A new phase of governance starts this week in the Fort Worth Independent School District, as a state intervention takes hold with new leadership. Here’s what we know about what to expect next.
A new superintendent, Peter Licata, and a nine-member Board of Managers began leading the district immediately after their appointments were announced on Tuesday by the Texas Education Agency. Information on salary, leadership transitions and next steps is still being released by state and district officials.
This is what we know so far.
When is the new board’s first public meeting?
The board’s first public meeting is on Tuesday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. at the District Service Center, 7060 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Are members of the Board of Managers paid? Is the elected school board paid?
Both the elected school board and appointed Board of Managers serve without compensation, according to the Texas Education Code and state officials. A Fort Worth ISD spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that the school board members did receive reimbursements for mileage and travel aligned with their roles.
What’s the appointed superintendent’s salary?
State and district officials have yet to release Licata’s salary. He is currently working under a 21-day interim contract, which the Star-Telegram has requested a copy of.
Former Superintendent Karen Molinar earned $360,000, according to her contract.
How long will the new board be in place?
The Board of Managers could be in place for at least two years. If Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath determines that “insufficient progress” has been made toward improving the district’s academic standing during that time, he could extend their appointments for “a period up to two additional years,” according to the Texas Education Code.
What happens to the elected school board?
The duties of the elected school board are suspended for the time that the Board of Managers is in place. Even though their powers are temporarily frozen, school board elections will still take place. The terms of four out of the nine elected board members — Tobi Jackson, Quinton “Q” Phillips, Kevin Lynch and Anne Darr — expire next year. The five other seats are up for election in 2029.
District 4 Trustee Wallace Bridges vacated his seat in early February after the district lost its final appeal against the state takeover. It remains to be seen when a special election would take place to fill it.
Peter Licata, the state-appointed superintendent of the Fort Worth school district, speaks during a news conference Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Reby Cary Youth Library. He was joined by board member Courtney Lewis, left; board chair Pete Geren; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; his wife Maria Licata; and board members Rosa Maria Berdeja and Luis Galinda. Samuel O’Neal soneal@star-telegram.com What will the transition back to local control look like?
The district must meet specific exit criteria before local control is restored. This includes:
Ensuring the district has zero multi-year unacceptable campusesThe district exceeds the state and/or regional average for meeting grade-level proficiency in reading and mathThe school board must achieve a “meets focus” using the Lone Star Governance continuous improvement framework.
If the state-appointed leaders meet these criteria within the first or second two-year cycles, a transition timeline is announced. The elected school board members will gradually transition back into service one-third at a time, according to TEA.
What happens to former Superintendent Karen Molinar?
Molinar is no longer employed by Fort Worth ISD and is no longer working with the district in an official capacity, TEA officials confirmed on Thursday. It’s unclear if she is starting another job outside Fort Worth ISD.
Molinar will be receiving severance pay, but TEA officials did not disclose how much it will be. A TEA spokesperson said it will be similar to the processes seen in Houston, La Joya and South San Antonio ISDs with superintendent appointments.
A new state law caps severance payments for school superintendents at 20 weeks of compensation, according to TEA. This would equal about $138,500 for Molinar.
Angélica Ramsey, the superintendent of Fort Worth ISD prior to Molinar, received more than $500,000 after resigning from the position.
If you have questions about the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD, check out the Star-Telegram’s ongoing coverage at star-telegram.com or send questions to reporter Lina Ruiz at lruiz@star-telegram.com.
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Lina Ruiz covers early childhood education in Tarrant County and North Texas for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A University of Florida graduate, she previously wrote about local government in South Florida for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.