Monday, September 20

• How a Black high school principal was swept into a “critical race theory” maelstrom in a mostly white Texas suburb, Texas Tribune
• Gov. Greg Abbott signs tougher anti-critical race theory law, Dallas Morning News
• We’re tracking COVID-19 cases in Texas schools. There are far more this fall than last year, Texas Tribune
• Most Texans oppose gerrymandering, disagree that party in power should be able to rig political maps, Dallas Morning News
• In a changing Texas, Republicans will begin redistricting with more freedom to draw their maps, Texas Tribune
• The Stakes Feel Higher Than Ever As The Education Secretary Welcomes Students Back, NPR

more news...

Available Now!

• Policy Alert for Senate Bill 15, Local Remote Learning Program, which permits districts to operate a local remote learning program
• Update 118 Preview lists local policies and the relevant House or Senate Bill numbers
• Annual Review of Key Policies and Employee Notification Policy Alerts for the 2021-22 school year
• The 2021 edition of the Model Student Code of Conduct and the post-legislative Model Student Handbook
• Update 63 of the Regulations Resource Manual includes revisions to model regulations and forms corresponding with Update 117
• View the Update 117 resources in Policy Manual Update Resources

Coming Soon!

• Districts will begin receiving Update 118 packets in mid-October
• Regulations Resource Manual Update 64 will be available in mid-October

Introducing Policy Spotlight!

• Our quarterly newsletter provides articles on timely policy issues. Missed it? Sign Up to receive the next edition. View the most recent policy articles in the Member Center

For more, see Policy Service’s Publication Information page

• TASB Legal Services' article Responding to the Risk of Infectious Disease in Public Schools (pdf) addresses questions regarding communications, health screening, attendance, and employment matters in times of infectious disease, like Ebola, coronavirus, or pandemic flu.
• TASB Legal Services' Deadlines for May 1, 2021 School District Trustee Elections (pdf) provides important dates and deadlines applicable to school districts preparing for the May 1, 2021 trustee election.
• TASB Legal Services' School District Budget and Tax Rate Adoption in 2020 (pdf) is a step-by-step guide to budget and tax rate adoption for school districts.
• TASB Legal Services' School District Voter-Approval Tax Rate Elections in 2020 (pdf) provides information for ordering and holding a voter-approval tax rate election (VATRE).
• TASB Legal Services' HB 2840 - Public Comment and Testimony at Board Meetings (pdf) provides basic information about House Bill 2840, effective September 1, 2019, that affects how school boards must address public comments from citizens during board meetings.

Infographic: HR Department Checklist for October
Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of October.

Duty-free Lunch Entitlement
Campus principals must consider statutory limitations before assigning teachers and librarians to lunch duty.

Responding to Employees Who Don't Follow FMLA Procedures
Employers can delay or deny a Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) request if an employee fails to follow FMLA and leave reporting procedures.

Read all HRX articles

Carthage ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On September 15, the Carthage 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.

Caldwell ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On August 23, the Caldwell 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.

Stephenville ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On August 11, the Stephenville 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.

Matagorda ISD Hires New Superintendent

On August 5, the Matagorda ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Barbara Marchbanks as the district’s new superintendent. Marchbanks most recently served as the superintendent in McDade ISD. 

Brazos ISD Hires New Superintendent

On June 17, the Brazos ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Scott Rogers as the district’s new superintendent. Rogers most recently served as the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Red Oak ISD.

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