Expect a summer of teacher turnover and more job cuts for Houston ISD

HOUSTON – Expect a lot of teacher turnover this summer in Houston ISD. And more job cuts among other staff, including janitorial and maintenance workers.

“Almost every department has had to cut positions,” Superintendent Mike Miles confirmed this afternoon.

Teacher turnovers, he said, are happening now and some will not be invited back.

“That’s what managers do: they look at the data. . . and make decisions about it,” Miles said. “Literally, this is happening as we speak. »

The end of this school year was enveloped in a wave of tension after KPRC 2 confirmed on April 26 that some employees had been told their last day of work would be June 28. The district did not confirm how many employees were affected, but said the job elimination process has been underway since January and will continue.

The district also told KPRC 2 it will try to keep cuts as far away from students and classrooms as possible and that laid-off employees may also consider other vacancies within the district.

“I want to make sure we don’t confuse non-renewal of teachers with cuts,” Miles said, emphasizing that he is more than confident the district can fill all needed teaching positions before the start of the school year in autumn.

“Take for example the 130 NES schools. There are 5,100 teaching positions in these schools for next year. So that represents almost half of the teaching positions in the district. Of those positions, more than 5,500 teachers applied internally and nearly 4,000 were accepted,” Miles said, adding that they made hundreds of offers to candidates at the week’s career fair last, where, he said, 2,000 teachers applied for 800 positions.

KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding emphasized Miles’ ability to hire qualified, certified teachers and leaders.

“Yes, that’s the answer,” Miles said before following up with a statement that was more about attitude than aptitude. “The real question is whether we will be able to fill our positions with people who have a continuous improvement mentality. »

MIles said the district needs to close a $450 million gap to avoid a deficit for next year. Federal aid provided during COVID is disappearing. Miles said the district should never have spent any of that money on “recurring expenses,” which he called “totally inappropriate.”

KPRC 2’s Goulding spoke this afternoon with a parent who is very active in the school community and has two children who attend HISD schools.

“One of the teachers told me that 11 of our teachers were given notice,” Rochelle Cabe told Goulding. The school’s principal, whom Cabe would not name, was also fired, she said.

“I’m devastated,” Cabe said of one teacher in particular.

“This teacher has been invaluable to my child. My child is a sensitive child. My son who goes to primary school and he is very dependent on a teacher who has a personal connection with him.

Cabe says she is concerned about how the district will find and hire qualified teachers.

“I am absolutely worried. I don’t understand how they are going to organize themselves for next year.

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Before the meeting, KPRC 2 viewers also contacted us, telling us that about a dozen teachers and the principal at Herod Elementary School had been informed that Friday was their last day on the job.

Some viewers also said several teachers at Briargrove ES had received the same advice.

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In response, HISD officials said the district has made staffing decisions for the 2024-2025 school year. They added that in some cases the employee or HISD will decide it doesn’t make sense for the employee to continue working in the district.

Miles said teachers who are not reappointed or asked to return next year can appeal the decision and their appeal will go to the school board for approval or rejection.

Read their full statement below:

“HISD, like all other districts, is making personnel decisions for the 24-25 school year. In most cases, teachers’ and principals’ contracts will be renewed. In some cases, the employee or HISD will decide that it does not make sense for the employee to continue working in the district. This process will continue over the coming weeks. All personnel decisions made by HISD are intended to ensure that all students have access to high-quality instruction every day. We continue to see the vast majority of HISD teachers rise to the challenge of serving all students well.