Houston school board names district administrator as interim superintendent

Monica Ransom, a parent of three Rafting Creek Elementary students, believes closing the school is “not a good idea”. “We are on the right path toward educational excellence in all of our schools, and I want to ensure all our students have quality educational opportunities that will prepare them for college or career”.

The five-day school week is starting to become a thing of the past.

“We’re gonna be better in graduation rates, sat scores”.

Also on Wednesday, the board got an update on discussions of school safety from High School Principal Alicia Christiansen.

Simmons is faced with the daunting task of overseeing the opening the new Stagebarn Middle School in the Piedmont/Summerset area this fall as well as managing growth throughout the district.

The debt services the district owes from bonding is a little more than $12 million. The district is now sharing two proposals with parents and other stakeholders and may revise these after it has thoroughly listened to by parents, students, teachers, local childcare, safety and traffic experts.

The board passed last fall’s bond referendum, which would have closed Madison and Jefferson elementaries and resulted in renovations and additions to other schools, by the slimmest possible margin, 4-3.

“There’s about 1,900 new homes that are set to be ready to go in terms of being inhabited by 2020”, said Peninsula Schools Superintendent Rob Manahan.

“Any change in school schedules will affect every segment of our city”.

Some school board members questioned if a potential social worker would be spread too thin because they would have to cover 16 school sites in the district.

In 2017, benefits to trustees cost the district nearly $96,000.

“We know there are challenges for some parents if we make a change, but we feel that the benefits are justified”.

Other uses for the $600,000 would be a playground at Prospect Elementary for pre-K students and replacing the outside doors at Prospect, Magara said.

The budget also assumes that the Juneau Assembly will spend the maximum amount it’s allowed to on local schools under state law.

“Frankly, people are very concerned about their taxes”, said Butler. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the state mandated that the start date for a school’s academic year is to be no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26, The recommended end date no later than the Friday closest to June 11.

For more information, visit www.asdk12.org/Page/10284 or contact Catherine Esary at 742-4158. The alternative proposal will serve PK-5th grade in hopes to create uniformity across the district. Based on his experience in this role and extensive background in teaching and administration, the board is confident that he will promote the attributes of servant leadership while challenging us to improve and grow as a district, ” according to the board statement.