HISD teachers and parents react to possible TEA takeover

“The state is going too far on this issue,” Turner said at a Houston City Council meeting on Wednesday.

The news that TEA is taking over HISD is not surprising. TEA began its takeover efforts in 2019 due to schools consistently failing and due to alleged misconduct by some of the trustees, among other things. In January, the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling paving the way for a TEA takeover.

Most of the teachers KHOU 11 News spoke to on Wednesday did not support the idea that TEA would lead HISD. Some of those opposed said they hope the state will listen to their concerns. They said they didn’t feel like anyone in Austin had a better understanding of the issues they were dealing with in Houston.

“People who have power are not accountable to you and may not be as accessible as your current elected councilors,” said teacher Carretta Fontenot.

They said that they are in the classroom every day and the possibility of a TEA takeover is causing uncertainty among teachers. Houston Federation of Teachers officials said members were nervous, with some even considering leaving the district by the end of the year if there was a takeover.

“They really feel like a target. Some are talking about leaving the county,” Fonteno said.

They said that if it did, it would put a strain on the teacher shortage that the district is already dealing with. The teachers said they believe the district has made changes and is moving in the right direction. They want the local council to continue on this path.

“We are going backwards with a government takeover and it is not clear to many of us why this decision (has been made) at this point, despite the successes we have seen. Despite the pandemic and the successes … the trajectory we are on,” said teacher Daniel Santos.

It’s not a settled matter yet, but some teachers have said they won’t give up without a fight. Local union leaders said they would have a response to Gov. Greg Abbott next week.

Some parents are in favor of the takeover, but most of those who spoke to KHOU 11 News on Wednesday were against it.

They said they were concerned that their right to elect district representatives would be forfeited.

“We are losing our votes. Because of this, we are deprived of voting rights. We voted for this school board. We removed people and introduced new ones, ”said parent Libby Ingrassia.

Ingrassia said it is better for children to keep local control. She worries that the government agency won’t do better for them.

“The politics that TEA is interested in do not fit with what I consider good education,” Ingrassia said. “I think keeping it under local control is safer for our students. Now it requires us as parents to be very involved in this local control. But at least we have that option when it’s local.”

Dani Hernandez, president of the HISD school board, said the community should choose who runs HISD.

“I passionately believe that HISD needs Democratic elected council and that parents in the community should do their part in who runs the county,” Hernandez said.