(Texas Scorecard) – Houston Independent School District will begin with 748 fewer teachers, KPRC reported on Thursday.
According to state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles’ weekly newsletter to parents and teachers, the largest school district in Texas will begin the 2024-2025 school year with 10,640 teachers compared to 11,388 teachers last year.
“Every school district worries about staffing its campuses—it is one of the biggest challenges in education right now,” Miles said.
He added, “For HISD though, given the transformational work we are doing on behalf of students, the work to select and retain the most committed and effective talent is mission-critical.”
Miles cited two factors that contributed to the reduction in teachers.
Specifically, he stated that HISD seeks to staff schools with effective teachers who want to make a difference for students. As a result, some educators were removed due to performance.
“1,400 (nearly half) of the employees who have left the district since August of 2023 were a result of performance issues.”
Miles also explained that to maximize resources, staffing levels needed to match the enrollment on campuses, the news outlet reported. While previous HISD administrations chose not to adjust staffing at schools that lost enrollment, “HISD simply cannot afford to overstaff these campuses any longer.”
The HISD superintendent said that although there were a few vacancies in the district, “every student will start the school year with an ‘effective educator’ in their classrooms.”
HISD is asking voters to approve a historic $4.4 billion bond this November, the largest bond package in Texas history.
HISD’s bond would go towards helping the district upgrade and renovate campuses, enhance safety and security, and expand educational programs.