Published: 10-17-08
AUSTIN - The U.S. Department of Justice has given the Texas Education Agency a green light to install a new superintendent and board of managers in the North Forest Independent School District.
“We plan to move as expeditiously as possible to install this new team to help North Forest. However I am waiting to make these appointments until some legal challenges are resolved” Commissioner of Education Robert Scott said.
Because Texas is one of the jurisdictions subject to preclearance under the Voting Rights Act the justice department must review any plans that could affect voting.
A letter was received from the department late Monday approving the move.
However last week the 3rd Court of Appeals issued a stay ordering the TEA to halt an administrative record review of the decision to install a board of managers and name a new superintendent.
A record review allows a district to present any relevant information it wishes the agency to consider before issuing a final decision. The record review was completed shortly before the stay was received on Thursday. The attorney representing the North Forest board members presented no information on the district’s behalf.
“While our position is that the record review was completed before the court’s order was received we will work through the Attorney General’s Office to resolve this issue before moving ahead with the installation of the superintendent and managers” Scott said.
The court’s order requires TEA to file a response by Friday.
The TEA-installed superintendent and board of managers will have all the authority granted by law to a superintendent and a school board. The agency announced its plans to install the team in July but was awaiting preclearance from Justice.
In the meantime two agency staff members and two conservators will continue to work with North Forest to improve its financial and academic status. Additionally a TEA auditor goes to North Forest each month to help the district with cash flow statements and accounting issues.
With the help of this team the district’s budget deficit has been reduced from a $17 million deficit projection in February to $11 million today and its academic programs have been strengthened.
