7:06 AM

Mustangs,

Gentry Junior currently has no working phones or internet. Phone calls will be rerouted to the Central Administration Building. Visitors will not be allowed on campus at this time.

We will update you as soon as we receive more information. Instruction and campus operations, such as breakfast and lunch, will proceed as normal.

Thank you,

Jonathan Kirksey

Principal, Gentry Junior School

On December 12, 2025, a student made an outcry against a Goose Creek CISD employee, Lorinda Bocardo. That same day, the District placed Ms. Bocardo on administrative leave and complied with all applicable reporting requirements. On December 19, 2025, District Administration notified Ms. Bocardo of its intent to recommend that the Board of Trustees initiate the termination process at the Board's January meeting.

Goose Creek CISD has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the safety of our students and will act swiftly and decisively when misconduct is reported. Ms. Bocardo submitted her resignation on January 5, 2026, before the Board meeting where her employment was to be considered.

The Harris County District Attorney accepted charges against Ms. Bocardo on March 2, 2026, including felony charges for an inappropriate relationship with a student/minor and indecency with a child. The court issued a warrant for her arrest on April 10, 2026. Only one victim was identified through law enforcement's investigation, and the District has been in contact with the victim and the victim's family about this case since the date of the outcry.

Due to the ongoing criminal case against Ms. Bocardo, the District will not release additional details or respond to further inquiries at this time. Any person with information about this case should contact the Goose Creek CISD Police Department.

As always, Goose Creek CISD's top priority remains the safety and security of the students entrusted to our care. In addition to fulfilling its legal obligations to conduct employee background checks and train employees on laws and policies prohibiting inappropriate relationships with students, the District also relies on reports from students, employees, parents, and community members to ensure that all suspicions of educator misconduct are promptly investigated and addressed. Please remember: if you see something, say something.

1:32 PM

Dear Horace Mann Families,

We are aware of inaccurate information circulating on social media stating that the school district failed to respond to a reported threat against a student. This claim is false.

Goose Creek CISD has been working with the Baytown Police Department regarding an off-campus threat involving Horace Mann students. Over the weekend, the Baytown Police Department investigated the report and notified Horace Mann administrators.

Upon notification, the student was brought to the office immediately, and an investigation was conducted. The district confirmed that one student brought a knife to school and then handed it to another student. Both students have been removed from campus. All findings were reported to the Baytown Police Department immediately. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has declined to accept charges because the weapon does not meet the legal standard.

As a reminder, weapons of any kind (real or fake) are prohibited on school property. This is a Level III offense that may result in a student being suspended, placed in In-School Suspension (ISS), or placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP).

We want to remind our students of the importance of adhering to the district’s Student Code of Conduct, which can be found in the 2025-2026 Student Handbook. If students are found to have violated the Student Expectations and/or Standards of Conduct, disciplinary action will be taken, regardless of decisions made by external entities, such as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

We understand that situations like this can cause concern. We ask that families communicate directly with the campus and law enforcement with any questions or concerns. Maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment remains our highest priority, and we appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

Goose Creek CISD Administration

5:00 PM

Dear 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Families,

Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, all high schools in Goose Creek CISD will transition from a seven-period day to a 5x5 course schedule at our traditional high school campuses. Under this model, students would take five courses each semester, earning up to 10 credits per year.

Specialty campuses, including IMPACT Early College High School, Stuart Career Tech High School, Peter E. Hyland Empower Academy, and POINT, will continue to operate under their current scheduling models.

This recommendation reflects the state’s growing emphasis on college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) and our shared commitment to preparing students for success after graduation. By restructuring the school day, we can provide students with greater access to meaningful learning opportunities while also ensuring they receive the support they need to succeed.

The 5x5 schedule offers several important benefits for students. It increases flexibility and choice, allowing students to explore more electives, career and technical education (CTE) pathways, and advanced coursework such as dual credit. It also creates opportunities for students to accelerate their learning or recover credits within the same school year, keeping them on track for graduation.

With fewer classes each semester, students can focus more deeply on their coursework and benefit from more personalized schedules tailored to their individual goals and needs.

Additionally, students will take their End-of-Course (EOC) exams after completing instruction for each course. In many cases, this provides multiple opportunities within the same year to test and, if needed, retest.

As we prepare for this transition, school counselors will work with students to select additional courses aligned to their academic goals. Updated course requests will be shared with families, and parents will have an opportunity to review and request changes during a designated window, consistent with previous years.

We are committed to keeping families informed throughout this process and will continue to share updates as planning moves forward.

We appreciate your continued support as we work to provide the best possible learning experience for every Goose Creek CISD student.

Sincerely,

Goose Creek Administration

12:48 PM

Highlands Elementary has been placed on a secure (no one can enter or exit the building) due to an incident outside of the campus. All students and staff are safe, and instruction will continue as normal. We will provide you with an update once the secure has been lifted.

1:02 PM

The secure has been lifted, and the incident has been resolved. All students and staff are safe, and instruction will continue as normal.

1:00 PM

Dear 5th, 6th, and 7th Grade Families,

Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, all junior schools in Goose Creek CISD will transition from a seven-period day to a six-period day.

This decision follows feedback from campus and district staff and reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening instruction and supporting student success. Under the new structure, class periods will increase from 50 to 66 minutes, providing more time for high-quality instruction, targeted intervention, and differentiation during the school day.

With fewer transitions between classes, students will experience improved continuity of learning and fewer disruptions throughout the day.

Please note that campus start and end times will remain the same, and there will be no changes to tiered schedules.

As we prepare for this transition, school counselors will work with students to confirm elective course preferences. Updated course requests will be shared with families, and parents will have an opportunity to review and request changes during a designated window, consistent with previous years.

We appreciate your continued support as we work to provide the best possible learning experience for every Goose Creek CISD student.

Sincerely,

Goose Creek Administration

11:27 AM

Baytown Junior students and staff briefly evacuated the building due to the fire alarm being activated. All students and staff are safe, and instruction will continue as normal.

10:55 AM

Baytown Junior is currently experiencing a partial loss of power. CenterPoint is aware and actively working to restore service.

All students and staff are safe, and we will continue the school day to the best of our ability. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

1:35 PM

CenterPoint is now on site. While the campus has maintained partial power throughout the day, crews may need to temporarily shut down all power to complete repairs. If this occurs, the campus emergency lighting system will activate. All students and staff remain safe, and we will continue to maintain normal operations as much as possible. Dismissal will begin as scheduled at 2:50 PM.

7:30 PM

Baytown Junior Families,

CenterPoint has completed the repair, and power has been fully restored to the campus.

We sincerely thank our students and staff for their flexibility and resilience throughout today’s outage. School will resume as normal tomorrow.

4:30 PM

IMPACT Families,

We want to provide you with accurate information, as we know it, regarding an ongoing investigation involving a Lee College professor and debate coach, Rigoberto “Rigo” Ruiz, following reports of alleged inappropriate and potentially criminal conduct involving the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

We want to clearly communicate that this individual is not and has never been employed by Goose Creek CISD. Goose Creek CISD is cooperating with Lee College and the Baytown Police Department as those entities investigate these allegations.

At this time, we are not aware that any Goose Creek CISD students have been identified as subjects in the criminal investigation. Goose Creek CISD students may, however, be involved in the College’s investigation, due to his role as a professor and coach. As we continue to collaborate with Lee College and Baytown Police Department during their respective investigations, we will follow up directly with the parents/guardians of any student who may be identified.

As always, the safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. Goose Creek CISD stands ready to support Lee College, the Baytown Police Department, and our families as this investigation continues.

We encourage any student who had any concerning contact with Mr. Ruiz as a professor or debate coach, as well as any staff member or community member who may have information related to this situation, to report it directly to the Baytown Police Department.

Students who may be struggling with this news or need additional support are encouraged to contact the IMPACT Student Wellness Interventionist or Counselor.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust.

2:16 PM

Harlem Elementary is currently on a secure (requiring everyone to remain inside the building and prohibiting anyone from entering the building) due to a police investigation in the area unrelated to Harlem. Police officers are on site. We will inform you as soon as the secure has been lifted.

Thank you for your continuous support of our district.

2:48 PM

The secure has been lifted, and instruction will resume as normal.