01.22.10
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, Education, Public Schools, The Budget at 5:47 pm by wcnews
There’s a big whole in the budget and the next session is going to be ugly. Here’s the latest from Texas AFT, Hard Times, Hard Choices.
For months now, we’ve been hearing the comptroller report that state revenue collections have dropped dramatically as the national recession caught up with the Texas economy.
For several years, we’ve known that the school property-tax cuts passed in 2006 would not be fully replaced, as promised, with revenue from the new state business-franchise tax passed that year. When you hear folks talking about a structural state budget shortfall, that’s generally what they’ve been talking about. This “structural shortfall” terminology also has been applied lately to the use of one-time federal stimulus funding to cover the cost of ongoing programs–for now.
For decades, state lawmakers have failed to come up with a sustainable revenue structure that would grow along with the state’s rising population and growing needs. That’s another kind of structural budget shortfall less often noticed but of crucial importance. It’s the underlying reason why the state’s school-finance system periodically plunges into constitutional crisis over the inadequacy and inequity of education funding.
They go on to point out that “..in the last week, three key developments occurred at the state legislature”. They are:
- January 12: House Speaker Joe Straus announced the creation of a House Select Committee on Fiscal Stability.
- January 13: At a little-noted hearing of the Texas House Ways and Means Committee in Houston, it became clearer just how hard that “fiscally responsible work” will be. Analysts at the Legislative Budget Board estimated that the state in the next biennium will have at least $10.8 billion less than the amount lawmakers used to make ends meet for 2010-2011.
- January 15: The Republican state leadership triumvirate–Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Speaker Straus–instructed state agencies to come up with proposed cuts of 5 percent of their current budgets to be implemented in the current biennium.
And yesterday there was a fourth, Special State Committee Formed to Study School Finance and More.
A key committee with a wide-ranging portfolio took shape today as the lieutenant governor and House speaker jointly announced their appointees. Today’s appointees to the Select Committee on Public School Finance will join two already named by the governor, plus the commissioner of education, Robert Scott, who serves ex officio.
Four senators named by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to this panel today are Florence Shapiro (co-chair), Republican of Plano; Robert Duncan, Republican of Lubbock; Dan Patrick, Republican of Houston; and Royce West, Democrat of Dallas. The lieutenant governor also named Dr. Leonard Culwell, superintendent of Garland ISD, as a representative of the “public school community,” and Dr. Harrison Keller, former top education adviser to previous House Speaker Tom Craddick, as a business representative.
Four legislative appointees from the Texas House are Reps. Rob Eissler (co-chair), Republican of The Woodlands; Jimmie Don Aycock, Republican of Killeen; Scott Hochberg, Democrat of Houston; and Mike Villarreal, Democrat of San Antonio. Also named today by House Speaker Joe Straus were Dr. Richard Middleton, superintendent of North East ISD in San Antonio, and Larry Kellner, former chief executive of Continental Airlines.
The gubernatorial appointees to the panel are Switzer Deason, a business executive from College Station, and Mary Ann Whiteker of Lufkin, superintendent of Hudson ISD.
This 15-member select committee will hold hearings around the state as it makes a comprehensive review of the education funding weights, allotments, and adjustments that have built up over the years in response to various funding needs and pressures. For example, the state doesn’t just allocate a set amount of dollars per student; school districts are entitled to extra funding–weighted funding–as specified by state formulas for various types of students with special needs. Some other adjustments are made based on the varying costs districts face.
This is essentially the same crew (Perry, Dewhurst, Shapiro, et al.), that “fixed” public school finance in 2006 with a tax swap that has created a structural deficit in this state. Why anyone in this state would expect these people to come up with a “fix” this time is not rational. It’s unlikely the state can survive another failed tax scheme like the one that they came up with in 2006.
Today state Sen. Eliot Shapliegh sent out a press release on the “Texas Dropout Epidemic” and it shows that we’ve known for quite some time that education is the key to future economic success.
“If the current relationships between minority status and educational attainment, occupations of employment, and wage and salary income do not change in the future from those existing in 1990, the future workforce of Texas will be less educated, more likely to be employed in lower-level state occupations and earning lower wages and salaries than the present workforce.”
- former Texas State Demographer Dr. Steve Murdock
That was written in 1997. Economic success in the way of jobs that pay a living wage that can sustain families, of all kinds, and allow them to raise well educated children. Not economic success, as in huge corporate profits and a plethora low and minimum wage jobs. It’s well know too that every penny we spend on education is money well spent and is the best long-term economic stimulus there is. It’s been proven over and over again that as long as these people are in charge public education in Texas will continue to be neglected, like so many other things in this state. And it’s insane to keep returning them to power.
Permalink
11.20.09
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, Election 2010, Public Schools, Taxes, The Budget, The Economy at 11:55 am by wcnews
Kuff has a post today with links to a couple of articles about the economic snowball that’s heading towards Texas in the next biennium and beyond, State sales tax revenues way down. This TexasTrib article he links to states:
The people in government who look at spreadsheets — so the rest of us don’t have to — are getting nervous about the state’s finances.
Sales tax revenues have taken double-digit dives for five months running; in each of those months, the state’s income from those taxes has been more than 10 percent lower than in the same month the year before. In a state where a steady rise in sales tax money has become almost a rule, the intake for the last 12 months is down more than 5 percent. And budgeteers assumed not only that they’d match the old numbers, but that they would exceed them.
And an ongoing “structural deficit” — the kind of term that seems designed to scare people away from a conversation about money — creates an ongoing problem. In 2006, in an effort to lower property tax burdens, the state agreed to spend more on public education. Lawmakers created a new business tax, but it raises less than they agreed to spend on the property tax fix. The gap has to be filled every time they write a budget. Last time, the feds showed up like leprechauns with pots of stimulus money and kept Texas from choosing to use its Rainy Day Fund, raise taxes or make spending cuts. Next time, the stimulus money won’t be there, but the hole will be.
It’s impossible to see how that does not mean trouble for Texas, a state without an income tax that relies heavily on a statewide sales tax. And an ongoing, or structural deficit, means that the Perry/GOP tax shift of 2006 will cost middle class and poor Texas – because that’s who pays – even more money in the long run. As Kuff goes on to point out the other problem this creates is it will, again, put Texas public education back in the forefront.
In 2007, that gap was filled by surplus general revenue funds. More surplus funds were put aside that year to pay for the shortfall in 2009. Needless to say, no such surplus will be available in 2011. The Rainy Day Fund, assuming the votes are there to use it, might be able to cover both the revenue shortage and this structural gap, but I wouldn’t be too optimistic about that. But sooner or later, which is to say this session or the following one, that great big unaffordable property tax cut is going to have to be dealt with. The only thing that sustains me when I contemplate the possibility of another term for Rick Perry is the knowledge that this reckoning would have to happen on his watch.
Of course, I’m sure he’ll defend the property tax cut to his last dying breath, and if he has to provoke a budgetary crisis or two to do that, he will. But his options may be limited this time around.
We knew it back when the tax shift was passed in 2006 that it was only “kicking the can down the road”, so this should surprise no one. And for all of the credit Perry has taken for Texas’ economy doing so well, he’ll definitely be more than willing to take the blame for this….right?
These issues will continue to become bigger as we continue to move forward toward the 2010 primary and general election, and all candidates running for office need to be able to speak about how they will tackle them.
[UPDATE]: Unemployment numbers continue to rise in the state and Austin area. TWC press release.
Permalink
08.07.09
Posted in Around The State, Public Schools, SBOE, Take Action, Transportation at 3:26 pm by wcnews
Via the TEA web site, Social Studies TEKS first draft released.
The first draft of proposed revisions to the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are now posted and available for public review.
There’s quite a bit to read here for anyone interested in the upcoming changes to the this curriculum by the SBOE.
Two upcoming committee Meetings:
- Wednesday, August 12th in Austin – Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, Select (House). Invited testimony only at this hearing.
- Thursday, August 20th in Arlington – Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee. Topics to be discussed may include, but are not limited to, border security, traffic safety, the H1N1 virus, the TxDOT management audit, HOV lanes, stimulus funding, high speed rail, transportation finances, the TTI Mobility Report, and updates on agency activities.The Committee will also receive public testimony. If you would like to testify, please limit oral remarks to 3 minutes. If you would like to submit written testimony, please submit 15 copies, with your name on each copy, to the Committee Staff at the hearing.
Permalink
07.09.09
Posted in 2010 Primary, Around The State, Commentary, Election 2010, Public Schools, SBOE, SBOE District 10 at 11:08 am by wcnews
It also plays into Perry’s fundraising strategy for GOP Primary
As the State Board of Education (SBOE) did last year with the science curriculum in Texas, they will next attempt to do with the social studies curriculum. Known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, for social studies, which includes history, will be rewritten over the next year.
Here’s what the DMN had to say today about the six experts that are overseeing the rewriting process, Conservatives seek to shift focus of state social studies lessons.
Civil rights leaders César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall – whose names appear on schools, libraries, streets and parks across the U.S. – are given too much attention in Texas social studies classes, conservatives advising the state on curriculum standards say.
“To have César Chávez listed next to Ben Franklin” – as in the current standards – “is ludicrous,” wrote evangelical minister Peter Marshall, one of six experts advising the state as it develops new curriculum standards for social studies classes and textbooks. David Barton, president of Aledo-based WallBuilders, said in his review that Chávez, a Hispanic labor leader, “lacks the stature, impact and overall contributions of so many others.”
[..]
Although the actual standards are being drafted by teams of teachers, academics and community representatives, the education board appointed a panel of six experts to help guide the writing teams. Three of the experts, including Barton and Marshall, were appointed by Republican social conservatives on the board, while the other three experts – all professors at state universities in Texas – were appointed by the remaining Republicans and Democrats on the 15-member board.
Texas Freedom Network, a nonprofit group that has battled social conservatives on education issues, questioned the academic credentials of Barton and Marshall, and said their negative comments on Chávez are just the start of a “blacklist” of historical figures considered objectionable by social conservatives.
“It is what we expected from unqualified political activists put on this so-called panel of experts,” said Dan Quinn of the freedom network. “This is yet another step toward politicizing our children’s education.”
[...]
Barton, a former vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party, said that because the U.S. is a republic rather than a democracy, the proper adjective for identifying U.S. values and processes should be “republican” rather than “democratic.” That means social studies books should discuss “republican” values in the U.S., his report said.
Vince at Capitol Annex recently chronicled some of the machinations of the Barton’s actions regarding the panel, ( “Expert Panel” Reviewing Texas Social Studies Curriculum Not All Experts, Barton’s Review Of Social Studies Standards Lacks Much To Be Desired (Including Actual Facts), and More David Barton: A Closer Look At His Analysis Of The Texas Social Studies TEKS). From those posts it’s obvious that Barton is using falsehoods and misquotes from history to try and justify teaching history with a religious bent. Here’s what the WallBuilders are about.
As the saying goes, “History is written by the victors.” Or In this case rewritten, and right now the far right of the Texas GOP is winning. As with science the far right radicals on the SBOE will attempt to give social studies a religious “conservative” bent in Texas.
As we move forward into the 2010 elections we all must remember that it’s these kinds of offices that the extreme members of the Texas GOP have done so well in taking over, many times under the radar. That’s why it is so important for Democrats, all over the state, to offer candidates that better represent Texas’ views in many of these races. Many of these people were also appointed by the governor, or a Perry appointee, which is another reason why who wins the governor’s race in 2010 is so important.
Kuff has more, The SBOE’s assault on history, on this topic as well as good links to the latest on Cynthia Dunbar to head the SBOE – which would be another radical move by Perry. Also read Phillip Martin posted on Perry’s fundraising numbers which explains why Perry’s failure to govern is exactly what the GOP donors want. And as today’s poll shows the further to the extreme right he goes, failure for the public, the better his poll numbers get in the primary, success for GOP.
All of this is why it is so important to have a strong Democrat at the top of the ticket next year that will point out the GOP’s failings in Texas relentlessly.
Permalink
04.30.09
Posted in 81st Legislature, Around The State, Education, Public Schools, Uncategorized at 10:38 am by wcnews
At least one good thing came out of the dueling bills that were passed yesterday by the Texas House and Senate. The stain of then Gov. George W. Bush’s “reforms” have been washed away, via the AAS, House, Senate ease school accountability standards:
Crafted by the education leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives, the bills aim to reduce the role of standardized tests, give schools more flexibility to help struggling students and focus education on readying students for college or the workplace.
Gone are many of the school reforms ushered in by then-Gov. George W. Bush, such as a prohibition on promoting a student to the next grade if he or she failed to pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
That promotion decision will now be left to the school and parents.
[House Public Education Committee Chairman Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands] said the overhaul will end the one-size-fits-all approach of the current system and allow for schools to be judged on more than just performance on a single test.
Here’s some “big picture” analysis on these two bills as provided by the Texas AFT:
The Texas House and Senate today passed broadly similar rewrites of the state system of testing and test-based school accountability. The next several hotlines will discuss in detail what these bills, HB 3 and SB 3, would do. Today we will share with you the big picture and report on some of the significant floor amendments adopted in each chamber.
The big picture: Both bills reduce the emphasis on state tests as the basis for promotion decisions in primary and middle school, relying more on the professional judgment of a student’s teachers and on other locally determined criteria. However, the bills would over time add a new standard of “college readiness” in math and English, yet to be defined, as a basis for school accountability ratings. As a result, schools would face at least ten more accountability “tripwires” that could trigger a low-performing rating and start the clock running on potential sanctions including reconstitution and school closure. Eventually, ten more “college readiness” tripwires would be added as standards are developed for social studies and science.
Though originally advertised as an effort to shift the accountability system toward the use of “more carrot than stick,” these companion bills both leave substantially intact the current system of punitive sanctions for schools rated low-performing. The only major easing in this area was the addition of one year to the time available to turn around a low-performing campus before it can be closed, “repurposed,” or contracted out to an “alternative manager.” The bills ended up passing unanimously in both chambers, but not before debates on amendments that illustrated major differences among lawmakers over the future of the accountability system
[...]
Though majorities in both chambers are not yet ready to make a decisive break from excessively test-driven accountability, lawmakers more and more are coming to see the inadequacy of the state’s standardized tests as the primary basis for assessing students, teachers, and schools.
Essentially a step in the right direction but there’s still a long way to go.
Permalink
04.23.09
Posted in 81st Legislature, Around The State, Education, Public Schools, SBOE, Uncategorized at 8:13 am by wcnews
Yesterday State Board of Education (SBOE) Chairman Don McLeroy finally went before the Senate for his confirmation. McLeroy has been serving in an “interim” capacity since he was appointed after the previous legislative session, via UT’s Texas Politics – Executive Branch Appointments:
If a vacancy occurs while the Legislature is not in session (and it regularly meets for less than six months every two years), appointees can serve in the position until the Senate convenes and takes up confirmations. So a governor may make an interim appointment even knowing the nominee will later be rejected. The nominee gets to serve for a limited period of time and perhaps can even use the opportunity to convince enough senators that he or she should keep the post.
(Quick note. This is a process that should be fixed – we shouldn’t let people serve for up to up to 18 months without Senate confirmation. Not that we need another Constitutional Amendment in Texas, but this certainly needs an adjustment. It certainly seems possible that the Texas Senate could do confirmation hearings in the interim.)
I recommend checking out the liveblog of the hearing from the Texas Freedom Network. They also have a wrap up of the post that asks the question, Is McLeroy’s Confirmation in Trouble? It takes two-thirds of the Senate to confirm an appointee, and even this GOP Senate can’t change that rule, at least not yet.
It looks like Sen. Eliot Shapliegh (D-El Paso) and Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin) did most of the grilling of McLeroy. Shapleigh, after the hearing, sent out a press release [.pdf] that stated:
“Right now, Texas needs strong education leadership, particularly in math and science to make us competitive in the 21st Century… Don McLeroy is not qualified to serve as chairman of such an important board as the State Board of Education (SBOE). His views on creationism do not square with science; his views on reading do not square with evidence; his views on the future of education in Texas do not square with a diverse state seeking education excellence.”
The press release includes some of McLeroy’s more striking statements on how he views the future of education curriculum in Texas. It would be best for public education in Texas if there was different leadership at the SBOE.
Permalink
04.14.09
Posted in Local Elections, Public Schools, Round Rock, Uncategorized, Williamson County at 8:21 pm by wcnews
Received via email:
The Round Rock Council of PTAs is sponsoring two candidate forums where audience members can ask questions of candidates for the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees:
- Wednesday, April 15 at Westwood High School Library from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 22 at Round Rock High School Lecture Hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
If anyone else has any information on upcoming candidate forums for the upcoming election just send us an email – wcnews@eyeonwilliamson.org.
Permalink
04.01.09
Posted in Good Stuff, HD-52, Hutto, Local Elections, Public Schools, Williamson County at 4:30 pm by wcnews
Williamson County state representative Diana Maldonado, HD-52, will lay out her first bill in the Texas House tomorrow. It’s HB 1332, story via the AusChron, Maldonado’s Milestone.
Big day for Rep. Diana Maldonado, D-Round Rock, tomorrow. “I’m going to be the second freshman to get the hazing treatment,” said our neighbor to the north.
[...]
House Bill 1331 is her clean-up language on school text books: Currently, if a student loses a book, they have to replace it, but that doesn’t apply to electronic equipment like textbooks on CD or laptop computers. Her bill will close that loophole, and provide waivers for poor families.
The Hutto News has this article profiling the candidates for Hutto City Council Place 5, Candidates want growth, transparency, (Jason Wirth(i) v. Melanie Rios).
Both candidates identified the need for continued economic growth as a major priority for the council.
Wirth said the city must continue to encourage business growth within the city to combat funding shortfalls as a result of a halt in new construction.
“I want to get a little more self-sustaining,” Wirth said. “We need to get more businesses. Our economic development is key.”
Rios stressed the need for clean industrial growth.
“I think the most important issue is bringing some form of light and clean industry here,” she said. “Everywhere people are being laid off. A good portion of the Hutto residents would like to work in the community.”
As a companion to the growth, Rios said the city of Hutto needs to move in the direction of a more well-rounded community. Parks and other facilities designed to keep residents in town and interacting with each other should be a key part of the city’s future growth, she said.
“It makes for a nicer place to live in,” she said. “We’re lacking in amenities.”
Wirth, a three-term veteran of the council, said as the city moves forward, there needs to be room for more government openness. Given the current divisiveness on the council, it’s something he said needs to be addressed to make sure no one is abusing the power of city hall.
“This election needs to be a little bit more about transparency and better government. There are certain people who think they have the gold. I want to get that gold back to the citizens. I want their say back in this,” Wirth said.
You see a list of all the Hutto candidates here. And today was “Hutto Day” at the Texas Capitol. Press Release from Rep. Maldonado’s office can be read in extended entry. Here’s an excerpt:
State Representative Diana Maldonado (HD-52) of Round Rock Wednesday welcomed the first ever “Hutto Day” at the Capitol. More than 30 Hutto residents came out in support of the town’s legislative agenda as well as to help spread the word about the rapidly growing town of Hutto.
Read the rest of this entry
Permalink
03.30.09
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, Education, Public Schools, The Lege, Uncategorized at 9:16 am by wcnews
I believe the Texas Freedom Network makes an excellent point about the creationists and their bashing of people of faith who believe in science, Hypocrisy and Faith-Bashing.
Perhaps the anti-evolution pressure groups that led the attack on honest science in Texas think that no one was paying attention to their repulsive tactics. Well, we were.
[...]
Over the past two months, creationist pressure groups have bombarded pro-science board members with e-mails and calls demanding that they dumb down the science curriculum on evolution. Ms. Miller noted that many had attacked her religious faith, and she was rightfully upset.
[...]
TFN supports the right of families and congregations to educate their children in the tenets of their faith. Public schools have no business interfering by deciding whose religious beliefs also should be taught in science classrooms. Science classes are for science. Efforts to poison the debate by bashing the faith of those who disagree are as shameful as attacking the faith of those who reject evolution simply because of their religious beliefs.
That’s been the point all along. Who do parents want teaching their children about the religious tenet of creation. A public school science teacher that believes in evolution, or their Sunday school teacher that believes in creation? That was the discussion in the comments to last week’s post on this subject. We should leave the teaching of science to the science teachers, and the teaching of religion to the religion teachers. This debate is causing elected officials to look into de-politicizing the SBOE – if that’s possible.
I much rather the SBOE spend this kind of time making our schools better than rehashing an age-old argument that was settled long ago.
Permalink
03.27.09
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, Education, Public Schools, SBOE District 10, Uncategorized at 8:27 am by wcnews
Kuff has a great wrap up post with the links to live blogs and plenty of analysis. Most important teaching the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution will not longer be part of the curriculum. But much more happened:
That’s [removing "strengths and weaknesses] very good news, as it avoids Texas becoming a national laughingstock for the time being. This sort of thing never truly goes away, of course, so we can never let up. Unelecting some of the troglodtyes on the Board would make the job a lot easier. One such possible target is Democrat Rick Agosto of San Antonio, who is at best wishy-washy on a lot of science issues, and who might be easier to take out in a primary than any of the Republicans in a general election. Keep an eye on him.
The bad news is that some other petty little odious amendments did make it through. I haven’t followed this closely enough to tell you about it, but there are plenty of others who have, so for more information than you could possibly need, here’s where to go:
TFN’s exhaustive liveblogs – one, two, three, four.
Vince’s liveblog from today.
Thoughts from Kansas, another busy liveblogger. Too many posts to recount – try their creationism archives for an overview.
Martha on Twitter – you might also search for the #txsboe hashtag. Martha also testified before the committee.
On balance, I’d call it a good week for science, though between this and the stem cell skulduggery, I wouldn’t say it was good by that much.
Final vote today. Hopefully they can remove the bad parts that were inserted later in the day. TFN is liveblogging again.
Permalink
Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »