Key Agenda Items

Board Of Education Meeting Agenda

March 11, 2021

*More details on each item and additional areas of concern during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found below the list.

(G.1) Consideration And Approval Of The Teach Forward Houston Initiative Program—Year Six
(A.2) Approval Of Board Monitoring Update: Presentation Of Goal 2 Progress Measures 1, 2, And 3, And Goal 3 Progress Measure 1
(D.2) Approval To Waive Certain Requirements Of Board Policy DNA(LOCAL) In Light Of The COVID-19 Impact On Normal District Operations
(D.3) Approval To Waive A Requirement Of Board Policy DNB(LOCAL) In Light Of The COVID-19 Impact On Normal District Operations
(I.1) Vendor Awards for Purchases over $100,000
(I.2) Donations for Districtwide and School-Specific Programs
(I.3) Grant Funds in Support of District-wide and School-Specific Programs
(K.1) Approval Of Proposed Revisions To Board Policy AE(LOCAL), Educational Philosophy—Second Reading

Impact (I), Leadership (L), Equity (E), Stewardship (S), Collaboration (C)

G.1 Consideration And Approval Of The Teach Forward Houston Initiative Program—Year Six (I)

The Teach Forward Houston Initiative (TFH), in partnership with the University of Houston and its College of Education, provides a bachelor’s degree for cohorts of HISD students upon college graduation. After graduation, these students will return to HISD and teach in high-need schools for four years.

Core Value Evaluation: Impact

Historically, HISD has faced significant teaching vacancies at the start of the school year. By utilizing teacher pipelines, such as Teach Forward Houston, the district is able to create a pool of highly-qualified teachers to help ensure every student has a teacher for all of their classes before the start of the school year, while also providing HISD students with financial assistance and a clear path for a degree in Education.

A.2 Approval Of Board Monitoring Update: Presentation Of Goal 2 Progress Measures 1, 2, And 3, And Goal 3 Progress Measure 1 (I)

The Board must approve the monitoring update for Goal 3 Progress Measure 3.

Goal 3 states: The percentage of graduates that meet the criteria for CCMR as measured in Domain 1 of the state accountability system will increase 8 percentage points from 63% for 2017–18 graduates to 71% for 2022–2023 graduates reported in 2024.

D.2 Approval To Waive Certain Requirements Of Board Policy DNA(LOCAL) In Light Of The COVID-19 Impact On Normal District Operations (L)

The Board is asked to waive requirements under the district’s Teacher Appraisal and Development System (TADS) for annual evaluations due to the challenges presented by COVID-19. The waiver would carry over previous evaluation ratings for teachers who scored high on the performance criteria last year or during their progress conference this year. This would also waive required walkthrough observations.

D.3 Approval To Waive A Requirement Of Board Policy DNB(LOCAL) In Light Of The COVID-19 Impact On Normal District Operations (L)

The Board is asked to waive requirements under the district’s School Leader Appraisal System (SLAS) for annual evaluations due to the challenges presented by COVID-19. This would waive the components of the evaluation system that rely on assessment data for campus administrators.

I.1 Vendor Awards for Purchases over $100,000 (S, L)

The Board needs to approve vendor awards greater than $100,000 and ratify vendor awards under $100,000.

Vendors: ABC-CLIO, LLC; ACT, Inc.; Beable Education, Inc.; Cengage Learning, Inc.; Ellevation, Inc.; Intelitek, Inc.; KISS Institute for Practical Robotics; Library Video Company dba SAFARI Montage, Inc.; Mentoring Minds, L.P.; Rebecca Nellina Bryant dba BetterRhetor Resources, LLC; Rosetta Stone, Ltd.; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Inc.; Catapult Learning West, LLC; C.A. Community Services, Inc.; D.A.R.E. America; Derrick Stinson dba D.S. Kids Choice; iKids, Inc.; Intelitek, Inc.; Sisters Empowering S.I.S.T.A.S., Inc.; Nadia Bruner dba Suttle Freeman, LLC; University Instructors, Inc.; Catapult Learning West, LLC; CSD Holdings I, LLC dba At-Home Tutoring Services; Culture of Health – Advancing Together; Debbie Littles dba Logistical Concepts, LLC; Julia B. Chapa Leeper dba EDU Specialist, LLC; Kerwen Group, Inc. dba Huntington Learning Center; Little Scientists, Inc. dba Mad Science of Houston; Mario Frank Campanaro dba The Literacy Group; Meghan E. Sankowski dba Coaching Consultants Team; One on One Learning, Corp.; Rachael Diane Olmos-Guzman dba GO-Strategic Management Services; Rodney H. Johnson dba EducationWise, LLC; The Stepping Stones Group, LLP; TPR Education, LLC dba The Princeton Review; University Instructors, Inc.; University of Houston; US Math Recovery Council; ACT, Inc.; Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development dba ASCD; AVID Center; Catapult Learning West, LLC; Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation; Close Up Foundation; CollegeSpring, Inc.; Cultural Intelligence Center, LLC; Educational Execution & Evaluation, LC dba eCubed; Frances Watson-Hester dba Hester Consulting; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing dba Math Solutions; ICLE; IDE Corp.; Imagination Station dba Istation Intelitek, Inc.; Jelisa Scott dba ABA Sensei, PLLC; Kindermusik International, Inc.; KISS Institute for Practical Robotics; Leading Educators Inc.; Lexia Learning Systems, LLC; US Math Recovery Council; McRel International; Methods & Solutions, Inc dba MindPlay; Momentous Institute; National Science Teaching Association; Phyllis Donatto dba FTH Dimension Solutions, LLC; PRC Resources, LLC; Roger Cleveland dba Millennium Learning Concepts, LLC; Sphero, Inc.; Teacher Created Materials, Inc.; National Math and Science Initiative; UTJ Holdco, Inc. dba Teaching Strategies, LLC; Voyager Sopris Learning, Inc.; Zaner-Bloser, Inc.; Brooks Duplicator Company; Carolina Biological Supply Company dba Carolina Biological Supply Company; CollegeSpring, Inc.; Continental Press, Inc. dba Continental DroneBlocks, LLC; Early Childhood, LLC dba Discount School Supply; Gateway Education Holdings, LLC dba Savvas Learning Company, LLC; Health Start Foundation, Inc. dba HealthStart Foundation; Intelitek, Inc.; No Tears Learning Inc. dba Learning Without Tears; Pacific Northwest Publishing dba Ancora Publishing; Positive Action, Inc.; Readiness Set Go!, LLC; Really Great Reading Company, LLC; Teacher Created Materials, Inc.; TestOut Corporation; Vista Higher Learning, Inc.; Facilitron, Inc.; CBRE, Inc.; George E. Johnson Properties, LLC; Transwestern Real Estate Services, LLC; Womack Development & Investment Realtors, Inc.; Universal Melody Services, LLC dba Brook Mays Music/H&H Music; The Leadership Academy; Quadient, Inc.; Accelerate Learning, Inc.; American Reading Company, Inc.; Amplify Education, Inc.; Apex Learning, Inc.; Asteria Learning Inc. dba ECS Learning System/Prepworks/TestSmart; Attainment Company, Inc.; Baker & Petsche Publishing, LLC dba Math Warm-Ups.com; Benchmark Education Company, LLC ;Carnegie Learning, Inc.; Center for the Collaborative Classroom; Ceramic Store of Houston, LLC; Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC; College Entrance Examination Board dba The College Board Committee for Children; CompuScholar Inc;. Comuniquemos Inc.; Coole School, Inc.; Cosenze & Associates, LLC; Coughlan Companies, Inc. dba Capstone Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc.; Crystal Children and Teacher Supply; C-Stem Teacher and Student Support Services Inc.; Curriculum Associates, LLC; Edmentum, Inc.; Education Plus Education Concepts, LLC; Education IDEAS Inc. dba Ballard & Tighe Publishers; Eric Armin Inc. dba EAI Education; Estrellita, Inc.; ETR Associates dba Education Training and Research Assoc.; Follet School Solutions, Inc.; Frog Street, LLC; Gateway Education Holding, LLC dba Savvas Learning Company, LLC; GF Educators, Inc.; GL Group, Inc. dba Booksource; Global Namads Group, Inc.; Greenwood Publishing dba Heineman; Haights Cross Communicates Inc., dba Triumph Learning; Hameray Publishing Group, Inc.; Hand2Mind, Inc. dba ETA Hand2Mind; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Houston A+ Challenge, Inc.; Imagination Station, Inc., dba IStation; International Write Now, Inc.; IXL Learning, Inc.; Jarrett Publishing Co.; Jigsaw Learning, LLC dba Teachtown; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; Kamico Instructional Media, Inc.; Lakeshore Learning Materials; Lead4Ward, LLC; Learn-Ed , LLC dba Edusmart; Lectura Inc. dba The Latino Family Literacy Project; Lee & Low Books, Inc.; Lone Star Learning, Inc.; Math GPS, LLC; MBR, Inc. dba Advanced Graphics; McGraw-Hill Education, Inc.; Mentoring Minds, LP; Muses3, LLC; Nasco Education; Okapi Educational Publishing, Inc.; Origo Education, Inc.; PCS Edventures.com, Inc; Perfection Learning Corp.; Peoples Education, Inc.; QEP Professional Books Rally Education, LLC; Really Good Stuff, LLC; Richard C. Owen Publisher, Inc.; SDI Innovations, Inc. dba School Datebooks; Saddleback Educational, Inc.; Scholastic, Inc.; Scientific Minds, LLC; Shmoop University, Inc;. Social Studies School; Service/Nystrom Steps to Literacy; Summitt K12 Holding, Inc.; Sundance-Newbridge, LLC; Teacher Created Materials, Inc.; Texas STAAR Publishing, LLC; TouchMath Acquisition, LLC dba TouchMath LLC; Vontoure Learning, LLC; Voyager Sopris Learning, Inc.; World Book, Inc.; W. Oscar Neuhaus Memorial Foundation dba Neuhaus; Interactive Communications Solutions Group, Inc., dba ICS Learning Group, Inc.; Guitar Center Stores, Inc.; JR Thomas Group, Inc.; McGraw-Hill Education, Inc., dba McGraw Hill LLC; BC Solutions, LLC, dba Building Controls & Solutions; dba Amcon Controls; dba INTEC Controls; dba Control Products; Donalson-Hiner Automotive Group, Inc., dba Silsbee Toyota.

I.2 Donations for Districtwide and School-Specific Programs (S, L)

All donations greater than $5,000 must be approved by the HISD Board of Education.

Donors: Anita D. Designer Foundation

I.3 Grant Funds in Support of Districtwide and School-Specific Programs (S, L)

All grant funds greater than $5,000 must be approved by the HISD Board of Education.

Grantors: Exxon Mobil Foundation; Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation; Rice University via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; Texas Division of Emergency Management; The Center for Afterschool, Summer, and Enrichment for Kids (CASE for Kids), a division of Harris County Department of Education (HCDE).

K.1 Approval Of Proposed Revisions To Board Policy AE(LOCAL), Educational Philosophy—Second Reading (I)

The board will consider revisions to its adopted goals to update the goal and constraint progress measures, including adding in baseline data for Goal 3 progress measures. A full outline of the changes is available in the agenda.

Other agenda items to be voted on during the meeting:

(A.1) Approval of personal services performed by the Superintendent.
(D.1) Approval of waiver for hybrid instruction during STAAR testing days for kindergarten – eighth-grade students to limit the number of students on campus in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(E.1) Approval of recommendations from the Naming Committee for naming or renaming areas of Lamar HS as part of the 2012 Bond Program.
(E.2) Approval of recommendations from the Naming Committee for naming or renaming areas of Kinder HSPVA as part of the 2012 Bond Program.
(E.3) Approval of recommendations from the Naming Committee for naming or renaming areas of Booker T. Washington HS as part of the 2012 Bond Program.
(G.2) Approval of a Texas A&M University and HISD student teacher partnership for the next three school years.
(G.3) Approval of the Community Teacher Equity Development Program, a partnership with the University of Houston that will provide a bachelor’s degree in education for cohorts of HISD paraeducators to become teachers in the district.
(H.1) Authority to amend and increase the design contract for renovations to Westbury HS.
(I.4) Approval of the purchase of $250 million of property insurance coverage.
(I.5) Approval of a new term rate period for a portion of variable rate limited tax refunding bonds (series 2012) and authorization to redeem a portion of outstanding bonds.
(I.6) Approval of a new term rate period for a portion of variable rate limited tax schoolhouse bonds (series 2013B) and authorization to redeem a portion of outstanding bonds.
(I.7) Approval of a resolution to extend a depository contract for 2021– 2023 with JPMorgan Chase Bank.
(I.8) Approval of a resolution designating employees to act as authorized representatives for financial transactions at TexPool and Lone Star government investment pools.
(I.9) Approval of a resolution designating officers and administrators authorized to act on behalf of the district in matters connected with the depository contract and all other banking and investment matters.
(K.2) Approval of first reading of proposed revisions to Board Policy EIC(LOCAL), Academic Achievement: Class Ranking.
(L.2) Presentation of the district’s Investment Report.

Areas of Concern:

Although normal school board operations have been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still items the school board must address and new areas of concern created by the current crisis. Houston GPS would like to highlight the following items:

1. The closure of the district, while necessary to ensure the safety of the HISD community, has exacerbated inequities amongst students. Many students have struggled with remote learning, with 42% of students failing at least one class in the first grading period. The addition of face-to-face learning comes with potential disruptions to maintain the safety of students and staff. Data quality concerns persist due to the pandemic and they must be addressed moving forward if remote assessments are given so the Board can accurately monitor student outcomes.

2. In June, the Board made a commitment to examine the role of police in the district to confront systemic racism and police violence against people of color. Considering the disproportionate discipline and forced interaction with police that students of color, especially black boys, face in public education, this is a pressing equity concern. In December, Board members expressed interest in having a second workshop on the topic and planned to organize the workshop for January or February. Moving into March, the Board needs to revisit this commitment by moving forward with proposed changes or organizing an additional workshop to follow-up on the conversation.

3. In the past, the Board has faced last-minute changes to the district budget and budget approval votes that cut close to the deadline for the district. Last year, the Board was able to pass a budget without delaying until the end of June, but this was the first time in several years. In order to ensure the budget is passed within a reasonable timeframe and not subject to late amendments, the Board should set its budget priorities early to guide the administration in developing the 2021-2022 budget.