HPISD Board Welcomes New Member

Three Highland Park ISD board of trustees’ members took the oath of office at the board’s May 13 meeting.

Michael Denton, Jr. replaced Jae Ellis in Place 4 on the board after winning 63.20% of the vote in the race against Jon Altschuler. 

Incumbents Bryce Benson and Ellen Lee were sworn in after running unopposed for Places 3 and 5.

In recognition of outgoing board member Jae Ellis’ service to the district, board president Maryjane Bonfield read a collection of thoughts from his fellow trustees that praised his empathy and care for students, the value he added to board discussions, and his dedication to giving back to the community and school district.

“I can’t think of anyone I can find who truly bleeds blue and gold more than Jae Ellis,” Bonfield said at the conclusion of the remarks. “We just thank you for your love of HPISD. We thank you for your service as a trustee.” 

Ellis told board members that he had the utmost confidence in the district’s administrators and teachers to provide an excellent education for all Highland Park students, as well as unmeasured trust in HPISD trustees.

He said that he had once sang with Denton in the Lads and Lassies, and that they played football together. Denton, he said, had been a track star.

“I want to literally pass the baton to Michael, because I never got to run a relay race with him. Michael, we’re counting on you to do great things,” Ellis said before handing Denton a golden baton.

In other business, the board of trustees:

• Received an update on construction and other projects financed by the district’s $137.3 million bond. Improvements to the field at McCulloch Intermediate School/Highland Park Middle School will take longer than expected due to the need to remove, replace, and stabilize soil. The project’s timeline will extend beyond the start of the 2025-26 school year, trustee Pete Flowers said.
• Heard an update on grammar and writing. In October, the district will measure the achievement of fourth, seventh, and 11th graders in writing with an assessment from the Educational Record Bureau. The test, called the Writing Assessment Program, is used by top private schools, but not in any other public schools in Texas, deputy superintendent Shorr Heathcote said.