Ector County Independent School District is getting closer securing a partnership with a non-profit organization that could take over operations for Ector Middle School next year.
The ECISD Board of Trustees approved an agreement last month with Ector Success Academy Network - the entity that would operate the school as a charter beginning Fall 2018.
The middle school is in its 5th year ofNeeds Improvement status with the Texas Education Agency. District Superintendent Tom Crowe says according to TEA regulations, when approaching the 6th year, "you have choices to make - either the state can come in and take over the school, or you can close the school and reopen it in a different format, or you can work with a partner like a charter school to take over the school."
The district is taking steps towards the latter, after a partnership with Texas Tech University College of Education to convert the school into a charter fell through suddenly at the end of April.
According to Crowe, if the TEA approves the partnership, students who've been attending Ector Middle will have the option to enroll again next year. A "restorative justice" program focused on attendance and student and parent responsibility would be implemented under the non-profit's direction.
Crowe also says as a charter, the school would have $1,000 more per student in the budget than area public schools.
He expects the Texas Education Agency to release a decision regarding the partnership by Friday of this week.
