Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles provides budget update and answers questions amid growing calls for investigation

HOUSTON – Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles provides an updated budget overview Thursday at 4 p.m. and answers questions (time permitting).

We will broadcast this press conference right here.

The answers to all the questions could give us more insight into Miles’ state of mind, as the state-appointed leader is embroiled in controversy on two fronts.

ANGER AT TEACHERS AND PRINCIPAL TURNOVER

Protests intensified last week from parents, teachers and students angry over the growing number of teachers and principals losing their jobs. At last week’s press conference, also related to the budget, Miles said that although the job cuts affected all departments due to a $450 million budget deficit for next year, all teaching positions would be filled.

Some teachers and principals, afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation, told KPRC 2 they were surprised their contracts were not renewed. Parents told us that not only were their children being fired by teachers, but they were also concerned about the district’s ability to fill all positions with qualified teachers.

Miles said last week that wouldn’t be a problem and the focus was on finding educators with the right mindset for continuous improvement.

FINANCIAL INTEGRITY QUESTIONS

The second controversy erupted late last week on the heels of a Spectrum News report alleging that Miles used Texas taxpayer dollars to help consolidate his charter schools in Colorado. One of them closed, leaving $5 million in bond debt, according to the report.

Miles vehemently denied doing anything wrong and called the report “irresponsibly inaccurate” and accused the reporter, who covered Miles when he led Dallas ISD, of working to undermine the progress he made there .

“It seems like he’s resurrecting old tactics that no longer deserve time and attention.” I do not intend to comment further on these fallacious claims. I am committed to remaining focused on the enormous challenge of improving Texas’ largest district,” Miles said.

Miles explained that charter schools in Texas and Colorado have a centralized office in Colorado that handles administrative oversight and that there was nothing wrong financially.

Calls for federal investigations have come from Community Voices for Education, a coalition group of parents and teachers, the Houston Federation of Teachers, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and most recently the Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.