Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced Thursday that Connally ISD’s multiple years of failing grades at Connally Elementary and Connally Junior High Schools represented “a fundamental mission failure” in serving their students.
Both campuses this year fell under the five consecutive failing Academic Accountability reports threshold. Under state law, Morath could either close both campuses or initiate state takeover of the district, replacing the elected School Board with state-appointed Managers and a Conservator.
The timeline of the takeover has yet to be announced, and the current School Board and Superintendent will remain in place until Morath chooses new leadership.
In a statement posted to their social media, Connally ISD pointed to improvements in academic achievement under Superintendent Jill Bottelberghe, who joined the district in 2023. The statement, in part, read “While we are extremely proud of the progress that we have made, we recognize that there is still work that needs to be done.”
The statement also encouraged community members to apply to serve on the state-appointed Board of Managers.
Connally ISD is one of three districts announced to have state takeovers this year.
This is a developing story. More updates will follow.
Got a tip? Email Molly-Jo Tilton at Molly-jo_tilton@baylor.edu.
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