Parents, graduates and former school trustees were among the 286 applicants seeking appointment to Fort Worth ISD’s incoming board of managers.
The Texas Education Agency opened up the application pool after Education Commissioner Mike Morath determined the state is taking over FWISD due to failing academic standards. Managers will replace Fort Worth ISD’s nine locally elected trustees as part of the state’s intervention in the 67,500-student district.
About 78% of the completed submissions, or 222 people, live within Fort Worth ISD. Another 64 applicants live outside district boundaries.
The 23 current or former school board members include individuals who have served on any district board, not just Fort Worth ISD. But the employee figures reflect only current and former FWISD staff, TEA spokesperson Jake Kobersky told the Fort Worth Report.
Of the applicants, 153 identified as female and 133 identified as male.
Nearly 260 applicants hold at least a bachelor’s degree. That includes 60 with a bachelor’s, 131 with a master’s and 69 with a doctorate, according to the agency data.
Applications for the board were originally due Nov. 21, but TEA officials extended the deadline to accommodate a surge of interest. The agency closed the application window Dec. 1.
The state intervention was triggered when the now-closed Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade received five consecutive failing accountability grades.
The board of managers will assume the governing powers and duties of school trustees. Elected board members will continue to hold their seats but without authority until the state transitions control back.
Morath will appoint the managers following screening and interviews conducted by TEA officials. He expects to finalize the board in the spring, alongside the announcement of a superintendent. Current Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Karen Molinar is among the candidates.
A conservator, Christopher Ruszkowski — who was appointed in November — is overseeing Fort Worth ISD during the transition.
Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1.
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