The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday voted 6-2, with Anna Eastman and Michael Lunceford opposed, to approve a revision to grant preliminary approval to require a minimum 7 hour, 15 minute school day for all elementary school campuses in the district.

“The proposal is intended to provide schools more flexibility to meet their students' academic and developmental needs,” said a news release. News Release

The school board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution calling on the Texas State Legislature to reconsider the current public school accountability system.

“The Houston Independent School District school board is committed to ensuring a high quality educational experience for all children and recognizes the inclusion of objective measures of academic outcomes,” Lunceford said. “However, 'high stakes' testing cannot be allowed to dictate the ceiling for instruction for our students.”

The school board voted 8-1, with Juliet Stipeche opposed, to establish a board police regarding reduction in force of continuing contracts.

“The proposed new policy DFFC(LOCAL) provides general information on reduction in force and applies specifically to reduction in force in regard to continuing contract employees,” General Counsel Elneita Hutchins-Taylor said. “Previously, no policy existed regarding reduction in force of continuing contract employees.”

The school board voted 5-3-1, with Lawrence Marshall, Anna Eastman and Lunceford opposed, and Paula Harris abstaining, to table naming a new school facility as Lucian L. Lockhart Elementary School. The item was tabled for a period of 30 days.

The school board voted unanimously to reappoint Paula Harris to Position 2 and appoint Anna Eastman to Position 3 on the Public Facility Corporation Board of Directors. Easteman replaces Lunceford on the board.

The school board voted 8-0-1, with Lunceford abstaining, to approve the termination of term contracts, continuing contracts, probationary contracts. The item was discussed during a closed session.

The school board voted unanimously to approve a recommendation in the compromise settlement and release agreement with Shubba Bhatt. The item was discussed in closed session.

The school board voted unanimously to approve a recommendation regarding a settlement agreement with Aramark Educational Services, as discussed during closed session.

The school board voted 8-1, with Stipeche abstaining, to declare a school site located at 5410 Cornish as surplus and authorized sales procedures and demolition of the facility.

The board also voted unanimously to approve sales and demolition procedures of surplus facilities at 3501 Southmore and 306 Crosstimbers.

The items were discussed in executive session.

The school board took no action on two items that were withdrawn from the agenda. Items withdrawn included:

Renaming the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to High School for Law and Justices

Consolidation of James Ryan Middle School into Crispus Attucks Middle School, Ezekiel Cullen Middle School, Richard Dowling Middle School, Sidney Lanier Middle School and John Person Middle School

All other items were approved by unanimous vote of the members present at the time of the vote. All members were present. Agenda