The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is expected to vote Thursday on a plan to submit 875 class-size waivers to the state for fall 2015 – a 40 percent decrease compared with fall 2014.

State law requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a waiver from the Texas Education Agency. 

Last year, HISD had to submit nearly 1,500 class-size waiver requests.

Also on Thursday, trustees are expected to:

• Consider a plan to issue a request for proposals from superintendent search firms. HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has said he plans to step down on March 2, 2016. According to a timeline established by the board last month, trustees would interview potential search firms in the latter half of November, with the ultimate goal of making a final firm selection in December. Once a search firm is selected, the board will begin gathering community input on the search process.

• Give final approval to revisions to the district’s policy for naming and renaming school buildings and other district facilities. The policy revision, which received preliminary board approval in September, outlines a process for which school trustees could initiate the renaming of a facility, if they believe it to be in the best interest of the district. It also calls for all new names to be in accordance with the district’s non-discrimination policies.

• Consider a contract for up to $66,280 with AAR, Inc. to begin abatement in a portion of Yates High School. Abatement would be the first step in preparation for construction of the new school being built under the 2012 bond program.

The board’s regular monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street. Click hereto view the full agenda.

The board meeting will be broadcast live online at www.hisdtv.org.