Houston Independent School District Packet Summary — August 20, 2026
Key Items on the Agenda
The Houston Independent School District School Board agenda centers on five employee hearing matters, along with board and superintendent reports and a closed session covering personnel, legal, and district safety matters.
The agenda provides for speakers on agenda items before board member reports, superintendent reports, and the scheduled hearings. It also includes a recess to closed session, followed by reconvening in open session and consideration and possible action on matters discussed in closed session.
Employee Hearings
Hearing Examiner Recommendations
Two teachers are scheduled for consideration of hearing examiner recommendations:
- Alaster Gaines, a teacher at Patrick Henry Middle School, is listed for consideration of an Independent Hearing Examiner’s Recommendation in Docket No. 029-LH-10-2025.
- David Espinoza, a teacher at Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center, is listed for consideration of a Hearing Examiner’s Recommendation in TEA Docket No. 128-LH-04-2026.
Dispute Resolution Hearings
Three additional employee matters are identified as dispute resolution hearings:
- Hernan Urrego, a former employee of the Nutrition Services Department.
- Ivan Gutierrez, a former employee of the Information Technology Department.
- Mark Dostert, a teacher at Challenge Early College High School.
The packet identifies the individuals and hearing types but does not provide further details about the underlying disputes or proposed resolutions.
Closed Session
Personnel Matters
The board is scheduled to enter closed session for personnel matters that may include deliberation regarding the duties and evaluations of district leadership, employees, and board members, as well as compensation and contractual provisions.
The closed-session notice also provides for consideration of personnel actions including appointments, reassignments, proposed terminations, terminations or suspensions, contract lengths, proposed nonrenewals, resignations, and retirements. Settlement, resignation, or release agreements may also be considered if necessary.
The board may also hear complaints against public officers or employees and deliberate their appointment, evaluation, duties, and resolution of those matters.
Legal Matters
The closed-session agenda includes matters requiring consultation with the district’s attorney, as well as pending or contemplated litigation.
Specific legal items listed for an update and possible action include:
- Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, Civil Action No. 5:25-cv-00756.
- Houston Federation of Teachers v. Mike Miles, District Court of Harris County, Texas, 164 Judicial District, Cause No. 2025-53237.
The board is also scheduled to receive an update on federal law enforcement activity on February 27, 2020.
District Safety and Security
The closed-session agenda includes discussion of district safety concerns, specifically districtwide intruder detection audit report findings and HB3 compliance.
Board and Superintendent Reports
Board members may provide reports and comments regarding meetings and conferences, committee meetings, school visits, community and district activities, new initiatives, education programs, and continuing education. The agenda states that no final action will be taken on these report items at this meeting.
The superintendent may report on meetings and conferences, school visits, community and district activities, initiatives, and educational programs. Potential topics include curriculum and instruction, special education, exit criteria, student achievement, student attendance, discipline data, and teacher retention; the agenda likewise states that no action will be taken on these items.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The five employee hearing matters are the principal identified hearing items, including two hearing examiner recommendations and three dispute resolution hearings. The closed session also encompasses potentially consequential personnel, litigation, and district safety matters.
After the closed session, the agenda provides for the board to reconvene in open session and consider possible action on matters discussed behind closed doors.
