El Paso board says it will challenge state takeover

From The El Paso Times: Board members in the El Paso (Texas) Independent School District say they are prepared to do battle with the Texas Education Agency, which taken control of the district. Board members say they'll challenge Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams' decision to appoint a board of managers and a conservator to oversee the district of 64,000 students that has been plagued by a cheating scandal.

EARLIER....from The El Paso Times: Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams has announced plans to strip all power from the beleaguered El Paso school board, which allowed a cheating scheme to flourish under a superintendent now serving time in federal prison. The 64,000-student district is the largest in the state's history to face such a severe sanction. Former Superintendent Lorenzo García is now serving a 3½-year federal prison term after pleading guilty in June to two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud for steering a $450,000 no-bid contract to his girlfriend.

Reaction: The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees plans to consider possible action in response to the state's decision to strip board members of their authority. The board will meet with its attorney to discuss "legal issues relating to appointment of conservator and board of managers by commissioner of education." (El Paso Times)