COLDSPRING — The COCISD Board of Trustees pushed back against the Texas Education Agency in its efforts to maintain a 149-day academic calendar. Moreover, the COCISD board of trustees voiced that the TEA has not been useful in their efforts to increase academic performances.
Dr. Karen Garza, COCISD’s appointed TEA conservator, was challenged by the board on her authority at the district. Garza stated that there are three state statues that grant her jurisdiction to issue directives at COCISD.
“You have a D-rated school district and you have a campus that has been in its fourth year as an F, so that is why I have been placed in your district,” Garza said.
This confrontation comes after Garza issued a directive for COCISD to adopt a 165-day academic calendar, which will require regular school hours for five days a week and increase instructional time.
Things went far left once Garza stated that COCISD will experience consequences from the TEA if the academic calendar was not updated, such as TEA’s funding toward the district’s acceleration, specifically the LASO grant, which is $550,000 a year.
Paul Buchanan, the board president, said the LASO grant is only used to fund poor material in reference to the Bluebonnet curriculum.
“I cannot continue to be pushed around by a larger organization that’s going to say either you do as we say,” Buchanan said. The board then approved the 2026-2027 academic calendar option, which was originally submitted to the board.
Board members then elaborated on their frustration with Bluebonnet curriculum; However, Dr. Beth Klammer, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, expressed that COCISD should not give up on the current curriculum.
“I feel like if we just get rid of it (Bluebonnet), I feel like our new test that’s coming up in 2028 is going to be highly aligned to Bluebonnet. So, I think it would be best to keep Bluebonnet,” Klammer said.
Still, the board agrees that Bluebonnet has been an ineffective product.
“I think my only concern is, at some point, we have to decide if we're more concerned about putting something of high quality in front of our students,” Buchanan said.
