Tag Archives: Juliet Stipeche

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 →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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 →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Looking beyond HISD’s one year reprieve

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, HISD has been in danger of sanctions from the TEA, which could include a state takeover of the district, because of several schools that had rated as “improvement needed” for multiple years in a row. They managed … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What role might the city have in HISD?

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The possibility that the city could have any role at all with HISD is itself interesting. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he has been asked to get “very, very, very involved” in Houston ISD as it faces potentially severe state … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

HISD board members against the HISD ballot item

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this when it first appeared. Three Houston school board members on Thursday evening publicly urged voters to oppose a measure that would authorize the district to forfeit $162 million to the state. Trustees Jolanda Jones, Harvin Moore and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Mayor’s education czar

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Former HISD Trustee Juliet Stipeche has joined the Turner administration. Mayor Sylvester Turner has named former Houston ISD board president Juliet Stipeche to a newly created Director of Education role in his administration, seeking greater collaboration between the city and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Precinct analysis: Did HERO hurt Juliet Stipeche?

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s one theory. In the Houston Independent School District, trustee Juliet Stipeche on Tuesday became the first sitting HISD board member to lose since 1997. At that time, retired educator Larry Marshall defeated Clyde Lemon, a supporter of then-Superintendent Rod … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Omnibus election results post

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to take the easy way out here, because it’s been a long day/week/month and I’m hoping to get some sleep tonight, and just hit the highlights. There will be plenty of time for deeper analysis later, and of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Chron overview of HISD Trustee races

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Little late in the game for this sort of thing, but better late than never. With Superintendent Terry Grier leaving in March, the HISD board faces a big decision in choosing his replacement. Voters can help to determine who makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Four for HISD

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Chron endorsements for HISD Board of Trustees. The endorsements of incumbents Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Juliet Stipeche were expected and easily justified, so not particularly remarkable. The other two are worth comment. District III: Manuel Rodriguez Our choice … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Juliet Stipeche

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our week of HISD candidate interviews with another incumbent. Juliet Stipeche is finishing up her first full term in District 8; she won a special election in 2010 to fill a vacancy left when then-Trustee Diana Davila … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Time to guess the Chronicle’s endorsements

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We are a bit more than a month out from the start of early voting, and as such we are getting close to the start of Chronicle endorsement season. I know from doing candidate interviews that the Chron has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

What next for HISD?

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The board ponders its options for Superintendent while they prepare to search for a successor to Dr. Terry Grier. The Houston Independent School District board is set to meet Tuesday morning to discuss the district’s next steps after Superintendent Terry … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HISD bond concerns

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always something. A key Houston ISD school board member called Sunday for audits of the district’s 2012 bond program amid estimates of a $211 million shortfall and concerns about breaking promises to voters. Juliet Stipeche, chair of HISD’s audit … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Your official slate of candidates

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the filing deadline. Here’s the official list of candidates, modulo any challenges or subsequently invalidated applications. The highlights: – There are thirteen candidates for Mayor. The City Secretary might consider starting the ballot order draw now, this may … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Endorsement watch: Houston GLBT Political Caucus 2015

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Congrats to all the endorsees. A raucous municipal endorsement meeting brought mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner the coveted backing of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus on Saturday, positioning the 26-year state representative to broaden his coalition to include the city’s progressive … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HISD and HCC finance reports

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what we know, though it’s incomplete. Fundraising among most HISD board members was slow during the first half of 2015. Board president Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who plans to seek re-election to her District 2 seat this November, raised the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD and HCC finance reports

What now for Terry Grier?

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD Superintendent is in the last year of his contract, and it’s not clear whether it will get extended or not. Kashmere has made limited strides as one of the schools in Superintendent Terry Grier’s signature reform effort, called … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

January campaign finance reports – HISD trustees

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Four HISD Trustees are up for re-election this year. There are nine Trustees in all, and they serve four-year terms, so in a normal year either four or five are up for re-election. As things stand right now, all four … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January campaign finance reports – HISD trustees

HISD prepares its budget

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Teacher pay raises and magnet school funding changes are the main points of interest. Thanks to rising property values, all Houston ISD employees would receive raises and schools would get more money for supplies, field trips or tutors next year … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD prepares its budget

HISD magnet funding vote delayed till next week

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You still have time to talk to your trustee about this. Superintendent Terry Grier’s administration has proposed standardizing how the programs are funded – a plan that would result in some schools losing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD magnet funding vote delayed till next week

HISD board votes for Mexican-American studies class

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You would think this wouldn’t be a big deal. The Houston school board, representing the largest district in Texas, threw its support Thursday behind the creation of a Mexican-American studies course in Texas public schools. The 9-0 vote followed some … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD board votes for Mexican-American studies class

Dodson to be closed, Jones to be revamped

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, only one school was closed by HISD, but a lot of people are still upset about the whole thing. During a rowdy meeting where police had to quiet shouting protestors, the Houston school board narrowly agreed Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Dodson to be closed, Jones to be revamped

Three of five schools escape closure

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

For now, at least. The other two are still on the block. Three small schools will be spared from closure at the urging of Houston school board president Juliet Stipeche, but Jones High and Dodson Elementary remain on the potential … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The state of HISD

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier assesses the district in his State of the Schools address. While not mentioning the closure controversy Wednesday, Grier touted the district’s progress – being named the nation’s top urban school district in 2013, for example – … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The state of HISD

HISD proposes closing five schools

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure about this. Houston ISD officials are proposing to close five small schools at the end of this academic year, a move likely to set off protests from parents and alumni. Some on the school board – which ultimately … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HISD budgets for teacher pay raise and more Apollo

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Whether that will mean a tax hike, and if so how much, remains undetermined. Houston ISD employees will see a 2 percent pay raise and many schools will receive more money to help struggling students under the budget that trustees … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TEA insists North Forest closure moving ahead

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

TEA Commissioner Michael Williams says don’t listen to the noise, North Forest ISD will be assimilated into HISD as planned on July 1. Williams said the Texas Education Agency, which he oversees, has followed state law and has the necessary … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TEA insists North Forest closure moving ahead

Early extension for Grier

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This was a surprise. The Houston school board gave Superintendent Terry Grier a big but not unanimous vote of confidence Thursday, extending his contract through 2016 and awarding him $115,000 in bonuses for the last year. The board voted 6-2 … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Early extension for Grier

HISD board passes ethics reform

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It was a unanimous vote at Thursday’s board meeting. Under the new rules, which will be finalized next month, trustees will have to abstain from voting on deals involving vendors who contributed at least $500 to their political campaigns the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD board passes ethics reform

HISD board to vote on ethics reform

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Houston ISD trustees would have to abstain from voting on deals involving big campaign donors and disclose potential conflicts of interest with a wider range of vendors under new policies up for consideration Thursday. The board has been working … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD board to vote on ethics reform

HISD takes another crack at ethics reform

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. Houston school trustees on Thursday renewed serious talks about tightening their ethics rules after failing to agree on new policies late last year. The proposed changes, meant to restore public confidence that the Houston Independent School District is … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD takes another crack at ethics reform