Tag Archives: HISD

Millard House officially approved as HISD Superintendent

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome aboard. Millard House II will become Houston ISD’s new superintendent on July 1, following the district’s school board unanimously vote Monday to make his selection official. The pro forma vote follows the naming of House as HISD’s lone superintendent … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Millard House, schools, Supreme Court, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

More on Millard House

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron does a profile of the finalist for the HISD Superintendent job. Early in his tenure as an associate superintendent with Oklahoma’s Tulsa Public Schools, Millard House II found himself thrust into an education administrator’s nightmare: closing campuses and … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Houstonians for Great Public Schools, Jasmine Jenkins, Mike Morath, Millard House, schools, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

HISD may have a reprieve

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

For one year, if this bill passes as is and if the Supreme Court doesn’t intervene. The Texas House advanced a meaty education bill Tuesday that dramatically reduces the stakes of state standardized tests in 2021-22 and gives Houston ISD … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Board of Managers, coronavirus, Dan Huberty, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Paul Bettencourt, schools, Senate, STAAR, standardized testing, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege | Comments Off

HISD names its Superintendent

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to Houston, Millard House II. I hope the state lets you stay. Houston ISD trustees unanimously voted Friday to name Millard House II as their lone superintendent finalist, tapping the leader of Tennessee’s Clarksville-Montgomery County School System to guide … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, Grenita Lathan, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Millard House, Patricia Allen, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege | 2 Comments

HISD has a Superintendent in mind

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They will announce this person on Friday. After that, insert shrug emoji here. Houston ISD trustees expect to name a lone superintendent finalist Friday, three days earlier than initially planned, barring another last-minute intervention by the state. Trustees are expected … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, Grenita Lathan, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Patricia Allen, Richard Carranza, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege | 2 Comments

Magnet school change proposals put off again

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. Houston ISD’s administration has dropped plans to revamp the district’s prized magnet program before the next school year, a response to multiple concerns raised in recent weeks by school board members, district leaders confirmed [last] week. The … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Elizabeth Santos, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Judith Cruz, magnet schools, schools, Sue Deigaard | 1 Comment

Anti-transgender sports bill revived

Posted on May 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Screw you, Harold Dutton. Democratic state Rep. Harold Dutton on Friday revived and helped advance a bill that would restrict transgender students from participating in school sports, in what appears to be a retaliatory effort directed at members of his … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Alma Allen, Dade Phelan, Dan Huberty, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Mike Morath, schools, Senate, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege, transgender rights, UIL | 9 Comments

State finally releases most federal stimulus funds for schools

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

About damn time. Texas’s top state leaders announced Wednesday they are releasing $11.2 billion out of nearly $18 billion available in federal pandemic relief funding that has been dedicated for the state’s public schools. The announcement comes as education advocates … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged budget, Congress, coronavirus, Cy-Fair ISD, Greg Abbott, HISD, Katy ISD, schools, stimulus, Texas, Texas AFT, Texas Education Agency, Texas Faculty Association, The Lege, Zeph Capo | Comments Off

Where HISD stands today

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In a holding pattern, waiting for direction. In the winter of 2019, two committees composed of Houston ISD employees, parents and advocates issued recommendations for how the district should tackle two of its thorniest issues: campus funding practices and access … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, coronavirus, Freeze 2021, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Hurricane Harvey, magnet schools, Mike Morath, Richard Carranza, schools, special education, STAAR, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

There are still a lot of students doing remote school

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’m actually a little surprised it’s this much. Nathan is among 35,127 students in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and hundreds of thousands of students across Greater Houston whose parents opted to keep at home for the fourth and final grading period of … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, Cy-Fair ISD, Deer Park ISD, Grenita Lathan, HISD, Houston, Mike Morath, schools, Texas, Texas Education Agency, vaccinations | Comments Off

HISD Board wins again in court

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They’re still a thing, and Mike Morath can’t do anything about it right now. The Houston ISD school board earned another win Friday in its effort to stave off Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath’s plan to replace it with an … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Board of Managers, Election 2021, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | 1 Comment

Dutton files bill to enable HISD takeover

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever else you may say, this is true to his beliefs. Texas House Public Education Chairman Harold Dutton Jr. filed a bill Tuesday that, if it passes and withstands any legal challenge, would virtually guarantee the ouster of Houston ISD’s … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Gene Wu, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, lawsuit, Mike Morath, schools, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege, Third Court of Appeals | 1 Comment

HISD Superintendent Lathan leaving

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I wish her well. Houston ISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan plans to leave the district at the end of the 2020-21 school year, ending an unusually long three-year run in the position that was marked by fallout from the pandemic, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, coronavirus, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Mike Morath, schools, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

Reactions to the maskless mandate

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s start with the doctors, since clearly they weren’t consulted. Houston-area doctors and medical professionals reacted with dismay to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Tuesday decision to roll back the state’s mask mandate and other precautions against COVID-19. “I had a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged coronavirus, face masks, Federal Transit Administration, Greg Abbott, HEB, HISD, hospitals, Houston, Metro, restaurants, Texas, Texas Education Agency, Texas Medical Association, vaccinations | 17 Comments

TEA appeals HISD takeover ruling to Supreme Court

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

One way or the other, this should get a resolution. Lawyers representing the Texas Education Agency filed an appeal Wednesday asking the state Supreme Court to overturn a temporary injunction that has slowed Education Commissioner Mike Morath’s plans to strip … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Board of Managers, Election 2021, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Education Agency, Third Court of Appeals, Travis County | Comments Off

HISD schools closed Monday and Tuesday

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

More effects of the storm. Houston ISD plans to remain closed Monday and Tuesday, then hold online-only classes for the last three days of next week, as the district manages the fallout from water and power issues caused by freezing … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged blackouts, bonds, budget, construction, coronavirus, Freeze 2021, Grenita Lathan, HISD, Houston, school finance, schools, Texas, water | Comments Off

Getting the kids caught up at school

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna be a big job, and hopefully we can do it in earnest beginning in August. With students finally settling into a pandemic-altered routine and widespread vaccine access on the horizon, Texas education leaders are turning to their next great … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged budget, Congress, coronavirus, HISD, Houston, schools, stimulus, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege, vaccinations | 4 Comments

HISD Superintendent search is back on

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

For now, anyway. Houston ISD trustees kicked off their long-delayed search for a permanent leader Monday, choosing three superintendent search firms to interview later this week. The initial move comes as the state’s largest district seeks to fill a position … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Dani Hernandez, Doris Delaney, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca, Houston, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Richard Carranza, TASB, Texas Education Agency, Third Court of Appeals | Comments Off

TEA still barred from taking over HISD

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Still in a state of limbo. Texas is still temporarily barred from taking over Houston Independent School District, a state appellate court ruled Wednesday, upholding a lower court’s order. In a 2-1 ruling, the Texas Third Court of Appeals upheld … Continue reading →

HISD Board selects a successor for Wanda Adams

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Myrna Guidry. Houston ISD trustees unanimously voted Tuesday to appoint lawyer Myrna Guidry to the board seat vacated last month by Wanda Adams, who represented parts of south Houston. Trustees considered eight applicants over two days before landing on … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, Election 2020, Election 2021, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Myrna Guidry, Texas Education Agency, Wanda Adams | Comments Off

Schools are doing a good job not spreading COVID

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Of great interest to me, as my kids have now returned to in person school. As COVID-19 cases have risen dramatically in Texas and across the country, there is one place where the coronavirus seems to spread less than others: … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, Harris County Public Health Authority, HISD, Houston, schools, Texas | 2 Comments

Can we please not screw the schools right now?

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Really, we don’t have to do this. Across the Houston region and Texas, school districts that lost enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic are facing a drop in state funds starting in January if the Texas Education Agency or state lawmakers … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, budget, coronavirus, Cy-Fair ISD, deficit, HISD, Pasadena ISD, Paul Bettencourt, property taxes, quarantine, sales taxes, schools, TASA, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege | 13 Comments

Remote learning has been hard for many students

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This is a problem that I don’t think we’re prepared to deal with. Students across Greater Houston failed classes at unprecendented rates in the first marking period, with some districts reporting nearly half of their middle and high schoolers received … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, budget, coronavirus, HISD, quarantine, schools, Texas, Texas Education Agency, The Lege | 3 Comments

More on the Lathan non-hiring

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some sharp criticism from local leaders about the HISD Board’s decision not to hire interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan permanently. About 20 of Houston’s leading Black elected officials, clergy and racial justice advocates called Tuesday for Houston ISD’s school board to … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Abe Saavedra, Al Green, Alma Allen, Board of Managers, Borris Miles, Grenita Lathan, Harold Dutton, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Jolanda Jones, lawsuit, Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Ron Reynolds, Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas Education Agency | 2 Comments

HISD Board declines to hire Lathan permanently

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

A national search will be conducted, with still-interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan encouraged to apply. Houston ISD trustees voted Thursday against committing to Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan as the district’s long-term leader, opting instead to launch a national search before filling … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Abe Saavedra, Alma Allen, Anne Sung, Dani Hernandez, Doris Delaney, Elizabeth Santos, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca, Houston, Judith Cruz, Kathy Blueford Daniels, lawsuit, Mike Morath, Patricia Allen, Senfronia Thompson, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sue Deigaard, Texas Education Agency, Wanda Adams | 7 Comments

HISD to consider hiring Lathan permanently

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Houston ISD trustees are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to name Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan as the lone finalist to lead the district, an unanticipated development amid ongoing litigation over the state’s effort to oust HISD’s elected board … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Abe Saavedra, Doris Delaney, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Kathy Blueford Daniels, lawsuit, Sue Deigaard, Texas Education Agency, Wanda Adams | 2 Comments

No school on Election Day

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

For HISD, anyway. Houston ISD will not hold virtual or in-person classes on Election Day, district officials said late Tuesday, a reversal of earlier plans to provide online-only instruction because more than 100 schools will be used as polling places. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, School days | Tagged coronavirus, Election 2020, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, schools, Texas Education Agency, voting centers | Comments Off

HISD needs a bond referendum

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Easier said than done, though. Houston ISD appeared to be on track in mid-February to put a bond election on the ballot this November, taking a critical step toward asking voters for the first time since 2012 to let it borrow money … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, bond referendum, construction, coronavirus, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Kathy Blueford Daniels, Richard Carranza, schools, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

Back to the classroom for some

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I sure hope this goes well, but I remain worried. With the novel coronavirus still top of mind, HISD will welcome back an estimated 80,000-plus of its nearly 200,000 students to classrooms Monday, becoming the region’s final large district to … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, face masks, Grenita Lathan, HISD, HISD Board of Trustees, Houston, Kendra Yarbrough Camarena, schools, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

Lots of HISD students will stay remote for now

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The people have spoken. If the state’s largest district follows through with reopening campuses to students on Oct. 19 — the tentative plan, still based on public health conditions — more than half of the district’s nearly 200,000 could remain … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, Harris County, HISD, Houston, quarantine, schools, Texas, Texas Education Agency | Comments Off

So far so good on school reopening

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s still early, though. For the first Houston-area school districts to resume in-person classes, the early results for COVID-19 on campus are in: so far, mostly so good. Eight districts that brought children back to schools in August are reporting … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, face masks, HISD, Houston, schools, Texas, Texas Education Agency | 1 Comment

Back to school

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

How’d it go for you and your kids? On a normal first day of school, Texas children would wake up early to cram into school buses, eager to huddle and chat with their friends in the hallways before streaming toward … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged coronavirus, face masks, Grenita Lathan, Harris County, Harris County Public Health Authority, HISD, Houston, Lina Hidalgo, schools, Texas, Texas Education Agency, Umair Shah | Comments Off

HISD may do remote learning on Election Day

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Makes sense to me. Houston ISD’s administration wants to hold online-only classes on Election Day this November, citing safety concerns at more than 100 campuses that are expected to be used as polling locations. “While it is not unusual for … Continue reading →

Some superintendents disagree about school opening delays

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It takes all kinds. Superintendents leading 10 Houston-area school districts penned a letter this week opposing Harris County’s recommendations for reopening campuses, arguing that face-to-face instruction should resume earlier than health officials suggest. In their two-page letter, the superintendents say … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, Clear Creek, contact tracing, coronavirus, Cy-Fair ISD, Deer Park ISD, face masks, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Harris County Public Health Authority, HISD, Houston, Huffman ISD, Humble ISD, Katy ISD, Klein ISD, Lina Hidalgo, Pasadena ISD, quarantine, schools, Spring, Spring Branch, Texas, Texas Education Agency, Tomball ISD, Umair Shah | Comments Off

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