North Forest school board faces ouste/TEA Taking Over

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Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott announced today that he will oust the North Forest school board and the superintendent and appoint his own administration to run the long-troubled district.

The drastic step will take place as soon as the state receives approval from the U.S. Department of Justice to remove the seven elected trustees. Scott plans to appoint three trustees — called a board of managers — in their place, plus a superintendent to replace interim Superintendent William Jones.

The northeast Houston district, which serves about 8,000 mostly poor, minority students, is expected to start the new school year with an $11.8 million budget deficit, according to the Texas Education Agency.

North Forest has had a TEA-appointed financial conservator on site since March 2007 and an academic overseer joined him in November.

"It's unfortunate that this drastic action is necessary," Scott said in a written statement. "We have tried every intervention at our disposal except this one.

"While our management team and agency employees have helped the district cut its deficit and improve its academic performance, the district remains in a very precarious position," Scott continued. "It is necessary for the Texas Education Agency to place a superintendent and board in the district to safeguard the educational environment for students."

The TEA only has ousted two other school boards — in the Wilmer-Hutchins district outside Dallas in 2006 and in Kendleton in the early 1990s.

School board President Tobie Ross Jr. said he did not have any immediate comment.

The North Forest Independent School District has been in trouble with the TEA on and off for two decades because of serious academic and financial problems.

The notoriously divided school board has fired or forced out four of its last five superintendents, most recently firing Superintendent James Simpson and paying him about $233,000 in severance.

The board has twice tried to rehire Simpson, but the TEA conservators have used their power under state law to overrule the trustees.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who has defended North Forest, said the congresswoman opposes the TEA's decision.

In June, Scott placed North Forest on probation — which is one step short of closing the district.

Scott said he hopes the board of managers, which has all the powers of a regularly elected school board, will stabilize the district so he is not forced to shut it down. The board of managers can remain for up to two years.

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