Texas Education Agency Halts HISD Superintendent Search

HOUSTON — The Houston Independent School District has been ordered to suspend its searched for a new superintendent by the Texas Education Agency. Dr. Doris Delaney, conservator for Houston ISD, sent a letter to the board of trustees ordering them to stop their search until the state agency completes its special accreditation investigation into the district.

Dr. Grenita Lathan has served as the interim superintendent since Dr. Richard Carranza's departure in March 2018. However, in October, five of the board trustees voted to offer the position to former HISD Superintendent Dr. Abe Saaverda, which ignited an angry clash between board trustees.

Days later, board trustees rescinded the vote and retained Latham.

The incident prompted the TEA's accreditation investigation, which began in January, and could continue through the end of the academic year.

The board apparently was poised to name a lone finalist as superintendent, with final interviews taking place this week. But those interviews won't happen, at least for now.

If the board refuses to bow, the state could take over running the district with a board of managers, with the choice of a superintendent falling to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath.

Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com