[PAA-Discuss] Texas schools: what's at stake. (a third-world state?)

[Jan Wheeler]

Please see this letter sent out by Spring Branch ISD.
And the Three Things You Can Do.

 The letter: http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=34812
**excerpts (see below, or open the letter)
I'm sending this out to everyone I know who may care.  It's Article 7 in the
Texas Constitution... very important and basic that we have good public
schools in Texas, and the State has a responsibility to provide for them...
according to our Founders.  Not to mention our kids.  Our kids and their
teachers are not our enemies.  Our kids are our future, and their teachers
are our promise that that future will be a good one... if we provide for it.

The 3 things:
1. understand the scope of the problem.
2. lobby your congressional representatives in Austin.
3. show up at the rally to support public schools 3/11/11.

If nothing else, it is your responsibility to be informed and understand the
scope of the problem facing today's students, teachers, and parents; and the
tough road ahead for Texas' future if this continues.

**"To help parents, teachers, administrators, students, and other concerned
members of the community understand how this could affect Houston-area
students, HISD (Houston Independent School District) will be presenting a
“primer” on how the Texas Legislature works on *Saturday, February 26*.

The district’s second *“Legislative 101,”* which starts at *9:00 a.m.* at
the DeBakey High School for Health Professions (3100 Shenandoah, 77021),
will provide participants with an update on current legislative activity,
the chance to hear from top lobbyists on the most effective ways to
communicate with elected officials, and details on how Houston-area school
districts can work together on legislative issues impacting their students.

For planning purposes, those who expect to attend this event are asked to
RSVP as soon as possible to events at houstonisd.org.

You can also watch a video of the *first
event*<http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=029552f0d79cd210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=1e236a23fcc4d210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD>held
on January 27. "
*** "Why should you care about the State Legislature and how its leadership
impacts SBISD students?*


   - In 2005, state property taxpayers were told by the Texas Legislature
   that their property taxes would be lowered and that the funding loss to our
   schools would be made up through other taxes or revenue sources, including a
   new business or “margins” tax. That promise to make up for the funding loss
   has not been kept. *The Texas Legislature must honor its commitment and
   restore this funding. *

**

   - Reductions proposed in Austin would equate to 15% of SBISD’s current
   funding. This represents a reduction of about $800 per student from the
   current $5,700 per student allotment, or $20,000 per classroom. *Pictured
   in another way, this is the equivalent of one full class period being
   eliminated from every student’s school day.*

**

   - In 2006, the state froze school district revenue at the 2006 level.
   Since that time, in order to fund basic inflationary cost increases,
   including cost-of-living increases for our teachers, SBISD has made
   difficult non-campus reductions and used its savings to limit the direct
   effect on our classrooms. *In fact, the current 2010-11 SBISD budget
   reflects reductions of more than $8 million to make ends meet.* Unless
   the Legislature restores school funding, SBISD will no longer be able to
   keep the impact of yearly budget reductions away from its classrooms. "



Jan

Jan Wheeler
Realty Associates
www.texas-location.com <http://www.texas-location.com%20/>
281-894-7593 o
512-796-3833 m
866-955-1184 f
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