T he 84th Texas Legislature closed its session with mandates that left school districts with some challenging obstacles: planning the instructional year with minutes versus days, funding cameras in special education classrooms( yet another unfunded mandate), and tolerating a school finance system that inadequately funds a high quality education for the children of Texas.
School district personnel have discovered that it is not as easy as HB 2610 makes it seem to count 75,600 minutes of instruction and that it is a bit more complex to determine how to implement and fund the installation of cameras as required by SB 507. Despite the hand that has been dealt to public education, principals, teachers and administrators have worked tirelessly year after year to find ways to invest in our students and give them the best education possible.
Most school boards by now have approved their 2016-2017 instructional calendars with minutes and are addressing where to place cameras in self-contained special education classrooms. Unfortunately, although school districts are doing what they are being directed to do by the State, the Texas government is failing to do its part.
School districts across Texas were shocked and disappointed when the Texas Supreme Court ruled on May 13 that the current school funding process is constitutional. School districts cannot continue to do more with less while achieving the results our legislators demand and our students deserve.
Although TASBO was already preparing to have a greater presence in Austin due to the current political environment, our organization through the Governmental Relations Committee and local affiliates has become even more focused on advocacy in key areas as we approach the 85th Texas Legislative Session. It is important that we help educate new legislators regarding the issues at hand; the need for adequate funding, more local control and acknowledgement of the transparency that already exists in Texas public schools.
Texas needs a school funding system that is equitable and sufficient to provide for the changing demographics, addresses unfunded mandates and provides greater equity in school facilities funding. Lawmakers must understand the importance and value of public education employees and their students, who comprise 91 percent of the Texas population.
Texas needs a school funding system that is equitable and sufficient to provide for the changing demographics, addresses unfunded mandates and provides greater equity in school facilities funding.
The Supreme Court recognizes that transformation is needed and that the resolution cannot continue to rely on putting a“ Band-Aid on top of a Band-Aid”. The ruling further said,“ Our Byzantine school funding‘ system’ is undeniably imperfect, with immense room for improvement.”
While it remains to be seen whether the Legislature will address school finance in the upcoming Legislative Session, it is time to put aside our differences and change the hand our school districts have been dealt to ensure ALL students have the opportunity to succeed. We challenge our legislators to step up and work with districts to repair the current school finance system— correct the mistakes of your past and protect the success of your future.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
KAREN SMITH, RTSBA, CPA TASBO BOARD PRESIDENT
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