State Appoints Managers to Fort Worth ISD, Aiming for Student Success

0:00It's March 25, Dallas News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has appointed nine new managers to take over the Fort Worth Independent School District Board. This move comes after years of low academic performance in a district where four out of five students come from low-income families. Most of these managers live in some of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods on the West side. Six managers hail from the West side of Fort Worth, two from the East side, and one lives outside the district in Mansfield. That outsider is immigration lawyer Rosa Maria Burdeja, whose office is in Fort Worth. State law requires a majority to be district residents, and official stress elections were based on qualifications over location. Local leaders, like board president Pete Jaren, say the group is solid and focused on improving student outcomes. Jaren noted they've gotten to know each other during the process and share a commitment to doing right by the kids. Elected trustees stay in place but without power, while elections continue as planned.

1:02The managers bring strong backgrounds in law, business, education, and community service from former congressmen to tech executives and school, parents. They were sworn in privately on Tuesday before Morath named a new superintendent from Florida. These will gradually replace them one-third each year until full local control returns. This state intervention aims to boost performance and set the district on a better path for its students.