Keller superintendent clears out office ahead of vote on separation agreement

Keller superintendent Tracy Johnson has cleaned out her office ahead of a vote on a voluntary separation agreement with the district, according to a school board member. Trustee Joni Smith confirmed that Johnson has vacated her office in a text message to the Star-Telegram. Johnson did not respond to a text message and voicemail seeking comment. At a special meeting of the board on Jan. 16, she announced that she had already written up her letter of resignation.
In historic first, Texas House approves private school voucher program

The Texas House gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would create a $1 billion private school voucher program, crossing a historic milestone and bringing Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priority closer than ever to reaching his desk.The lower chamber signed off on its voucher proposal, Senate Bill 2, on an 86-61 vote. Every present Democrat voted against the bill. They were joined by two Republicans — far short of the bipartisan coalitions that in previous legislative sessions consistently blocked proposals to let Texans use taxpayer money to pay for their children’s private schooling. “This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children,” Abbott said in a statement, vowing that he would “swiftly sign this bill into law” when it reached his desk.
The Texas House is set to vote on school vouchers and public school funding. Here’s what you need to know.

The vote will be the proposal’s biggest test yet and will show whether Gov. Greg Abbott has built enough support since a similar bill died in the lower chamber in 2023. The Texas House is expected to vote Wednesday on bills to create a $1 billion private school voucher program and give public schools more funding per student, setting up what could be a dramatic floor showdown over the two marquee education proposals of the session. The House vote is the voucher bill’s biggest hurdle, and it will mark the first official test of whether Gov. Greg Abbott and his allies have built enough support in the lower chamber since a coalition of House Democrats and rural Republicans sank the previous voucher proposal in 2023.
Keller ISD faces new legal fight over proposed spli

I’m David Moreno, arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report.
School voucher bill gets initial approval in the Texas Senate, heads over to a more skeptical House

The Senate also approved Senate Bill 2, which would infuse $5.2 billion to school districts to help them with teacher raises and rising costs. Gov. Greg Abbott said he would add those items to the special session’s agenda once lawmakers approve a voucher program.
First measles death reported in West Texas outbreak

LUBBOCK — A person who was hospitalized with measles has died from measles in West Texas, the first death in an outbreak that began late last month.

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UPDATE: Texas school district where 10 fatally shot adds police

June 1308:41 AM

The Texas school district where eight students and two teachers were fatally shot last month has implemented security measures increasing the number of police officers and guards on campuses. The Santa Fe Independent School District said the increased security presence began Wednesday at the district's four schools southeast of Houston. view article

Body of Pakistani Girl Killed in Texas School Shooting Is Returned Home

June 1108:25 AM

Sabika Sheikh finally returned to her family in Pakistan on Wednesday from her months away as a foreign exchange student in Texas. Her father was the first to meet her coffin, draped by a Pakistani flag, at Karachi’s airport in the dark of the early morning. view article

Austin ISD: student, teacher numbers decreasing while admin salaries rise

June 0808:20 AM

Enrollment in the Austin Independent School District has been on a six-year slide with no end in sight. Consequently, the number of teachers has been steadily decreasing. During the same period, however, the number of administrators, the highest paid group of professionals in the district, has held fast, while their average base salaries have increased by 32 percent since the 2011-12 school year. view article

In sudden move, Katy ISD board president steps down

May 2208:28 AM

Katy ISD continued to experience upheaval Monday as Ashley Vann suddenly announced she was stepping down as board president and two new board members were sworn in, just a few weeks after Lance Hindt, the district's controversial superintendent, announced he would retire next January. When the school board returned from closed session Monday night, Vann acknowledged how proud she was to serve the school district during Hurricane Harvey and of watching the community come together, but then her tone shifted. view article

Shooting reported at Texas’ Santa Fe High School

May 1808:50 AM

A shooting has been reported at a high school in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, officials said Friday. A gunman walked into an art class at Santa Fe High School and began firing what looked like a shotgun, a witness told CNN affiliate KTRK. The witness told KTRK she saw a girl shot in the leg. view article

Lometa ISD reinstates concealed carry for staff

April 0508:25 AM

Staff at Lometa Independent School District in Lampasas County will soon be able to carry concealed weapons after the school board approved their use at a recent meeting. The school board voted March 23 to allow volunteers with concealed carry licenses to begin carrying concealed weapons on campus after undergoing specialized training required by the state. “We have actually had this policy in place for three or four years,” Superintendent David Fisher said. “It was put in place by the prior administration.” view article

Texas schools scramble after state’s $118M pre-K funding cut

April 0308:25 AM

Texas pre-K programs are just scraping by after losing millions of dollars last year — and without sustainable funding, they could see greater problems down the line, school officials say. During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers decided not to fund a $118 million high-quality pre-K grant program that was created in 2015 and championed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The money had gone to 573 districts and charter schools that pledged to meet measures such as setting a lower student-teacher ratio, avoiding Common Core curricula and reporting student progress to the state. view article

After Parkland, Fort Bend ISD expedites security vestibules, stations guards at campuses

March 2908:16 AM

In the wake of last month's mass shooting when 17 high school students were killed in Parkland, Fla., a new awareness of school safety issues seems to have arrived for district officials and trustees at Fort Bend ISD. "I've heard a great deal from our students and staff who are concerned and feel like this school shooting felt different from any other school shooting in our nation" FBISD superintendent Charles Dupre said in a video posted on the district website. Awareness of the shooting seemed to be heightened because of media coverage and discussions on social media, Dupree said. view article

Austin ISD Board of Trustees votes to approve ‘modernization’ of Norman Elementary

March 2908:10 AM

On Monday night, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the modernization of Norman Elementary School in East Austin. Under the $1 billion bond passed by voters in November 2017, Austin ISD will rebuild the school as a state-of-the-art facility that would turn it into a "21st century learning environment," according to the district. view article

Houston ISD taps Joseph Williams as new principal of struggling Wheatley High School

February 0108:10 AM

The Houston ISD has announced the appointment of Joseph Williams, a 22-year veteran educator, as the new principal of Wheatley High School. The district said in a news release Tuesday that Williams is "known for transforming underperforming schools into thriving campuses." Wheatley High is in improvement-required status because it has not met state standards for six years, the news release said. view article

Little Elm ISD to hire three special education paraprofessionals

January 2907:45 AM

In order to meet increasing demands, the Little Elm ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of three special education paraprofessionals. During Monday’s board meeting, Cortney Clover, executive director for special populations, said the student population has increased, driving the need for more special education teachers. The new staff members come with a $90,000 price tag. view article

Flu outbreak causes two-day shutdown at Sunnyvale ISD

December 1208:25 AM

A flu outbreak has prompted the entire Sunnyvale school district to halt classes Tuesday and Wednesday, officials announced Monday. Not only are student absences soaring, but officials also believe kids needed to be separated to prevent further contamination. view article

Former Killeen ISD teachers arrested for prostitution, deputies say

November 1508:15 AM

Two former Killeen ISD teachers were arrested in a prostitution sting in Bell County on Nov. 8, the Bell County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tuesday. Terrance Hockless, a former music teacher, and Aaron Daub, a former career builder teacher, were both charged with prostitution -- along with eight other individuals who were also arrested in the bust, according to BCSO Major T.J. Cruz. view article

Aledo ISD voters reject $72.9M bond package

November 0908:20 AM

After Aledo ISD voters shot down a $72.9 million bond package Tuesday, the school board and administration said they will work to determine their next steps. According to unofficial election results, 71 percent of voters (2,454 votes) rejected a $64.1 million option to build a new middle school and renovate McAnally Intermediate School to use as an elementary school. Twenty-nine percent (1,020 votes) voted in favor of the option.

Announcer who called Arlington athletes ‘Cougroes’ fired from Cleburne sportscast

October 3107:38 AM

A JacketRadio.com announcer accused of calling Seguin High football players "Cougroes" and jesting about a cheerleader's weight was fired from the Cleburne sportscast and will not work Friday's game against Burleson, Cleburne school officials told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Mark Banton acknowledged being one of the announcers for last week's game between the Cleburne Yellow Jackets and the Seguin Cougars of Arlington ISD but would neither confirm nor deny making the remarks, the Star-Telegram reported. view article

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Construction Bootcamp: Rise of the Procurist

May 13, 2025

Children’s activity book brings aviation sciences to life

October 2308:09 AM

Baylor’s Institute for Air Science reached out to Baylor’s School of Education in early February to collaborate in making an activity booklet that would entertain and enlighten children about aviation sciences. The project had dragged on for several semesters, being passed between student workers with the task of finding and creating the activities. Kelley Oliver, the institute’s project coordinator and office manager, expressed her concerns over the dilemma to her assistant director, Tim Compton, who advised she reach out to the education department. view article

Vidor ISD estimates more than $12 million in damages, hoping for state, FEMA assistance

October 1808:05 AM

Vidor ISD superintendent Jay Killgo estimates the district has $12-13 million in damages from Harvey. Both Oak Forest Elementary and Vidor Middle School are unusable right now. Those students are going elsewhere, which is overcrowding some schools. view article

Christoval Cougars Fly Into the Future

October 0508:30 AM

view article

No injuries after Austin ISD buses involved in crash, APD says

October 0507:30 AM

Two Austin ISD buses were involved in a crash in southeast Austin on Wednesday morning, and both police and the district say no injuries have been reported. view article

In response to Harvey, Houston ISD to provide 3 free meals per day for all students this school year

August 3108:20 AM

The Houston Independent School District announced on Wednesday that it had received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture to waive the required application process for the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program. "All HISD students will eat all school meals for free during the 2017-2018 school year," the district said in a release Wednesday morning. Families still need to apply for this waiver though. view article

Speakers to discuss school finance at Democrat meeting

June 2807:45 AM

School finance was the big-ticket item this legislative session, said Emett Alvarez, Victoria Democrats Club president. "Education should be important to everyone," Alvarez said. "We are all taxpayers and are affected by it one way or the other." The Victoria County Democratic Party will host its club meeting Tuesday at VeraCruz Restaurant, 3110 N. Navarro St. Guest speakers will be Dwight Harris, former president of the Victoria chapter of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, and Ray Thomas, who is running for chief justice of the 13th Court of Appeals. view article

Ector County: Cursive to be taught in second grade

June 2807:45 AM

Ector County Independent School District second-graders will be learning how to write in cursive in their spring semester. The State Board of Education decided to move the skill down a grade, ECISD officials said. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Carolyn Gonzalez said handwriting, which begins in kindergarten, has always been taught. “This coming year, cursive has been dropped down to second grade, so second-graders now have to begin to learn how to write in cursive. That is new.” view article

State helps better prepare teachers

June 2807:45 AM

Will there ever come a day when our state leaders and lawmakers want to make Texas as good a place for children as it is for business? The 85th legislative session didn't seem often inclined in that direction, particularly in matters related to educating the state's schoolchildren. A massive funding failure for prekindergarten students. The state Senate's defeatist response to a solid House attempt at school finance reform. Out-of-proportion talk about vouchers for those attending private schools. But let's not overlook a couple of bright spots. Thanks to skillful work by three North Texas lawmakers, the state's youngest learners should eventually get the gift of better-prepared teachers. view article

Baylor starts Freedom School focused on avoiding summer learning loss

June 2807:45 AM

About 50 Waco Independent School District sixth- and seventh-graders are getting a chance to reduce summer learning loss with the help of Baylor University and a nationally recognized reading program. Two weeks ago, Baylor’s School of Education started Waco’s first Freedom School endorsed by the Children’s Defense Fund. Held at Cesar Chavez Middle School through July 28, the program has deep ties to the 1960s civil rights movement and allows children to tackle controversial — though culturally relevant — topics through debate and book discussions. view article

New Texas GOP chair starts tenure with big platform push

June 2807:45 AM

Back in March, James Dickey, then the chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, showed up at the state Capitol to testify in support of House Bill 1911 — a proposal known as constitutional carry, or the ability to carry firearms without a license. It was a top legislative priority for the state GOP, and Dickey brought a message tailored for the Republicans on the House panel considering it: Don't forget the platform. "The plank which said we should have constitutional carry scored a 95 percent approval rate, outscoring over 80 percent of the other planks in the option," Dickey said, referring to the party platform — a 26-page document outlining the party's positions that is approved by delegates to its biennial conventions. Constitutional carry, Dickey added, "is something very clearly wanted by the most active members of the Republican Party in Texas." view article

Education Agency set to pull back curtain in standardized testing

June 2707:45 AM

New student report cards will go out this week that Education Commissioner Mike Morath promises will go a long way toward demystifying content on the state's standardized tests. Groups such as Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment, or TAMSA, have long advocated for minimizing, or even eliminating, state standardized tests. The agency and lawmakers have offered feeble justification for the tests in the face of rising opposition. Now, Morath will pull back the curtain on the tests. School districts will send student report cards out to individual families next week, outlining what questions each student missed, and why, as well as correct answers and tested standards. The reports, the result of a year of work in Deputy Commissioner Penny Schwinn's shop, will be the first significant effort to explain what the tests are intended to achieve, and how students can improve their performance. view article

House-Senate rift extends beyond bathroom bill

May 2607:45 AM

Contention over where transgender people use the restroom has clouded much of the 2017 legislative session and has expanded to cover other issues such as property tax policy and school finance as lawmakers push to complete their work by Monday. After Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick served notice that the scaled-back version of the so-called bathroom bill recently approved by the Texas House was a non-starter in the Senate, the upper chamber in the predawn hours Wednesday made an end-run effort to save the stronger measure that fell victim to legislative deadlines. But by the time the sun rose over the Capitol, it was clear that the House would kill the measure again. view article

Fort Bend ISD students selected for Project Search internship

May 2607:45 AM

UnitedHealthcare recently announced the names of 12 Fort Bend ISD high school students who were selected to participate in Project Search, a job training program created for students living with disabilities. Fort Bend ISD's Special Education Department partners with UnitedHealthcare, Texana and Texas Workforce Solutions to provide the school-to-work program to help young people make a successful transition from school to productive adult life. FBISD's 2017-18 Project Search interns include: Joshua Berry, Bush; Ritika Bhardwaj, Kempner; Nicholas Contarell, Bush; Daniel Hall, Bush; Gary Metz, Dulles; Cody Nguyen, Ridge Point; Ileana Ramirez, Hightower; Nicholas Sparks, Austin; Sara Sugar, Dulles; Divine Tezzo, Austin; Emma Watson, Dulles; and Jacoby Young, Marshall. view article

School finance legislation is pronounced dead

May 2607:45 AM

An effort to overhaul the state’s beleaguered school finance system has been declared dead after the Texas Senate Education Committee’s chairman said Wednesday that he would not appoint conferees to negotiate with the House. “That deal is dead,” Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, said. Taylor’s remarks come after his counterpart in the House, Dan Huberty, R-Houston, gave a passionate speech in which he said he would not accept the Senate’s changes to House Bill 21 and would seek a conference committee with the Senate. view article

Port Neches-Groves board to talk custodian pay raise, superintendent

May 2607:45 AM

Trustees with Port Neches-Groves Independent School District are looking at ways to sweeten the pot for custodians. Trustees will hold a called meeting at noon Tuesday at the administration building, 620 Ave. C, in Port Neches where they will consider increasing the hourly starting pay rate for custodians from $8.51 per hour to $9.50 per hour. They will also consider offering additional summer work days to encourage current and future custodians a broader annual salary, which could assist in alleviating the custodian vacancy issues, according to information from the district. view article

Burnet CISD looks to recoup $105,000 after football turf reinstalled

May 2607:45 AM

Burnet school district officials were probably expecting to get more than two years from the synthetic turf installed at Bulldog Field in 2015, but that didn’t happen and it’s now set the district back $150,000. Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Keith McBurnett, however, said the district is looking to get $105,000 back from one manufacturer. Last year, officials noticed some turf fibers sticking up higher than others, so they took a closer look, McBurnett said. “To most people, it probably wasn’t noticeable,” he said. “We had all the experts look at the field, and they looked at the backside. It needed to be replaced.” view article

Lake Travis district eyes legislative session impact, bond election

May 2607:45 AM

It is hard to believe that we will officially close the books on the 2016-2017 school year in just one week from today. From our Lake Travis High School National Merit Scholarship Program students, our three-peat state champion girls golf team, to being named a H-E-B Excellence in Education Small District Award Finalist, it has been a stellar year across our school district. As our teachers, students and support staff prepare for their well-deserved summer break, our school board and district senior staff continue to focus on the actions coming from our state capitol as the 85th Legislative Session heads to a close next week. view article

Texas House OKs allowing guns in parked cars at schools

May 2607:45 AM

The Texas House has voted to allow concealed carry permit holders to have guns in their locked cars parked outside schools. Tentative approval came late Tuesday night as an amendment to an otherwise unrelated bill on school boards. Final House approval should come Wednesday. The state Senate already approved a full, bipartisan bill seeking to do virtually the same thing. A similar, full bill had died in the House without reaching a floor vote but now lives on as an amendment. view article

Pondering basics in education

May 2607:45 AM

Bill (AKA Mo) Johnson, Hays CISD superintendent for umpteen years, once noted that of the 16 graduates in his 1947 Buda High School class, 11 graduated from college. That’s an astounding 69%, and it happened before a college education was touted as the sure way to a make more money. The reason was largely the influence of a single teacher, or so said her students. Young, dedicated Jimmy Porter was determined to introduce them to a world beyond their tiny, rural hometown. Apparently, she succeeded. Making money was not her agenda. College grads often (though not always) begin at higher salaries and make more money over a lifetime, but unless we’ve turned into an entirely materialistic society, education isn’t meant to train people to get rich. Money is the sometimes-fallout, the unintended result of learning about the world. view article

School district TRE Election day this Saturday

May 2607:45 AM

Eagle Pass ISD administration and employees are pushing for voter participation as the Tax Ratification Election comes closer. At the Chamber of Commerce Community Breakfast on Wednesday, May 24, C.C. Winn High School Principal Jesus Diaz-Wever, Eagle Pass Junior High Vice Principal Yolanda Ramon, and Deputy Superintendent for Business and Finance Ismael Mijares stressed the importance of the election. “Saturday will be the chance for everyone in Eagle Pass to do something for these students,” said Ramon. “Our students deserve it. This is for them, we ask you to please remember that when you’re voting.” view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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