Eighth graders are not to be underestimated, especially when it comes to reading material, but some kinds of materials just shouldn’t be taught in class. This was the case when HISD teachers raised the alarm over a lesson plan around an excerpt from one of Maya Angelou’s works describing a young woman considering having sex with a man. There’s unsavory language and reference to alcohol, but the main subject matter was by far the most concerning. Especially considering this was coming directly from the district, recently under the control of the state and new Superintendent Mike Miles. The district released a statement assuring concerned parents that the oversight had been corrected, but that’s not the only controversy that’s been brewing over the past week.
A six-year-old girl and special needs student at Lantrip Elementary was found on the side of I-45 while under the school’s care. She was a car rider, but when her mother went to pick her up she had already been sent out with the walkers. Her mother was told that the girl was in the building while the school looked for her for over an hour. She only realized her daughter had left when the police called requesting that the small child be picked up.
Meanwhile in Pugh Elementary and other dual language schools, the district seems to be shifting toward an English-only curriculum at the cost of its primarily Spanish speaking students. In a previous statement Miles claimed he wouldn’t be tied to the 50-50 model, which seemed to be reflected in the district’s actions. However, he has since retracted that statement and reaffirmed his dedication to the 50-50 model and support of emergent bilingual students.
District-wide, more schools are expected to fail state rankings than last year. Which comes as a shock given that low rankings triggered the takeover in the first place. Especially when the previous 17 schools have turned into 70 or 80 that don’t make the mark. These are projections and the district is confident that it can turn these ratings around, but parents are less than confident.
Teachers also have gripes with the district, with many reports of stipends and salaries being significantly lower than listed on job offers. A special education teacher reported that she signed an offer promising a salary of over $100,000 only to receive a confirmation letter listing her salary at $65,000. Miles has released a statement apologizing for the mix-up and clarifying that he will not be honoring the higher salary agreements.
Finally, the district has been making moves of its own, including hiring a new Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Communications Officer. Both new hires have extensive experience in their respective fields and Miles is confident in their ability to “tackle significant challenges, act boldly, and deliver exceptional results.” They begin their work this month and time will tell if the district’s claims proves true.
