HISD Board Approves Teacher, Principal Layoffs

Ultimately, all the walkouts, work stoppages, emails to board members, and impassioned appeals to the Houston ISD Board of Trustees came to nothing. The board voted during another lengthy session that began Thursday afternoon and continued into the wee hours to fire every teacher, principal and custodian Superintendent Mike Miles wanted.

Whether they were long-time HISD employees, teachers or principals of the year, beloved by parents and students, or guardians of high-performing schools, it didn’t matter . At the end of that school year, they left. As several commenters commented: They welcomed a new program for schools at the bottom of the academic rankings, but never anticipated that Miles and his New Education System agenda would go after schools A, B, and vs.

The vote was 8-0-1, with Trustee Adam Rivon abstaining.

Miles spent three years in Dallas ISD before leaving to work at its charter schools in Colorado. Despite the cries of “It’s Houston!” » Amid general applause as if things are going to be different here, it doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving this town and his school district anytime soon.

Miles said changes are needed to give every student the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. He placed particular emphasis on reading and mathematics.

Supported by an appointed school board that approves almost everything it does, the principal is assured in his position. The only thing, it seems, that could possibly dislodge him from superintendency would be if the city’s powers that be decide that too much negative attention is being drawn to HISD and Houston itself.

“You are presiding over a purge,” said Herrod Elementary parent Jeff Waltman, addressing the board. “A drain of human capital like this district has never been seen. Because Mike Miles doesn’t believe in people. He only believes in his system, a proven failure that you will share unless you find the courage to tell him no.”

There were numerous complaints from the public on Thursday. Why did the meeting start at 4 p.m., preventing much of the audience from showing up at the beginning? Why was there only one workshop on the budget, which by state law must be approved in June? Why don’t some board members give public speakers the courtesy of paying attention to them when they speak (Trustee Ric Campo was chosen for this one).

Several speakers questioned the increase in the amount of money for the NES program at a time when Miles said there was a $528 million deficit to fill primarily because of what Miles maintains is the his predecessor’s misuse of federal COVID emergency funds by connecting them to recurring costs like payroll.

The removal of librarians and the libraries that accompanied them as well as the dismissal of wraparound specialists who were replaced by the Sunrise Centers that some complain are not accessible to everyone in the remote district like a school program was.

Susan Hawes, who identified herself as a HISD parent and longtime nonprofit and community outreach volunteer, said, “I am here to oppose the elimination of the wraparound services program. I visited the Sunrise Center on Brock. It is well intentioned and staffed with good people. It was also almost empty of clients.

Several speakers questioned why teachers and principals were being asked to resign or be fired, saying the end-of-year evaluations Miles had talked about throughout the year had not yet been released.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 13 at 5 p.m., when the school board is expected to adopt the 2024-2025 budget.