The appointed Board of Directors is set to replace the elected HISD Board after June 1. The transitional offer comes about a month after TEA announced it would take over the local school district’s operations, and just a few weeks after four state-hosted public meetings sparked frustration among community members.
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath will select the Board of Directors, and once that happens, the HISD Board will have no power but will act in an advisory capacity.
The agency said TEA has already received hundreds of applications for the board, many of them from former teachers. Qualifications for the positions include: Living within the confines of HISD, No criminal convictions for a crime involving fraud or theft, Ability to pass a background check, Completion of an annual conflict of interest disclosure.
The appointed board member position is not paid but requires 40 hours per month for the first six weeks and 15 hours per month thereafter. According to TEA officials, board members are expected to remain in office for at least two years until the district has met all exit criteria to regain leadership.
TEA officials cited successive failed impeachment ratings at Wheatley High School and mismanagement on the HISD board as triggers for the state’s intervention. Local parents, students, teachers, and HISD staff are concerned that the intervention could negatively affect the school district.