Friday, Dec. 9

• Texas moves toward revoking largest teacher prep program’s accreditation, Dallas Morning News
• Texas State University research agency hopes to prevent school disasters like Uvalde, Houston Chronicle
• Texas property taxes will be GOP's biggest issue in 2023, Patrick says, Houston Chronicle
• USDE Launches New Initiative to Enhance STEM Education for All Students, U.S. Department of Education
• How Much States Need to Pony Up to Make School Spending Equitable, Education Week
• School Safety Standards Cost Estimates Collection, TEA

More news...

Policy Online™ is here! On September 14 we introduced the new Policy Online! Visit the Policy Online upgrade page for more information.

Available Now:

• Update 120 preview, which contains a list of codes being revised for the next numbered update coming in late January, 2023.
• The 2022-23 Annual Review of Key Policies Policy Alert, which identifies the policies and exhibits that commonly need revisions.
• The 2022-23 Employee Notification Policy Alert, which helps districts comply with state and federal laws.
• 2022 edition of the Model Student Handbook, provided to help communicate information to students and parents.

For more resources, see Policy Service’s Publication Information page.

Check out Policy Spotlight, our quarterly newsletter that provides articles on timely policy issues. Sign up to start receiving the newsletter. View all the previous policy articles in the Member Center.

• Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Hazing (pdf)
• Cyberbullying: Anti-bullying Laws in Texas after SB 179 (David’s Law) (pdf)
• Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (pdf)
• School Districts and Robocalls (pdf)
• Remote Participation in Board Meetings (pdf)

The Rapidly Rising Pay Floor for Lower Paid Staff
The public education sector continues to struggle to fill multi-incumbent, high-turnover jobs like custodian, food service worker, bus driver, and instructional aide.

National School Counselor Shortage Rates
An analysis of student-to-counselor ratios for elementary through secondary schools shows Texas ranked 23rd in the nation.

Early Resignation Notice Incentives
Offering a payment to employees who provide notice of their intent to leave the district at the end of the school year benefits the district with respect to determining budget and staffing needs earlier than normal.

Read all HRX articles

Lamesa ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On December 5, the Lamesa ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our searches page as things progress.

Scurry-Rosser ISD Hires New Superintendent

On December 5, the Scurry-Rosser ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Ronny Snow as the district’s new superintendent. Snow most recently served as the High School Principal in Rusk ISD.

White Oak ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On November 28, the White Oak ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new superintendent. Details and updates will appear on our searches page as things progress.

Somerville ISD Hires New Superintendent

On November 28, the Somerville ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Eric Holton as the district’s new superintendent. Holton most recently served as the High School Principal in New Caney ISD. 

Sierra Blanca ISD Names Lone Finalist

On November 14, the Sierra Blanca ISD Board of Trustees named Ronnie McGraw as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent. McGraw currently serves as Middle School Principal in McCamey ISD.

Further details about all search activities can be found on the ESS website.