State will replace Fort Worth ISD school board. Here’s how the process works
The Texas Education Agency is replacing the Fort Worth Independent School District’s school board with a group of state appointees.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced Thursday morning that the TEA is taking over Fort Worth ISD after a single campus in the district received five straight failing grades in the state’s A-F accountability ratings.
As part of the takeover, the district’s elected school board will be replaced with a “board of managers.”
What exactly is a board of managers and what roles do they serve? Here’s what to know.
What is a board of managers?
A board of managers is a temporary governance team appointed by the TEA to help school district navigate “systemic, academic, financial, or governance challenges,” according to the agency.
The state appointees are described by the TEA as local community members that take over the responsibilities of the school board and work closely with the appointed superintendent.
It’s unknown whether Superintendent Karen Molinar will remain in place. Morath said he plans to review prospective candidates before appointing a superintendent. Molinar will be one of the candidates included in that review, Morath said.
Here’s what the TEA says are the roles of the board of managers:
- Making decisions that prioritize students
- Promoting transparency and accountability
- Restoring the community’s confidence in the district
Once key improvements are made and the school district is on a “stable path,” leadership will return to the elected school board, according to the TEA.
When is a board of managers appointed and what powers do they hold?
The Texas education commissioner is allowed to appoint a board of managers following a special investigation or if a school district fails to meet one or more of the following:
- Accreditation criteria
- Academic performance standards
- Financial accountability standards
Also, a board of managers may be appointed if the district has been under the management of a conservator for two consecutive school years.
As far as the powers and responsibilities of the state board, they have the same amount as the elected school board, according to the TEA.
What happens to the school board when a board of managers is appointed?
The school board will remain in office, but does not have any decision-making power.
School board elections are allowed to continue and, once the board of managers is removed, authority returns to the elected trustees, according to the TEA.
Who is in the board of managers?
There’s a process to select members of the board of managers.
First, TEA will call for applications within the impacted community and informational meetings will be held to explain the following:
- Role and responsibilities of board of managers
- The application process and requirements
- Projected timelines for a possible appointment
The board of managers application is live now. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, Nov. 21.
After the application window closes, here’s what happens next:
- TEA reviews submitted applications
- Selected candidates participate in Lone Star Governance training
- Interviews are conducted with qualified applicants
Finalists will then be presented to the Texas education commissioner final approval, according to the TEA. The commissioner conducts the final reviews and approves the appointments.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM.
