Local school district to stagger reopening; area teachers fight return to classroom

The return to learning will be virtual for all students in the Marlin Independent School District--at first. During a special meeting of MISD's state-appointed Board of Managers Monday afternoon, the new superintendent announced the district is planning to stagger the start of in-person learning for students whose parents decide to send them back to campus instead of continuing remote learning when the school year begins. "We have a comprehensive look regarding our 2020-2021 re-entry plan," said Dr. Darryl Henson, Superintendent of Marlin Schools. view article  

‘This is an issue of health’: Teachers union demands Austin ISD offer only online classes in August

The union for Austin Independent School District employees is asking the district and the state not to send employees back to school buildings in August. Union members say it is unsafe for employees and children to be in classes together. During an online news conference Wednesday, Education Austin President Ken Zarifis said the union is asking AISD to commit to online learning only for the first nine weeks of the semester, while monitoring Covid-19 cases in the city. He also asked that increased pay for employees like cafeteria workers and other support staff continue. view article  

Alief ISD will begin 2020-21 school year online due to pandemic

Alief Independent School District Superintendent HD Chambers says school officials have decided to begin the school year online. Chambers said he doesn’t want any student to lose out on their education because of the pandemic but the thought of how to bring students and teachers back to the classroom safely keeps him up at night. view article  

Petition calls for the renaming of 4 Abilene ISD schools named after Confederate leaders

A new petition is calling for the renaming of four Abilene ISD schools that are named after Civil War Confederate leaders. The petition, directed toward the Abilene Independent School District, it's superintendent Dr. David Young and the Board of Trustees, is aiming for 100 signatures. view article  

Spring ISD holds virtual graduation for class of 2020

Spring ISD held its virtual graduations Saturday, during which district officials gave encouraging words to the graduating seniors who overcame their high school struggles. The online ceremonies, an option for those not wanting to go out during the COVID-19 pandemic, were held a week before the district’s scheduled in-person graduations at Planet Ford Stadium. Rhonda Newhouse, Spring ISD Board President, was one of many members of the district to speak during the virtual graduations and told graduates part of what has made graduation special for her was the chance to look out and see the faces of all the graduates. view article  

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Announces 2020 Summer Meals Program

Beginning June 3, Curbside Grab and Go meal service will continue under the National School Meal Program through July 28. At the specified locations, distribution of five breakfast and five lunches is available to any child age 18 or younger every Wednesday. NO applications are needed for summer meals but the child must be present. view article  

Fitch Rates Mesquite ISD, TX’s Series 2020A-C ULT Bonds, ‘AAA’PSF/‘AA+’ Underlyng

Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AAA' rating based on the Texas Permanent School Fund (PSF) guarantee and a 'AA+' underlying rating to the following unlimited tax (ULT) bonds for the Mesquite Independent School District (ISD), Texas: : view article  

Forney ISD releases statement on racist video circulating social media

Forney ISD officials revealed today that they are aware of a video circulating social media of students taking part in underage drinking that has been deemed racists. In the snapchat video clip obtained by inForney.com, five students are shown toasting one another with bottles of liquor as they recite a chant in unison that ends with a racial slur. view article  

Nederland ISD, LU report new coronavirus cases

Lamar University and Nederland Independent School District both confirmed Wednesday that employees had tested positive for the coronavirus. The NISD employee was last on campus on May 20 and self-reported a positive test according to a statement. view article  

Joe’s Commentary: Scenarios for Reopening our Schools

It seems reasonable to expect that schools would be allowed to reopen in a similar way as businesses. An Austin ISD task force is developing a range of scenarios for reopening considerations. One is the possibility of only having 25% of students return to in-person-learning at the same time.  This would allow schools to develop some very interesting schedules.

Terrell ISD, community celebrate military-bound seniors unable to attend graduation

The Terrell Independent School District and Terrell community came together to celebrate two military-bound seniors who would be unable to attend graduation ceremonies due to their scheduled leave for basic training. "Terrell ISD and the Terrell community have a long standing respect and reverence for our veterans and active duty men and women," read a statement from the district today. "It was our honor to celebrate these young men and give them the opportunity to receive their diploma in their cap and gown before leaving for basic training." view article  

Student Voice: The Joys of Reading in Quarantine. At a Time Dominated by Technology, I’m Getting Lost in Books

   Talia Natterson is a sophomore at Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, a private school in Los Angeles, California. She writes for her school publication, Crossfire. 

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When schools reopen in the fall, they will look very different than the schools children left in the spring. There will likely be masks, temperature checks and extra space between desks. Nearly 1 out of 5 teachers may not be able to return to school buildings. And looming over schools will be the potential for additional closures forcing students back to remote learning.

Fort Bend ISD focusing on what school will look like in fall

Fort Bend ISD launched its extended learning program, which is designed to keep young students engaged during the summer, at three of its elementary schools this week. view article  

Teachers of the Year surprised, celebrated by Port Arthur ISD

Third grade teacher Skylar Slaughter and seventh grade teacher Zelma Nico are the elementary and secondary “Teachers of the Year” for 2020-21 in the Port Arthur Independent School District. Slaughter is an English and language arts, or ELAR, teacher at Staff Sgt. Lucian Adams Elementary and Nico is a math teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. view article  

Tomball ISD cancels end-of-year celebrations; graduations still tentatively set for July

Despite announcing April 24 all end-of-year celebrations would be canceled for the school year, Tomball ISD's tentative graduation plans for July are still on, said Allison Suarez, TISD director of communications and marketing. view article  

How Dallas ISD Is Changing Its Grading During the Pandemic

Dallas ISD is in a precarious position when it comes to grading. About 86 percent of its student body is classified as economically disadvantaged, more than 25 percent higher than the state’s average. Its population of limited English speakers is almost half, more than double the state’s. There are significant challenges when it comes to making sure all of its students are receiving adequate learning despite the disruption from the pandemic. More than 12,000 hot spots were purchased for students who lacked access to internet. All of these things affect grading, especially when these kids don’t have a school to go to. view article  

GARRISON ISD COACH CREATES SUCCESSFUL “ADOPT A SENIOR” FACEBOOK PAGE

Only three days ago, a Garrison ISD volleyball coach, Lee Ann Lusk, created a Facebook page that has done nothing but sky rocket in the Nacogdoches and Shelby County communities. Creator of “Nacogdoches and Shelby County Adopt a Senior,” Lusk says she can’t believe the amount of growth that the page for supporting 2020 seniors has received. view article  

Houston ISD will distribute food for up to 3,000 families at NRG Stadium parking lot Saturday

Now is the chance to help your local community succeed. Contribute to community journalism and gain daily insight into what's happening in your own backyard. Thank you for reading and supporting community journalism. view article  

Dallas ISD opening two of their schools to provide free childcare for frontline workers

For many frontline workers, finding reliable childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. To help them out, Dallas ISD is now teaming up with a couple of non-profits to give the kids a safe place to stay while their parents are at work. view article  

Manor ISD employee tests positive for COVID-19

Manor ISD is confirming that an employee who recently prepared and distributed curbside meals at Manor New Tech High School has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Manor ISD, the employee’s last day on campus was April 9. All staff who may have had contact with the employee have been contacted and directed to self-quarantine for the next 14 days. view article  

Amarillo ISD consolidates breakfast and lunch services, offers new Wi-Fi locations

Starting April 6, students at the Amarillo Independent School District will have new options when it comes to meal and internet service. According to a release issued Friday, the district will now hand out breakfast and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., replacing the prior 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. breakfast pickup. view article  

Alief ISD employee tests positive for COVID-19, district says; MD Anderson suspends laboratory research after staff member tests positive for the virus

Alief ISD has been notified that a female in her 40‘s who works for Owens Intermediate School has been diagnosed as positive with COVID-19, the district said Tuesday. The district said Owens Intermediate School continues to be deeply sanitized and although schools and offices have been closed since March 13 and remain closed at this time, all Alief ISD employees and students have been instructed to continue to follow CDC guidelines and recommendations and to continue to practice social distancing. view article  

Joe’s Commentary: Today is an Unprecedented Time and Still Evolving Hour to Hour

Dates for reopening Texas school districts continue to ratchet-up. If you take a broader view and include other states, you will note that Kansas is the first state to  close all schools and California could be next. 

Austin ISD announces it has canceled classes due to coronavirus

Days after several people in Austin and Travis County were diagnosed with coronavirus, leaders with the Austin Independent School District announced March 16 that it had canceled classes from March 23 to April 3. view article  

Austin ISD looks to feed students during extended Spring Break

Austin ISD is announcing changes to its food services amid the coronavirus outbreak. After the City of Austin announced the first cases of coronavirus in Travis County, AISD canceled classes and extended Spring Break for students. view article  

Irving ISD urges individual precautionary measures as school districts brace for coronavirus outbreak

As school districts around North Texas and the country brace for possible coronavirus cases, Irving ISD is stressing calm and highlighting preventive measures families can take to prevent infections. Following a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. is likely inevitable, the district is emphasizing that the need for immediate concern is minimal. view article  

Harleton ISD Superintendent Lone Finalist

The Board of Trustees has named Jay Ratcliff (current Superintendent of Big Sandy ISD) as Lone Finalist for the superintendent's position. Jay is a very experienced superintendent and is well known in the area. He will be a GREAT fit for Harleton ISD. Jay will be in-district one day this week and I will try to introduce him to as many folks as possible. He will begin duties sometime after March 15th.

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Royal ISD lockdown lifted after threat prompts district-wide increased security

The lockdown of all Royal Independent School District campuses that was prompted by an unspecified threat was lifted Thursday afternoon. According to a message posted on the district’s website, the lockdown meant no one was allowed in or out of any buildings on campus. By 3:40 p.m., a message on the district’s Facebook page said the lockdown had been lifted. view article  

May 2020 Bond List

Bond Election Data collected by TexasISD.com for public school bonds in the upcoming May 2020 election cycle.

Georgetown ISD names Sue Harrison as director of human resources

The Georgetown ISD board of trustees approved the hiring of Sue Harrison as the new director of human resources for the district Feb. 18. Harrison previously served as human resources coordinator for Round Rock ISD as well as a variety of human resource roles in public education and for communications industry companies such as Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Sue also previously served as a campus administrator and assistant director of staffing for RRISD, according to a news release. view article  

Classes cancelled for Columbia-Brazoria ISD students following water line damage from construction, district says

Classes have been cancelled for Columbia-Brazoria ISD students Thursday, district officials announced. The cancellation comes after water lines in the city of Brazoria were damaged during construction work. view article  

Affidavit: Former Hudson ISD math teacher touched student inappropriately

Officers with the Hudson ISD Police Department arrested a former math teacher for the school district on Monday in connection to allegations that he had an improper relationship with a high school student that included sexual contact. view article  

ACLU files grievance against Wimberley ISD after email threatens parents with legal action for altering logo

On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) officially filed a grievance against the Wimberley Independent School District, according to our partners at the Austin-American Statesman. The grievance is the result of an email Superintendent Dwain York sent to some parents in December 2019 regarding the altering of the district's logo to include the colors of the gay pride flag, according to the Statesman. view article  

Joe’s Commentary:  It Failed!

Repost! - js - I wrote a commentary on the November 5 Bond Election in Midland ISD titled, “It Passed, It Failed, It’s Tabled.”  I think we are seeing the last chapter in this story and the verdict is:  It Failed. I think this will become a bond election example of things that can go wrong in school district elections.