The Texas Education Agency is actively assuming control of struggling public school districts, with the latest additions being Socorro ISD and Marlin ISD.
Last week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) took action by appointing two conservators to oversee the management of the Socorro Independent School District. This decision was made following a special investigation conducted by the TEA, which revealed several violations of the Texas Education Code. These violations included the graduation of students who did not meet the necessary requirements, failure to disclose a conflict of interest involving a trustee and a vendor, as well as the unauthorized payment of $283,000 in stipends. Additionally, the TEA report highlighted complaints that were filed against board members and administrators.
According to a letter from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, the conservators include a former supervisor from the Dallas Independent School District and a director from the University of Texas at Austin.
According to Morath, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received numerous complaints about the internal academic auditor’s findings in the 2019 graduation audit. Additionally, the agency received further complaints regarding allegations of conflict of interest, unauthorized use of district funds, misuse of special education funds and personnel, and pervasive governance concerns.
He further clarified the responsibilities of the conservators, emphasizing that their involvement does not absolve the district and its governing board from the obligation to adhere to all relevant laws and regulations.
Socorro ISD, which is the second-largest school district in El Paso County, currently serves a student population of 47,000. Unfortunately, the district is facing a challenging situation with a significant $33 million deficit. Adding to the complexity, the superintendent of Socorro ISD will be leaving in June to take on a new role in an Arizona school district. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the district’s Board of Trustees has taken the decision to seek assistance from the TEA by voting in favor of a takeover request in March.
In February, the TEA initiated the transition process for taking over Marlin ISD, a school district in Falls County that caters to 880 students.
According to Morath, the district governance of Marlin ISD is undergoing a significant transition from an appointed Board of Managers to an elected Board of Trustees. This milestone marks an important moment for the school district, as the process of transitioning has been in the works for over seven years. Morath also introduced the new members of the Board of Trustees, signaling a new era of leadership for Marlin ISD.
In January 2017, Morath initiated the process of taking over the district after it received five consecutive years of unsatisfactory academic accountability ratings. To lead Marlin ISD, he appointed five new Board of Managers. In January 2019, he extended the board’s placement because the district showed no improvement in its 2017 and 2018 accountability ratings. By then, the district had received seven consecutive years of unacceptable performance.
In January 2021, Morath revealed a timeline for the district’s Board of Managers transition. However, due to various factors, the commencement of the transition was postponed until Jan. 31, 2024. Morath also shared that more trustees will join the board in January 2025 and January 2026.
In January, La Joya ISD in the Rio Grande Valley underwent a takeover after a TEA investigation discovered that two LJISD trustees and three central office administrators were involved in various illegal activities. These included acts of extortion, receiving kickbacks, bribery, theft, wire fraud, and money laundering, all of which are felonies. The individuals responsible for these crimes were convicted almost two years ago.
Last year, the TEA also took control of Houston ISD after a prolonged legal battle, mirroring the situation with LJISD.
In the previous year, the Texas Legislature enacted a law that aimed to streamline the process for TEA in addressing issues concerning underperforming public schools and instances of corruption.