In Houston, Texas (KTRK), there has been a significant shift in policy regarding the evaluation and potential termination of administrators within the Houston Independent School District (HISD), as announced by the district superintendent.
This change comes following widespread protests against the district’s new rating system, which had previously put the jobs of administrators at risk based on performance metrics.
Protesters braved heavy rain to voice their concerns on Thursday afternoon, leading to a marathon session at the Thursday evening board meeting where community members shared their perspectives for over four hours.
After a lengthy closed-door session lasting until the early hours of Friday morning, Superintendent Mike Miles made the surprising announcement that the plan to terminate administrators based on the new rating system would be scrapped.
Acknowledging the diverse array of voices and concerns raised during the meeting, Miles emphasized the district’s commitment to listening to feedback and taking it seriously.
Under the revised approach, HISD principals will continue to be evaluated using the existing system, focusing on key areas such as student achievement, quality of instruction, action plans, and special education compliance and instruction.
Despite this development, parents remain cautious and seek further assurances regarding the future of their children’s schools and principals, especially in light of proposed budget cuts due to declining enrollment.
While relief is expressed over the reversal in the evaluation policy, there is a call for continued community support, particularly for forthcoming bond initiatives. Parents and community members are keen to see efforts from Superintendent Mike Miles to rebuild trust and foster collaboration within the community to address ongoing challenges facing the district.
