Tag Archives: schools

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 →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Here comes the latest school finance report

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I figure the smart money is always on efforts like this to fail, but you never know. After hours of discussion Wednesday, a state panel studying school finance stripped its final report of language that blamed the state for inadequate … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in School days | 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

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 →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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 →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Will teachers turn out for Mike Collier?

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

He sure hopes so. On his long-shot campaign to unseat incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Collier is hoping he’s popular in a lot of rooms that look like this one — where after hearing from him, education-focused voters in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Will teachers turn out for Mike Collier?

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 →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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 →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Saavedra 2.0

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This was unexpected. In a raucous school board meeting filled with shouting and accusations lobbed by trustees against each other, the Houston Independent School District’s board of trustees late Thursday replaced interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan with former HISD Superintendent Abelardo … Continue reading →

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

Let no horrific tragedy go unexploited

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Barf. Security companies spent years pushing schools to buy more products — from “ballistic attack-resistant” doors to smoke cannons that spew haze from ceilings to confuse a shooter. But sales were slow, and industry’s campaign to free up taxpayer money … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Star system

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has made a change in how it presents its endorsements. The quality of candidates on the ballot varies widely from race to race. At times, both candidates are good choices. At times, there are no good choices to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Falling short on college readiness

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not good. A majority of students at the top-rated high schools in Texas are likely to need remedial course work when they get to college because they don’t score well enough on entrance exams, a Hearst Newspapers analysis of newly … Continue reading →

Posted in School days, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Property tax revenue up, school funding down

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to Texas. An early projection has Texas decreasing state funding to public education, and largely using local taxes to fill the gap. In its preliminary budget request ahead of next year’s legislative session, the Texas Education Agency projected a … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Property tax revenue up, school funding down

The state of special education at HISD

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Still a lot of work to be done. Houston ISD’s quality of special education services remains in “grave” shape due to inadequate staffing, confusion among employees and a lack of accountability, according to a district-appointed committee reviewing the quality of … Continue reading →

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

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

High schools need to do a better job of making voter registration available to students

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As the Texas Civil Rights Project notes, it is the law. In a report published today by the Texas Civil Rights Project, new data from October 2016 to February 2018 shows that just 34 percent of high schools in Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

HISD avoids sanctions for this year

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Big sigh of relief. Houston ISD will avoid major state sanctions for at least one year after four of its longest-struggling schools met state academic standards this year, according to preliminary results released Wednesday. The announcement ensures the Texas Education … Continue reading →

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

Lots of Harvey waivers out there

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And good for the school districts that got them. The vast majority of Houston-area school districts will be eligible for academic accountability waivers this year due to Hurricane Harvey, meaning they will be labeled “not rated” unless they score an … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lots of Harvey waivers out there

Carranza’s parting shot

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been sitting with this for a couple of days, and ultimately decided it was not worth much more than a shrug. Former Houston ISD superintendent Richard Carranza did not mince words in an interview published this week about his … Continue reading →

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

HISD is optimistic about not being taken over (yet)

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I hope it’s warranted. Several of Houston ISD’s longest-struggling elementary and middle schools posted significant gains on state standardized tests in 2018, including all three campuses that must meet Texas academic standards this year to avoid triggering major sanctions, according … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD is optimistic about not being taken over (yet)

Santa Fe ISD to install metal detectors

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

If that’s what they want… Metal detectors will be installed in all four of Santa Fe ISD’s campuses after its Board of Trustees voted to accept at least 16 devices that had been donated by two private companies and Lt. … Continue reading →

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

HISD approves its budget

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, they took what they initially rejected. Houston ISD trustees unanimously passed a $2 billion budget Monday that is nearly identical to the one they narrowly rejected two weeks ago, signing off on significant cuts and agreeing to … Continue reading →

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

Achieve 180 schools show encouraging gains

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news we could all use. One year into Achieve 180, early results show marked improvement at many of the district’s chronically underperforming schools. After years of falling behind academically, the 42 schools covered under HISD’s targeted improvement plan … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Achieve 180 schools show encouraging gains

“As the Board turns”

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

deep sigh Houston ISD Trustee Jolanda Jones publicly aired personal attacks and allegations against fellow school board members in online posts this week, chipping away at the board’s efforts to present a more collegial front in the face of administrative … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Who watches the anonymous tipsters?

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Am I the only one who sees the potential for problems with this? Want a safe way to anonymously report suspicious activity at your neighborhood school to prevent a potential school shooting? There’s an app for that. In light of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who watches the anonymous tipsters?

Senate considers mostly symbolic ideas on school safety

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, see if you can tell what’s missing from this discussion. Nearly three weeks after a shooter killed 10 people at a high school southeast of Houston, lawmakers gathered at the Texas Capitol on Monday to discuss new school … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chavez/Huerta Day

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about this. Houston ISD trustees are expected to vote Thursday on whether to establish a district holiday in honor of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, two iconic labor activists who helped win greater rights for farm workers across … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The problem with more cops in schools

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t had anything to say so far about Greg Abbott’s proposed responses to the Santa Fe school shooting. There isn’t much to say about it – these are a bunch of small changes around the margins, all while scrupulously … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The problem with more cops in schools

HISD begins prep on a 2019 bond issue

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wait till next year. Administrators on Thursday recommended Houston ISD seek voter approval for a $1.7 billion capital projects bond in May 2019, charging forward with long-term spending plans even as the district faces uncertainty about its leadership and ability … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

HISD gets some public feedback

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Needed more opportunities for this from the beginning. Emotions continued to run high Thursday as residents offered both condemnation and support of Houston ISD Board of Trustees President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, whose leadership has been questioned following a raucous board meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD gets some public feedback

HISD hoping for Harvey waiver

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what it would take to avoid TEA sanctions this year. Houston ISD’s 10 longest-struggling schools likely would not trigger major state sanctions this year if they all receive academic accountability waivers due to Hurricane Harvey, Texas Education Commissioner Mike … Continue reading →

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