In this newsletter: Miles squandered at least $9 M in ESSER funds allocated to libraries Miles has since closed; State Reps host ad-Hoc Hearing on Tuesday at UH, Save the Date: Aug 8th Bond Board meeting
HISD attributed the “elimination of 200 of its 248 wraparound specialists to the loss of ESSER dollars, although less than 20% of the $20 million came from ESSER according to district records.” Read more here about the programs that have been cut.
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Miles cut essential services crucial for student readiness, including most homeless and wraparound service specialists, autism support, and the fine arts department last school year. Library services was also eliminated in June. Miles also squandered at least $9 million in ESSER funds by closing libraries that had been upgraded with ESSER dollars during the pandemic, according to a public information request made by Students Need Libraries in HISD. This has not been reported on by the press. In Years 1 & 2 of COVID, HISD spent almost $12 Million in COVID ESSER funds upgrading its libraries. The goal was to try to meet or approach state standards. In Year 3 of ESSER funding, HISD library services ensured that every elementary school in HISD received high tech,”makerspaces”, equipped with 3D printers and programmable robots to promote elementary school access to STEM learning. Ninety-two of these libraries have been closed due to the takeover representing a loss of over $700K in makerspace carts alone. It is unclear what has happened to this valuable technology now that library services have been dismantled. How ironic that Mike Miles, the self-proclaimed king of AI, dismantled STEM makerspaces dedicated to HISD elementary school students. Our children cannot wait for Mike Miles to leave. No trust. No Bond. |
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REMINDER: Tuesday (7/31) Ad-hoc State Takeover Hearing: Sixteen State representatives from across Texas are gathering to hear from parents, teachers, and students about the state takeover. Location and Time: 5-7 pm at the Hilton University of Houston, 4450 University Dr. 772045 -7 pm in the Shamrock Ballroom, 2nd Floor. Press conference is at 4 pm. RSVP at https://www.houstoncvpe.org/ad_hoc_hearing_july30 Free Parking at the UH Welcome Center Garage (4400 University Dr) Details: Share your testimony (90 seconds per speaker) on the devastating impact of the state takeover. Testimony will be in the order in which speakers sign in. If you have documents, bring sixteen copies. |
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SAVE THE DATE: THUR, August 8th: Bond vote by the appointed board of managers
NO TRUST. NO BOND. |
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