The Canutillo Independent School District on Tuesday approved a resolution calling for Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to reconsider his decision to remove the Board of Trustees and Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District and replace them with an appointed Board of Managers.
The resolution, which was approved on a 5-2 vote by the Canutillo Board, outlines reasons why a state takeover of a school district may not be beneficial to students, communities and taxpayers.
“We firmly believe that it is up to each community to determine the best path forward for their schools,” said Board President Patsy Mendoza. “Local control of school districts is a Texas value, and this move by the Texas Education Agency goes against that core value.”
Voting in favor of the resolution were Mendoza as well as trustees Lucy Borrego, Armando Rodriguez, Bobby Simental and Cindy Zuñiga. Trustees Breanne Barnes and Blanca Trout voted against the resolution.
Morath cited low student performance at one school as the chief reason behind the state takeover of Houston ISD.
The approved resolution outlines reasons why the state should reconsider this move, including: improving test scores in Houston, the election of new Board members and a new superintendent, local governance and the lack of a concrete plan to improve test scores at the impacted campus.