Longview ISD and city forming pool partnership for district’s new natatorium

Longview ISD gave consideration to the broader needs of the city when it included a natatorium in its $456.2 million bond proposal in May. Voters approved all five proposals that were part of the bond package, including $41.9 million for a natatorium to replace the district's aging aquatics center that comes with a high price tag for maintenance and repairs. The district has said the repairs cause frequent disruptions in the pool's use. view article

Cameron ISD unveils newly renovated Career and Technology Center

Cameron ISD unveiled its new Career and Technology Center Monday after spending over a year renovating its old high school building. view article

Leander ISD to see reduced enrollment growth, projections show

Enrollment growth in Leander ISD is projected to continue slowing over the next decade, according to a recent demographic update by Population and Survey Analysts, or PASA. The decelerated growth comes as older grade levels are being replaced by smaller incoming kindergarten classes, and more students are attending charter schools and other educational options, PASA President Stacey Tepera said at an Oct. 24 board of trustees meeting. view article

UT Tyler, Tyler ISD sign agreement to send selected teachers to grad school on scholarships

Tyler ISD’s “ONE Tyler” program has sent teachers to graduate school for the past seven years. Selected teachers will now attend the University of Texas at Tyler, with tuition paid for by the District. “We grow our own administrators because they know the Tyler way, now let’s just see if they can get their master’s degree and see if they can continue the Tyler way and everything we have embedded in our district,” said Sheri Taylor, Tyler ISD’s executive director for Human Resources. view article

How will Houston ISD’s bond proposal help district campuses?

Voters will soon decide on HISD’s controversial $4.4 billion bond proposal. The proposal known as “Renew HISD” is one of the largest bond packages in Texas history. The district says the funds are crucial for upgrades like heating, A/C, security and expanding education programs. view article

Fort Worth ISD needs to improve. Could this plan help teachers step up their game?

As officials in the Fort Worth Independent School District look for ways to improve academic progress, they’re pinning hopes on a new staffing model designed to ensure that more kids get a high-quality teacher. The model, called Opportunity Culture, is based on the idea of having a few highly effective teachers spend part of the day acting as coaches and mentors for other educators in their building. The district is piloting the model at three campuses this year, with plans to expand if it’s successful. Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article294884724.html#storylink=cpy view article

San Perlita ISD releases students early due to water pressure issue

All San Perlita ISD schools will release students early due to ongoing water pressure issues, the district announced. According to the district, all school operations will cease at 12:30 p.m. view article

Donna ISD cuts ribbon on outdoor learning center

Donna ISD held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to celebrate its first outdoor learning center. Located at A.M. Ochoa Elementary, the district said this outdoor learning center starts a series of innovative projects made possible through the successful passage of the $120 million school bond proposal in May 2023. view article

In final days of Senate race, Cruz courts Latino voters along the border and Allred rallies in his hometown

​Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly debunked claims that voting machines in the state are changing the selections voters make.  Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump, whose father-in-law is GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, posted on social media that Texas had looked into claims about voting machines in Tarrant County switching voters' selections and the "error has been corrected with the voting machines."    But Patrick, who is also a Republican, quickly corrected the national party leader on social media. The lieutenant governor said fewer than 10 people out of the nearly 7 million Texans who had already cast ballots across the state claimed that their selections were changed, but officials could not confirm a single instance of that happening. view article

Texas teacher certification cheating scheme: Bond set for 4 Houston ISD employees

Bonds have been set for three Houston Independent School District educators who have been charged in a million dollar cheating scheme involving teacher certification exams. Friday morning marked the second court appearance for some of the educators accused of helping people cheat on teacher certification tests. view article

Voters to weigh Austin, Manor higher school tax rate propositions

In the Austin and Manor school districts, voters on Tuesday will decide whether to approve ballot propositions that call for higher tax rates than the local school boards are allowed to set without voter consent. view article

School board seats and funding fights: The education ballot initiatives flying under the radar

Voters in states including Florida, Colorado and Kentucky face major decisions on their education systems on Tuesday.   view article

Texas Workforce Commission Drops Language on ‘Gender Identity’

The Texas Workforce Commission has removed language from their website falsely claiming sexual orientation and gender identity are protected classes in Texas. view article

Stephenville ISD names new stadium after embattled former Baylor coach

A new North Texas high school football stadium will be named after former Baylor Head Coach Art Briles. Stephenville ISD announced Friday night that its newest stadium will be named Art Briles Stadium honoring the embattled former Baylor coach. Briles was fired by Baylor University in 2016 following his handling of several sexual assault allegations involving football players. view article

Lufkin cheerleaders, adult, hospitalized after eight vehicle-bus crash near Downtown Houston

Three high school cheerleaders and one adult were hospitalized following a crash involving eight vehicles, including a school bus, on US-59 Sunday morning. Over 30 Lufkin ISD students and several adults were on the bus when it crashed just before 11:50 a.m. on US 59 near the Fannin Street exit. The bus carried the district's cheerleading team to a competition in Rosenberg, but after the crash, the team rerouted and returned to Lufkin. view article

Manor ISD hosts vigil for student killed on campus by classmate

Family, friends and classmates remembered a Manor Senior High School student who was stabbed to death this week by another student on campus. Manor ISD held a candlelight vigil for 18-year-old Darrin Loving. "It is a tragedy. There is no other word for it, it's tragedy," said a Manor ISD grandparent, Sam Samaripa. view article

Socorro ISD takes out $25.1 million loan to pay employee salaries

The Socorro Independent School District said they need a $25.1 million loan in order to pay their employees for the next two months. Michael Hinojosa, one of two conservators with the Texas Education Agency who overlooks SISD's budget and board decisions, explained that the loan is due to the district choosing to pay their employees on a bi-weekly basis rather than a monthly check. view article

Seguin ISD looks to voters to help bridge $4 million budget deficit

Seguin ISD passed a budget this year with a $4 million deficit, and school board leaders are looking to voters for help in increasing the amount of money they receive from the state. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters will be asked to approve a tax rate change, known as a VATRE, an election required by the state to modify the tax rate. view article

Paint Creek ISD superintendent advocates for $3.8 million bond to enhance rural education

On this week’s episode of Big Country Politics, Glen Hill, Superintendent of Paint Creek ISD in Haskell County, spoke about a $3.8 million bond on the November ballot and what it would do for the district. view article

Houston crash involving Lufkin ISD school bus leaves 4 injured

Three Lufkin ISD students were among the four people taken to the hospital after an eight-vehicle crash in Houston on Sunday morning, officials say. The crash happened just after 10:30 a.m. on southbound US-59 under SH-288. view article

How Galena Park ISD providing convenient, quality healthcare for students

It’s getting easier for students at Galena Park ISD to get access to quality healthcare through the district’s partnership with Legacy Community Health. Legacy has four health clinics in Galena Park ISD, three of which are directly on campus. view article

Several San Antonio school districts won’t have class on Election Day

Several school districts in San Antonio won't have class on Election Day, November 5th. view article

Interested in special career programs at Corpus Christi ISD high schools? Learn more here.

It's time for Corpus Christi ISD middle school students to pick their high school campus and programs. The Corpus Christi Independent School District is hosting a high school expo from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Carroll High School arena where seventh through ninth grade students and families can explore their options. view article

Sulphur Springs ISD mourning loss of 2 primary students

Sulphur Springs ISD is mourning the loss of two students who died in a vehicle crash on Saturday. According to the district, the students, identified as Caylee and CJ Murry, both 7-years-old, attended Rowena Johnson Primary School. Counselors will be on campus Monday to support students and staff. view article

Lubbock ISD removes four schools from list of those considered for consolidation or closure

In response to concerns from parents and educators, Lubbock ISD has now named four schools that will not be considered for consolidation or closure. As we reported earlier this month, Lubbock ISD is considering its future, while juggling declining enrollment, aging facilities and a limited budget. view article

Tuloso-Midway ISD to add new junior high school amid district growth

Tuloso-Midway Independent School District is growing and has plans to add a new school in the next few years. The district is in negotiations for three potential locations for a new junior high school. It will house about 750 students in Seventh and Eighth Grade, according to T-M ISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre. view article

Prop A on ballot in Seguin ISD

The Seguin ISD is hoping that voters will consider lowering the tax rate, which will ultimately help the district emerge from a financial bind. During Tuesday’s election, the district will be hosting a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). It appears on the ballot as approval of Proposition A. Seguin ISD Chief Financial Officer Liz Oaks says approval of Proposition A will lower the tax rate, but more importantly, it will let the district receive more money from the state. view article

Humble ISD officials unveil new farm-themed playground at Oak Forest Elementary

Humble ISD officials held a dedication ceremony Oct. 28 to celebrate the grand opening of a new farm-themed playground at Oak Forest Elementary. According to an Oct. 22 news release, the new playground is designed for children ages 5-12 and features a barn, silo, farmhouse and farmer's market stand, among other amenities. view article

Houston ISD coach identified as ‘kingpin’, assistant principal charged in cheating scheme are out of jail

Two of the three Houston ISD employees who were charged in connection to a teacher-certification cheating scheme that allowed unqualified teachers to work in local school districts have bonded out of jail. Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School was identified as the “kingpin” in the scheme. He was released on a $150,000 bond. view article

Fairgoers join Ken Paxton in suing Texas State Fair for allegedly violating their gun rights

Three fairgoers are requesting up to $1 million in damages and to allow guns at the State Fair.  

Three fairgoers have joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in suing the State Fair of Texas and the city of Dallas over the fair’s policy banning all firearms from its properties.

Monday’s filing is the latest maneuver from Paxton in an ongoing battle surrounding the State Fair and its gun ban. In September, a day before the event kicked off, the Texas Supreme Court denied Paxton's request to overturn the policy — stating it has no role to “decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision” — after a Dallas district court judge allowed the gun ban to stand.

Paxton filed the update naming the newest plaintiffs in his ongoing case before the Dallas district court, which is expected to have another hearing next year.

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Second Texas doctor sued for providing gender-affirming care to minors

These are the first cases under a law prohibiting doctors from providing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to help minors transition.   view article

Houston Mayor Announces City-sponsored Homeless Encampment

Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced a new program to create a city-sponsored homeless encampment in response to a citizen’s concern about the homeless population moving into neighborhoods they previously did not occupy. view article

17-Year-Old Illegal Alien Charged With Human Smuggling

Texas troopers have arrested a 17-year-old illegal alien for human smuggling in Webb County.  view article

A&M, UT Firm Invested Endowment Funds in Chinese Companies

Institutions poured money into a country the U.S. Director of National Intelligence has identified as a threat.   view article

Texas Ranked Seventh in Tax System Efficiency

A new report has found that Texas ranks behind six other states in terms of tax system efficiency and competitiveness.  view article