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President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is significantly enhancing K-12 school infrastructures across the U.S., with a focus on sustainability, health, and clean energy. The White House is hosting the inaugural Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds to discuss these improvements. This summit brings together a diverse group of over 90 stakeholders, including students, teachers, and leaders in education and environmental policy, to explore effective use of federal funding for creating greener, healthier educational environments. Concurrently, the Biden-Harris Administration has released the 2024 White House Toolkit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Schools. This toolkit is designed to help schools access and utilize federal resources for energy efficiency, resilience, and cleaner transportation. Notable programs include the Department of Energy’s Renew America’s Schools Prize, offering $500m for clean energy initiatives in schools, and the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, which has allocated $5bn to replace diesel buses with cleaner alternatives. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy is recognizing various school districts that have made significant strides in improving indoor air quality and energy efficiency. This recognition is part of the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program, which now includes 202 school districts, benefiting over 5m students.

 

Whitehouse.gov

The Texas Tribune and ProPublica analyzed 35 Texas school districts that held trustee elections last fall and found none that posted all of the required campaign finance records. The investigation revealed that many agencies are violating the law that mandates the online posting of campaign finance reports. The lack of transparency in local elections prevents the public from making informed decisions about candidates' financial support. The report highlights the growing push by hard-line conservatives to reshape school boards and advance vouchers as an alternative to public schools. The article emphasizes the need for effective enforcement of the law to ensure compliance and maintain transparency in local elections.

 

The Texas Tribune

As classrooms become increasingly digital, teachers’ unions are actively engaging in the discourse around cell phone use in schools, often advocating for policies to manage or restrict such devices during school hours. This engagement is reflected both at the local and state levels, where unions are not just participants but are driving forces behind policy changes. Local teachers’ unions, in some cases, have brought the issue to the bargaining table, proposing or supporting the implementation of district-wide cell phone bans. These efforts aim to give teachers more control over classroom environments, where distractions from cell phones have become a significant concern. At the state level, teachers’ unions are supporting legislative efforts to curb cell phone use in classrooms. The growing support for these measures is partly in response to a widespread acknowledgment of the distractions cell phones can cause, impacting student engagement and learning. States like Florida and Indiana have enacted or are considering legislation that restricts cell phone use, with unions playing a critical role in shaping these policies to ensure they align with educational goals and teachers' operational needs.

 

Education Week

A draft of an updated policy on students’ use of cell phones on campus was presented to the Katy ISD school board. The proposed change would ban students’ use of their personal devices such as cell phones during the classroom instructional periods. However, with the roll-out of the district’s new “1:1 Chromebook” initiative, students will no longer need access to their own devices during classroom time. According to the policy draft, students must turn off and put away their cell phones during each classroom period. There is no change to the policy regarding cell phone use in an emergency situation. The “in class” policy change will be reinforced on campus through the use of “cell phone guidelines” posters. Infractions will be subject to the campuses’ Discipline Management Plan. The policy draft was developed after benchmarking with neighboring districts and feedback from KISD principals. District officials plan to present a final draft of the policy to the board in June for approval. The new policy, once approved, will be posted in July ahead of students’ return to campus in August.

 

Katy Times

Abby McCloskey suggests that Dallas ISD should conduct a technology audit, implement longer or multiple recesses, and ban smartphones on campus. These measures, she argues, would support healthy development and reduce the negative impact of excessive screen time on students' well-being.

 

Dallas News

The prevalence of active shooter incidents at schools, particularly high schools, has prompted increased discussions about campus safety measures. According to the Security Industry Association, since 1999, nearly 60% of such incidents have occurred in high schools. Although only a small percentage of schools are currently equipped with weapon detection devices, experts like Bobby Kipper of the National Center for Prevention of Community Violence believe that the adoption of these systems will likely grow in response to the rising number of shootings. Kipper advocates for enhanced training for students and faculty to respond to active shooter situations, rather than arming educators. Similarly, Remo Eyal of Decision Tactical underscores the importance of crisis response training for both law enforcement and civilians. In line with these perspectives, Orange County Public Schools has initiated a safety pilot program that includes the installation of weapons detection systems in seven schools, aiming to improve safety and preparedness.

 

News 13

The National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD) has been launched by ZeroNow, a school safety stakeholder community, to advocate for dedicated School Safety Directors in K-12 school districts nationwide. The NCSSD aims to establish standards, share best practices, and advocate for holistic school safety policies. Inaugural Chair Jason Stoddard, Director of School Safety and Security for Charles County Public Schools, stated that the NCSSD is the first organization created to establish a national standard and certification for School Safety Directors. The organization's immediate objectives include developing a cohesive safety strategy and leading its integration and implementation. The NCSSD believes that a dedicated School Safety Director is necessary in every school district to effectively mitigate risks and create a secure educational environment.

 

Port Arthur News

The Georgetown school district is seeking approval for a $649.5m bond proposal to address overcrowding and upgrade aging buildings. If passed, the bond would fund the construction of new elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as improvements to existing facilities. The district's superintendent, Devin Padavil, emphasized the need to accommodate projected growth, as demographers predict a 6,000-student increase over the next decade. The bond package also includes funding for technology upgrades, fine arts facility updates, and improvements to athletic infrastructure. The district aims to avoid relying on portable buildings and larger schools, which can create scheduling and logistical challenges. The rapid growth of the city of Georgetown, which was the fastest-growing U.S. city of over 50,000 people in 2021-2022, further underscores the need for expanded school facilities.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Leander ISD officials have presented their recommendation for a compensation plan for the 2024-25 school year. The plan includes a 2% pay raise for staff members.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Valle Verde Early College High School has been ranked number 1 among El Paso public high schools, according to U.S. News & World Report. The school achieved a score of 98.64 out of 100 and had a 100% graduation rate. It also had 100% of students taking at least one Advanced Placement (AP) test. The rankings evaluated nearly 18,000 eligible public high schools at the national, state, and local levels. Valle Verde Early College High School was ranked 35th in Texas and 241st in the nation. Other high schools in the Ysleta Independent School District also made the top 20 list in El Paso. The rankings are based on college readiness, state assessment proficiency and performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate.

 

El Paso Times

The Fort Worth ISD will no longer provide free school supplies to elementary students next year as federal relief funds expire. The district spent about $4.5m on classroom supplies for the 2021-2022 school year, but the last round of funding expires on September 30. Families will be responsible for purchasing their own supplies starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, executive director and founder of Parent Shield Fort Worth, expressed concern for economically disadvantaged families and hopes other resources will be available for them to obtain supplies. The change has sparked debate about equal access to school supplies and the burden placed on families who purchase their own supplies.

 

Star-Telegram

With early voting underway on the Hallsville ISD Board of Trustees, three candidates, Lee Gaw, Matt Folmar, and Chandra Lyons, are seeking the local community's support in a contested election. The Hallsville ISD school board election includes three open positions, with only one being contested. Each of the candidates has discussed their reason for running, the most important issues facing HISD, and why people should vote for them. Gaw emphasized the importance of supporting public education, while Folmar highlighted the challenge of growth in the district. Lyons focused on bringing diversity to the school board and improving communication.

 

Marshall News Messenger

Donna Friend, an English teacher at Hebron High School, has been awarded the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year honor. This is the second time she has won the award with Hebron, the first being in 2015. Raised in a household of educators, Friend initially considered a career in consulting but found her calling after observing a real-life classroom setting. Her dedication and excellence in teaching have earned her this prestigious recognition.

 

Allen American

Hutto ISD Superintendent Raúl Peña has resigned abruptly after only seven months on the job. The board has accepted his resignation, which will be effective on July 31. Cara Malones, the assistant superintendent of human resources, has been named as the acting superintendent. Peña's departure comes as a surprise, as he was hailed as the district's first Hispanic man in the top leadership post.

 

Austin American-Statesman

The Houston ISD has withdrawn retention incentives promised to teachers at non-NES schools due to budget constraints. The district had planned to provide extra funds of $1,000 to $2,000 to teachers who continued teaching the following school year. However, an email sent to teachers said the incentives would not be happening anymore. Andrew Dewey, with the Houston Federation of Teachers, expressed disappointment, stating that HISD has made unfulfilled promises in the past. The district cited financial challenges caused by the loss of federal Covid funding as the reason for rescinding the offers. The compensation plan, which included the incentives, was still in the draft stage and subject to change until the budget is passed in June.

 

KTRK-TV