West Houston Panhandle Home Rule School District
THE WESTSIDE PANHANDLE DESERVES BETTER!
The Westside Panhandle of HISD is not failing—but it’s being left behind. Despite strong performance, our schools are overlooked in district plans and lack the support they need to thrive. It’s time for a local solution that puts students, families, and teachers first.
🚀 Empower Innovation. Protect Progress.
Schools in the Westside High School Zone aren’t failing—they’re innovating. But HISD’s one-size-fits-all policies are holding them back. A Home Rule School District gives our schools the freedom to grow, lead, and experiment—exactly what Texas law encourages under education code.
👩🏫 Attract & Keep Great Teachers
HISD faces a growing teacher crisis: high turnover and underqualified hires. A Home Rule District can create local pathways to recruit and retain high-quality educators—a key goal under education code. Let’s bring top talent to our classrooms and give them a reason to stay.
🧩 Accountability That Makes Sense
Westside is geographically isolated but still governed by HISD policies that don’t fit. The result? Unequal opportunities, unfair evaluations, and underserved families. Home Rule brings accountability closer to home—where decisions reflect our real challenges.
🏗️ Local Funding. Local Solutions.
When HISD’s 2024 bond proposal failed, Westside’s facility and technology upgrades were left in limbo. A Home Rule District has the taxing authority to invest locally—with voter input and transparency. Let’s fund what our students actually need, without waiting.
ESSENTIAL CHARTER COMPONENTS
As supporters of this petition, we advocate for a Home Rule Charter that ensures public schools operate with autonomy, equity, and local accountability. To that end, we respectfully submit the following Essential Charter Components as foundational elements that must be included in the design and implementation of the Home Rule Charter:
++ Autonomous Teacher Management ++
Local authority over the hiring, retention, and discipline of teachers to maintain professional standards and best serve students.
Local authority over the hiring, retention, and discipline of teachers to maintain professional standards and best serve students.
++ Appraisals and Salary ++
Local oversight of teacher evaluations and salary structures to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with community needs.
Local oversight of teacher evaluations and salary structures to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with community needs.
++ An Elected Board of Home Rule Trustees ++
Governance by a publicly elected board to preserve democratic accountability and community representation.
Governance by a publicly elected board to preserve democratic accountability and community representation.
++ Curriculum Autonomy ++
Full autonomy over curriculum decisions, ensuring flexibility to meet the diverse needs of students—without mandates from the New Education System.
Full autonomy over curriculum decisions, ensuring flexibility to meet the diverse needs of students—without mandates from the New Education System.
++ Testing Autonomy ++
Authority over all assessments not required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), allowing for more meaningful and locally relevant testing practices.
Authority over all assessments not required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), allowing for more meaningful and locally relevant testing practices.
++ Provisions for Facilities and Technology ++
Commitment to maintaining and upgrading athletic facilities, learning environments, and educational technology across all campuses.
Commitment to maintaining and upgrading athletic facilities, learning environments, and educational technology across all campuses.
++ Libraries and Librarians at Each Campus ++
Every school must include a functioning library staffed with a certified librarian to foster literacy and support academic growth.
Every school must include a functioning library staffed with a certified librarian to foster literacy and support academic growth.
++ Mental Health Therapists for District Students ++
Access to licensed mental health professionals at each campus to support student well-being and academic success.
Access to licensed mental health professionals at each campus to support student well-being and academic success.
++ Elementary After School Care ++
Provision of after-school programs for elementary students to support working families and provide enriching activities.
Provision of after-school programs for elementary students to support working families and provide enriching activities.
++ Home Rule Control Over Student Discipline ++
Local authority to develop and enforce fair, restorative discipline policies consistent with community values.
Local authority to develop and enforce fair, restorative discipline policies consistent with community values.
++ Home Rule Authority Over School Safety ++
The power to implement safety measures tailored to each school’s specific needs, ensuring a secure environment for all students and staff.
The power to implement safety measures tailored to each school’s specific needs, ensuring a secure environment for all students and staff.
