Educate Plano

At the beginning of August 2024, it was announced by Plano ISD on behalf of Board President Nancy Humphrey that “the Board voted to pause the Advisory Committees for the 2024-2025 school year.” The email sent to committee members was a letter written by the Board President personally.

Why is this happening? According to Nancy, to “[reevaluate] the structure” and “align them to the District Strategic Plan.”

The committees were structured with District personnel, parents, and community members. Parents and community members were active members of committees and discussed plans and methods to help our students. The members were diverse, parents from different grade levels, different campuses, different socioeconomic status. All involved in the strategic goals of Plano ISD.

• School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) – Required by the law otherwise would presumably be GONE.
• Diversity Committee – Plano is diverse, but not when it comes to decision making. GONE.
• CTE Committee – Career and Technical Education, responsible for helping students obtain certifications and vocational skills. PISD passed a multimillion dollar bond for a new CTE building yet this committee is GONE.
• Gifted and Talented Committee – Do we not want a top rated school system? GONE.
• Special Education Committee – A cornerstone program, our most utilized service for our most vulnerable students. GONE.

What’s next on the chopping block?

• Bond Committee – Critical to pass for the money the District wants (disguised as needs). Are parents now not included? GONE NEXT?
• Long Range Facility Planning Committee – Should parents not be involved in which schools are being closed? GONE NEXT?
• Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee – The actual students that matter to its strategic goals not included in discussions? GONE NEXT?

The pausing of these committees was mentioned at the August 6, 2024 meeting, Consent Agenda item 7.18. No discussion. No concerns or questions raised by Board members. Passed 7-0.

All these pillars seem very in line with having active parental and community committees. Yet…

GONE!

Makes for a concerning trajectory for our District.

Why are the Board of Trustees voting for less parental involvement and partnership?

However, one committee remains: The Leadership & Ambassador Program – These are handpicked “advisors” by the Board and/or District to engage the community and cheerlead everything PISD deems. “People” are saying these committee members are being groomed to run for School Board since they are hand selected, engaged in the “yes ma’am” committee, and popular with the Board Members. Naysayers need not apply.