Houston ISD superintendent concludes community meetings ahead of Fall semester
Houston ISD parents attend community meetings
In our continuing coverage of the state takeover of Houston ISD, and changes coming to the district, the new superintendent concluded his community meetings to answer questions parents may have ahead of the school 2023-24 school year. FOX 26's Sherman Desselle has a breakdown of what was discussed.
HOUSTON - Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles is continuing to meet with parents and community members to discuss the state takeover of the district.
At Saturday's community engagement meeting at West Briar Middle School, Miles pointed out the need to improve reading, math, and science performance levels in many of the underserved schools in the district. His vision is to do "whole scale systemic reform" with at least 150 schools in the district.
Miles's plan has been met with mixed reactions from education leaders.
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Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, questioned the district's commitment to the NES and NES-aligned schools.
"If you really believe within your heart that these changes and all of this transformation is going to be good for those NES students, why don't you enroll your kids in those schools," Anderson asked.
"My son George goes to a school in HISD that's not NES or NES aligned, but I would be happy to put him in an NES-aligned school," Board Member Michelle Cruz Arnold replied. "If my son's school chose to be one in the next year, I'd be happy to send him there."
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As the majority of parents who ask questions at the meeting are opposed to the changes, there are also supporters of Miles' vision, including one educator who said she's concerned about her own children's curriculum.
"For the past seven years, I have been very outspoken about the subpar math instruction that my children have received here in West Houston," said the mother.
"Administrators dismiss me because these are "the good schools." Miles offered the mother, who says she has extensive experience in education, an opportunity to work for the district to improve the curriculum.
"Even our good schools, schools that get higher achievement, can improve," he said.
Houston ISD students head back to school on Aug. 28. Teachers will return two weeks before.