Parents, clergy and community leaders gathered Monday night to form a new group aimed at stopping a possible state takeover of Fort Worth Independent School District.
Families Organized Resisting Takeover, which calls itself FORT, held its first meeting at an east Fort Worth church, drawing dozens who said they wanted decisions about schools to remain local.
“I believe in the power of our public schools,” one attendee said during the meeting, as others applauded. FORT leader Zach Leonard held up a sign and told the crowd, “We love our fort, and we are here to protect the fort.”
Concerns tied to struggling campus
The urgency stems from persistent academic trouble at Forest Oak Sixth Grade Center, which has recorded five consecutive years of failing ratings. That streak leaves the district vulnerable to intervention by the Texas Education Agency. Education Commissioner Mike Morath could respond by appointing a state board, a new superintendent — or both. Morath visited Fort Worth recently to review district efforts in person…