Missed the HISD board meeting last night? In a rare moment, third-year appointed board member Angela Flowers publicly challenged Miles’ latest “autonomy” push:
“So then 80 percent, 90 percent of the district could apply (to be an 1882 charter). So a board would have to manage innumerable other boards so I don’t see how that’s setting us up for success,” Flowers said. “Where does it stop and have we created a monster that a board cannot manage? So I want to make sure that we’re all super clear of the down the line ramifications.”
👉 Read more in Houston Press: Hiring, Firing and Vision: Where is HISD Headed?. View the Board Meeting exchange and Miles’ presentation outlining his fever dream to charter our public school system.
The HISD Board also unanimously approved an across the board reduction in force.
Elected Trustee Maria Benzon challenged the move: “If you RIF and recruit at the same time, the problem was never about the budget. That is not leadership. That is manipulation.”
Elected Trustee Felicity Pereyra also questioned how the district can justify a reduction in force while continuing to host hiring fairs. “The research is unambiguous,” she said. “Students across every demographic have better outcomes with certified teachers.”
👉 Read more in Houston Chronicle: Houston ISD Board of Managers approves reduction in force
Finally, the Texas Observer reports that “under threat of possible takeovers by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), nine school districts are set to hand over 15 public schools to Third Future Schools-Texas. In recordings of school board meetings and interviews, some leaders of these districts report that they believed the nonprofit was the only operator that TEA would approve to run the schools—even though numerous other operators should be eligible.
“On March 24, it took less than two hours for San Antonio’s Edgewood ISD board members to hear a presentation from TFS-Texas, then vote to hand over one of its middle schools to the private charter school network to run.
“What happens if we don’t go into this partnership?” board member Martha Castilla asked during the meeting.
“Then we’re at risk for state intervention,” replied Theresa Salinas, the district’s chief of innovation.”
👉 Read more in Texas Observer: Mike Miles’ Former Charter School Network Expands Its Footprint in Texas
Other News This Week
- HISD cancels Milby students' state cosmetology competition hours before trip, Houston Chronicle
- Houston ISD is again looking to expand its controversial instructional reform model, Houston Public Media
- Houston ISD soccer standout deported to Honduras after months in ICE detention
Three years into the takeover, it can feel like—why bother? But this is long-haul work. Real change doesn’t come overnight, and it won’t happen without us.
Stay in it. We need you.
Join us this Sunday, April 12: CVPE Planning Meeting
3:00–4:30 PM at First Unitarian, 5200 Fannin
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