Fort Worth ISD\u2019s new superintendent acknowledged the tough decisions behind potential staff reductions and another school closure that will be voted on at Tuesday\u2019s board meeting.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the Star-Telegram on Monday, April 27, Superintendent Peter Licata addressed the proposed closure of International Newcomer Academy<\/a>, 5% teacher raises going into effect next school year, and cuts to vacant positions that he says brought $40 million back into the district\u2019s budget this year. He described these decisions and proposals, among others, as necessary to drive the district in a positive direction.<\/p>\n The flurry of changes to the district came forward after Licata and a nine-person Board of Managers were appointed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to lead the district during a state takeover, which was prompted by the district\u2019s years of stagnant academic performance.<\/p>\n The Board of Managers approved a reduction in force at its last meeting two weeks ago and is set to vote on another reduction in force<\/a> on Tuesday, in addition to the proposed closure of International Newcomer Academy. The campus serves refugee and immigrant students in grades 6-9.<\/p>\n Licata explained the district has been operating as if it\u2019s been serving about 85,000-95,000 students \u2014 the enrollment it was built for \u2014 rather than the roughly 66,500 expected to enroll in the fall.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t change what we\u2019ve been doing by moving pieces of the furniture around the room. We have to do massive program changes, and that doesn\u2019t mean less services for ELL (English language learners), SpEd (special education), new language learners, any of those groups, dyslexia\u2026. What we\u2019re doing is more targeted, but we have to do a massive program change. We have to give them an ability to get the resources that we\u2019ve been paying for students that we don\u2019t have,\u201d Licata said.<\/p>\n Here is what Licata said about some of the key items on Tuesday\u2019s school board agenda.<\/p>\n International Newcomer Academy<\/p>\n Ahead of Tuesday\u2019s vote that will decide the status of Fort Worth ISD\u2019s only school designated for immigrant and refugee students, Licata said INA is not a campus that allows students in the district to experience large campus amenities, like a robust choice of electives.<\/p>\n \u201cI find it a civil rights issue because we\u2019re not letting our children experience large campuses that offer electives that might interest them, that might bring them into school more often, and might give them the reason to show up at school and be motivated by it,\u201d Licata said. \u201cThis is not easy. I visited the school the other day and walked in the classrooms. There is great teaching going on. But reality is, they\u2019re not getting everything that we should be offering them.\u201d<\/p>\n Licata said he hopes parents and community members come to understand his plan after he fully shares it publicly at Tuesday\u2019s board meeting. Fort Worth ISD leadership already knows where each student currently enrolled at INA would go if the board votes to close the campus. Currently, INA has approximately 48 returning students, but that number would grow as the first day of the 2026-27 school year got closer.<\/p>\n \u201cClosing a school is the toughest thing anyone will ever do,\u201d Licata said. \u201cBut it\u2019s not successful. Having multiple Ds and Fs, it is not providing an equitable outcome for students who aren\u2019t exposed to maybe career choice classrooms or AP exams. It really is a neat environment, but it\u2019s limiting for children, and my job is to see the bigger picture.\u201d<\/p>\n A number of parents and community members pushed back on the idea of closing INA at a Fort Worth ISD-hosted listening session last week. More than 100 parents showed up to ask questions to Daniel Soliz, deputy superintendent and chief of schools, and to share why they believe closing INA would be a great mistake. A number of teachers at the campus have also advocated in recent days to keep it open. A lot of them will speak to the board during a public comment session Tuesday in favor of keeping the campus as is.<\/p>\n When asked if he is hopeful that parents will be on board with his decision after Tuesday\u2019s board meeting, Licata said he isn\u2019t sure, but he said he believes they will have a better frame of his reasoning.<\/p>\n Teacher raises<\/p>\n All classroom teachers in the Fort Worth Independent School District will receive a 5% raise starting in the 2026-27 school year. Fort Worth ISD announced the pay increase<\/a> last week as part of its strategy to recruit and retain teachers as it works to turnaround the district\u2019s stagnant academic performance.<\/p>\n The 5% increase applies across the board for Fort Worth ISD\u2019s pay scale, Licata said. The move was necessary for the district to be competitive with nearby school districts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have long lines of teachers. We don\u2019t. It\u2019s become very difficult,\u201d Licata said. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to go ahead and build a competitive, high-end, high academic, focused classroom, it starts with great teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n The average salary of Texas teachers is about $63,800, according to the National Education Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n As of Monday, it\u2019s unclear how many teachers districtwide will reap the benefits of the raise and what the average salary will be. The downsizing of the district\u2019s operations will largely fund the 5% increases, Licata said.<\/p>\n