FWISD school board could take action on superintendent’s contract. Here’s what to know.
The Fort Worth Independent School District’s board could take action on Superintendent Angélica Ramsey’s contract Tuesday evening, according to a board agenda.
Meeting documents offer no details about what action the board could consider. But pressure on the board has grown over the past few weeks, with many parents and community leaders demanding better academic outcomes, and some calling for Ramsey’s removal.
The meeting comes nearly a month after Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker sent a letter to each board member asking that they do more to improve student achievement. At the board’s Aug. 27 meeting, Parker said the district’s lackluster academic performance hampered students’ opportunities later in life, and called for a broad, city-wide effort to help students make progress academically. Although Parker stopped short of calling for Ramsey’s ouster, the mayor said change is needed if the district is to keep up with the city’s growth.
At a meeting last week, the board discussed Ramsey’s performance during a closed session. But board President Roxanne Martinez declined to comment on what shape the discussion took, and the board didn’t take a vote on the superintendent’s contract.
Before the closed session began, about 20 people spoke, with some criticizing Ramsey’s performance. Others said the district’s problems were larger than Ramsey and date back to before she was hired in September 2022.
Under the terms of Ramsey’s contract, the board, with the superintendent’s agreement, could reassign her to a different position in the district, adjust her salary or terminate her contract. The board could also fire her for good cause if they determine that she failed to fulfill her duties as outlined in her contract, or Ramsey could resign without penalty.
Ramsey’s most recent job evaluation was in July. By a 5-4 vote, the board gave her a $15,000 performance bonus, the smallest her contract allows. Ramsey earns $335,000 a year. Her contract is set to expire in July 2026.
Fort Worth ISD’s test scores have barely budged over the past decade. In 2015, just 28% of Fort Worth ISD’s students across all grades and subjects tested on grade level on state tests. This year, that number was just one percentage point better.
But in an email to the Star-Telegram on Monday, Ramsey pointed out that in the two years since she arrived in the district, Fort Worth ISD’s scores have largely held steady even as they’ve slipped across the state.
“As I continue to say, we are not where we want to be, but we are moving in the right direction with the foundation built over the last two years,” Ramsey said.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the district’s administration building at 7060 Camp Bowie Blvd. Public comment will be allowed before the discussion of the superintendent’s contract.
