Thanks, Ryan
The Chron has a story today on an analysis by Good Reason Houston. Here is how the story starts:
Less than 20% of Houston ISD’s high school graduates earn enough to make a living wage in Harris County six years after obtaining their diplomas, according to an analysis of by Good Reason Houston.
A single adult needs to earn $42,158 a year to cover their basic needs in Harris County, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s living wage calculator. About 17% of HISD students who graduated in 2017 earned enough to meet or exceed this threshold by 2023, according to the local education nonprofit. Neighboring school districts only do slightly better.
The estimated living wage accounts for annual expenses for a single, childless adult in Harris County including $12,337 for housing, $9,823 for transportation, $3,785 for food, and $3,168 for medical costs.
Cary Wright, CEO of Good Reason Houston, said the number of students earning a living wage in HISD — and the rest of Houston’s area school districts — is “woefully insufficient” if they are aiming to provide students with the education they deserve and the ability to obtain high-wage, high-skill and high-demand jobs after graduation.
This data “should call upon Houstonians to really ask the question of, ‘Can we say with confidence that, because of the quality of our public education system that’s available to every child in every neighborhood, they are getting the world class preparation and support they need to be competitive with their peers in an ever changing, dynamic economy?’” Wright said.
This nonprofit’s analysis is based on data from 9,056 HISD students who graduated high school in 2017, including information from the Texas Education Agency, Texas High Education Coordinating Board and Texas Workforce Commission. HISD did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Here is the entire read: HISD graduates face economic hurdles in earning living wages.
Here is the line from the story that I found noteworthy:
Neighboring school districts only do slightly better.
It is not just an HISD issue. I wonder how ISDs in other parts of the state fare on this.
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This is from an AP story on Taylor Swift at the game yesterday at Arrowhead:
The 14-time Grammy Award-winning superstar returned to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills for a spot in their third consecutive Super Bowl.
Swift walked down the tunnel to her usual suite about 90 minutes before kickoff. And while she was decked out in Chanel for the divisional round against Houston, she opted for a sleek black-and-gold Louis Vuitton look for the AFC title game, including a jacquard knit jacket that retails for $5,000 and a stocking cap with a list price of $830.
I get how a jacket may cost $5,000. I don’t know about a $830 stocking cap.
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Ryan Pressly is no longer an Astro. He was traded to the Cubbies yesterday.
Here is what State Sen. Carol Alvarado said about Pressly on the State Senate Floor a couple of years ago when she honored the Astros with a resolution after winning the 2022 World Series:
Ryan Pressly, our closer, is a two time All Star, has pitched in 41 Astros playoff games and has only given up one postseason homerun.
Ryan was at the back end of two combined no-hitters last season. The Game 4 gem that I mentioned earlier, And the one at Yankee Stadium last June involving Christian Javier, Hector Neris and Ryan.
Ryan’s playoff run this past fall was spectacular. He pitched in 10 playoff games, did not give up a single earned run, and was on the mound for the final out and the World Series title.
We will miss Ryan Pressly in the bullpen. Thanks, Ryan.
The featured photo is from Sen. Alvarado’s State Capitol office two years ago with Sen. Alvarado, Jason Castro, Pressly, and team owner Jim Crane.
