As expected Commissioner Mike Morath wrote that because of Wheatley High School receiving a provisional academic performance rating of "F" for the seventh consecutive time (well not really. Because of Hurricane Harvey the school got a pass in 2018) he "may be required" to either shut down the historic campus or replace the entire school board.
As he himself references in his September 3, 2019 letter, Morath delivered this same warning to HISD on August 17, 2017. But things didn't improve enough he said, with Wheatley continuing to show up on the Improvement Requirement list three times more after it submitted a turnaround plan. Morath doesn't say it but TEA has said Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan
Morath's notification and considered action comes as a result of a change in the Texas Education Code which sought to call a halt to business as usual at schools that consistently failed to meet state academic standards. HISD can still appeal Wheatley's "F" rating although indications are that it is not going to do so. Appeals will be settled in December "at which time the district will be notified of the final rating assigned to the campus," Morath said.
And if Wheatley hangs on to that "F" in December, Morath writes that he will have no choice but to finally take action by closing the campus or replacing the board.
Here's the letter:
