Category Archives: Board of Education

HISD Board of Education to consider $212.4 million in additional bond funding

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider a funding proposal that would add up to $212.4 million to the bond program to cover significant increases in inflation and construction costs.

If approved, the additional money would help the district ensure all bond projects are completed as described to voters in the 2012 election. Voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.89 billion bond calling for the reconstruction or renovation of 40 schools across the district, including 29 high schools. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education to vote on search firm tasked with finding new superintendent

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is scheduled to vote Thursday on a plan to hire a search firm to help find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier.

Trustees are recommending the hire of Ray and Associates, an Iowa-based firm that specializes in searches for educational executives and leaders. The firm was among four companies that responded to a request for proposals issued in October. All four were interviewed by the board last month. Continue reading →

HISD construction projects moving forward

All but one project expected to be under construction contract by the end of 2016.

Houston Independent School District construction projects are continuing to move forward with Sharpstown High School slated to soon become the 16th bond project with active construction underway.

The HISD Board of Education voted Thursday to hire a new contractor for Sharpstown, unanimously agreeing to let district administrators negotiate and finalize a construction contract worth up to $46 million with ICI Construction.

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves policy calling for suspensions, expulsions to be measure of last resort

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved the first reading of a proposal that calls for suspensions and expulsions to be considered a measure of last resort for elementary students.

Under the original proposal, campus administrators would not have been allowed to suspend or expel pre-kindergarten through second-grade students in response to behavioral or disciplinary issues — except as required by state law. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves G/T policy focusing on equitable access for all students

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education approved the first reading of a policy revision that would provide students with more equitable access to the district’s gifted and talented program.

The proposal is designed to ensure that students identified as gifted are able to retain that designation and remain in the district’s gifted and talented program throughout their tenure in HISD, no matter which school they attend. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves attendance zone adjustments at 10 schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to adjust neighborhood attendance boundaries at 10 elementary schools to address classroom overcrowding resulting from growth throughout the city.

The attendance boundary proposals were created in response to state law, which requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a state waiver. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education to consider attendance zone adjustments at 10 schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider adjusting neighborhood attendance boundaries at 10 elementary schools to address classroom overcrowding resulting from growth throughout the city.

The attendance boundary proposals were created in response to state law, which requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a state waiver. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education to consider G/T policy focusing on equitable access for all students

Houston Independent School District students would have more equitable access to the gifted and talented program under a policy update being presented Thursday to the Board of Education.

The proposal would ensure that students identified as gifted are able to retain that designation and remain in the district’s gifted and talented program throughout their tenure in HISD, no matter what school they attend. Continue reading →

HISD proposing policy update banning suspensions, expulsions for youngest students

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider a proposal that would ban suspensions and expulsions for students in second grade and below.

Under the proposal, campus administrators would not be allowed to suspend or expel pre-kindergarten through second-grade students in response to behavioral or disciplinary issues — except as required by state law. The policy revision further explains that students in third through fifth grades should only be removed from the school setting as a last resort. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education Election Results

Diana Dávila and Jolanda Jones were elected to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Tuesday, according to final, but unofficial results of Tuesday’s trustee election.

Jones won a seat on the HISD Board of Education for the first time, beating out three opponents to fill the District IV spot being vacated by departing Trustee Paula Harris. Jones defeated Davetta Daniels, Ann McCoy, and Larry McKinzie. Continue reading →