Advocacy Update

11/18/2024 8:28 am

Highlights from last week’s HISD Board of Managers meeting include (1) a vote to sell multiple HISD properties (and the arrest of a local advocate protesting that sale) and place proceeds in the general fund, (2) after-the-fact approval for approximately $870M in vendor contracts from September 2023 through December 2024, after Superintendent Miles’ administration failed to seek approval as required by Board policy, and (3) the election of Ric Campo, whose heads a company against whom the DOJ has filed suit for price fixing, as Board president.  Our local media–including the Houston Chronicle, Houston Landing, and Houston Press–all offer ways to stay informed about these and other district matters.

The Board of Managers’ next meeting is a budget workshop on January 28.  The workshop kicks off multiple meetings on the budget from now through June (when the budget must be approved).  Given lack of state funding, declining HISD enrollment, and the significant costs of Superintendent Miles’ NES program and proposed teacher pay for performance system, it will be important to stay informed regarding HISD’s budget and advocate for budget cuts to stay as far away from students and schools as possible.