School Zone

Required Reading

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:07:49 -0600

*Six Houston-area school districts sue state education commissioner Robert Scott over his interpretation of the new minimium grading policy law. Here's our story, Scott's letter to school districts and a copy of the lawsuit. *Houston ISD schools are missing out...

Marshall wins endorsements of opponents

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:33:32 -0600

HISD board president Larry Marshall announced on his campaign Web site today that he has been endorsed by two of his general election opponents: George Davis and Michael Williams. Marshall led the Nov. 3 vote with 44 percent , followed...

Grier plans to reorganize HISD administration

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:38:38 -0600

We know some Houston ISD employees have been on edge about the new superintendent, Terry Grier, toying with the organization of the district. Let's see if we can take that edge off some, or at least shine some light on...

Required reading

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:03:04 -0600

*Our Austin bureau reports on the ongoing debate over new social studies standards. The hot topic at the State Board of Education's meeting Thursday was whether Hispanics get enough attention. *Houston ISD school board voted this morning to authorize the...

Study: Dropouts cost Houston $165 million a year

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:10:31 -0600

Cutting the dropout rate in half at 143 high schools serving the greater Houston region would increase wages $165 million a year and generate $16 million more in taxes for the state and local governments. That's according to a study...

Required Reading

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:42 -0600

*Local school districts are partnering with the Houston and Harris County health departments to give the swine flu vaccine to students (with parental permission, of course). *Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier wants to develop a plan to improve the magnet...

HISD to spend $155,200 for hiring, HR consultants

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:12:34 -0600

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, in his third month on the job, is turning to a few outside consultants for help. He took some heat from Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. for the expense — $155,200 — but board President Larry Marshall...

Fourth Ward site likely for new Carnegie Vanguard High School

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:32:55 -0600

The Houston ISD administration is recommending that Carnegie Vanguard High School, currently located in an old elementary school on the city's south side, be rebuilt close to downtown. The proposed site, just south of HISD's Gregory-Lincoln Education Center, is bordered...

Toyota endorses Eastman in District I race

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:59:28 -0600

HISD school board candidate Anna Eastman announced that she has won the endorsement of Linda Toyota, who was knocked out of the District I race after the general election. Toyota, a YWCA executive who lives in the Heights, earned 1,410...

Become a fan of School Zone ...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:44:22 -0600

FB.init("484ca95f8b271c2f33c905089b7d3f10");Houston Chronicle School Zone on Facebook...

Grier recruits chief academic officer from San Diego

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:25:50 -0600

Chuck Morris (not with an "N," like Walker Texas Ranger) Either HISD Superintendent Terry Grier is a master at persuasion, or Chuck Morris really loves working. Morris worked as Grier's chief of staff in Guilford County, N.C., and intended...

Houston teachers next in line to be fingerprinted

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:51:00 -0600

Texas' largest school district, the Houston Independent School District, expects to be notified Dec. 7 that its 12,000 certified employees are on the clock to undergo state-mandated fingerprinting. Senate Bill 9, approved in September 2007, requires all certified staff members...

HISD expects $65 million savings on bond sale

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:45:04 -0600

Houston ISD officials announced today that they plan to sell the last of the bonds approved in November 2007 election as early as Monday. Favorable market conditions and the Build America Bonds program, a federally subsidized option created earlier this...

Holiday cards by student artists benefit schools

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0600

Now is the time to put in your orders for holiday greeting cards designed by Houston ISD artists. Proceeds from the cards are supposed to go to classrooms, so they're a worthwhile investment. Plus, many of these artists do fantastic...

Election 2009: School board

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:13:24 -0600

*In the hotly contested Alief board races, the three incumbents — Sarah Winkler, Gary Cook and Nghi T. Ho won. In the seat without an incumbent, Ella Jefferson won easily. Alief, unlike HISD, does not have runoffs. FINAL (but unofficial)...