HOUSTON – During a tense exchange at Houston City Council, Councilmember Edward Pollard pressed Mayor John Whitmire to bring Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles before council to answer questions about the district’s plan to close 12 campuses.
Pollard argued that families in affected neighborhoods were caught off guard and that the city council, while not having authority over HISD, serves as a public forum for residents seeking answers.
MAIN ARTICLE: New pushback emerges ahead of vote on proposed HISD school closures
During a tense exchange at Houston City Council, Councilmember Edward Pollard pressed Mayor John Whitmire to bring Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles before council to answer questions about the district’s plan to close 12 campuses.
Pollard argued that families in affected neighborhoods were caught off guard and that the city council, while not having authority over HISD, serves as a public forum for residents seeking answers.
“Do you think it’s appropriate for us — as a body and for you as the mayor — to ask him to come before us to speak on the reasons on why this decision was made?” Pollard asked.
Whitmire responded that the superintendent had already declined the invitation and emphasized that HISD controls its own agenda.
“I have done that, and he declined. I responded to your letter. Your office spoke to him and got a respectful reply,” Whitmire said, adding that he believes Miles plans to hold community outreach meetings.
RELATED: Houston parents have questions about HISD school closures, but the district hasn’t answered
The exchange reflected the ongoing frustrations of many parents in HISD over transparency in the decision-making process, particularly as these closures could disproportionately impact minority and vulnerable communities.
Pollard stressed that residents have no direct way to question HISD leadership in a public forum and said council should act to provide clarity before the board’s vote.
The proposed closures are part of HISD’s broader plan to consolidate schools in response to declining enrollment, aging facilities, and budget challenges.
If approved, the campuses would close at the end of the school year.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: “Mayor, as you know, the future of our city is directly tied to the success of HISD. I sent your office a letter regarding the 12 school closures that are happening in the district. Were you able to receive that letter?”
MAYOR WHITMIRE: We did, and the superintendent told me he spoke to you and respectfully declined, so I thought it was handled.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Yeah, no, I never spoke with him.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: [HISD Superintendent Mike Miles] told me your office and his office had an agreement that he declined at this time, that’s the reason I thought we took it off our to-do list.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Okay, well I never spoke to him personally. My staff did speak with his staff.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: And did you decline?
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: I was told that he did decline.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: So why you bring it up now?
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Because the letter was addressed to you, as the mayor of the city—
MAYOR WHITMIRE: But you got it answered. You got it answered in a timely fashion. What else?
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: You may have more influence on him than I do. So, my question—
MAYOR WHITMIRE: That’s where you’re wrong again.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: You don’t have any influence?
MAYOR WHITMIRE: I have influence. You have influence, this council has influence. He declined. So, let’s move on.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Do you think it’s appropriate for us — as a body and for you as the mayor — to ask him to come before us to speak on the reasons on why this decision was made? We have brought him before or asked him to come before council in the past. He has done so. I think these questions need to be asked in a public forum. Because right now, the elected body of HISD has no authority. They do not serve on the board. And so, residents don’t have the ability to speak to them directly in a public forum. And so that’s why I thought it would be important for us — as the local government body — to be able to bring him forward. Because these are questions that our constituents are coming to us with, and they have no real answers. So, I think it’s appropriate for us to have him come before the body and for you, as the mayor, to—
MAYOR WHITMIRE: I agree. We’re in agreement. So, what do you want me to do?
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: I want you to ask him.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: I have done that, and he declined. I responded to your letter. Your office spoke to him and got a respectful reply. The gentleman controls his own agenda, and he respectfully declined to be here.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Well, I never got a response from you, so this is the first—
MAYOR WHITMIRE: Well, you got the answer that was most meaningful.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: First time I’m hearing from you on this.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: Well, you ought to call. You got my number? Or your staff call. But I’m not going to debate what that gentleman’s responsibilities are with you. This is City Hall. We’ve got a lot of business to tend to. I agree with you that it would be very informative if he would go, and I believe he plans to do community outreach meetings, is what I’m informed, is what your office was told. So, in all respect, can we get back to city business?
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: This isn’t meant to be a debate. These are simple questions that I’m asking you very respectfully.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: But you already have the answer!
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Very respectfully. So, when it’s my time and I have questions to ask, I don’t understand why you’re being so combative regarding an issue that’s extremely pressing—
MAYOR WHITMIRE: I’m not combative. I’m in a wonderful mood this morning, but I’m not going to politicize your letter to the superintendent when you’ve already gotten a good answer. One that you didn’t like, but it’s the one that the man controls.
COUNCILMEMBER POLLARD: Thank you.
MAYOR WHITMIRE: You’re welcome