TASB Talks

Tracy Fisher, Coppell ISD school board member, was named TASB's first-ever Advocate of the Year. She talks with host Kay Douglas about steps any trustee can take to speak up for Texas public schools.  Find your regional Grassroots Meeting: https://bit.ly/3oxjKh2 Subscribe to Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0   ©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserve...

H.T. Sanchez, Plainview ISD, was recently named the 2021 Superintendent of the Year. He joins Kay to talk about: How to hire and retain good teachers How Plainview ISD makes college readiness systemic His advice to boards on working well with a superintendent ©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Aledo ISD's Board President Hoyt Harris and VP Jessica Brown join Kay for a conversation on what makes them the top school board in the state. They share advice on working well with the superintendent and improvements they've made in the past few years.  ©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We are pleased to welcome the new host of TASB Talks, Kay Douglas! You may know her already from her many years training school boards across Texas.  We chat with Dax for a recap of the second special legislative session of 2021. Get details on bills that were passed, like virtual learning and critical race theory. We also chat about what's happening with mask mandates in schools and the upcoming...

Dax may have Post-Legislative Stress Syndrome, but he's moving forward. In our legislative session wrap-up episode, we chat about: The death of the virtual learning bill and what it means for next school year. The final version of the HB 3 (2019) cleanup bill. HB 999, individual graduation committees. HB 547, districts may allow homeschool kids to participate in UIL activities. And yes, it's comin...

"This is the session of zombie bills." Sine die is Monday and legislators are working overtime (Dax, too). Get updates on: Virtual instruction HB 3 cleanup bill SB 10, transparency in lobbying  And, we bid a special farewell to TASB Talks host Amanda Quraishi. Sign up for alerts from Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0 Sign up for the TASB Legislative Report email updates: htt...

We have a special episode this week! Dax is joined by his fellow TASB Governmental Relations staff members Marisha, Whitney, and Ruben. The roundtable discussion includes updates on virtual instruction bills, changes to the accountability system, and how the permitless carry bill would affect education. Sign up for alerts from Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0  

Dax is staying hydrated during these final weeks of the 87th Texas Legislature, where time is of the essence for any bills hoping to get passed. Texas trustees will return to the Capitol Wednesday. Our hosts talk about some public ed-related bills that died this week.   Follow TASB on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tasbpage   Twitter: https://twitter.com/tasbnews  

TASB Governmental Relations is tracking 1,000 bills. Meanwhile, time is running out to get legislation heard.  This week, Dax and Q discuss the $11.2 billion in federal relief funds that will be allocated to Texas public schools. How will they be distributed? What's the timeline? Our hosts also chat about SB 28 and charter school accountability. Sign up to receive TASB's Legislative Report: https:...

The House is working on the state budget. Some important amendments were made to SB 1 that affect education, including guidance on the $18 billion in federal relief funds. SB 28 would limit the power of the State Board of Education and give more power to the education commissioner when it comes to charter applications.  Contact your lawmakers about SB 28: https://bit.ly/3tSr6vT   ©2021 Texas Assoc...

Things are moving quickly in the #txlege. Listen to Dax and Q discuss: The state budget and what it means for public education SB 28, a bill that would weaken oversight of charters $18 billion in federal funds meant for schools that have not been distributed.  Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report:  https://bit.ly/31q1fyK Trustees, take part in our legislative advocacy game: https://bit.ly/2QAuWuT...

On this week's Lege Update, Dax and Q talk about: The budget bill that passed the Texas Senate. An update on federal stimulus money for schools. What happened with STAAR testing? Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK ©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TASB Governmental Relations is tracking more than 1,000 bills in the Texas Legislature. Dax and Amanda discuss just a few of them, including: SB 1, the Senate's budget bill SB 28, charter school expansion SB 481, pandemic operations HB 299, individual graduation committees HB 1525, the House Bill 3 (2019) cleanup bill Contact your lawmakers on education issues: https://bit.ly/3cxTKME ©2021 Texas A...

Learn more about the education bills that were heard last week: HB 749, community censorship, would severely limit school board members' abilities to advocate at the Capitol. HB 3687 would increase transparency in lobbying. SB 1365, directed at Houston ISD, would expand the powers of the TEA Commissioner.  SB 28, related to charter schools, would remove the authority of the State Board of Educatio...

It's the first of our weekly Lege Updates! Dax and Amanda talk about: • The $12.4 billion in COVID relief funding earmarked for Texas public schools. How will it be used? • The Texas Supreme Court ruling on Houston ISD's school board • HB 1438 and charter school accountability • Charter school funding and spending • HB 5: Access to broadband services • Bills that were voted out of the House Public...

We chat with Dax Gonzalez, TASB's director of Governmental Relations, about the projected revenues for the state's upcoming budget cycle, education committee assignments, and what to expect at the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference taking place on February 23.  Register for the free Legislative Conference: https://events.tasb.org/?eventId=5744   ©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rig...

Students are the primary stakeholders in education. How can district leaders engage students to co-create, work through problems together, and seek a variety of perspectives to improve student experiences? Merrit Jones, senior advisor for Student Voice, shares her experiences working with districts across the country.  TASB's Governance Camp is powered by Student Voice. Don't miss this year's virt...

The Texas legislative session begins January 12, and the pandemic is sure to have a major impact on the proceedings. We talk with Dax Gonzalez, TASB's division director of Governmental Relations, about what to expect when it comes to education funding, state budget woes, charter school expansion, and more. Sign up for alerts by texting SCHOOLS to 313131. School board members can sign up for the Sc...

Sarah Orman, lead attorney for TASB Legal Services, joins us to discuss the Title IX regulations that went into effect on August 14. With new rules about defining and responding to sexual harassment, it's important for Texas school districts to be aware of the changes and train staff appropriately. For more on the new Title IX regulations, visit TASB Legal eSource: https://bit.ly/3mqCwmz   Joe Bid...

We speak to Dr. Angela Herron, chief teaching and learning officer at Grand Prairie ISD, about her research on school board presidents and their relationships to the rest of the board. She discusses the role of the president as a facilitator between the superintendent and the rest of the board, and the shift in boards to serving the community as a whole. Herron will share her research at the upcom...

Former California School Boards Association Executive Director Davis W. Campbell shares the four characteristics of high-functioning school boards. Boards must be unified in order to provide a high-quality education to all students. He also chats with us about the opportunity gap and how it's been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Campbell will share his expertise at the upcoming XG Summit, a...

Dr. Samuel Bonsu Jr., researcher and assistant principal in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, shares his knowledge of the board self-assessment survey and the five standards that define the duty of a school board member.  Bonsu will share more of his research at the upcoming XG Summit, a conference that focuses on how school boards can positively affect student achievement through eXceptional Governance....

Dr. Paul Johnson, associate professor at Bowling Green State University and a researcher on how school boards impact student achievement, shares with us his 12 leadership practices of effective school boards. He also discusses the importance of a healthy relationship between boards and superintendents and offers his own experience serving as a trustee. Johnson is a featured speaker at the upcoming...

The Texas Education Agency is now requiring districts to submit special education operating procedures. We speak with Dana Johnson, director of special education at Georgetown ISD; Jessica Witte, senior associate at Thompson and Horton; and Karlyn Keller, TASB's division director of special education about what's included in special education operating procedures, best practices, options for creat...

The Sheldon ISD school board has a passion for engaging the community, supporting teachers, and focusing on students. Latricia Archie, board president, talks about the importance of transparency and the great things happening in Sheldon schools.  The Sheldon ISD board is one of five 2020 Honor Boards named by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The five boards are now finalists...