New training standards for Texas school district trustees are on hold after the head of the State Board of Education postponed a scheduled vote to allow time for more public input.
On Thursday, the board’s five-member Committee on School Initiatives approved a revised Framework for School Board Development that refocuses public school governance on elected trustees’ responsibility to families and taxpayers.
The preamble reads:
The board of trustees is the governing body for Texas public schools and holds the ultimate responsibility for the district’s success in educating students. Above all else, trustees owe the highest duty to students and their parents, and the board represents taxpayers, attempting to maximize learning outcomes while minimizing resources required.
During Friday’s meeting of the full 15-member board, SBOE Chairman Aaron Kinsey told members he’d “decided create an ad hoc committee that’s going to take this issue up, and we’ll bring it back to the board at a later date.”
“I’ve received some feedback from a few people in the committee, and some who were not able to attend the committee meeting, that they would like more time to consider this, and this is an avenue by which to do so, as well as as well as to incorporate more feedback,” said Kinsey.
The newly rewritten training framework, which was first considered by the committee at their April meeting, represents a significant change from the current framework adopted in 2020.
Kinsey noted that the ad hoc committee would be required to have at least one public hearing. He said he had not yet determined how the committee would be formed, although the chairman is authorized to add members to such committees.
SBOE Member Tom Maynard told Kinsey there was “a lot of chatter and discussion around this capital, and then beyond, related to this particular document,” adding that he was “a little bit uncomfortable with with process.”
Maynard said he was “in full support” of Kinsey’s action, as it would give board members more time to consider and “refine this important document” and “allow for stakeholders in the process to opine on that and to provide some input.”
Parent advocacy group Texas Education 911 encouraged the SBOE to approve the revised trustee training standards.
“School boards must understand they represent and serve the legal residents within the ISD political boundaries. Their job is to fulfill Chapter 4 of the Education Code in the most ethical, efficient, lawful manner possible,” the group posted on X.
“WE MUST end the Team of 8 concept that makes our board members nothing more than mannequins who rubber stamp what their subordinate desires, and attack the good trustee who asks too many questions. This dysfunction is about money and power NOT our children,” the post added.
