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Sept. 23, 2026
Pasadena ISD cancels vote that would have quadrupled some employee healthcare premiums

(Houston Public Media) After intense backlash from employees, Pasadena ISD Superintendent Toni Lopez removed the vote from the agenda just hours before the school board meeting and committed to keeping the current medical plan in place. In a short statement on its website, Pasadena ISD said the current self-funded medical plan ran a deficit for several years. The district proposed transitioning to the Teacher Retirement System TRS-ActiveCare. If approved, the changes would have begun to take effect Jan. 1.

Santa Fe ISD board approves plans and contract tied to Santa Fe 10 Memorial

(KTRK) The Santa Fe ISD board unanimously approved plans and a contract tied to the Santa Fe Ten Memorial. The board voted Monday night to approve the memorial foundation’s plans and a contract between the foundation and the general contractor. The memorial will honor the 10 people who died and other victims of the May 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School.

Former Fort Bend ISD superintendent reimburses district $17K in lawsuit settlement, officials say

(KTRK) Fort Bend ISD says it has settled the defamation and breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in December 2024 by former superintendent Christie Whitbeck, who claimed she was forced to retire in late 2023, just months after the board unanimously extended her contract. Her suit named the district and trustees Sonya Jones, David Hamilton, and Judy Dae, and alleged they violated her Voluntary Retirement Agreement by making disparaging public remarks instead of issuing the agreed unified statement. Whitbeck’s attorney, Chris Tritico, said on Sept. 17 that the case was resolved and closed. In a Monday release, the district called the suit baseless and said Whitbeck reimbursed it $17,500 for legal fees it had paid with taxpayer money to defend the case.

Cy-Fair ISD Bond Proposals Carry $3.2 Billion Price Tag With Interest

(Texas Scorecard) Voters in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District will decide in November whether to approve more than $3.2 billion in new bond debt. This proposal comes as the district faces a projected $80.9 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year.

Fired Houston ISD veteran teacher alleges discrimination and retaliation in federal court filing

(Houston Chronicle) A 26-year teaching veteran who was fired from Houston ISD in April has filed a federal lawsuit, alleging discrimination and retaliation and seeking a jury trial. Alaster Gaines, who taught eighth grade math at Patrick Henry Middle School, reported issues with testing, retaliation, special education requirements, discriminatory treatment and workplace safety, according to the lawsuit. Gaines, who is representing herself in the legal proceedings, alleges HISD violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, among other claims.

Keene football cancels remainder of 2026 season and all of 2027 schedule

(Cleburne Times-Review) Head coach Ethan Stepp and the Keene Chargers announced the cancellation of all remaining 2026 scheduled games and all 2027 games on Tuesday afternoon. In an email sent to multiple outlets, Stepp stated the high number of injuries and lack of available players as reasons for the decision.

Gunter ISD votes to fire its head baseball coach

(KTEN) This week, Gunter ISD administrators announced they’ve proposed firing their head baseball coach. Daryl Hellman has been leading the baseball team since 2021. It comes after district staff did an investigation into allegations that Hellman made inappropriate comments.

Spring ISD Westfield High School ramps up security after 15-year-old shot, killed near campus — Search for shooter continues

(KHOU) A 15-year-old Westfield High School student was shot and killed on a sidewalk near the school in north Harris County Tuesday afternoon, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Gonzalez said during a news conference that the shooting happened around 2:35 to 2:40 p.m., shortly after Westfield High School dismissed for the day. The teen was shot on a sidewalk adjacent to the Spring ISD administration building and Westfield High School. Gonzalez stressed that the shooting did not happen inside the school, in its parking lot or on school property. The teen was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Former Northside ISD teacher indicted on child sexual assault charges

(San Antonio Express-News) A San Antonio elementary school teacher previously accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a former 5th-grade student has been indicted by a Bexar County grand jury. Cecilia Mueller, 47, a former fifth-grade teacher at Henderson Elementary School, was indicted this week on one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child. If convicted, Mueller could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

2 Willis ISD High School students taken into custody after ‘bomb’ statements

(Fox 26 Houston) Two students were taken into custody on Tuesday for allegedly making statements about having a bomb. The incident comes a day after a gun was found on campus. On Tuesday, new safety measures were put in place due to two guns being found on campus within a month. Students will now enter the school through a metal detector, and their bags will be searched. Students will have to place all items except laptops into their backpacks before entering the building.

Student detained after bringing gun to Kaufman ISD junior high campus

(Fox 4 KDFW) Kaufman ISD says a student brought a gun to O.P. Norman Junior High School on Tuesday. The district says the student is now in custody and campus police secured the firearm, and that no students or staff members were harmed.

Missouri woman facing federal charges for Karmelo Anthony trial threats

(Fox 4 KDFW) 34-year-old Sharifa Nicole Henderson, of Missouri, was federally indicted and charged with making interstate threatening communications. Prosecutors say Henderson threatened the family of Austin Metcalf at least three times in June 2026, during the murder trial for Karmelo Anthony, the teen convicted of killing Metcalf during a track meet. Court documents state Henderson messaged Metcalf’s family on her Facebook page, saying she would “demolish” them and wanted to “strangle” a family member.

Livingston ISD PTO member arrested for forging bank statements

(KETK) Livingston police have arrested a parent-teacher organization board member accused of falsifying bank statements. Matthew Anderson, 40, of Livingston, is charged with forgery. Detectives and Texas Rangers began an investigation and determined Anderson had falsified PTO bank statements for personal financial gain.

Hays CISD, Pflugerville ISD students walk out of class following ICE shooting in Austin

(KXAN) Students at schools in Hays County and Pflugerville walked out of class Tuesday following the shooting of a 28-year-old man by an ICE agent in north Austin over the weekend. Several Hays CISD students gathered outside their schools Tuesday afternoon, saying they wanted to raise awareness about immigration enforcement and concerns they have about its impact on families. Dozens of students in Pflugerville also participated in a walkout, with students expressing similar concerns about immigration enforcement.

UNT removes webpage about LGBTQ library archives after North Texas lawmaker’s posts

(Dallas Morning News) State Rep. Brian Harrison said he wanted the library’s archive, one of the largest collections of LGBTQ history in North Texas, to be “gone.”

Women and Gender Studies class among courses struck from Texas A&M University-San Antonio core curriculum

(San Antonio Express-News) A women and gender studies class and 11 other courses will no longer count toward core curriculum requirements at Texas A&M University-San Antonio after a university committee reviewed all the classes that satisfy general education standards.

Humanities degrees see lowest award rates in decades

(Daily Texan) Bachelor’s degrees in humanities were awarded at a significantly lower level compared to the past decade in 2025, according to a Sept. 8 report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Humanities Indicators project. UT Austin’s numbers over the same period dipped even further, according to University data. The humanities are defined as the “knowledge, skills, and activities that help people interpret and engage with language, culture, history, and the ongoing search for meaning and connection in human life,” according to the organization behind the report. Examples of humanities degrees offered at UT Austin include cultural, ethnic & gender studies, history, philosophy and religion.

This TCU school helps special education students succeed. What’s unique about it?

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) A unique laboratory school in Fort Worth helps students with learning disabilities succeed in the classroom. It’s ingredients to success aren’t novel, but duplicating the model would require investment in Texas public schools. The Starpoint School at Texas Christian University serves children with learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. The ability to meet each student’s needs through small class sizes, small-group intervention and evidence-based reading instruction are the components driving student success, said Interim Executive Director Jan Lacina. Related:

Trump admin cancels Obamacare coverage for 760,000, citing improper signups

(KXXV) The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is canceling 315,000 “unauthorized enrollments” in the federal health insurance marketplace, affecting more than 760,000 people.

Texas Rangers pursuing criminal investigation of Camp Mystic, court documents show

(Texas Tribune) In an affidavit, the Rangers said they believe camp leaders committed multiple crimes including manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 27 campers and counselors in the July 2025 flood.

TRS CIO Jase Auby to Retire Next Year

(Chief investment Officer) After 17 years directing the portfolio of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, including seven as its investment chief, Jase Auby will retire as CIO of the pension fund on January 31, 2027, the fund announced on September 21. The TRS board of trustees will undertake a nationwide search for the fund’s next CIO. Auby will continue to serve as CIO through the end of January to support the leadership transition.

Bigger welding shop means more opportunities for Somerset ISD High School students

(San Antonio Express-News) When Somerset High School students returned to campus in the fall, they had a new state-of-the-art welding classroom waiting for them. A nearly $2 million investment from the district allows more students to take welding classes, earn college credit, receive industry certifications and enter the workforce directly after graduation.  

Humble ISD asks Harris County Commissioners Court to keep graduations at Reliant Stadium

(Community Impact) Humble ISD is continuing to push back on a new policy that would bar high schools from holding graduation ceremonies at Reliant Stadium. Humble ISD is seeking help from the Harris County Commissioners Court to continue holding high school graduation ceremonies at Reliant Stadium, formerly known as NRG Stadium. The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA), which oversees Reliant Park, has opted not to hold graduations at its stadium and will instead offer the Reliant Arena, a smaller venue, HCHSA Director Martye Kendrick said. 

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