Tuesday, April 20

• Texas must maintain higher education and K-12 funding to tap billions in federal aid for public schools, Dallas Morning News
• 'We Need To Be Nurtured, Too': Many Teachers Say They're Reaching A Breaking Point, KERA / NPR
• Texas business leaders say Legislature's anti-LGBTQ bills could hurt the state's economy, Houston Chronicle
• Texas Congressional Democrats Seek To Block Governor’s Grab Of COVID-19 Education Funds, Houston Public Media
• Texas Legislature considering bill to make it harder to get public information about government employees, Texas Tribune
• FEMA Will Cover Some COVID-19 Staffing Costs for Schools, Education Week
• H-E-B Excellence In Education Awards to give away $100,000 by random drawings, The Tribune Newspapers

more news...

What’s New in Policy Service?

Coming in May!

May 10 – The new edition of the Model Student Handbook

Late-May to June – Update 117 packets will be mailed to districts. View the Preview of Local policies being revised.

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 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 May
Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of May.

Teacher Certification: Part 3—Emergency Permits
An emergency permit may be used when a district cannot secure an appropriately certified and qualified individual to fill a vacant position or when an educator doesn’t have the appropriate credentials for the assignment.

Pay Planning on a Limited Budget
If your district leadership team is in a quandary as to how to move forward with this year’s budget planning process, you are not alone.  

Read all HRX articles

United ISD Names Lone Finalist

On April 19, the United ISD Board of Trustees named David Gonzalez as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent. Gonzalez currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in United ISD.

Miller Grove ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On April 7, the Miller Grove ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire TASB Executive Search Services (ESS) to conduct a search for a new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. Details and updates will appear on our searches page as things progress.

Cotulla ISD Hires New Superintendent

On April 1, the Cotulla ISD Board of Trustees voted to hire Ruben Cervantes as the district’s new superintendent. Cervantes most recently served as the superintendent in Dell City ISD.

Taft ISD Names Lone Finalist

On March 29, the Taft ISD Board of Trustees named Irene Garza as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent. Garza currently serves as professor for superintendent and principal certification programs at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX.  

Brazos ISD Hires Executive Search Services

On March 9, the Brazos 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.