Ask your state elected officials and city council members to speak too!

Register to speak at  https://houstonisd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. You can also email this form to [email protected]. Sign up for agenda item 1, the bond. See more in the agenda packet. Here are detailed instructions for how to register or, for more help, RSVP for the “Zoom meeting from 8:00 pm-8:30 pm on Tuesday.

Today, the Houston Chronicle reported that More than 4,000 employees left Houston ISD in June, bringing the total departures since the state takeover to over 10,000. “Teachers accounted for more than 2,400 of the employees who left in June, with the monthly tally exceeding the total number of teachers who typically leave HISD over an entire school year, according to the analysis. About 4,700 of HISD's roughly 11,000 teachers left the district during the 2023-24 school year.”

Last week the Houston Chronicle confirmed there have been at least 154 principal changes across 141 campuses (out of 274 schools) since last June.” Principals call  first year under Miles a “colossal fail” and that it is “shocking” that 76 principals left in June alone, including many principals of the year.

Here is a longer HISD timeline of links/mishaps as well as talking points (2 pages) about fiscal mismanagement, worsening inequalities, the bond, chaotic leadership and high staff turnover.  Below is an excerpt.

Fiscal Mismanagement by Superintendent F. Mike Miles

• Miles spent $100M on redundant furniture and technology to replace nearly new items.
• Miles squandered at least $7.5M by closing recently upgraded libraries 
• The August 2023 HISD convocation Mike Miles musical was written by Miles’ son cost taxpayers almost $470K
• Last fall, HISD spent $356K on adult-sized spin bikes for kids. There are spin bikes still in boxes and more were ordered for this upcoming school year
• When Miles took over, HISD had a $200M deficit. It is now at least $450M.
• Miles tripled the number of Central Office staff earning more than $200K while gutting homeless services (40 to 12), wraparound services, autism support team, etc.

Miles is turning HISD into a house of cards, leaving the district dangerously unstable. This climate of fear and instability is hurting the students and the city. Vote no on the bond.

No trust. No bond. See you Thursday!