Author: Michael McCardel
DALLAS — The reverberations from the state takeover of the Fort Worth ISD are still being felt throughout the district.
And as students, parents, teachers, and the community at large wonder what happens next, particularly in terms of district leadership, some state lawmakers hope to step in and fill the void.
State Representative Ramon Romero Jr, D-District 90, says in the absence of a board of trustees, community members can lean on their representatives, who can speak directly to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath.
When we asked Rep. Romero if he supports what the TEA has done, he told us it’s a decision that’s already been made. So, his focus now is on supporting students and families.
“I’m so apologetic to the parents of children, whether it’s this generation or those that have already graduated high school, that Fort Worth ISD has failed. There’s far too many children who are not reaching reading level when they get to high school,” the Democrat told us on Inside Texas Politics.
And Rep. Romero has skin in the game.
He is a graduate of FWISD’s Polytechnic High School. He still lives in that neighborhood to this day. His brother is also a teacher and coach at the school.
“I’m disappointed because I can see it right here in my own neighborhood. I don’t have to go far. And families have been concerned for a long time. So, I hope that whatever happens, the decision’s been made, that we can unite, that this is over quickly, and whatever changes need to happen is positive and we can get back to the norms,” Romero said.
The state takeover happened after a single campus in the district, Leadership Academy at Forest Oak 6th Grade, received a failing grade from the state for five years in a row. But Commissioner Morath has stressed that the state takeover goes far beyond the results at a single campus.
While Romero says there are a number of issues within the district, including a lack of resources and a low participation rate in the parent portal, he also doesn’t think a single campus should be the reason for the state to take control of an entire district, something he says he’s made clear to Morath.
“I don’t feel like one campus in a district as large as Fort Worth ISD with, you know, close to 80,000 students, 70,000 students, one school failing doesn’t really indicate the entire district,” Romero said. “There’s so many bright spots around the district. Schools that are A-rated, some of are being closed. Some of those parents are going to suffer and struggle, and good teachers are going to leave. That is a struggle I have.”
This post was originally published here.