The Houston Independent School District unanimously approved Millard House as their new superintendent on Monday.

Grenita Lathan, Ph.D., was never more than an Interim Superintendent for three years at the Houston Independent School District. After being passed over for the permanent job more than once, she leaves in July to become the Superintendent of the Springfield Missouri Public Schools. On this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall, she talks about why she’s leaving, the lessons learned and what more needs to be done. She also says during natural disasters and the pandemic, she learned the importance of being able to pivot and focus on priorities such as feeding the children and families of HISD. “To see the lines wrapped around the school out into the street, it was so disheartening,” she said. “I’m talking to the staff and I’m saying this can’t be a one-shot deal. We can’t just stop and provide meals today. We need to figure out how we’re going to do this.” See the full interview above.

Students in the Houston Independent School District can once again head to the playground during recess and outdoor graduation ceremonies can resume under new guidance released by district officials.

One Houston Independent School District high school is making history in June. Bellaire High School‘s Class of 2021 will have a record-breaking nine valedictorians crossing the stage this year.

HOUSTON – Local officials are slated to hold a news conference Friday at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the passage of the American Rescue Plan and its direct impact on Houston, Harris County, and area school districts. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Texas Rep. Al Green (TX-09); U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan, and other local officials are expected to attend the event. KPRC will broadcast a live stream of the event. Be sure to watch in the video player at the top of this article when the video becomes available.

HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District announced Monday via social media that Grenita Lathan, the interim superintendent, is leaving the district, sharing a statement from her on Facebook. Lathan said she has accepted a new position as superintendent with the Springfield Public Schools in Springfield Missouri, starting on July 1. “Really excited about the opportunity that the new school district will afford me,” she said. The HISD school board voted last November not to name Lathan as the next superintendent, announcing a nationwide search. Dr. Lathan was then reinstated.

HOUSTON – The impact of the Texas winter storm forced several school districts to remain closed at this time. The Houston Independent School District is included on the list. Millions of Texans are still recovering from last week’s winter storm. On Sunday, HISD held a massive food and water distribution site with the Houston Food Bank at NRG Stadium and served around 5,000 families. They will also be assisting our families in distributing food boxes in partnership with the Houston Food Bank.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan helps unleash the imaginations of children through the power of reading and storytelling, featuring children's books written by Black authors. HOUSTON – Community leaders are playing a role in inspiring children during Black History Month through virtual storytimes. The Children’s Museum of Houston and Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center have collaborated in this effort by inviting several community leaders, such as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan, Fort Bend Independent School District leaders and more, according to a release. The effort will feature children’s books written by Black authors, according to the release. The books will help explain the contributions of African Americans in their struggles for freedom and equality while explaining the nation’s history, the release stated.

HOUSTON – HISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Granita Lathan will remain in the interim role. This after the board of trustees voted, 6-3, Thursday to not make her a sole finalist for the job. Earlier in the day the Houston NAACP preemptively sent out a statement also in support of Lathan being named the sole finalist. Vice President Dr. James Dixon cited what he called Lathan’s ability to work with others and provide stability. KPRC 2 received the following statement Friday morning from HISD’s Press Office:“I respect the decision of the HISD Board of Education to resume the search for a superintendent.

HOUSTON – Houston ISD has made another policy change in the fight against COVID-19. Per the HISD COVID Gauge, the move to orange requires the average to be between 4 and 7 percent.”However, Harris County was at 7.6 percent positivity rate on Monday. We hear about all the cases that are happening on campuses,” said Zeph Capo with the Houston Teachers Federation. Capo with the Houston Teachers Federation believes the district is making changes with pressure from the state. Under the previous guidelines, the district would be in level red and it would mean closing schools and switching to online learning only.

The shutdown was due to confirmed positive or presumed positive COVID-19 cases. At the end of the day, the shelter in place will be lifted and cleaning and disinfection will occur overnight. Two or More Confirmed Positive CasesIf two or more confirmed positive cases are reported on campus, the campus will close and shift to virtual learning to adequately identify contacts of positive cases. All students on the campus will shift to virtual learning until the campus is cleared to reopen. Presumed Positive COVID-19 CasesThe campus will remain open but undergo deep cleaning and disinfection overnight as a precautionary measure.

HOUSTON – Bellaire High School closed its campus Tuesday following a positive COVID-19 case Monday, according to school officials. Bellaire High School released the following letter to parents:This letter is to notify you that an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 was present at Bellaire High School today. If you or your child have not received notice of close contact and the need to quarantine, then you or your child was not identified as a close contact. Other closed HISD campusesOther schools that have closed due to COVID-19 cases include Foerster Elementary School, Daily Elementary School and Lanier Middle School. While Bellaire High School and Foerster Elementary School have reported positive cases, Daily Elementary School and Lanier Middle School have presumed positive cases.

HOUSTON – Houston ISD students returned for in-person learning Monday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “I’m very excited, he’s very excited,” said one mother at Young Elementary School. “Students will walk into the cafeteria, they’re gonna sanitize their hands, they’re gonna get their lunch, they’re gonna go to an assigned seat,” said Principal Matthew Schwer of Eliot Elementary School. The district said, for now, buses will only be available for special education, homeless, elementary and specialty school students. In all, HISD estimated roughly 80,000 enrolled students would return for in-person learning Monday.

HOUSTON – The largest school district in Texas has reopened its campuses Monday by bringing back some students for the first time this semester. HISD Superintendent Grenita Lathan and other local leaders welcomed students back during a press conference at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Heights Elementary School while discussing how to bridge the gap for the digital divide. Lathan said she and countless others are preparing to welcome thousands of students back to campuses for in-person learning. Since March, the district has given out 36,200 hot spots and 110,000 devices to students in need, Lathan said during the press conference Monday. “This is truly a historic and transformational accomplishment in our district,” Lathan said.

HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District is giving parents a new way to track coronavirus cases within the district. According to a news release, HISD is returning to in-person learning on Oct. 19 and, in an effort to maintain transparency, the district launched a COVID-19 dashboard that shows the current number of positive cases. The new dashboard also provides a breakdown of cases and shows where the positive cases are and if it was a student or staff member who was infected. It also includes a map to show where cases are throughout the district. Go to the HISD website to learn more or see the dashboard.

HOUSTON – Officials at the Houston Independent School District are monitoring several positive cases of coronavirus that have been reported at some campuses as students continue with online learning. In addition to campuses, positive cases have also been reported at a learning sanctuary and at the district’s administrative building. Lathan said those locations have been sanitized, but they have not had to close them. “Based on students needing the center and based on the limited cases, we don’t have to close the facility,” Lathan said. District leaders are also considering whether to launch a coronavirus tracking database, Lathan said.

HOUSTON – Houston Independent School District students have been learning online for three days now and some students still don’t have the technology they need to learn from home. However, the district is considering Thursday whether to expand the virtual learning period because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 200,000 students will be learning online until at least October 19, when some are scheduled to return to in-person instruction. The administration may ask for a four-week extension to its online learning period. Parents, students and teachers should be aware that the start date is subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions.

HOUSTON – As students in the state’s largest school district started their virtual classes Tuesday, some parents reported having trouble connecting to the district’s website. KPRC 2 attempted to visit the official website for the Houston Independent School District several times Tuesday morning and received a runtime error and a 504 error. They will all be in virtual learning until at least Oct. 19, when some are scheduled to return to in-person learning. According to Lathan, about 12,000 students still do not have devices for virtual learning, but that does not mean they will be left behind. The district launched 36 digital learning centers for kids who still do not have what they need to participate in virtual school.

HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District unveiled the plans for its “Camp Spark” which starts next week. Camp Spark is an HISD program designed to get students re-engaged as the district gets ready to start online learning on Sept. 8. Camp Spark happens two weeks before the school year starts, every year. At Camp Spark, there is something for everyone. “I think we’ve gotten this wonderful gift to try something that we’ve never been able to do before.

HOUSTON The Houston Independent School District will offer labs in August and September to help parents of special needs students learn how to navigate virtual learning for the 2020-21 school year. The district will offer 20 sessions to parents that will be available by disability area or special population group. Parents will be able to experience these labs live or in a recorded format. The labs are designed to help parents with programs like autism, dyslexia, speech/language, 504, intellectually disabled and gifted and talented. Join our Zoom conversation with education leaders, health expertsAs we embark on a school year like no other, we know that extra supports for parents and students are vital as we navigate a more virtual approach to learning, said HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan.

Here are things you need to know for Tuesday, August 11:1. Alyssa Sadler said she was trying to get back home from Midland, Texas, with her son and 1-year-old daughter. About a dozen protesters gathered outside the districts headquarters to voice opposition to the school boards plan to reopen schools on September 8th. Lathan said it was a major concern for the district as they prepare for the new school year. QUOTE OF THE DAYYou will never win if you never begin. - Helen RowlandMore headlines you may be interested in

HOUSTON Are you a Houston ISD parent, family member or teacher with questions about back to school? KPRC has an opportunity for you to hear directly from HISDs superintendent on how they are approaching reopening of your childs school this fall. Related: What you need to know about the districts 2020-2021 school plansJoin us on Tuesday, July 28, from 7-8 p.m. for a live Zoom meeting with Houston ISDs Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan, hosted by KPRC 2 anchor Keith Garvin. Well ask Lathan about the districts reopening plans, what parents can expect and what you can do to prepare your child for the school year. You will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance and ask them during the event.

Hamad serves as the speaker of HISD’s Student Congress, a body of over 70 high school student leaders from across the district, which serves as a bridge between students and the Board of Trustees. When and how to reopen HISD is the focus of a survey the student congress has administered. Nearly 3,000 surveys have been completed since it went live last week, according to the student congress. The survey found a student’s need influences the decision of parents and students on whether they want to return to in-person instruction. Hamad said other recommendations will be announced as the data is compiled, which she expects will continue through the fall.

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan talked on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall about the district’s decision, why it was made and the plans to resume in-person teaching. Lathan acknowledged that in-person teaching is the most effective way to educate our children but points to several factors that call for virtual teaching. While only 14% of HISD teachers say they are ready to return to the classroom for in-person teaching. HISD is also working to assist parents with students that need technology for virtual learning. M.J. Hegar beat State Senator Royce West for the right to face Senator Cornyn.

HOUSTON Houston Independent School District will begin the fall semester with all students learning virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic. Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said the decision came down to concerns parents and teachers expressed in district-wide surveys. Only 14% of teachers, who responded, said they were ready to physically get back to class.With the virtual start for HISD, the states largest district, providing the technology tools to students who needed them will be a challenge. We partnered with HISD and other school districts this summer to get out as many as we can before the start of school, said Executive Director Colin Dempsey. However, transportation will only be provided for particular students at the start.

HOUSTON The Houston Independent School District unveiled their 2020-2021 school year reopening plan Wednesday afternoon that included a September 8 start date and several weeks of initial online learning. Some are relieved by HISDs decision but others were left with questions. To learn more about HISDs plan, click here. What questions or comments do you have about HISDs reopening plan? Ethel Ik (@ethelik) July 15, 2020houston isd is starting online school in SEPTEMBER.

Heres when Houston-area school districts will release reopening plans for the upcoming school year:Conroe Independent School District will provide a live update on its reopening plan on the districts YouTune channel at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 16. Lamar Consolidated Independent School Districtwill release its reopening plan on Wednesday, July 15. The Spring Branch Independent School District will release its reopening plan on the evening of Wednesday, July 15. Heres what Houston-area school districts have already announced regarding their reopening plans:Alvin Independent School District released information on its reopening plan. Sealy Independent School District announced some information regarding its reopening plan for the coming school year.

HOUSTON The Houston Independent School District has extended its deadline for a one-time benefit for families who lost access to reduced-price meals because of coronavirus closures. Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture to help families buy food during the coronavirus pandemic. In order to help families, HISD announced it has extended to July 31. The deadline extension will allow more HISD families to access this crucial resource, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. Foster youth, migrant youth, homeless youth, runaway youth, and Head Start participants are also eligible for P-EBT.

HOUSTON The Houston Independent School District announced that its closing its schools and facilities for two weeks in July due to the rise of coronavirus cases across Houston. Students will be allowed to keep laptops until the fall rather than return them to campus to keep additional staff and families off site. The Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center will remain open for limited use, according to HISD. These new measures are imperative for the health and safety of our students and staff. I urge you all to please be safe in the coming weeks stay home when you can, wash your hands, and wear a mask if you must go out.

Parents of America's 56 million school children have two questions: When will schools reopen and how will they be safe? Like other school districts, Houston is prepared for a blended model, where some students are on campus and others are learning from home virtually. Hallway traffic will be regulated and it will be the teachers transitioning from class to class when the bell rings. Similar blueprints are being modeled in other large school districts, including for the 2 million students in Los Angeles. "Many of our school districts are projecting shortfalls of any place between 15% and 25%.

A record number of 84 Houston Independent School District graduates have been awarded full scholarships from the Marvy Finger Family Foundation. The scholarships create the opportunity for each student to attend a two-year college to pursue Career and Technical Education (CTE) certificates or associates degrees. According HISD, scholarship recipients were required to pursue a career and technical program; on top of maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA, being involved in school activities, and displaying a financial need. Additionally, the foundation also provides mentoring and food scholarships in partnership with the Houston Food Bank that provides 60 pounds of food twice a month while the students are in college. The financial assistance the foundation is able to offer these students is instrumental in helping them build rewarding careers.

Dr. Rheeda Walker is a clinical psychologist and psychology professor at the University of Houston and says a simple explanation is frustration. She says the traumatic video of Floyd being held face down for almost nine minutes is a trigger for recurring anxiety. For now Summer school is the priority. For virtual summer school weve identified 40-thousand students that will have live interactions via computer with a classroom teacher, she said. Watch this weeks Houston Newsmakers Sunday morning at 10:30amMore Information:Grenita Lathan, Ph.D., HISD Interim SuperintendentRheeda Walker, Ph.D.

BELLAIRE, Texas – Houston Independent School District interim superintendent Grenita Lathan discussed several steps being taken to address security on the district’s campuses. Word of these measures came after Lathan and other HISD officials met with students at Bellaire High School. I’m a parent, my child attended this school,” Lathan said. While she declined to name the 20 campuses since the decision is not final, Lathan said HISD has already plotted out costs. Lathan said in addition to meeting with student leaders at Bellaire, she will meet with campus leaders at all 45 high schools.

BELLAIRE, Texas – The mother of the teen shot and killed at Bellaire High School last week spoke with Bellaire police detectives Monday. “The whole school district, school security is the worst. "The pistol believed to be the weapon used in last Tuesday’s shooting at Bellaire High School has been recovered and is in possession of the Bellaire Police Department,” Chief Byron Holloway stated. In a Friday statement, acting Superintendent Grenita Lathan said HISD was exploring measures to increase student safety. In the days since the fatal shooting, Bellaire High School has restricted entrances and instituted bag checks, among other updated security procedures.

Officials said the accused gunman is also a student at Bellaire High School. “Our hearts go out to that student’s family, his friends, his classmates and the staff here at Bellaire High School,” she said. She said Bellaire High School is expected to be open Wednesday with heavy security present but later announced in a press release that classes will be canceled. HISD released the following statement:“HISD will cancel classes for students at Bellaire High School tomorrow, Wednesday, January 15. The city of Bellaire Mayor Andrew S. Friedberg released the following statement:We're all shocked and devastated by this afternoon’s senseless tragedy at Bellaire High School.

“When you’re called to serve you’re not caught up on what the title is,” she said on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall. Then, 15 months later, he was dead from that very aggressive and incurable cancer that strikes carriers of the Sickle Cell trait. He says it is a very uphill battle in finding an effective treatment and that sickle cell carriers are particularly vulnerable. “Many people who are diagnosed with this disease do not even know they carry the sickle cell trait,” he said. “And even if they do, they do not know that they can be at risk for this cancer.”Hear more on this week’s Houston Newsmakers Sunday at 10:30 a.m.