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HISD chief backs off magnet transportation cuts for now
By CHARLOTTE AGUILAR
Students relying on district buses to get to Houston ISD’s magnet schools won’t see any changes until at least the 2010-’11 school year.
Supt. Abelardo Saavedra announced Monday he was yielding to an outcry against his proposals to scale back some longer routes and said that the district will evaluate the cost effectiveness of the busing system as part of an announced overall review of magnet programs this spring.
Saavedra had indicated he would bring the matter before the school board this month, but he had faced harsh opposition in public meetings to air his proposals, and it did not appear he had a majority of board members’ support.
One of the opponents was Trustee Dianne Johnson. “I'm on record as being opposed to this proposal from the first time it was mentioned,” Johnson said in an e-mail response to news of Saavedra’s reversal. “I'm glad the superintendent isn't bringing it forward because I could not have voted for it.”
Saavedra’s statement was issued by HISD Press Secretary Norm Uhl Monday night:
“Since the deadline for magnet applications is coming up on Jan. 9, I had hoped to bring a proposal to the board this month to make our costly magnet transportation system more efficient,” it read. “However, after holding a series of community meetings I have decided to follow the public’s advice to hold off on that issue and combine it with our discussions later this spring on establishing magnet school standards and funding formulas.”
Parents are relieved — among them, Mary Nesbitt who has children in the magnet languages program at Kolter Elementary in Meyerland and who sits on the district advisory committee.
“Parents appreciate the willingness of the district to postpone their recommendations on transportation until a broader, strategic, more comprehensive plan is developed,” Nesbitt said.
The superintendent said that review — which will include public hearings — would use a 2006 study of magnet programs done by a district committee comprised of parents, faculty, staff and others in the community as its launching point.
He indicated any changes would require board approval and not take effect until the 2010-’11 school year.
“Engaged parents are hopeful that the superintendent willl involve us early in the review process as true partners in public education,” Nesbitt said.
She and others have argued that the district needs to compile more significant data about magnet programs before making any changes.
In his statement, Saavedra stuck by the position he took on magnet transportation: that money wasn’t being divided equitably among schools and that the district is spending more transporting magnet students than on their programs.
Supt. Abelardo Saavedra announced Monday he was yielding to an outcry against his proposals to scale back some longer routes and said that the district will evaluate the cost effectiveness of the busing system as part of an announced overall review of magnet programs this spring.
Saavedra had indicated he would bring the matter before the school board this month, but he had faced harsh opposition in public meetings to air his proposals, and it did not appear he had a majority of board members’ support.
One of the opponents was Trustee Dianne Johnson. “I'm on record as being opposed to this proposal from the first time it was mentioned,” Johnson said in an e-mail response to news of Saavedra’s reversal. “I'm glad the superintendent isn't bringing it forward because I could not have voted for it.”
Saavedra’s statement was issued by HISD Press Secretary Norm Uhl Monday night:
“Since the deadline for magnet applications is coming up on Jan. 9, I had hoped to bring a proposal to the board this month to make our costly magnet transportation system more efficient,” it read. “However, after holding a series of community meetings I have decided to follow the public’s advice to hold off on that issue and combine it with our discussions later this spring on establishing magnet school standards and funding formulas.”
Parents are relieved — among them, Mary Nesbitt who has children in the magnet languages program at Kolter Elementary in Meyerland and who sits on the district advisory committee.
“Parents appreciate the willingness of the district to postpone their recommendations on transportation until a broader, strategic, more comprehensive plan is developed,” Nesbitt said.
The superintendent said that review — which will include public hearings — would use a 2006 study of magnet programs done by a district committee comprised of parents, faculty, staff and others in the community as its launching point.
He indicated any changes would require board approval and not take effect until the 2010-’11 school year.
“Engaged parents are hopeful that the superintendent willl involve us early in the review process as true partners in public education,” Nesbitt said.
She and others have argued that the district needs to compile more significant data about magnet programs before making any changes.
In his statement, Saavedra stuck by the position he took on magnet transportation: that money wasn’t being divided equitably among schools and that the district is spending more transporting magnet students than on their programs.
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