The 85th regular session proved to be an
opportunity lost for public education despite the best efforts of House leaders
and some in the Senate. What should have
included a focus on addressing the “minimum constitutional requirements” of the
school finance system turned into a bartering endeavor by “leadership” in the
Senate. To suggest that either the Lt.
Governor or chair of the Senate Education Committee were even remotely
interested in solving the school finance challenges would be a stretch; their interests
lie much more in trying to garner headlines that tug at the emotions of people,
especially parents of children with special needs. What a sad day when headlines are more
important than the well-being of more than 5.3 million students.
And now the governor, largely missing during the 85th,
has decided to weigh in on what he sees as critical items to address during the
upcoming special session. To me, this is
largely another headline grab largely fueled by being outflanked by Senate “leadership”;
he had to do something and the easiest (and seemingly least risky) thing for
him to do was to align with the LG and committee Chair. But if things go as they should given the
level of dissatisfaction and angst in the public education community, perhaps
the governor’s plot to “steal” back the headlines will backfire; candidly,
shame on all of us if it doesn’t!
While certainly disappointed but not surprised that the LG
chose to hold school finance hostage for a voucher (by any name) program, what
is even more galling right now is the inclusion of a $1000 teacher raise as one
of the priorities of the special session.
But it sure does make a good headline!
After all, who wouldn’t agree that teachers are due more than the
current salary structure in Texas public schools? But to suggest that this raise must be funded
not by the state but by district budgets is not only shortsighted but an insult
to districts and teachers themselves.
With the percent of funding by the state falling each year,
where does the governor think districts can find the funds to provide these raises? Does he have any concept of what goes on in a
public school district and how districts are challenged to manage enrollment growth? Speaking of enrollment growth, statements
that the legislature is funding enrollment growth also make for a great
headline. But do we want to tread water
and not provide enhanced programs and other offerings to all students? Why do we focus on sub-groups such as kids
with special needs or kids new to the system?
Oh, yeah, great headlines.
What the governor and LG are doing is to basically divert
attention from the issues that they are unwilling to address. And they are using headlines to move the ball
down the field. So now the hard part
begins, not for them but for the kids and all of us who support public
education. Public education advocates have
to speak out (and vote) by letting all stakeholders (and that’s all of us
whether we have kids in schools or not) know that public education is at risk
if nothing changes. Imagine the headline
when schools close or districts consolidate; the state will take no
responsibility but the LG will use it to reinforce his support of vouchers (by
any name).
It’s truly a sad day when headlines are more important than
kids, when responsibility for funding public education continues to shift more
and more to the districts themselves.
All of this while the argument is made that we need property tax reform,
another great headline. Let’s pull
together as we are starting to do to make education a priority in the State of
Texas. Our kids deserve better. Now that makes a great headline!
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