Fort Worth ISD held its inaugural board meeting since the Texas Education Agency (TEA) completed its takeover and appointed a new superintendent and board of managers. The meeting, held Tuesday night, drew a large crowd of parents and community members eager to meet the new leadership team.

TEA Intervention and New Leadership

The TEA intervened after determining the elected school board “failed the students” and hadn’t implemented sufficient improvements over several years. Commissioner Mike Morath cited widespread academic struggles, with only 34% of Fort Worth ISD students meeting grade-level requirements – 16 percentage points below the state average.

New Superintendent Pete Licata, appointed by the state, has already visited 15 schools, many of which received D or F accountability ratings. He emphasized a commitment to improving student proficiency, stating, “Three percent growth is wonderful, but it doesn’t mean they’re ever going to get to proficiency… It’s gotta be everybody.”

Parent Concerns and Calls for Transparency

Parents and community members voiced a desire for transparency from the new board. While trust isn’t fully established, attendees indicated a willingness to allow the new leadership to demonstrate their commitment to improvement. The overarching sentiment was that the board would be closely watched.

Key Votes and Policy Changes

Several significant votes were taken during the meeting. These included the approval of Licata’s acting superintendent agreement, formalizing his role, and a waiver for the superintendent certification requirement, allowing Licata time to obtain state certification.

The board also voted to temporarily suspend local board policies to re-evaluate meeting schedules and hiring practices. Licata announced plans to issue a weekly “superintendent message” to keep the community informed, regardless of the news.

Looking Ahead

Newly elected Board President Pete Green described the relationship with the superintendent as an “arranged marriage” chosen by the TEA, but highlighted Licata’s immediate commitment to transparency. “It’s an arranged marriage that the TEA chose the super and the TEA chose the board, but the first thing he said to me was transparency, and I said radical transparency,” Green stated.

The leadership changes follow the closure of the Leadership Academy at Forest Oaks (formerly Glencrest 6th School) after it received its fifth consecutive unacceptable accountability rating. State law mandates TEA intervention when a school fails to meet standards for five consecutive years, either through closure or board replacement.

Morath emphasized the need for systemic change, stating the district’s closure of the campus didn’t address the “underlying systemic deficiencies” causing chronic underperformance. He expressed confidence in the appointed board, stating they are “committed to governing effectively to support positive change for the students of the district.”