HISD Board of Education to vote on draft redistricting plan

The HISD Board of Education is expected to vote on several items during its regular board meeting on Thursday, June 12, including a draft plan for new district boundaries used to elect school board members.

As a result of the annexation of North Forest ISD in 2013, all nine HISD trustee districts must be realigned to include the newly annexed area and distribute population evenly throughout HISD. Following the board’s authorization of a draft map, the public will be able to provide comments and input on the proposal.

Revised school calendar
A revised 2014-2015 school calendar is also up for approval. The new calendar restores Good Friday as a spring holiday without possibility of it being used as a make-up day but leaves Memorial Day as a make-up day in case of inclement weather. The Friday following the last day of school can also be used as a make-up day.

School may be named for former Texas Gov. Mark W. White Jr.
The HISD Board of Education will also consider naming a new elementary school being built in the West Houston area after former Texas Gov. Mark W. White Jr., who served in office from 1983 to 1987.

The school had been dubbed “Relief Elementary School” as planning and design moved forward under the 2012 bond program. Construction of the new 86,422-square-foot school will begin later this year on Old Farm Road between Buffalo Bayou and Westheimer Road. That area of the district has seen rapid growth in recent years, and HISD administrators hope the new facility for 750 students will bring relief to Briargrove, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Piney Point elementary schools, and Thomas Pilgrim PK–8 Academy.

Magnet funding proposal on hold
The board will not review the district’s magnet proposal this week. The proposal was removed from consideration by Board President Juliet Stipeche on Monday.

HISD is not recommending a reduction in the total amount of money provided to the more than 100 magnet and specialty programs that are in good standing. The proposed funding formula is designed to improve equity in the way funding is distributed among the programs.

Trustee Skillern-Jones nominated for TASB position
Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones is a nominee for the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of School Boards. The position was previously held by Trustee Michael Lunceford. The board will vote to approve Skillern-Jones’ nomination.

Improvement plans for several schools in the district will also require approval from the board. In addition, the board will receive status updates on a number of projects and vote on several programs, contracts, and grants. For a full copy of the Board meeting agenda, click here.  The board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street.) It will be carried live on HISD’s website and on the HISD Channel, which can be found on Comcast Channel 18 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.