Turner: 'I've been hearing these rumors about TEA taking over the [Houston] school district'

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) could come under the control of the State of Texas next week, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the city’s media outlets reported.

Turner made the claim during a city council meeting on Wednesday, stating the Texas Education Agency (TEA) could replace HISD’s entire leadership.

"I've been hearing these rumors about TEA taking over the school district," the mayor said, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. "In the last few days, I've been hearing them more and more."

HISD, which educates nearly 200,000 students, is Texas’ largest public school district and among the largest in the U.S.

Houston Daily reported in January the Texas Supreme Court the TEA can proceed with a takeover of HISD.

The move occurred about four years since TEA Commissioner Mike Morath proposed the replacement of the entire HISD school board in response to alleged trustee misconduct and Phillis Wheatley High School’s low performance, the publication reported citing The Texas Tribune.

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the TEA said it’s still looking at the high court’s decision to see what appropriate action it’ll take to “best support” all of HISD. 

Turner, who’s in his final year as mayor, accused the state of “overreaching on this issue,” the station reported. 

“HISD had made significant academic progress,” he said, per his office. “A takeover is not good for students, parents, faculty or [the city].”

A TEA takeover of HISD would be the first time the agency assumes control of a large, urban school district, KTRK reported.

State Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) told the station that city leaders failed to see an underlying problem despite their assertions HISD achieved a B+ state accountability rating and Wheatley saw its rating improve by two grades.

"What I realized was that there was a dearth of learning taking place,” Dutton, a supporter of a measure that would bring forth the takeover, said. “Wheatley was the symptom of the problem.”

KTRK reported that Turner broached the subject with Morath, but the latter was mum about the information the former received.

The commissioner; however, told the mayor that the TEA would provide a 24 hours’ notice should a takeover take place.