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Amid allegations of misconduct, demands for the resignation of Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles are intensifying.
The latest controversy revolves around a Spectrum News report accusing Miles of diverting funds to charter schools located out of state. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has committed to conducting an investigation.
Miles, appointed to his position by TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, has expressed openness to the investigation and hopes for clarity for the HISD community.
The unfolding events have galvanized concerned parents and students, such as Jessica Campos, who voiced frustrations over perceived issues within the district.
Meanwhile, the uproar over Miles comes just a year after he assumed office, with various concerns contributing to the turmoil.
While Miles vehemently denied the allegations, asserting the report’s inaccuracies, TEA’s response appeared to offer some support while acknowledging the need for further investigation.
However, amidst the controversy, parents and students are more concerned about broader issues such as budget cuts, layoffs, and educational restructuring.
Helen Repass, an HISD student, highlighted concerns about the overhaul of teaching methods and plans to participate in a student-led protest against Miles.
In response to the allegations, TEA issued a statement acknowledging the complaint but noted that the news report lacked crucial context. TEA referred the matter to its complaints team for review, emphasizing that Third Future Schools, the organization in question, operates under contracts with various Texas school districts to turn around underperforming campuses. The statement clarified that Third Future Schools is not a charter school and does not receive state funds directly. While the complaint will be reviewed, TEA emphasized that the information presented in the news story did not provide evidence of misappropriation of funds or contractual violations by the districts involved.