Thursday, June 17

• Will Texas legislators take harsher steps to ‘abolish’ critical race theory?, Dallas Morning News
• Gov. Greg Abbott wants lawmakers to target critical race theory in a special session, but is so far mum on details, Texas Tribune 
• UIL will allow Friday night football to be streamed, Kris 6 News
• Disconnect between educators, East Texas industry leads to on-the-job shadowing for teachers, KTRE
• Andrews ISD sixth grade Future Problem Solvers win international competition, Your Basin

more news...

Available Now!

• 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
• A new Policy Alert with information on ESSER III grants—Public Notice of Federal Grants
• The 2021 edition of the Model Student Handbook

Coming this Summer!

• July 12 —The 2021-22 edition of the Model Student Code of Conduct and the post-legislative Model Student Handbook
• Also in July – Annual Review of Key Policies and Employee Notification Policy Alerts for the 2021-22 school year

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.

TRS Approves TRS-ActiveCare Increases
The TRS Board of Directors met this month to approve proposed changes to TRS-ActiveCare rates for 2021–22 effective September 1, 2021.

Updated T-PESS Rubric Required
Beginning this school year, local education agencies (LEAs) must use the updated Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS) rubric to meet the commission’s recommended principal appraisal system requirements.

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

Read all HRX articles

Banquete ISD Hires New Superintendent

On June 1, the Banquete ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Stacy Johnson as the district’s new superintendent. Johnson most recently served as the Executive Director of Leadership in Ector County ISD.

Fort Stockton ISD Hires New Superintendent

On May 27, the Fort Stockton ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Gabriel Zamora as the district’s new superintendent. Zamora most recently served as the superintendent in Olfen ISD. 

Hawkins ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On May 26, the Hawkins 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.

Brazos ISD Names Lone Finalist

On May 26, the Brazos ISD Board of Trustees named Scott Rogers as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent. Rogers currently serves as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Red Oak ISD.

Olfen ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On May 19, the Olfen 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.

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