Long lines linger at Houston’s biggest airport as TSA agents miss work during partial government shutdown

The ongoing partial government shutdown has led to long security lines at airports across the country, but no airport has felt the effects as acutely as George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. On Thursday, wait times at Bush, one of the nation’s busiest airports, reached four hours or more, with lines extending outside its terminals. Passenger volume at Bush is expected to get worse this weekend, driven by major events in Houston, including the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. The lines are a result of many Transportation Security Administration officers — who aren’t getting paid during the shutdown — not coming to work. As airline passengers waited in long lines and congressional negotiators appeared far from a deal to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, President Donald Trump late Thursday said on social media that he will sign an emergency order for the department, which oversees TSA, to immediately pay TSA officers. He did not elaborate where the money for the agency, unfunded by Congress for more than a month, would come from.
Northside ISD has nearly $200 million in 2022 bond project ‘on hold’

Nine school improvement projects totaling nearly $200 million from Northside Independent School District's 2022 bond issue are "on hold" with no indication of when the projects will be built. Just four years after its nearly $1 billion bond election, San Antonio's largest school district intends to seek voter approval in November on a bond package for security upgrades and other improvements. Northside's Building Committee got an update Wednesday on the $198.47 million in projects that were approved nearly four years ago but have not since been executed. Superintendent John Craft told a panel of trustees he wants to "be careful in not putting millions and millions of dollars into these facilities and then having to come back in a very short amount of time (and saying), 'Well, we really need more science labs.'
147 measles cases reported in Texas so far this year, most of them in federal detention centers

Local officials report that 108 of the cases originated in a contracted detention facility in Hudspeth County. The largest outbreak is in a single contracted federal detention facility in Hudspeth County, as of March 18, according to DSHS. Hudspeth County Judge Joanna MacKenzie told The Texas Tribune that the 108 cases are all at the West Texas Detention Facility, which is managed by LaSalle Corrections, a private company. The facility has previously housed immigrant detainees, though it’s not clear if it still does. It does not appear on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s list of detention facilities. “Not having jurisdiction, my office is not involved in response,” MacKenzie added in a statement, “however I remain in communication with DSHS and LaSalle, as I regularly do.”
Why an East Texas rancher donated part of his water rights to the state

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Bob Sanders bumps along the dirt roads of his 1,100-acre ranch in a beat up burgundy Chevrolet Suburban, the engine roaring as his sprawling cattle operation, known locally for its wagyu beef, stretches around him. A shotgun rides in the passenger seat and battered binoculars sit on the dashboard. The sloping pasture where his rust-colored cows graze gives way to trees that flank a narrow ribbon of water. It doesn’t look like much, just a slow-moving channel threading through sweetgums and cypress, but this 2.6-mile stretch of the Big Cypress Bayou carries a lot of weight — it connects Lake O’ the Pines, the region’s main water supply, to Caddo Lake, the state’s only natural lake. Water feels abundant in the area. But even in this lush corner of the state, water is increasingly top of mind. For Sanders and many of his neighbors, the bayou represents something increasingly fragile in Texas: water that still belongs to the landscape it came from. The sloping pasture where his rust-colored cows graze gives way to trees that flank a narrow ribbon of water. It doesn’t look like much, just a slow-moving channel threading through sweetgums and cypress, but this 2.6-mile stretch of the Big Cypress Bayou carries a lot of weight — it connects Lake O’ the Pines, the region’s main water supply, to Caddo Lake, the state’s only natural lake. Water feels abundant in the area. But even in this lush corner of the state, water is increasingly top of mind. For Sanders and many of his neighbors, the bayou represents something increasingly fragile in Texas: water that still belongs to the landscape it came from.
Muslim parents, private schools sue Texas over exclusion of Islamic institutions in voucher program

The federal lawsuits argue Texas officials are engaging in religious discrimination by preventing Islamic private schools from accessing state voucher money. Four Muslim parents and three private schools have sued Texas leaders for excluding Islamic private schools from participating in the state’s private school voucher program. The two federal lawsuits ask the court to block the voucher program from discriminating on the basis of religion. The first suit, filed March 1 by a parent acting on behalf of two children who attend a Houston private school, names Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and Education Commissioner Mike Morath as defendants. A second suit filed March 11 by three parents and three schools names Hancock and Mary Katherine Stout, education savings account program manager, as defendants. Here’s what to know.
As Superintendent Karen Molinar exits takeover, Texas signals a hard reset for Fort Worth ISD

FWISD Superintendent Karen Molinar observed the children learning as she visited classrooms Monday and Tuesday, knowing the clock on her three decades in Fort Worth schools was winding down. Molinar, 51, learned her time in the district that grew her from a reading teacher into a principal and, eventually, the leader of its schools was over after the Texas education commissioner told her last week she won’t serve during the state takeover. She informed families and staff Wednesday that she will not remain as superintendent. “I promised them at the beginning of this that I would be transparent, and I would give them updates,” Molinar told the Fort Worth Report. “I had to do that even when it came to what would happen to me personally and professionally. I had to stand up to my word.” Her impending departure from FWISD drew mixed reactions. Some teachers, parents and city leaders praised Molinar’s decades of service and insisted she should remain in the role during the takeover. Others argued new leadership is necessary as state leaders try to turnaround years of failing academics in Fort Worth.

News Category

TexasISD.com
Endorsed Products

TexasISD.com
Advertising

TexasISD.com
Quick Links

97 Superintendent Vacancies Click to expand Click to collapse

Vacant	Grapeland ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational Services INFO
Vacant	Medina Valley ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational Services INFO
Vacant	Seagraves ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational Services INFO
Vacant	Burton ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Dr. Danny Lovett INFO
Vacant	Union Hill ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Grape Creek ISD; Search by: Grape Creek ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Santa Maria ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
Vacant	Vysehrad ISD; Search by: Region 3 ESC, Exec. Dir. Morris Lyon INFO
Vacant	Pettus ISD - Jesus Hernandez III, Chief of Staff,Southwest ISD; Search by: JCA Law, PLLC and DBU Educational Leadership Consulting Corporation.INFO
Vacant	University of Texas High School Special Purpose District; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Scurry-Rosser ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Huntington ISD; Search by: Kelli Karczewski, Fisher FirmINFO
Vacant	Bremond ISD; Search by: Bremond ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	San Isidro ISD (Short Timeline); Search by: Region One ESC, Exec. Dir. Dr. Daniel P. KingINFO
Vacant	Commerce ISD - Search by: Commerce ISD Board of Trustees; INFO
Vacant	Decatur ISD; Search by: Decatur ISD Board of Trustees INFO
Vacant	Bells ISD; Search by: Bells ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Gustine ISD - Coy Barker, Principal,McCamey ISD; Search by: Ronnie Kincaid INFO
Vacant	Comstock ISD; Comstock ISD Board of Trustees and O.K. Wolfenbarger III INFO
Vacant	Frank Liu Jr. Academy of Music and Art (Houston) ; Thompson & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike Moses INFO
Vacant	Webb CISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
Vacant	Moulton ISD; Search by: Region 3 ESC, Exec. Dir. Morris Lyon INFO
Vacant	Hidalgo ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
Vacant	Banquete ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Rick Alvarado INFO
Vacant	Priddy ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESC INFO
Vacant	Sweeny ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO
Vacant	Ramirez CSD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
Vacant	Mart ISD; Search by: Mart ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Kingsville ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
Vacant	Groom ISD; Region 16 ESC, Dr. Tanya Larkin, Exec. Dir.INFO
Vacant	Clarendon ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Spring ISD; Search by: Spring ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Huffman ISD - Angeles Perez, Interim,Huffman ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Jim Hogg County ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Hart ISD; Search by: Juan Dominguez and Hart ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Hitchcock ISD (Interim Search); Search by: Hitchcock ISD Board of Trustees & Region V ESC - Dr. Rolando “Rudy” Trevino INFO
Vacant	Laredo ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Premont ISD; Search by: Doug Arnold & Arte AlmendarezINFO
Vacant	Executive Director Region 11 ESC; Thompson & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike Moses INFO
Vacant	Lago Vista ISD; Search by: Leon\|Alcala PLLCINFO
Vacant	Goose Creek CISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses, David Thompson & Dr. Curtis Culwell INFO
Vacant	Bynum ISD; Search by: Bynum ISD Board of Trustees INFO
Vacant	Canutillo ISD - Dr. Josue Borrego, Associate Super,Houston ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	West Rusk CCISD; Search by: Lawrence Coleman & West Rusk CCISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Clarksville ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO
Vacant	Stafford MSD; Search by: Stafford ISD Board of Trustees & Region V ESC - Dr. Rolando “Rudy” Trevino INFO
Vacant	LaPoynor ISD; Search by: LaPoynor ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	South Texas ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Panhandle ISD; Search by: Panhandle ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Maypearl ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Vacant	Bluff Dale ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO
Vacant	Blanco ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Angleton ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Columbus ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Culberson County-Allamoore ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Grapevine-Colleyville ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & De Los Santos P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Sherri BaysINFO
Vacant	Huntsville ISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David Thompson INFO
Vacant	Lorena ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Brooks County ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Trinity ISD; Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & De Los Santos P.C.& Education Consultant Mr. Jim McClellanINFO
Vacant	Dumas ISD; Search by: Region 16 ESC, Dr. Nathan Maxwell, Deputy Executive DirectorINFO
Vacant	Alvin ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Allen ISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David Thompson INFO
Vacant	Fredericksburg ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Vacant	Edna ISD - Search by: TASB Executive Search Services; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Mount Vernon ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Vacant	Silverton ISD; Search by: Region 16 ESC, Dr. Nathan Maxwell, Deputy Executive DirectorINFO
Vacant	Meadow ISD; Search by: Meadow ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Alvord ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey & Rod TownsendINFO
Vacant	D'Hanis ISD; Search by: D'Hanis ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Vacant	Troy ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Blue Ridge ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Vacant	Harper ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESC INFO
Vacant	Irion County ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESC INFO
Vacant	Gruver ISD; Search by: Region 16 ESC, Dr. Nathan Maxwell, Deputy Executive DirectorINFO
Vacant	Chico ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey & Rod TownsendINFO
Vacant	La Villa ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
Vacant	Buckholts ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Vacant	Klondike ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO
Vacant	Miller Grove ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett Powell Law GroupINFO
Vacant	Spearman ISD; Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & De Los Santos P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Sherri BaysINFO
Lone Finalist	Deer Park ISD - Dr. Tiffany Reagan, Assistant Superintendent,Deer Park ISD; Search by: Deer Park ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Lone Finalist	Seminole ISD - Glen Teal, Superintendent,Jim Ned ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Needville ISD - Dr. Paul Drake, Superintendent,Chester ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational Services INFO
Lone Finalist	Compass Academy Charter School (Odessa) - Mark Dominguez, Principal,Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD; Search by: Kathy Killingsworth, Interim Superintent assisted by Larry Lee, Leadership Consultant with Region 18INFO
Lone Finalist	Bonham ISD - Lance Hamlin, Assistant Superintendent,Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Waxahachie ISD - Rebecca “Becky” McCutchen, Superintendent,Levelland ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO
Lone Finalist	Ennis ISD - Greg Bradley, Deputy Superintendent,Prosper ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Forsan ISD - Michael Valencia, Superintendent,McCamey ISD; Search by: Region 18 ESC, Dr. Dewitt Smith INFO
Lone Finalist	Edgewood ISD (Region 7) - Scott Tyner, Superintendent,Martins Mill iSD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Jim Ned CISD - Will Brewer, Superintendent,Paradise ISD; Search by: Ronnie Kincaid INFO
Lone Finalist	Palmer ISD ; Search by: Arrow Educational Services INFO
Lone Finalist	Hallsburg ISD - Dr. Staci Coleman-Kirk, Principal,Hubbard ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun Barnett INFO
Lone Finalist	Slidell ISD - Dr. Christopher M. Heskett, Superintendent,Covington ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun Barnett INFO
Lone Finalist	Seguin ISD - Dr. Jack Lee, Superintendent,Bullard ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Lone Finalist	Royal ISD - Dr. Megan Pape, Superintendent,Snook ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Socorro ISD - James Vasquez, Interim Superintendent,Socorro ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Lone Finalist	Gunter ISD - Dr. Brandon Enos, Superintendent,Cushing ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Rotan ISD - Trevor Edgemon, Superintendent,Happy ISD; Search by: Ronnie Kincaid INFO
Lone Finalist	Millsap ISD - Harper Stewart, Superintendent,Hamilton ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey & Rod TownsendINFO
Lone Finalist	Conroe ISD - Dr. David Vinson, Superintendent,Wylie ISD; Search by: Texans for Excellence in Education, President, John Petree, 432-557-6581INFO
Lone Finalist	La Pryor ISD - Cody Miller, Director,Northside ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Lone Finalist	Deweyville ISD - Grady Welborn, Principal,Bridge City ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO
Lone Finalist	West Hardin Co. CISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO
Lone Finalist	Rusk ISD - Mid Johnson, Superintendent,Timpson ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational Services INFO
Lone Finalist	Snook ISD - Kimberly Giesenschlag, Assistant Superintendent,Snook ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Lone Finalist	Nederland ISD - Dr. Steven Beagle, Assistant Superintendent,Nederland ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO
Lone Finalist	Munday CISD - Andrew Eudy, Director,Forsan ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny Miller INFO
Lone Finalist	Cushing ISD - Stefani Jackson, AssAsst. Supt.,Cushing ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Lamesa ISD - Bonnie Avey, Superintendent,Seagraves ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Elkhart ISD - Reese Briggs, Chief Operations Officer,Splendora ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Howe ISD - Ritchie Bowling, Assistant Superintendent,Howe ISD; Search by: Howe ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
Lone Finalist	Era ISD - Jeff Webb, Associate Superintendent,Royse City ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Prairie Lea ISD - Martha Melissa Gilmore, Interim,Prairie Lea ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
Lone Finalist	Ingram ISD - Dr. Justin Turner, Superintendent,Hubbard ISD; Search by: Shaun Barnett Powell Law GroupINFO
Lone Finalist	Dawson ISD - Andrea Farish, Principal,Dawson ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Danny Lovett INFO
Lone Finalist	Hubbard ISD - Colt Carmichael, Assistant Superintendent,Blum ISD; Search by: Shaun Barnett Powell Law GroupINFO
Lone Finalist	Ector ISD - Morganne Mandrell, Principal,Hamlin ISD; Search by: Rod Townsend INFO
Lone Finalist	Bullard ISD - Dr. Micah Dyer, Superintendent,Cuero; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Merkel ISD - Dr. Nikki Moore, Superintendent,Irion County ISD; Search by: Ronnie Kincaid INFO
Lone Finalist	Weatherford ISD - Dr. Sean Scott, Deputy Superintendent,Mansfield ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey & Rod TownsendINFO
Lone Finalist	Haskell CISD - Wade Calloway, Superintendent,Grover ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey & Rod TownsendINFO
Lone Finalist	Westbrook ISD - Donald Tosh, Assistant Superintendent,Bandera ISD; Search by: Region 14 ESC, Chris Wigington Exec. DirectorINFO
Lone Finalist	Frisco ISD - Todd Fouche , Deputy Superintendent,Frisco ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Hale Center ISD - Hector Dominguez, Superintendent,Runge ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper, Keith Bryant and Stan Surratt INFO
Lone Finalist	Texline ISD - Serapio Arguijo, Campus Admin,Andrews ISD; Region 16 ESC, Dr. Tanya Larkin, Exec. Dir.INFO
Lone Finalist	Lazbuddie ISD - Artemio Ontiveros, Principal,Brownfield ISD; Search by: Region 16 ESC, Dr. Nathan Maxwell, Deputy Executive DirectorINFO
New Super	Onalaska ISD - Dr. Kenneth Fraga, Assistant Superintendent,Onalaska ISD; Search by: Onalaska ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
New Super	El Paso ISD - Dr. Brian Lusk, Deputy Superintendent,Dallas ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
New Super	Center Point ISD - Joshua Limmer, Principal,Center Point ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO
New Super	Marlin ISD - Alphonso Bates, Assistant Superintendent ,Lamar CISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO
New Super	Rockdale ISD - Dr. Michael Watson, Deputy Superintendent,Hays CISD; Search by: Danny Lovett Powell Law GroupINFO
New Super	Granger ISD - Stephen Brosch, Acting Superintendent,Granger ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO
New Super	Loraine ISD - Lacy Brauchle, Principal,Mathis ISD; Search by: Region 14 ESC, Chris Wigington Exec. DirectorINFO
New Super	Pleasanton ISD - Dr. John Prezas, Asst. Principal,Corpus Christi ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO
New Super	Newcastle ISD - Melissa (Missy) Hemby, Principal,Newcastle ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny Miller INFO

How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?Click Here for More Vacancies & Details! »

Killeen ISD names operating partner for Manor Middle School

February 1808:25 AM

Killeen ISD has named an operating partner for Manor Middle School as the district works to improve state accountability ratings at the campus. Killeen ISD announced on Tuesday, Feb. 17 that the Board of Trustees had voted to approve Third Future Schools as the 2026-2029 Texas Partnership operating partner for Manor Middle School. view article

Paxton says he’s investigating North East ISD over student anti-ICE walkouts

February 1808:25 AM

San Antonio’s North East Independent School District is under investigation for allegedly facilitating student protests against U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday. view article

Franklin ISD schools clear after bomb, shooting threats

February 1808:25 AM

Three Robertson County schools were placed on lockdown Tuesday after receiving bomb and shooting threats that Sheriff Bill Ruland said appear to be part of a swatting incident. Franklin High School, Franklin Middle School and Franklin Elementary School were all locked down as a precaution. “All three are clear now,” Ruland said, adding that while the calls were directed at the high school, his office cleared all three campuses as a safety measure. view article

Judson ISD board president asks for removal of trustee after vote to close Judson Middle School

February 1808:25 AM

The Judson Independent School District Board of Trustees have been tasked with making several difficult decisions to do what they believe will better secure the district’s future. Judson ISD, which is facing a $37 million budget shortfall, made one of those decisions Monday night when the board voted 6-0 in favor of closing Judson Middle School by the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The lone trustee who was not present for the vote was José A. Macias Jr. view article

Houston ISD parents seek clarity in school closure meetings, question if proposal is final

February 1808:24 AM

Parents packed into campus meetings this week after Houston ISD announced a list of schools that could close as part of its broader restructuring plan. Outside Burrus Elementary, families told FOX 26 they were looking for clear answers — including where their children would attend school next year and whether the proposed closures are truly final. view article

City of Conroe finally agrees to provide water, sewer to Willis ISD schools after months of tension

February 1808:24 AM

The City of Conroe has finally reached an agreement with Willis ISD to provide water and sewer services to multiple schools. This comes after more than six months of legal wrangling. The agreement was only reached after a dramatic meeting where the mayor asked police to clear the council chambers after councilwoman Marsha Porter brought up the Texas Open Meetings Act. view article

Travis County grand jury clears former Manor ISD officer in 2024 use-of-force case

February 1808:22 AM

A Travis County Special Grand Jury has declined to indict former Manor ISD Police Department Officer Kristopher House in connection with a 2024 use-of-force incident involving a juvenile. Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced that the grand jury concluded its review of the February 20, 2024, incident and did not return an indictment on February 12, 2026. view article

Austin ISD can now run its special education program without state oversight

February 1808:21 AM

Austin ISD can now run its special education services on its own, after three years under state oversight. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath sent a letter on Tuesday to AISD Superintendent Matias Segura saying he was removing the two monitors appointed by the state to oversee AISD's special education program. view article

Austin ISD exits state oversight as special education program hits compliance milestone

February 1808:21 AM

Austin ISD leaders announced that the district’s special education program is no longer under state oversight, marking a major turning point nearly three years after the Texas Education Agency (TEA) ordered sweeping improvements. The district had been under scrutiny since 2021, when a TEA investigation found AISD had failed to properly evaluate students eligible for special education, causing a backlog that left many waiting months for support. In 2023, the state assigned monitors to oversee the district’s progress. view article

No weapons found after report led to lockdown at Pasadena ISD high school

February 1808:16 AM

Dobie High School in Pasadena was placed on lockdown as a precaution on Tuesday morning after a student reportedly saw someone with a firearm on campus, according to Pasadena Independent School District. District officials said law enforcement and campus administrators immediately responded and are actively investigating the report. In an initial statement, the district said all students and staff are safe. Parents started getting text messages from their kids. view article

FWISD students see gains. Will Texas keep the leader behind them?

February 1805:05 AM

The call caught FWISD mother Adrienne Haynes off guard. A Dunbar High School counselor was checking in about her son’s academic progress — something she said she had not experienced before then. “I give credit to the superintendent,” Haynes said. “Before her, a lot of times we wouldn’t know what was happening in the schools.” Each grade level saw improvements on recent midyear exams that track students’ progress. The average reading score increased by 1 to 8 points while the average math score bumped up 1 to 5 points. view article

Mark Zuckerberg to testify in social media addiction trial

February 1805:00 AM

Mark Zuckerberg is set to take the stand Wednesday to testify for the first time before a jury about claims that his social media platforms harmed children and teens. Zuckerberg’s witness testimony in a landmark social media addiction trial will give the Meta chief executive a chance to defend the efforts the company says it has taken to protect young users. Parents who say their children were harmed or died as a result of social media are traveling from around the country to attend. They say the hearing marks a crucial moment of accountability for Meta following years of concerns about youth safety on its platforms Facebook and Instagram. Meta, as well as YouTube, are accused of intentionally designing addictive features that hooked a now-20-year-old woman as a child and harmed her mental health. The lawsuit brought by the young woman, identified by her lawyer as “Kaley,” and her mother is the first of more than 1,500 similar lawsuits to go to trial. view article

‘We’re not Houston.’ FWISD takeover brings uncertainty, calls to listen to residents

February 1805:00 AM

Fort Worth mother Marisol Herrera couldn’t shake a question from the top of her mind Thursday following the announcement about the state takeover of FWISD. Will students have the same opportunities she had growing up here as an immigrant? Will they have the same chance to succeed as her son, a junior at I.M. Terrell Academy? The answers to those questions will come in the coming months and years, as state appointees replace locally elected trustees to control the nearly 70,000-student district with 10,000 employees, marking the second-largest takeover in Texas history. Herrera is disappointed that Fort Worth ISD will go through immense change when it needs consistency and a steady hand, she said. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath launched the intervention Oct. 23 after the now-closed Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade failed to meet state academic standards five years in a row. view article

Tyler-area school districts evaluate ties with Lifetouch amid corporate controversy

February 1708:51 AM

Several East Texas school districts are considering reviewing or terminating their contracts with Lifetouch following public scrutiny of the company’s corporate ownership. The controversy stems from alleged financial ties between Leon Black, the former CEO of Lifetouch’s parent firm, and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019. Following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in late 2025, mandating the release of millions of previously sealed Department of Justice records, and the recent 3.5 million-page “document dump” of the files, the public has raised concerns about any entities with ties to the individual named in the Epstein files. Read more at: https://tylerpaper.com/2026/02/17/tyler-area-school-districts-evaluate-ties-with-lifetouch-amid-corporate-controversy/ Black was recently mentioned in the newly released files. He resigned from Apollo in 2021. at: https://tylerpaper.com/2026/02/17/tyler-area-school-districts-evaluate-ties-with-lifetouch-amid-corporate-controversy/ view article

READ! How Radioactive Oil and Gas Waste Could Lie Beneath a North Texas Elementary School

February 1708:50 AM

On a cold winter morning in Johnson County, at the southwestern edge of the booming Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, 52-year-old Lee Oldham stands beside the Pleasant View Elementary School and wonders what the drilling waste he helped lay underneath might mean for the children inside. Surrounding the school is the partially complete 2,500-home Silo Mills development that will supply it with children and that is also built atop drilling waste, according to satellite maps and interviews. The first families moved in two years ago. view article

Bulletin Board

Submit Event »

Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.

Construction Bootcamp: Rise of the Procurist

April 2026

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC

Upcoming Webinar

Presented by: John Janssen

Read more here...

Over 100,000 Texas families apply for new school choice program

February 1708:45 AM

AUSTIN, Texas - Governor Greg Abbott celebrated a historic response to the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program on Monday, as more than 100,000 Texas families submitted applications in less than two weeks. The program, the largest school choice initiative launch in U.S. history, allows eligible students to direct funding to preapproved educational providers of their choice. Texas families can now apply for private school vouchers. Here’s what to know. The TEFA program, overseen by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and the Texas Comptroller’s office, lets parents use funds to choose the schools that best meet their children’s needs, covering expenses like tuition, transportation, and other educational costs. view article

Texas Muslims harassed while praying at Plano park amid rising Islamophobia

February 1708:32 AM

The organization has responded to the viral incident. A peaceful prayer in a Plano park was disrupted Sunday when a man shouting Islamophobic remarks harassed members of the congregation. The Islamic Relief at the University of Texas at Dallas (IRUTD) had gathered at the park for a Barakah Breakfast—a community centered event focused on reflection, connection and service, according to the organization. During prayer, a man was filmed harassing the group, calling Islam a "disgusting fake religion" and yelling that members would "go to hell" unless they repented, among other inflammatory and offensive remarks. An Instagram account seemingly belonging to the instigator also posted a partial video of the harassment. view article

Walker sworn in as new director of Texas Lyceum

February 1708:25 AM

The Texas Lyceum, the state’s premier nonpartisan leadership development organization, recently welcomed 15 business and civic leaders from across the state as new directors, leading the organization into its 46th year of service to Texas. Among those sworn in was Lufkin community leader Jeff Walker. Walker is the president of Collegiate Edu-Nation and the former executive director of Partners for Rural Impact - East Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Hardin-Simmons University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. Walker is actively engaged in regional civic leadership, serving on the executive board of the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce and in leadership roles with several East Texas community organizations. view article

Preventive Law: Districts of Innovation: Flexibility to Save Money and Opt-out of Unnecessary Regulations

February 1707:45 AM

You might have thought the latest Legislative session was a significant change to public education, and you are right. But the most significant change to public education in Texas came from the institution of Districts of Innovation (DOI). For years, public schools complained that they were being compared to charter schools and that was not an apples-to-apples comparison, but DOIs provide school districts the freedom to opt out of many of the laws and requirements with which charter schools are not saddled.

Opening statements held in the trial of a Georgia high school shooting suspect’s father

February 1705:00 AM

The trial has started for a man whose teenage son is accused of killing two students and two teachers at a Georgia high school in 2024 view article

Voting resources: How to vote in Texas

February 1705:00 AM

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. view article

Paxton Intervenes To Void Texas Medical Board Reprimand of Dr. Bowden

February 1308:40 AM

Rather than defend the Texas Medical Board, Paxton’s office is intervening in support of Bowden. Attorney General Ken Paxton has stepped into a legal battle against the Texas Medical Board, siding with Dr. Mary Talley Bowden and asking a Travis County court to declare the board’s public reprimand against her void. In a petition filed Thursday, Paxton accused the board of acting “on nothing more than personal animosity and spite” when it disciplined Bowden over her 2021 attempt to administer ivermectin to a hospitalized COVID-19 patient. Rather than defend the Texas Medical Board, Paxton’s office is intervening in support of Bowden. The filing asks the court to reverse the reprimand and permanently block the board from taking further action against her related to the case. view article

On This Date: America’s Most Incredible Cold Outbreak

February 1308:40 AM

We've seen some impressive Southern snow and cold in the past couple of winters. But that can't hold a candle to what happened as the 19th century was about to wrap up. view article

Harris County’s 100-year floodplain may swell 43% under new FEMA mapsHarris County’s 100-year floodplain may swell 43% under new FEMA maps

February 1308:33 AM

Harris County’s 100-year floodplain could grow by more than 40% under draft maps newly released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. After a nearly four-year delay, FEMA posted last week an early version of the county’s updated floodplain boundaries on its website. The agency is now gathering feedback from local officials before beginning a broader public review process. If adopted, the new maps would mark the first comprehensive update to Harris County’s floodplain boundaries since 2007. A Chronicle analysis found the county’s flood zones could see substantial expansions. If finalized as currently proposed, the 100-year floodplain would grow by about 130 square miles, a 43% increase compared with today’s boundaries. The 500-year floodplain would increase by about 62 square miles, or 30%. Meanwhile, floodways, which represent the most dangerous areas, would shrink by about 5%. view article

Van Zandt County Halts ‘Green’ Energy Projects Over China Concerns

February 1308:30 AM

The temporary moratorium is intended to allow for completion of an investigation into various Chinese companies that manufacture parts for wind, solar, and battery storage projects. With rural counties across Texas looking for ways to push back on industrial‑scale, unreliable energy projects and foreign‑linked equipment, Van Zandt’s move will likely serve as both a roadmap and a test of how far local officials can go without violating state limits on county power. view article

Hood County Rejects Citizen Pleas for Moratorium on Data Centers

February 1308:30 AM

Commissioners voted down the proposal after a public letter from state lawmakers. view article

A nonprofit looking to knock out college suicides steps into the ring at TCU

February 1308:30 AM

Texas Christian University junior Sofia Collins lost her father to suicide in 2018. She noted because of the grief, her family would often push talks about the tragic loss under the rug. Her sister, Bella, brought the conversation to light in 2023 at the University of Alabama by joining others to organize a boxing match. Alabama was then the first expansion for The Fight Against Suicide, a nonprofit started at the University of Georgia, that organizes the boxing events to raise funds for suicide prevention and research efforts. That first expansion was a knockout, said David Edmiston, co-founder and director of The Fight Against Suicide. view article

Ponoma Elementary student dead after choking on food, according to Alvin ISD

February 1308:30 AM

A Ponoma Elementary school student has died after choking on food, according to Alvin ISD. On Wednesday, Alvin ISD shared the following statement regarding the student's death. view article

Texas Sues Snapchat for Allegedly Misleading Parents About App Safety

February 1308:30 AM

The social media app is accused of exposing minors to inappropriate material. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against Snap Inc., alleging the company misled parents about the safety of Snapchat while exposing minors to sexual content, drug activity, profanity, and addictive design features. The lawsuit, filed in Collin County district court, accuses Snap of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act. According to the petition, Snap markets Snapchat in Apple’s App Store as “12+” and characterizes content involving profanity, sexual material, nudity, drugs, and alcohol as “infrequent/mild.” The state alleges those representations are false, citing an investigation in which a 13-year-old test account was able to readily access explicit sexual material, graphic profanity, drug-related content, and suicide-themed videos. view article

Local News CCISD administrator named lone finalist for Pleasonton ISD superintendent role

February 1308:24 AM

Corpus Christi Independent School District is congratulating one of its own after Dr. John Prezas was named the lone finalist for superintendent of Pleasanton ISD. Pleasanton ISD is a 4A district located about 35 miles south of San Antonio. view article

Northside ISD may go after tax rate hike, bond package in Nov. 3 election

February 1308:24 AM

As Northside Independent School District predicts at least 1,300 fewer students enrolling next school year, the district may ask voters to raise its property tax rate and support a bond issue in the fall. view article

Mass ‘sickout’ planned across Houston ISD as parents continue protesting state takeove

February 1308:21 AM

A mass “sickout” is planned across Houston ISD on Thursday, as parents, students and community members continue protesting the state takeover of the district. Organizers are calling on families to keep students home or bring them to school after lunch so they will be counted absent. The goal, they say, is to send a message to state leaders and demand the return of the district’s elected school board. view article

Lubbock ISD approves sites for three new elementary schools

February 1308:18 AM

The Lubbock Independent School District board approved sites for three new elementary schools Thursday morning, moving forward with construction plans that will consolidate five current campuses. The new schools are part of a bond approved by voters in May. Construction is expected to begin soon, with all three campuses expected to open for the 2028-29 school year. view article

Some Mansfield High School students walkout in protest of ICE

February 1308:17 AM

Students at Mansfield ISD high schools participated in walkouts on Thursday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies. A small group of students gathered outside Summit High School. Organizers said the turnout was modest, but the issue was important to them. “I organized this up because the ICE stuff is really unfair to people who come here for better chances,” Summit High School student and organizer Naima Jean said. view article

388 Richardson Rd.
Lufkin, Texas 75904

P: (936) 622-3411
F: (877) 242-4228

Subscribe to TexasISD

Socialize:

About TexasISD.com

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.

TexasISD.com Endorsed Products

TexasISD.com Advertising

TexasISD.com Quick Links

Bulletin Board

Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.

Construction Bootcamp: Rise of the Procurist April 2026

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC

Upcoming Webinar

Get in Contact

About TexasISD.com

TexasISD.com
Endorsed Products

TexasISD.com
Advertising

TexasISD.com
Quick Links

Construction Bootcamp: Rise of the Procurist

April 2026