State increases control over North Forest ISD

NORTH FOREST– In a move that may suggest future action, Texas Education Agency’s financial conservator Henry Boening, exercised his power and cancelled a called board meeting that the NFISD had scheduled for last Friday evening.
The meeting had one item on it’s agenda: a final vote on a new superintendent for the district, Dr. James Simpson.
The embattled district has been struggling with deficits and low performing schools, and had hoped to move forward through its problems after choosing a new superintendent.
However, the choice of a superintendent was complicated by two issues: one, the preliminary choice had favored the prior fired head, Simpson, on a 4-3 vote; and second, the board president Tobie Ross, Jr. had subsequently indicated he would not support Simpson in a final vote.
This chaotic background, as well as calls for dissolution of the district’s board by the public and the Houston Chronicle, come in the wake of a statement by TEA that they are preparing a plan for “corrective action” according to TEA spokesperson Debbie Ratcliffe. She indicated that new action would take several more weeks to formulate and announce.
Meanwhile, the district has announced a regular board meeting for Monday, Feb. 18, but the agenda is only for normal business matters.