Tag Archives: HISD

July 2019 campaign finance reports: HISD and HCC

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

One last look at July finance reports. I’m lumping together reports for HISD and HCC, in part because there’s some crossover, and in part because there’s not all that much to these. As always, refer to the Erik Manning candidate … Continue reading →

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So what’s the goal of a TEA takeover of HISD?

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The history of TEA takeovers of school districts is mixed, so we ought to be clear about what the forthcoming takeover of HISD is supposed to do. In recent years, districts subject to state-appointed boards successfully have balanced budgets and … Continue reading →

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Previous interviews with current candidates

Posted on August 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said a few times that I’m going to be doing just a few interviews this fall. I will start publishing them tomorrow. I may pick up some more for the runoffs, but for now my schedule just does not … Continue reading →

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Initial reaction to the TEA action on HISD

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of wait and see so far. Houston-area political and community leaders offered muted response Thursday to a state recommendation issued this week to replace Houston ISD’s school board, reserving judgment until more details are known about a Texas Education … Continue reading →

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It looks like we’re getting a new school board

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

What a mess. Texas Education Agency officials have recommended that a state-appointed governing team replace Houston ISD’s locally elected school board after a six-month investigation found several instances of alleged misconduct by some trustees, including violations of the Texas Open … Continue reading →

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An update on the races in HISD and HCC

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, there’s been a lot of action not just in the Houston City Council races but also in the 2020 election races. That doesn’t mean things have been dull in HISD and HCC, which of course have elections … Continue reading →

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Orlando Sanchez’s water-pourer lawsuit dismissed

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember when former Treasurer Orlando Sanchez filed a million dollar lawsuit against the doofus who poured a glass of water over his head at the press conference where Sanchez was begging the state to take over HISD? Well, the … Continue reading →

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How long will that TEA ethics investigation of HISD take?

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Could be months, but they don’t really know. The state investigation into allegations of Open Meetings Act and procurement violations by some Houston ISD trustees could last months, a top Texas Education Agency official said Saturday, potentially leaving the district … Continue reading →

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Achieve 180 schools showing progress

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I hope it’s enough. Houston ISD schools covered by the district’s $16 million campus turnaround plan saw modest improvements in the program’s first year — enough to outpace gains reported across the district, but not nearly enough to pull chronically … Continue reading →

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HISD conservator suspends superintendent search

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Halt! A state-appointed conservator ordered Houston ISD trustees on Monday to suspend their search for a permanent superintendent, an unprecedented intervention in the state’s largest school district. In a letter sent to HISD trustees, the conservator, Doris Delaney, said she … Continue reading →

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Not so open meetings

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll have to see how big a deal this is. In a major blow to the state’s government transparency laws, Texas’ highest criminal court has struck down a significant provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act, calling it “unconstitutionally vague.” … Continue reading →

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Superintendent search will continue

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

For the time being, at least. Houston ISD’s pursuit of a permanent superintendent will continue after trustees rejected a motion Thursday to suspend the search amid a recently launched state investigation into potential violations of open meetings laws. Trustees voted … Continue reading →

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January 2019 finance reports: HISD

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Odd-numbered years mean three types of elections in Houston – city, HISD, and HCC. We’ve looked at the finance reports for city candidates, now let’s have a look at the reports for HISD trustees, which I’ve separated into those up … Continue reading →

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Orlando Sanchez files $1 million lawsuit against water-pourer

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, good grief. The former Harris County treasurer has sued a man for $1 million after water was poured on his head during a news conference about HISD in December. Orlando Sanchez, who lost his re-election campaign in November, filed … Continue reading →

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How much more danger is HISD in of being taken over?

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to say for sure, but they’re not in a good place right now. The threat of state takeover has loomed over Houston ISD for months, largely due to chronically low-rated schools and mounting frustration with its much-criticized school board. … Continue reading →

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HISD back under scrutiny

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s hope this turns out to be no big deal. The Texas Education Agency is investigating possible open meetings violations by some Houston ISD trustees last year when they engaged in private discussions that led to the abrupt ouster of … Continue reading →

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HISD’s last stand

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

They have their work cut out for them. Houston ISD’s four Hispanic trustees took hold of the school board’s top officer positions Thursday, led by Trustee Diana Dávila winning election as president of the much-maligned governance team. Dávila, who has … Continue reading →

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The 2019 elections

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We haven’t forgotten that there are some big elections on tap for us this year, have we? Let’s go a quick rundown. May elections Election campaigns are already in progress in the cities that have May elections, which includes big … Continue reading →

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Give your input on the HISD Superintendent search

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Public meeting notice. The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent, and trustees are seeking input from the community about the qualities and traits they would like to see in their … Continue reading →

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The TEA could have already taken over HISD

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I had not known this. For more than a year, Houston ISD leaders have fretted over the possibility of a state takeover mandated under a recently passed law, known as HB 1842. The statute directs the Texas Education Agency to … Continue reading →

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Greg Abbott to HISD: Drop dead

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. A post sent from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Twitter account Thursday lambasted Houston ISD’s leadership as “a disaster” that has failed children in the state’s largest school district — a rare public … Continue reading →

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Orlando Sanchez’s bizarre press conference

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

What a weird thing. It was an absolutely wild afternoon for Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez. He planned to have a news conference across the street from the HISD administration building, but things didn’t go as planned. Protestors showed up … Continue reading →

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Better sidewalks needs to be everyone’s job

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the only way we’re going to make progress. Houstonians annoyed by cracked, missing or buckled sidewalks along their streets may be surprised to learn that city rules make residents responsible for fixing them. At the urging of council members … Continue reading →

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Watch your packages

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

They’re disappearing off porches at an increasing rate. Package thefts have become a growing problem across the country, Texas and Houston as more people shop online. Nearly 26 million Americans have had a holiday package stolen, according to a study … Continue reading →

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Recapture reinterpretation lawsuit update

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is a bit in the weeds, so bear with me. Houston ISD likely will keep an additional tens of millions of dollars more in property tax revenues each year following a widely expected Texas appeals court decision Friday. Judges … Continue reading →

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It really is all or nothing for HISD

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I hope we’re ready for this. Barring a change to the sanctions law, litigation or a change of heart by the board of trustees — none of which are expected — HISD will learn in August whether the district will … Continue reading →

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HISD rejects partnership idea

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The die is cast. Houston ISD trustees narrowly voted Thursday to not seek proposals from outside organizations to run long-struggling schools, a decision that keeps those campuses under local control but sets the stage for a possible state takeover of … Continue reading →

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Mayor moves forward with city-led school partnership

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about this. A nonprofit formed by city of Houston leaders may seek temporary control of up to 15 Houston ISD campuses in neighborhoods with historically low-performing schools, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Tuesday. The nonprofit, created by Turner’s education … Continue reading →

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City tries again with non-profit charter for HISD

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody seems to like this idea. The city of Houston’s education czar and three well-connected, civically engaged residents plan in the coming weeks to seek control of some long-struggling Houston ISD schools in a bid to improve academic outcomes and … Continue reading →

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TEA offers to lend HISD a hand

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Could be a decent deal. A top Texas Education Agency official offered Tuesday to intensively work with Houston ISD’s much-maligned school board to dramatically overhaul its approach to governance, shifting focus toward student outcomes and away from distracting personal agendas. … Continue reading →

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Still more about straight ticket voting

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And I’m still complaining about how the subject is being approached and discussed. Fewer than half of Texans voted straight ticket in 1998, according to research by Austin Community College political scientist Stefan Haag, but that has jumped to close … Continue reading →

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HISD still trying to figure out what to do with the four schools that didn’t meet standards

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t take too long on this. After months with little public discussion about whether to temporarily surrender control over four long-struggling schools, Houston ISD officials are expected to start ramping up talks about any such plans as state-mandated deadlines quickly … Continue reading →

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Trustees apologize for Saavedra/Lathan mess

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a start. Houston ISD trustees on Monday offered a public apology to students, parents and teachers for their behavior the past 10 months, particularly the chaotic meeting last week when a faction of the board surprised their colleagues and … Continue reading →

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Saavedra out

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Whiplash. Trustees are expected to announce Monday that interim superintendent Grenita Lathan will remain at the helm of the Houston Independent School District, an attempt to diffuse fallout from a contentious 5-4 vote last Thursday that was preceded by shouting … Continue reading →

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