This week our news again centers on Tarrant County, specifically Fort Worth and Keller ISDs. Fort Worth has been holding community meetings on school closures. Keller ISD is continuing doing whatever it thinks it’s doing.
- Texas Tribune: Republican lawmaker files bills to ban DEI in Texas K-12 public schools. I don’t even have words for how this bill is taking up valuable time that could go to solving a real problem in Texas.
- Fort Worth Report: Tarrant Appraisal District to discuss reappraisal plan in March amid school district outcry. The outcry is because the reappraisal plan (every two years) is going to significantly reduce school district funding. One of the things I like about the Fort Worth Report is that they explain matters like how changing the timing of appraisals interacts with state funding.
- Arlington Report: Arlington gives final approval to gas wells near day care center over resident opposition. Technically not a school story but I feel like it fits.
- Dallas Free Press: Second resource center for DISD families to open in West Dallas. Resources available include free groceries twice a month, a laundry room with detergent included, and afterschool activities for DISD children.
- Fort Worth Report: Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD’s nature-infused admin building wins statewide award. It also includes two science labs for students.
- Star-Telegram editorial: Did FWISD find best possible superintendent? No one can say, and that’s not ideal | Opinion. They’re not happy about the lack of transparency in the hiring process.
- Star-Telegram: 4 challengers are on Fort Worth ISD school board ballot in May. Here are their priorities.
- A series of articles on upcoming Fort Worth ISD school closures and the community discussions around them:
- Fort Worth Report: ‘Comes with some sacrifice’: Fort Worth ISD tells communities about school closure options.
- Star-Telegram: More questions than answers for community at Fort Worth ISD meeting on school closures.
- Star-Telegram: ‘A lot of talking at people’: Fort Worth ISD holds second meeting on school closures.
- Fort Worth Report: Fort Worth ISD seeks balance between community voice, data in school closure plan.
- Star-Telegram: Fort Worth ISD’s third community meeting on school closures sparks array of emotions.
- Fort Worth Report: After his son adjusted to school, he learned the boy’s Fort Worth ISD campus could close.
- Star-Telegram: Fort Worth ISD could join hundreds of districts suing 4 social media giants. Here’s why. 200 districts including HISD and Northside ISD in San Antonio are already plaintiffs in the suit against Google (YouTube), Meta (Facebook and Instagram)m ByteDance (TikTok), and Snap (Snapchat), claiming the companies designed the products to addict children and teens and instill anxiety when they’re not online. The suit’s allegations may have some merit but I’m not sure what the legal recourse is.
- There are two stories on Keller ISD’s budget shortfall. From the Star-Telegram: Extensive cuts likely in Keller school district as it wrestles with budget shortfall. And from the Fort Worth Report: Keller ISD grapples with potential $12.4M deficit as new split details emerge. The Fort Worth Report story also covers more of the ongoing issues around the possible breakup of the district and the previously reported rezoning of the land owned by the district.
- Related in the Star-Telegram: Keller school board member frustrated that colleagues hid cost of district audit.
- Star-Telegram: Fort Worth wants to buy troubled Keller ISD property, but certain conditions must be met. This is about the land that Keller ISD had to buy next to one of their elementary schools last year because they failed to get it zoned properly to keep someone from putting an extended-stay motel next to the school.
- Fort Worth Report: City of Fort Worth pushes for public vote in Keller ISD split.
- Star-Telegram: Texas school district reports on investigation into bullying that led to girl’s suicide. This is the case Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, who was taunted by classmates who threatened to have her family deported. The district is Gainesville ISD, near the Oklahoma border.
- Two stories about Ponder ISD’s switch to a four-day week in the 2025-2026 school year. First, from WFAA: Another North Texas school district is switching to a four-day schedule. And from KERA: Ponder ISD approves 4-day school week for next year. Ponder ISD is in Denton County.