Houston Independent School District Packet Summary — August 27, 2026
Key Items on the Agenda
The Houston Independent School District School Board is scheduled to convene for hearings on August 27. The agenda includes four employee-related hearing matters, board and superintendent reports, a closed session addressing personnel and legal matters, and district safety and security topics.
Employee Hearing Matters
Four matters are scheduled under hearing items:
- Lakeisha Menifee, a teacher at Fondren Middle School, is scheduled for consideration of an Independent Hearing Examiner’s recommendation in TEA Docket No. 128-LH-04-2026.
- Maria Rodriguez, a teacher at Gross Elementary School, is scheduled for consideration of an Independent Hearing Examiner’s recommendation in TEA Docket No. 126-LH-03-2026.
- Kiirah Washington, a former employee in the Office of Academics, is scheduled for a dispute resolution hearing.
- Donald Taylor, a former employee in the Transportation Department, is scheduled for a dispute resolution hearing.
The agenda provides time for reports and comments from the board president and board members on matters including meetings and conferences, school visits, community and district activities, new initiatives, education programs, and continuing education. The packet specifies that these items may be discussed but no final action will be taken on them at this meeting.
The superintendent may also report on meetings, school visits, district and community activities, initiatives, and educational programs. Potential topics listed in the packet include curriculum and instruction, special education, exit criteria, student achievement, attendance, discipline data, and teacher retention; no action is scheduled on these reports.
Closed Session
Personnel Matters
The board is scheduled to recess to closed session for personnel deliberations that may include the duties and evaluations of district officials and employees, superintendent evaluation, compensation, and contractual provisions.
The agenda also provides for consideration of personnel actions including appointments, reassignments, proposed terminations, terminations or suspensions, contract lengths, proposed nonrenewals, resignations and retirements. If necessary, the board may also consider settlement, resignation, or release agreements and may hear complaints involving public officers or employees.
Legal Matters
Closed-session legal topics include pending or contemplated litigation and matters for which the district attorney's duties may conflict with Texas open-meeting requirements. Specific updates listed on the agenda include:
- Federal law enforcement activity on February 27, 2020.
- Possible action in Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, Civil Action No. 5:25-cv-00756.
- Possible action in Houston Federation of Teachers v. Mike Miles, District Court of Harris County, Texas, 164 Judicial District, Cause No. 2025-53237.
District Safety and Security
The closed-session agenda includes discussion of district safety concerns, including findings from districtwide intruder detection audits and HB3 compliance.
What to Watch at the Meeting
After the closed session, the board is scheduled to reconvene in open session and may consider possible action on matters discussed behind closed doors. The packet does not specify what actions, if any, will ultimately be taken.
The four employee hearing matters are also central items on the agenda, including two Independent Hearing Examiner recommendations and two dispute resolution hearings.
