On Thursday, May 13, the Houston ISD Board of Education met for its monthly business meeting. The Board approved one-time teacher stipends, continuing partnerships for International Baccalaureate program expansion, and virtual mental health services for students with high need. While the Board did pass the revisions to its Annual Operating Budget Policy, the discussion about carryover funding for individual campuses remains unsettled. Additionally, the Board’s commitment to increasing time spent monitoring student outcomes took a hit, with only 14% of the meeting focused on student outcomes.
Overall Ratings
May 13, 2021
Trustee scores were based on votes and discussion related to agenda items A.2 and K.1 and assessed using core values for Equity, Leadership, Stewardship, and Impact.
District I: Trustee Santos
Medium
District II: Kathy Blueford-Daniels
Medium
District III: Dani Hernandez
Medium
District IV: Patricia Allen
Medium
District V: Sue Deigaard
Medium
District VI: Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca Ocampo
Medium
District VII: Anne Sung
Medium
District VIII: Judith Cruz
Medium
District IX: Myrna Guidry
Medium
Key Votes
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
K.1: Operating budget policy
Trustee Santos
For
For
Trustee Blueford-Daniels
For
For
Trustee Hernandez
For
For
Trustee Allen
For
For
Trustee Allen
For
For
Trustee Deigaard
For
For
Trustee Flynn Vilaseca Ocampo
For
For
Trustee Sung
For
For
Trustee Cruz
For
For
Trustee Guidry
For
For
Key Votes
Trustee Santos
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Blueford-Daniels
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Hernandez
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Allen
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Deigaard
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Flynn Vilaseca Ocampo
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Sung
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Cruz
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Trustee Guidry
A.2: Goal 2 Progress Monitoring
For
K.1: Operating budget policy
For
Time Spent on Student Outcomes
Research shows that school boards that focus on student outcomes have a greater impact. The Texas Education Agency recommends spending at least 50% of Board meeting time on student outcomes.
28 Minutes
28 Minutes: 14%
Trustee Comments
-
- The Board demonstrated a lack of Impact by spending only 14% of the Board meeting monitoring student outcomes, well under their goal of 50% and even down from 16% at the April Board meeting.
- The Board did not affirmatively demonstrate a commitment to Equity, Leadership, and Stewardship when addressing the issue of carryover funding for campuses in their Operating Budget Policy. While carryover was retained in the policy by administration and the trustees discussed the merits of sending it to policy committee, ultimately the matter remains unsettled. They did not arrive at an equitable solution for the policy and several trustees voiced the possibility of revisiting this discussion with the new Superintendent. Essentially, the policy just moves this conversation to June of each year, when the Board decides to carryover funding with the annual budget.
-
Served Since: 2018
- Trustee Santos moved to postpone the revisions to the Board’s Operating Budget Policy indefinitely, but the motion failed when the trustees all agreed that the changes other than the carryover policy needed to be implemented.
- Trustee Santos asked about developing a trauma-informed survey for students.
-
Served Since: 2020
- Trustee Blueford-Daniels originally voted against retaining the ability to carryover funding for campuses, but changed her vote.
- Trustee Blueford-Daniels asked about installing towers for internet access and reiterated her commitment to pushing for more magnet programs in her district.
-
Served Since: 2020
- Trustee Hernandez expressed concern about the targets set for constraint progress monitoring. Specifically, she questioned the comparatively lower target percentage of strong teachers for Special Education students. Because of this Trustee Hernandez voted against item K.2.
- Trustee Hernandez asked if the administration was identifying areas where virtual instruction worked, if the district was pursuing approval to provide virtual classes next year.
-
Served Since: 2020
-
Served Since: 2018
- Trustee Deigaard initiated the discussion about keeping the carryover policy. She made clear that she wanted to revisit the issue with the new Superintendent.
- Trustee Deigaard expressed concern about the targets set for constraint progress monitoring. Specifically, she questioned the comparatively lower target percentage of strong teachers for Special Education students and the barriers to setting more challenging goals. Because of this Trustee Deigaard voted against item K.2.
- Trustee Deigaard asked how administration was ensuring instruction and testing were being implemented in a way that is focused on students and not just compliance.
-
Served Since: 2017
- Trustee Flynn Vilaseca Ocampo asked if administration sought approval from the state appointed special education conservators when setting constraint progress measure targets related to special education.
- Trustee Flynn Vilaseca Ocampo asked about the timeline for the disbursement of federal funding for COVID-19.
-
Served Since: 2017
- Trustee Sung asked how administration was defining and targeting interventions for disproportionate COVID-19 impacts, as required for federal funding. She also asked about professional development for teachers instructing students in early math skills.
- Trustee Sung expressed concern about the percentage targets for strong teachers in special education classrooms, but voted to implement the changes.
-
Served Since: 2020
- Trustee Cruz expressed concern about the targets set for constraint progress monitoring. Specifically, she questioned the comparatively lower target percentage of strong teachers for Special Education students and wanted more ambitious goals. Because of this Trustee Cruz voted against item K.2.
- Trustee Cruz asked if federal funding would cover summer programs for 2021 and asked how the district monitored math instruction and interventions to make sure they were meeting student needs, especially for special education students.
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Served Since: 2020
- Trustee Guidry originally voted against retaining the ability to carryover funding for campuses, but changed her vote.
- Trustee Guidry asked about virtual offerings for next year and if they would pull students/funding from existing schools. She also asked if the district considered the impact of COVID-19 in student outcome data.