jackson. “The Teacher Incentive Allotment program allows us to recognize and reward excellence in the classroom while supporting our efforts to recruit and retain outstanding teachers across La Porte ISD.” District officials say the program continues to strengthen classroom instruction and student outcomes by investing directly in high-performing educators. Through TIA funding, qualifying teachers receive additional compensation tied to their designation level and campus needs. La Porte ISD remains committed to expanding opportunities for teachers through strategic compensation initiatives and ensuring students benefit from exceptional instruction in every classroom. view article  

Dallas County childcare tax push draws packed house, doubts

The Dallas County Commissioners Court hosted a full house of parents, pastors, nonprofit leaders and business representatives on Monday, many wearing red stickers that read “childcare supports working families.” view article  

1 student taken to hospital after altercation at Longview ISD

An altercation involving Longview ISD students has resulted in a student being taken to a hospital Tuesday. The altercation took place at the Longview High School, with staff and law enforcement responding immediately, the school said in a release. view article  

Fairview leaders again plead with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for smaller temple

Fairview leaders are again asking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to reconsider the height of the 120-foot-tall temple it’s building in the Collin County town, over a year after the Town Council granted the church a permit for the disputed steeple.   The town and church fell into bitter disagreement over the temple’s size, which in 2024 was originally planned to rise more than 170 feet, higher than any other structure in Fairview. After a denied permit, threats of a lawsuit, mediation, an approved permit and a lawsuit from residents, construction began on the temple in February  view article  

Texas students are still behind after COVID — and one group of school districts is hit hardest

Texas school districts are still struggling to recover from pandemic learning losses as reading scores continue to fall across the state, a new report shows.  The Lone Star State ranked 28 out of 38 states for academic growth in math and 25 out of 35 in reading between 2022 and 2025, according to the Education Scorecard, a report by education researchers at Harvard and Stanford universities. view article  

Corpus Christi moves toward mandatory 25% cut in water use if emergency is declared

Final approval of the curtailment plan is expected at a future City Council meeting. Experts predict that, without significant rainfall, a water emergency could arrive by September. view article  

Immigration a flashpoint in Allred-Johnson Democratic runoff

Julie Johnson labels her opponent a “flip-flopper.” Colin Allred said previous votes reflected Rio Grande Valley frustration with Biden-era border policies. view article  

For Texas GOP, immigration politics show signs of fading potency

Texas voters have listed immigration and border security among their top issues for years, but recent polling found they are less of a priority than at any point in recent history. view article  

Google Says Criminal Hackers Used A.I. to Find a Major Software Flaw

The company said that it had identified, for the first time, hackers using artificial intelligence to discover an unknown bug. The attempted attack represents “a taste of what’s to come,” one expert said. view article  

Plano ISD set to open Career & Technical Education Center in ‘26-’27 school year

(Sponsored) When Toyota Motor North America relocated its headquarters to Plano in 2014, it quickly partnered with Plano Independent School District to expand and strengthen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Toyota’s latest grant focuses on career and technical education, specifically STEM opportunities for high school students, with the goal of helping close the STEM skills gap. view article  

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones wants San Antonio to be ready for rise in artificial intelligence

When is San Antonio in the same sentence as cities like San Francisco, Tokyo, Madrid, London and Nairobi?  That’s what happened last week when Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones as a member of its new AI Mayors Forum, an international group of city leaders focused on artificial intelligence and community needs and resilience.  Jones will sit down with the mayors of nine other cities — the aforementioned ones plus Bogota, Kyiv, Buenos Aires and Boston — to provide input on the adoption of AI in major cities. view article  

Texas Republicans have a data center problem

Data center construction is unpopular among locals, and a majority of the facilities are being proposed in red, rural counties. That puts Texas Republicans in a tough spot, as the White House has encouraged states to let the centers flourish. view article  

Elon Musk announces Tesla HQ will remain in Travis County, new engineering headquarters will open in California

On Feb. 22, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Tesla’s would open an engineering headquarters in California. On Twitter, Tesla representatives clarified on Feb. 24 that the main headquarters would remain in Travis County.  In late 2021, Musk relocated Tesla’s headquarters to the 10 million-square-foot Giga Texas facility located in southeastern Travis County.  During the Feb. 22 press conference, Musk did not present a timeline for the move, share any information behind the move or provide any information on how this would affect the Travis County facility.   Travis County representatives said they had no further information to share on the topic as of Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. view article  

Austin SBOE candidates debate: which are worse for public ed? Private school vouchers or charter schools?

Report: Houston-area suburb is sinking faster than the rest

One of Houston's fastest-growing suburbs is on shaky ground.  Katy—located west of Houston and long-ranked among the state's fastest-expanding communities—is sinking faster than any other suburb in the Houston area, according to a recent report from the Houston-Galveston Subsidence District. view article  

Older Texans Month

Older Texans have profoundly shaped our beloved state. Their legacy is one that honors the spirit of our great state as they have worked hard, cared for their loved ones, and set an example for the next generation of Texas leaders. Today, as a result of medical, technological, and economic progress, Texans lead longer lives than ever before, and we must support older Texans as best we can. As thousands celebrate their sixty-fifth birthday, the proportion of older individuals within our population continuously increases. They are parents, grandparents, teachers, mentors, and friends, and they have built and sustained the great Texas Miracle; they therefore deserve our steadfast support in their golden years.  view article  

How Dallas plans to reinvent its library system with regional hubs, smaller staff

Dallas leaders want to cut $2.6 million from the city's library budget without closing any libraries. Their latest plan would slash dozens of jobs and designate five libraries as flagship hubs while others operate with reduced hours and staff.  A proposal from city staff in January suggested closing four neighborhood libraries across the city while adopting the regional flagship model. But the idea of closing libraries didn’t fly with council members and residents. view article  

Paxton investigating Texas schools to ensure posting of Ten Commandments

Texas can enforce the state's law requiring Ten Commandments posters in public schools. Here's what to know about the latest legal challenges.  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into whether public schools are displaying posters of the Ten Commandments, following a recent federal court ruling that the state can enforce a law requiring them to do so.  More than two dozen Texas school districts must provide documentation to Paxton’s office “regarding the display or lack thereof of the Ten Commandments and their policies,” Paxton said in a statement Thursday.   The districts must also show that their school boards voted on whether view article  

Feds investigate Houston ISD for plans to separate students with disabilities

Houston school administrators say the move would give children who need the support more focused attention. But the U.S. Department of Education worries the plan amounts to segregation. view article  

Texas’ 35th Congressional District primary runoffs: Who is running and what to know

Last year’s redistricting upended the makeup of Texas’ 35th Congressional District, prompting the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Greg Casar, to run for a different seat. The open race for the new TX-35 spurred competitive primaries on both sides, with two Democrats and two Republicans advancing to runoffs in their respective races after no one received 50% of the vote in either March primary.  view article  

This ‘90s stoner trend is now the latest Gen Z obsession: the hacky sack

This '90s stoner trend is now the latest Gen Z obsession: the hacky sack  Hacky sacks are the hot new trend sweeping high schools this spring. They were a symbol of Gen X stoners in the '90s.   Teens are starting clubs at school and making ironic social media pages about their new hobby.  The sudden fad started just a few weeks ago, and the footbags are sold out in many places.  Why did hacky sacks appeal to Gen X?  What drives Gen Z's nostalgia for '90s?  How do social media trends evolve? view article  

How Dallas plans to reinvent its library system with regional hubs, smaller staff

Dallas leaders want to cut $2.6 million from the city's library budget without closing any libraries. Their latest plan would slash dozens of jobs and designate five libraries as flagship hubs while others operate with reduced hours and staff.  A proposal from city staff in January suggested closing four neighborhood libraries across the city while adopting the regional flagship model. But the idea of closing libraries didn’t fly with council members and residents. view article  

Midway ISD Proposes Pay Raises, $2M Investment in Staff

Midway ISD trustees reviewed a proposed compensation plan at their regular April board meeting Tuesday that would invest up to $2 million in employee compensation for the 2026–27 school year.  The plan, which will be considered for approval in May, is designed to keep the district competitive in recruiting and retaining staff while remaining financially responsible.  “This is about taking care of our people in a way that is sustainable,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ashley Canuteson. “We know great schools depend on great staff, and this plan reflects our commitment to staying competitive while being responsive to our staff.”   In addition to the 2% general pay increase on paygrade midpoints, the proposal includes targeted adjustments to align salaries with the market and maintain internal equity, no increase to employee health insurance contributions, and a reduction in the district’s flex benefit contribution for employees who opt out of insurance.   District data presented to the board shows Midway ISD salaries remain at or near market averages compared to similar districts, generally ranging from 95% to 104% of market pay depending on experience. view article  

Guardians of the Children operating Rayburn Chapter to advocate for abused children

The Guardians of the Children, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for abused children, now has a presence in Angelina County through the Rayburn Chapter, led by Chris Dooley.  The Guardians, alongside other local organizations, recently planted 60 pinwheels at the courthouse — one for each child abuse survivor who went through the system in 2025.  “We are currently intaking children in Angelina County,” Dooley said.  Here’s how it works: Guardians are referred to children through Harold’s House or the district attorney’s office. They get to know the children in question and serve not as counselors or therapists but adult role models and friends to the vulnerable. view article  

South Texas ISD hires Sandra Garza Ochoa as new superintendent

The South Texas Independent School District Board of Trustees has voted to hire finalist Sandra Garza Ochoa as its new superintendent. On April 7, Ochoa was voted as the lone finalist for the South Texas ISD superintendent position, as previously reported on ValleyCentral. view article  

Waco ISD responds to Texas attorney general investigation

Waco ISD says it is complying with state laws tied to classroom prayer and Ten Commandments displays amid a Texas investigation. view article  

Austin ISD will cut 215 educator salaries for next school year as it faces a $181 million deficit

Austin ISD is set to cut 215 full-time educator salaries — 85 for elementary schools, 51 for middle schools and 79 for high schools — as it faces a $181 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year. These cuts are in relation to newly proposed teacher-student ratios, Superintendent Matias Segura said on Thursday. “The ability to serve our students in a way that we had a couple years back or even last year is going to be impacted,” Segura said. “We have not been able yet to get the funding we need to ensure that we keep up with the costs that we have. So we have to make these cuts, as hard as they are.” view article  

Former Humble ISD teacher arrested, charged with indecency with a child, authorities say

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said a former Humble ISD teacher is now behind bars, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a former student while working in New Caney ISD. Online records show the teacher, Garrett Cross, 38, was booked into jail on Friday. He was still listed as a current inmate as of Saturday. view article  

Austin ISD leaders hold virtual weekend meeting on budget outlook

Austin ISD leaders held a virtual community conversation over the weekend to discuss the district's budget outlook as it faces a $181 million shortfall. view article