Hudson superintendent Webb announces intent to retire

Hudson ISD Superintendent Donny Webb has announced his intent to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, ending 32 years in public education. “I am publicly announcing my intent to retire as superintendent after this year. Having served in public education for what will be 32 years, it has been such a pleasure and joy,” Webb said in the notice. He added that his career in education began unexpectedly when his former high school physics teacher asked him to take over his teaching role. Webb’s journey at Hudson ISD began in 1997 when he moved to the district from Jasper ISD. He started off as a high school math teacher, moved up the ranks and became an assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and eventually superintendent, a role that he’s held for eight years. In the notice, Webb emphasized how special of a district Hudson ISD has been, calling it a “great place,” while praising the teachers, staff and administrators.
Arrow Educational Services Inc: GRANBURY ISD HIRES ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

The board of trustees of the Granbury Independent School District has contracted with Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Arrow President/CEO Dr. Russell Marshall and Lead Consultant/COO Jim Dunlap will conduct the search. More information including timeline and the application process will be available on arrowsearchinc.com, Texas ISD.com and the TASA job center after the board meets on September 30 to finalize the calendar.
Texas education board signals support for first state-developed elementary curriculum

The Texas State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to new state-developed reading and math textbooks Nov. 19. Members are poised to green-light them later this week. The debate: Supporters of the proposed state curriculum say it would provide students with rigorous, age-appropriate content and help close achievement gaps, while critics argue frequent biblical references in the materials verge on proselytizing and could isolate students with different religious beliefs.
San Antonio ISD swings for fences in Missions stadium land deal, denies playing ‘hardball’

SAISD trustees voted 7-0 Monday night on a hefty set of terms for handing over the district's property, which sits in the middle of the proposed site for a new downtown minor league baseball stadium. The terms include: Funding for a $45 million building for the Advanced Learning Academy.1 day ago
Can Democrats Keep the Texas House Anti-Voucher?

In the last presidential election cycle, four distant years ago, Texas Democrats pursued an ambitious campaign to take control of the state House. Bolstered by millions of dollars that flooded in from the national party apparatus, Dems targeted as many as 22 GOP-held seats across the Texas suburbs. The strategy was built upon Beto O’Rourke’s near-victorious U.S. Senate campaign in 2018, in which he carried a narrow majority of the state’s 154 state House districts. All they needed to do was flip nine seats that O’Rourke had carried. Democrats were so optimistic heading into Election Day 2020 that multiple state reps, having suffered in the minority for years, announced bids for the speakership in anticipation of their party taking control of the lower chamber for the first time in nearly 20 years. With the potency of the GOP’s gerrymandered maps having waned, and the next round of redistricting on the horizon, it was now or (possibly) never. What happened instead was, of course, a failure of disastrous proportions as Democrats failed to net a single seat. Then, a few months later in the 2021 legislative session, Republicans redrew the state’s political maps to extend their single-party control of the statehouse for another decade. Their gerrymandering this time opted for maximum protection of their current majority of red seats. Without fear of electoral backlash, the GOP-controlled House and Senate has marched a long line of extreme conservative legislation into law.
Speaker-hopeful Tom Oliverson Promises to Give Voters Republican Representation

Oliverson said he will end the practice of awarding Democrats powerful committee chairmanships in the Texas House. In an interview with the Luke Macias Show, Republican State Rep. Tom Oliverson of Cypress explained how he would use the speakership to change the structure and culture of the House. Oliverson, who announced his candidacy for House Speaker last month, said he will “give the voters what they voted for, which is actual representation.” He described the results of the March GOP Primary as Texans “calling for a change.” Oliverson also explained there is a “pattern of behavior” in House leadership that he doesn’t support—namely, lording power over members, pushing them around, and telling them how they have to vote.

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Lone Finalist	Gladewater ISD - Rae Ann Patty, Superintendent,Waskom ISD; Search by: Gladewater ISD Board of TrusteesINFO
New Super	Rockport-Fulton ISD - Dr. Lesley Austin, Chief Academic Officer,Trinity Basin Preparatory; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Mrs. Charlotte BakerINFO
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Coppell ISD approves IB, DLI consolidation plans

October 2808:23 AM

Coppell ISD approved a resolution on Oct. 23 to move the elementary International Baccalaureate (IB) program to Wilson Elementary, consolidate the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program to Denton Creek Elementary and for Pre-K programs be leveled across the district. This action was taken as a result of the Board’s September 30 decision to consolidate Pinkerton Elementary. view article

Eagle Pass Detective Sentenced to 10 Years for Hiding Illegal Aliens in Rental Properties

October 2807:16 AM

Hazel Eileen Diaz ran stash houses for a human smuggling organization. view article

Dallas school board to lawmakers: More money for teacher pay, school safety needed

October 2508:30 AM

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The three Border Patrol sectors in South Texas saw huge drops in migrant encounters in Fiscal Year 2024 from Fiscal 2023, according to new data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Rio Grande Valley Sector, which includes McAllen and Brownsville, saw a decrease of 60 percent in migrants encountered between legal ports of entry in Fiscal Year 2024. The RGV Sector reported 135,099 migrant encounters from Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024. That’s down from 338,337 encounters in Fiscal 2023, according to CBP year-end data released Tuesday. view article

Hidalgo stresses need for community input, shows support for Houston ISD’s $4.4B bond proposal

October 2508:30 AM

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo threw guarded support behind the facility improvements that are part of Houston ISD's $4.4 billion bond proposal Thursday afternoon, while urging the district's state-appointed leadership to do a better job listening to the community. view article

Texas Partners With ExxonMobil for Largest Carbon Storage Lease in US

October 2508:30 AM

The Texas General Land Office has approved the largest underwater carbon dioxide storage lease in United States history in a new agreement with oil and gas giant ExxonMobil. view article

Report Criticizes Politically-imposed Limits to the US Liquefied Natural Gas Boom

October 2508:30 AM

The country’s LNG export boom is under threat of being obstructed by politicians, the National Center for Energy Analytics found. view article

UT, A&M Investment Management Company Changes Course After Report on ‘Woke’ Proxy Votes

October 2508:30 AM

After a report was released showing asset managers for the University of Texas and Texas A&M University’s investment management company were voting in favor of resolutions to advance leftist policy, the entity’s leadership now says it is putting guidelines in place to stop political proxy votes. view article

9 students arrested in North Texas high school locker room hazing incident, district police say

October 2508:26 AM

Multiple students have been charged in a hazing incident at Farmersville High School, district officials have confirmed. Farmersville ISD Police Chief Steve Wade said police were made aware of the alleged hazing incidents on Sept. 23 and one student was arrested that same day. The eight other students were arrested on Tuesday. view article

Members of Houston ISD’s bond oversight committee tour campus with critical eyes

October 2508:25 AM

Some of the classrooms they entered felt warmer than others, because there are ongoing air-conditioning issues at 56-year-old Fleming Middle School. Wendell Robbins and Daria Wenas also visited an auditorium that isn't being used, because the stage lights don't work and the stage itself is damaged and awaiting repairs. view article

Opposing coach reacts to suspension of Westwood head football coach

October 2508:22 AM

An East Texas high school football coach has been suspended for the remainder of the 2024 season after the University Interscholastic League (UIL) found he violated rules set forth by the state's public school extra-curricular activities governing body. During a meeting of the UIL State Executive Committee on Thursday, Westwood ISD head coach Richard Bishop was suspended from all football-related activities and placed on probation for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. He was also publicly reprimanded. view article

Leander ISD board considers $1,000 bonuses for staff

October 2508:20 AM

The Leander Independent School District’s Board of Trustees will meet Thursday night to consider giving its staff a one-time, $1,000 bonus, according to the board’s meeting agenda.The recommendation comes from Leander ISD superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing, and is backed by the ISD’s chief financial officer and its interim chief human resources officer. view article

Crystal City ISD faces backlash over charging students to replace hall pass

October 2508:08 AM

A school district once had students required to pay $1 to receive a new hallway pass if it was lost. Crystal City ISD, located about two hours southwest of San Antonio, only give one paper hallway pass each month to students. The pass allows students to leave the classroom for restroom breaks or other reasons requiring them to exit during class time. view article

‘Loved her kids, like every great teacher does’ | Salado Elementary Teacher Dies in Car Crash

October 2508:07 AM

Salado ISD is mourning the tragic loss of second-grade teacher Kimberly Kosh-Ruiz. Known as "Kim" to the community, she was killed in a car crash on Wednesday evening. Thomas Arnold Elementary School's Kosh-Ruiz, a Killeen resident, was rushed to Baylor Scott & White emergency room for treatment, but died because of her injuries. view article

Another North Texas school district considers closing schools

October 2409:53 AM

Another North Texas school district is considering closing schools due to budget constraints and declining enrollment. Lewisville ISD is considering potentially closing five elementary schools: B.B. Owen Elementary, Creekside Elementary, Garden Ridge Elementary, Highland Village Elementary and Polser STEM Academy. view article

Round Rock ISD Showcases Innovative Learning at K-12 Day

October 2408:31 AM

Recently, Leadership Round Rock participated in K-12 Day, a collaborative event with Round Rock ISD and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce designed to highlight the district’s innovative educational programs. The group visited several campuses to see firsthand the unique approaches to student engagement and learning implemented within our district. view article

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Prosper ISD could partner with city of Frisco for $350M performing arts center

October 2408:30 AM

The potential partnership would combine the district’s performing arts center project, which was approved by voters in the 2023 bond program, with the city of Frisco’s plans for a performing arts center. The potential partnership was presented during a Prosper ISD board meeting on Oct. 21 and no official plans have been approved. Frisco officials have discussed the project for years. Frisco voters approved a bond item for a performing arts facility in 2015 and a feasibility study from 2018 ended with Frisco City Council members stating they would wait for a private partner before they began developing the center. “It’s an exciting possibility,” Deputy Superintendent Greg Bradley said during the board meeting. “This is a potential awesome opportunity for our kids ... there’s no way that we could construct something like this on our own." view article

Voting machine maker: Tarrant machines ‘cannot’ change votes

October 2408:30 AM

Tarrant County’s voting machines are incapable of changing voters’ ballots, according to the manufacturer. “Tarrant County’s voting devices are among the most secure in the nation and do not ‘flip votes,’” said a spokesperson for Hart InterCivic in an emailed statement. “The devices are tested and certified at the state and federal level and were successfully tested locally in Tarrant County prior to the start of Early Voting.” The company is aware of reports of a Tarrant County man who said a voting machine changed his choice for president at the White Settlement Library on Monday, Oct. 21, and it is taking the allegation seriously, the spokesperson said. “Hart voting machines cannot and do not ‘flip’ votes,” the statement read. view article

Round Rock ISD’s vote on $1B bond leads 6 major Austin-area contests

October 2408:27 AM

The November 5, 2024 election has no shortage of major races to follow. The whole country knows about Vice President Kamala Harris going up against former President Donald Trump, as well as Senator Ted Cruz fighting to keep his seat against Congressman Colin Allred. But what about everywhere else? view article

Fort Bend ISD scraps plans for bond-funded $47.6M elementary school over money issues

October 2408:27 AM

Fort Bend ISD is shelving plans for a new elementary school that was supposed to be funded by a $1.2 billion bond voters approved last year. Instead of building the school, the board voted Monday night to use the $47.6 million it would have cost to help close an $80 million budget deficit. view article

Tom Bean ISD celebrates second annual day of service

October 2408:23 AM

On Wednesday, students from Tom Bean ISD spent the day volunteering at different locations across Texoma as part of their second annual day of service. “It‘s really just a way for us to not only serve the community, but for our students to understand the value and the impact that they can have on the community as well,” Tom Bean’s director of academics and student services Emily Chapman said. view article

Whitney ISD releases statement after issues with fans interacting with referees during football games

October 2408:23 AM

Whitney ISD released a statement after multiple issues with fans interacting with officials during their football games. In the statement, the district said last week head coach and Athletic Director David Haynes Jr. was warned that he would be ejected from the game if Whitney ISD fans did not calm down. At the end of that game, Whitney ISD says a fan came onto the field and confronted the officials by cursing at them. view article

Dallas ISD partners with Kitchen Pride to provide fresh produce to students

October 2408:22 AM

Many students do not get their fair share of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day. These foods can be hard to find, expensive, and difficult to prepare for families who are on a tight budget or just don’t have enough time. view article

A breakdown of four employees arrested within El Paso ISD’s police department

October 2408:22 AM

Within the span of five months, four employees working for the El Paso Independent School District police department have been arrested for various charges. The four employees are: view article

Dallas ISD gathering input from community as district plans its future

October 2408:21 AM

It’s 7 p.m. on a school night at South Oak Cliff High School, and it’s dark out. Classes ended hours ago, but the cheer team’s still in the parking lot practicing as band members blow their horns in and out of the band room. It’s not quiet in the auditorium either. District 9 trustees Edward Turner and District 5 trustee Maxie Johnson share a microphone, taking turns as they explain the meeting’s purpose to about three dozen people in attendance. They’re parents, students, community members, and even some SOC alums, teachers and other employees. view article

Fort Bend fast-tracks reversal of controversial school ranking policy based on attendance zones

October 2408:21 AM

Fort Bend ISD is fast-tracking the reversal of a hotly contested class ranking policy that orders students based on the school they are zoned to attend, rather than the campus they actually attend. After hearing from more than 40 concerned parents and student, the district's Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the policy in 2026 rather than 2028. The new rule passed in 2019 and first impacted the graduating class of 2024. view article

Texas attorney general’s statement rejects supporters of death row inmate’s appeal

October 2404:02 AM

The Texas attorney general is refuting claims by critics who say a death row inmate was unjustifiably convicted in the death of his toddler child. In the Wednesday night statement posted online from his office, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he released the original autopsy report and other records about the case of Robert Roberson to rebut the "lies" from state Reps. Jeff Leach and Joe Moody. Paxton is a Republican, while Leach is also a Republican and Moody is a Democrat. Roberson was convicted for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis. He has maintained his innocence since his trial. Prosecutors argued at the trial that the child's death was caused by head trauma from being violently shaken. Roberson's attorneys, however, maintain that the bruising on the girl's body was likely due to pneumonia, not child abuse. Texas holds hearing about law prohibiting 'junk science' in court cases It was eventually revealed that the child had pneumonia at he time of her death, and now state legislators and activists are claiming the accusation that she died from being shaken is “junk science.” view article

Austin metro school districts grapple with surge in non-credible threats

October 2308:40 AM

Multiple students across 12 Austin metro school districts have been arrested and charged with felonies for making non-credible school threats since the start of the 2024-25 school year. The threats have impacted attendance rates and student mental health at many campuses. In response, districts are upping safety and security measures, creating student threat awareness campaigns, and more. Current situation Andrew Fernandez, San Marcos CISD chief of communications, said the influx of false school threats and swatting calls that Texas districts have received this school year are likely a result of “copycat behaviors” following the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. On Sept. 24, SMCISD received a non-credible school threat through an anonymous phone call that triggered over 80 police, fire and emergency service personnel to respond. view article

Can Democrats Keep the Texas House Anti-Voucher?

October 2308:40 AM

In the last presidential election cycle, four distant years ago, Texas Democrats pursued an ambitious campaign to take control of the state House. Bolstered by millions of dollars that flooded in from the national party apparatus, Dems targeted as many as 22 GOP-held seats across the Texas suburbs. The strategy was built upon Beto O’Rourke’s near-victorious U.S. Senate campaign in 2018, in which he carried a narrow majority of the state’s 154 state House districts. All they needed to do was flip nine seats that O’Rourke had carried. Democrats were so optimistic heading into Election Day 2020 that multiple state reps, having suffered in the minority for years, announced bids for the speakership in anticipation of their party taking control of the lower chamber for the first time in nearly 20 years. With the potency of the GOP’s gerrymandered maps having waned, and the next round of redistricting on the horizon, it was now or (possibly) never. What happened instead was, of course, a failure of disastrous proportions as Democrats failed to net a single seat. Then, a few months later in the 2021 legislative session, Republicans redrew the state’s political maps to extend their single-party control of the statehouse for another decade. Their gerrymandering this time opted for maximum protection of their current majority of red seats. Without fear of electoral backlash, the GOP-controlled House and Senate has marched a long line of extreme conservative legislation into law. view article

Fort Worth ISD’s interim chief outlines academic growth plan

October 2308:40 AM

The Fort Worth school district is at risk of another year of lackluster academic progress if its teachers and leaders don’t do something differently, the district’s interim superintendent told the school board Tuesday. Karen Molinar, who was appointed to lead the district earlier this month after former Superintendent Angélica Ramsey’s departure, emphasized that the district is both morally obligated and legally required to accelerate students who have fallen behind. If the district doesn’t intervene, she projected that nearly three quarters of all students will perform below grade level on next spring’s STAAR exam. “We can’t do everything at once, but we need to do something immediately,” she said. During the meeting, Molinar presented MAP assessment scores from the beginning of the year, broken out by student subgroups. Across all student groups, the district’s scores this year were almost identical to those from the beginning of the last school year. African American students and special education students lagged well behind the rest of the district — gaps Molinar said the district needs to do more to close. The district’s needs are too great for leaders to be able to focus on every student who needs extra help, she said, but student achievement data can help them figure out which students are furthest behind and target their efforts there. view article

Board approves timelines for construction, renovations

October 2308:30 AM

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved construction timelines for bond projects during their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 21. view article

Board approves timelines for construction, renovations

October 2308:30 AM

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved construction timelines for bond projects during their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 21. view article

Secretary of State Nelson Joins Complaint Against Federal Government for Citizenship Data

October 2308:30 AM

AUSTIN — Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson and Attorney General Ken Paxton are, as co-plaintiffs, seeking citizenship data from the federal government. “The federal government is obligated to provide states with information to maintain voter rolls and prevent non-citizen voting,” said Secretary Nelson. “Texas is taking action to compel these federal agencies to do their duty and supply the state with the required information we have repeatedly requested.” view article

Liberty Hill ISD prepares to open new 18-plus special education facility

October 2308:30 AM

Liberty Hill ISD is weeks away from opening a new space for special education students ages 18-22. The new facility will help accommodate growing enrollment in the Accessing Community through Career Environments for Student Success, or ACCESS, program, which has more than doubled in recent school years, district officials said at an Oct. 21 board of trustees meeting. The big picture: In November, students in the ACCESS 18-plus program will begin transitioning into a 13,359-square-foot building behind the district’s administration building. LHISD renovated the preexisting space using $5 million in 2023 bond funds. view article

Texas teens can now see which state universities would automatically accept them

October 2308:30 AM

Texas high school students can now see which of the state’s public universities would accept them before they submit college applications, state leaders announced Oct. 11. Students who submit academic information—like their grade point average, class rank and standardized test scores—to the state’s new Direct Admissions portal will receive a list of where they qualify for automatic acceptance, according to a news release. Thirty-one of Texas’ 37 public universities participate in the program. Students can begin using Direct Admissions at the end of their junior year of high school. Once a student receives their admissions list, they must still submit an application to verify their information and help schools determine if they qualify for scholarships. If students do not qualify for direct admission at a specific university, they can still go through the traditional application process, according to the release. Students can submit a single application to Texas institutions through ApplyTexas. view article

Battleship Texas deal with Galveston port now dead in the water

October 2308:30 AM

The plan for the refurbished Battleship Texas to berth as a museum ship at the Port of Galveston, probably in the Pier 21 area, has run aground. The Galveston County Daily News reported Tuesday afternoon that the Wharves Board of Trustees has voted to kill its proposed deal with the Battleship Texas Foundation, the ship's nonprofit caretakers. view article

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