The Texas Education Agency is taking the reins at Pearsall ISD after the district failed to meet state standards for several years. The entire board of trustees and superintendent will be replaced.
In a letter to the district, the TEA says that this was imperative; to prevent more harm to the district’s students. On Tuesday, the superintendent told KENS 5 that Pearsall ISD plans to fight back.
The TEA says that Pearsall ISD has had years of “academically unacceptable or insufficient performances.”
In 2015, the district made an agreement with the state: If a review of the 2016 academic accountability rating did not improve or the financial accountability rating was low, the TEA would appoint a new board of managers.
Pearsall ISD’s academic accountability rating didn’t meet the mark, prompting the TEA’s decision. The district has not filed an appeal, based on what the superintendent calls a technicality.
“We feel that our appeal has merit,” Superintendent Dr. Nobert Rodriguez said. “We have met all test-related standards with the accountability system. We have experienced a technical issue in the area of career, technology, and education.”
A decision on the appeal will be made some time in December.
“We are confident that our appeal will be supported,” Dr. Rodriguez added. “We ask the community of Pearsall to continue to support the students, the school, as we move on toward the future of our district.”
The TEA appointed a conservator in the meantime.