Shooting At Greenville ISD’s Athletic Facility

The Greenville ISD Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Tuesday afternoon outside of the Greenville High School Athletic Facility. Reportedly, around 1:33 pm, an ex-spouse of a Greenville high school staff member and coach arrived at the facility and fired a single shot outside the Roy Q Traylor Athletic Facility. view article

After fire and accidents, Boerne ISD takes emergency action on repairs

A fire and two accidents that set off sprinkler systems at three different schools at the end of June led the Boerne Independent School District Northwest of San Antonio to suspend their normal procurement process for large purchases in order to quickly start on repairs. view article

Tyler ISD Literacy Bus provides books to tackle ‘summer slide’

Summer is a time of fun, but without continually working on academic skills, it can also be a time of learning loss. Some kids can fall an average of two months behind in reading, and that learning loss can build more after each summer. In Tyler, the Literacy Bus stops to help. Tyler ISD provides an entertaining learning experience with their Literacy Bus that gives kids access to books free of charge, which is especially helpful in the summer months with the risk of “summer slide.” view article

When does school start? Here’s a list of back-to-school dates for all North Texas ISDs

It's a difficult reality for kids to come to terms with--we're at the halfway point of summer break. That reality may be an easier pill to swallow for parents. North Texas has dozens of independent school districts, so finding when your kids go back to school can be a difficult task. Some schools return as early as August 5, while others aren't back in session until September. view article

Greenville ISD Police search for person who shot firearm outside high school

The Greenville ISD Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Tuesday afternoon outside of the Greenville High School Athletic Facility. According to police, around 1:33 p.m., an ex-spouse of a Greenville high school staff member and coach arrived at the facility and fired a single shot outside the Roy Q Traylor Athletic Facility. Police believe the ex-spouse was targeting the Greenville HS employee. view article

Documents hint at reasons for Longview ISD principal’s resignation

Documents obtained from Longview ISD do not provide a clear reason for the mid-year resignation of an elementary campus principal. Those documents, however, point to problems in a life skills, or special education class, at Bramlette STEAM Academy. Nikita Mumphrey, former principal at the campus, submitted her resignation Feb. 20 in a letter that does not appear to tell the whole story about why she left. view article

Schools, colleges announce closures into Tuesday after Beryl sweeps through Houston area

School closures will stretch into Tuesday for many of southeast Texas' K-12 districts and higher education institutions as the region recovers from Tropical Storm Beryl.  Several of the area's schools and colleges reported minimal damage but remained with intermittent or no electricity after Beryl moved through the area on Monday morning and afternoon. The storm, downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane, landed midmorning near Matagorda Bay before traveling north and hammering Houston and its suburbs with rain and high winds. view article

From abortion ban to local elections, here’s a look at Texas Supreme Court rulings this year

The final arbiter of all civil matters in the state, the Texas Supreme Court, issued rulings in several cases this year ranging from what medical treatments can be performed on children in Texas to who should oversee local elections in certain counties. While the high court rejects weighing in on most cases put before it, each year the nine justices are tasked with issuing sweeping decisions, as per its interpretation of the state constitution, in matters that deal with everything from family disputes to clarifying business contracts. The following is a look at a few cases the Texas Supreme Court has decided so far this year. The court has a slate of future oral arguments set on its docket in September and October. view article

Tropical Storm Beryl updates: State officials confirm third death from the storm

Two people died in Harris County after trees fell on residences. Beryl is bringing strong winds and heavy rain as it moves northeast through the state. view article

Southlake Carroll ISD in court over Title IX LGBTQ+ rules

SOUTHLAKE — Attorneys representing Carroll ISD were in court Monday. They're suing over changes to Title IX, which will soon include protections for gender identity.   view article

Live updates: Death toll rises to 4 after Hurricane Beryl moves through Houston

The Houston region’s death toll from Hurricane Beryl has risen to four, with city officials confirming two more deaths related to the storm.  Investigators determined a house fire that killed a man early Monday likely was caused by lightning from the storm. A civilian employee of the Houston Police Department was found dead in a submerged car in the floodwaters of Houston Avenue, near City Hall. view article

LIST: Schools, offices across Houston to remain closed Tuesday in aftermath of Hurricane Beryl

Harris County's government offices, along with many school districts and colleges across the Houston area, have announced they will be closed Tuesday because of impacts associated with Hurricane Beryl. The powerful storm blew through the Houston region Monday, causing at least three deaths as well as widespread flooding and power outages. More than 2.1 million homes, schools and businesses remained without electricity as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, according to CenterPoint Energy. view article

Round Rock ISD cutting stipends for some dual-language staff

Parents with children in Round Rock ISD’s Bilingual Education Program said they’re worried the program will suffer now that the district plans to cut stipends for some dual-language staff. In June, RRISD’s board of trustees approved the budget for the 2024-25 school year. In it, cutting stipends for non-classroom bilingual educators. view article

Southlake Carroll ISD heads to court over Title IX protections for trans students

Lawyers for a conservative legal group argued Monday in Fort Worth federal court that the Carroll Independent School District’s ability to protect its female students would suffer if new Title IX rules extending protections to transgender and nonbinary students are allowed to go into effect. The Southlake school district is suing the U.S. Department of Education to delay the implementation of the new rules, which are scheduled to go into effect Aug. 1. In a hearing Monday, lawyers for Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the district in the case, argued that, in enacting the rules, the department is improperly redefining the concept of a student’s sex to include their gender identity as well as sex assigned at birth. Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article289855949.html#storylink=cpy view article

Southlake’s Carroll ISD argues against Title IX policy in federal courtroom

A federal courtroom in Downtown Fort Worth is the venue for the latest legal maneuvers involving Carroll ISD. The school district known for high athletic achievements argued its case in what is believed to be the first lawsuit in the country suing the Biden administration over looming Title IX changes, which are set to extend protections for LGBTQ students. view article

North Texas elementary school principal dies suddenly, district says

A North Texas elementary school principal died after a "sudden" medical emergency Sunday, school district officials said this week. Leigh Anne Romer was the principal at J.C. Thompson Elementary School in the Northwest Independent School District for 12 years. The school is located in the Sendera Ranch area of far northwest Fort Worth, near Haslet. view article

Six Round Rock ISD schools named to Texas Honor Roll

Educational Results Partnership, a nonprofit organization identifying high-performing schools that improve student outcomes, has named six schools from Round Rock ISD to their 2023-2024 Texas Honor Roll. The Campaign for Business and Education Excellence presents the Texas Honor Roll in collaboration with the Texas Business Leadership Council and other business leaders across the state. The Honor Roll is the only school recognition program based solely on objective student achievement data. Its goal is to find and highlight successful districts and encourage collaboration among educators on best practices for raising student achievement. view article

Plano ISD names new principals at two of its senior high schools

The Plano Independent School District appointed new principals at two of their senior high schools for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. Kennitra Robertson will lead Plano Senior High School, while Billie-Jean Lee will lead Plano West Senior High School. Last year, Plano East Senior High School also appointed a new principal when David Jones replaced former principal George King when he retired. view article

Ysleta ISD welcomes Valerie Hairston as new Del Valle High School principal

The Ysleta Independent School District announced Monday that Valerie Hairston will serve as Del Valle High School's new principal, effective immediately. Hairston, who began her education career in 2005 as a science teacher at Ysleta High School, most recently worked as principal for Rafael Hernando III Middle School. view article

Judson ISD found a way to increase pay. It involves a recent storm.

School districts across San Antonio have had little success after a year of brainstorming ways to reduce record budget shortfalls that threaten academic programs and teacher recruitment, but Judson Independent School District officials might have cracked the code. After enduring criticism for reluctantly deciding the district couldn’t afford pay raises in the coming school year, the Judson ISD board reversed itself last week, seizing on an unfamiliar maneuver that will modify the district’s property tax rate to raise an additional $12 million for its general fund. Trustees on June 25 approved adding “disaster pennies” to the district’s tax rate, taking advantage of an obscure provision of state law and hanging it on a vague claim of flood expenses. view article

‘A culture of care’: Georgetown ISD administrators lay path to improving STAAR scores, student learning

Following the release of student scores for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness in June, Georgetown ISD staff have shared potential strategies to improve student learning and future test scores in the coming school year. In a nutshell Testing data from the STAAR administered to third through eighth grade students in the spring semester show students fell short of state averages in all areas except seventh grade math, and saw year-to-year growth in fourth grade math as well as fourth and fifth grade reading. view article

Waco ISD inspiring students to learn outside the classroom with summer learning program

"We're getting ready to start them thinking and sparking their imagination," said Miranda Unger, a first grade teacher at Waco ISD. Summer is very different from the school year, but that doesn't mean there isn't any learning going on. "We learned today that digit is a fancy word for a number, and you can say, 'Oh look, here's the digit 12' — and just trying to get that academic language here at school and carry it over to school," Unger said. view article

Longview ISD releases contract details, First 100-Day Plan for new Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard

Dr. Marla Sheppard's official contract with Longview ISD includes an annual salary of $275,000 and is effective from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027.  Terms of the contract include providing professional development and other benefits, including reimbursement for moving expenses and the requirement that Dr. Sheppard reside within the district. More information about Dr. Sheppard's contract is available on the district website: w3.LISD.org/leadership July 8, 2024 also marks Dr. Sheppard's first official workday as Superintendent and the new chief is not wasting any time! Her First 100-Day Plan outlines some of the immediate goals of her administration toward developing a long-term strategic vision for the entire district.  The plan emphasizes building transparent relationships with the board, fostering community engagement, and enhancing academic excellence, as well as fostering trust and buy-in within the greater Longview community.  Community members are encouraged to review the plan on the district website: w3.LISD.org/leadership For more information please contact LISD Communications at ask@lisd.org or call 903-381-2235.  

UPDATES: More than 1 million without power as Beryl thrashes Houston

An elevated weather station near the Houston Metro (located at an elevation of 226ft - so fairly high up there) has gusted to 81 mph at 6:15am. Anyone in a high-rise in the Metro, please do not go out on balconies and stay away from windows. This Post is from about 1 hour ago.

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Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Matagorda

More than 530,000 CenterPoint Energy customers are without power Monday morning as Beryl pushes through Southeast Texas.  If new estimates from ERCOT are correct, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick say Texas needs “an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid.”  With the state facing another round of extreme heat, recent polling revealed that most Texans believe an electrical grid failure could happen again this summer.  ---- Beryl reached Texas shores around 4 a.m. Monday morning as a category 1 hurricane, with wind gusts reaching up to 89 mph and maximum sustain winds hitting around 80 mph according to Matt Lanza of Space City Weather. Beryl reached Texas shores around 4 a.m. Monday morning as a category 1 hurricane, with wind gusts reaching up to 89 mph and maximum sustain winds hitting around 80 mph according to Matt Lanza of Space City Weather.  view article

SpaceX pushes ahead with a second tower launch site in South Texast

Later this month, SpaceX wants to carry out the next test flight of its Starship rocket from Boca Chica. And while SpaceX currently has just one Texas launch site to choose from for the upcoming fifth launch, another is on the way. view article

4th of July

SBOE Clears Pathway for Four New Charter Schools, Recognizes Outstanding Educators and Students

AUSTIN, Texas – July 1, 2024 – The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) took no action against recommendations made by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, opening the door for four new charter school operators at its regularly scheduled meeting June 25 – 28. Subject to clearing contractual contingencies, the following applicants will open new charter schools and begin serving Texas public school students in the 2025-2026 school year:  view article

Fort Worth Uses Taxpayer Dollars for LGBT Event

The event celebrating sexual identities was held on city property and included paying an LGBT group for a musical performance.  view article

Essay: Life on the trail with Kinky

You come to see What you want to see Yeah you come to see But you never come to know — Kinky Friedman, “The Wild Man of Borneo” view article

University of North Texas names Harrison Keller as next president

University of North Texas names Harrison Keller as next president.  The University of North Texas Board of Regents has named Harrison Keller, Texas’ higher education commissioner, the next president.  Keller will succeed Neal Smatresk, who announced in February that he would step down after 10 years at the helm of the system’s flagship university, which has 47,000 students. A vote in June from the Board of Regents kicked off a 21-day mandatory waiting period before the formal action on Monday that appointed Keller as president. He takes office Aug. 1. view article

Thousands of homeowners are about to get slammed with higher monthly payments

Last year, when Jennifer Hernandez received notice that the mortgage payments on her Houston home would jump about $2,000 per month, she was stunned. Hernandez refinanced her home loan in 2016 using an adjustable-rate mortgage loan, which has a low introductory rate for a fixed initial period. Unlike the more popular fixed-rate mortgage loans, ARMs can offer temporary relief for homebuyers who want to avoid paying higher mortgage rates — however, they also come with risk. After the fixed introductory period ­— usually five, seven or ten years ­— the rate on an ARM loan adjusts periodically based on current market conditions. view article

Fort Bend ISD under investigation by TEA for electioneering, violating Open Meetings Act

Fort Bend ISD is under investigation for electioneering and for allegedly violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, according to a statement from the district. The statement issued last week said that FBISD is being investigated by the Texas Education Agency after allegations that the district incentivized staff to vote in last year’s tax rate election. This goes with another TEA investigation into the Texas Open Meetings Act. view article

Mercedes ISD superintendent firing drags on

The Mercedes school board voted to fire its superintendent in May without saying why, and that process doesn’t appear to be going smoothly. In April, the Mercedes ISD board voted to place Superintendent Maria J. Chavez on administrative leave with pay. Trustees appointed an acting superintendent and, late in May, voted to fire Chavez “for good cause.” view article

TEA 2024 Spring STAAR results: Beaumont ISD faces challenges, neighboring districts excel

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently released the Spring 2024 STAAR results, revealing ongoing challenges for Beaumont ISD and continued success for several other districts within Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties. Despite debates over the flaws of standardized testing, it remains the sole consistent metric for evaluating district performance. The following analysis compares scores within the tri-county area of Region 5: view article