From an HISD presentation Thursday
HISD’s director of government relations, Ashlea Graves, updated the school board Thursday on some of the results of Tuesday’s elections. Her presentation listed, “Governor — Greg Abbott. Lieutenant Governor — Dan Patrick. Comptroller — Glenn Hegar. …” At the bottom of the list, it said, “TEA Commissioner?” Note the punctuation.
Graves told the board there were rumors Abbott would appoint a new education commissioner to replace Michael Williams, Gov. Rick Perry’s appointee since late August 2012.
The trustees wanted names. Graves and the board’s outside attorney, David Thompson, were mum.
“I have not been asked to nominate anyone,” said Thompson, a former TEA general counsel who’s now representing HISD and other districts suing the state over its school funding system.
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams was greeted by cheerleaders and members of the Stillman Middle School band as he arrived at Yturria Elementary School in Brownsville in October 2013. (AP Photo/The Brownsville Herald, Brad Doherty)
Trustee Manuel Rodriguez joked that Thompson always has an opinion.
“Oh, I have an opinion. I very much have an opinion,” Thompson said, and left it at that.
Abbott, if he wants to make a switch, will have to decide whether to do it quickly, before the legislative session starts in January, or perhaps he’ll wait until lawmakers go home for the summer and the Texas Supreme Court is likely to rule on the school finance lawsuit.
One name floating around locally is Spring Branch ISD Superintendent Duncan Klussmann. The 51-year-old father of three, who made several appearances in the Capitol last year, announced in October that he would be retiring as superintendent in August 2015.
Asked then about rumors he may head to Austin, Klussmann said, “Those are rumors. My focus will be to finish out my time in Spring Branch.”
“I want to stay engaged in public education,” he added. “Once I finish my time here, what I’ll be looking for the best opportunity to have the greatest impact on kids.”
Is that the kind of statement that Ben Bradlee, the former Washington Post executive editor who died Oct. 21, would have called a “non-denial denial?”
Klussmann helped advise lawmakers last year on House Bill 5, the major education bill that reduced high-stakes testing at the high school level and created different graduation plans focusing on career interests. He also has been friendly toward charter schools, partnering with YES and KIPP in Spring Branch.
Williams, a former chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission who’s been active in Republican politics, declined through a spokeswoman to comment on whether he’d like to stay on the job.
