Board Vote Means $300 Million Less for Texas Schools
In the waning days of the 82nd Legislature, state lawmakers came up with a plan to help cushion the blow of $5.4 billion in cuts to public education.
State Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson, proposed a constitutional amendment that he said could bring an additional $300 million to public schools. It unanimously cleared both the House and Senate. Orr’s measure became Proposition 6, which voters passed in November.
But that money has hit a roadblock on its way to public schools — and what looked like an easy fix for hard-pressed budget writers last May has turned into a headache ...
Comments (15)
T D
Parents realize that they've been sold a bill of goods: the reduction of education spending has gutted our schools even as the endless tests mandated by the business community have elbowed out real learning.
The "no new taxes" crowd in the Legislature is going to have to take responsibility for what they've done, and are doing, to our public schools.
JOSHUA SMITH
I hope the readers of this article see Patterson calling Perry's hand with the gimmicky temporary fixes for public ed. and hopefully forcing the legislature a little harder to do what needs to be done. I didn't vote for the amendment, damn near everyone else did but as a Pro-Public Ed person, I'm glad Patterson did this and threw down the gauntlet.
Bob Atkins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Obviously in need of Higher Order Thinking Skills.
Kathy Kennemer Genet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Own it Patterson. This isn't the worst thing you've done in office. Sadly.
Jalapeño Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The fat cats obviously!
Sonora Hartley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
At least in the future my grandchildren won't face a shortage of maids, yard men and day laborers they can hire.
Joshua Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Now wait a second, What if this is Patterson slapping Perry for a disingenuous half ass patch for Public Ed Funding. I'm pro-public ed and I voted against the amendment because it wasn't a real school finance fix. I think maybe, just maybe Patterson is calling Perry's and the Legislature's hand on skirting a proper school finance solution. I could be wrong but I have my fingers crossed that this is a strategic move. Any thoughts?
Rudy Gonzales
Incompetence at the highest levels of state government. I ask, what is more important than future generations of educated or uneducated children? Educate them or not? The money schools were supposed to get from the state lottery has been diverted and split up and augmented other portions of state dealings, while students languish in sub-standard schools and schooling. I suggest reducing representative compensation to minimum wage and require them to stay in session without air conditioning until schools are fairly funded for the children of future generations. This is yet another attempt to limit or kill public education by the extremist currently running the state, specifically the TEA party fringe. I ask, what is more important than future generations of educated or uneducated children? Educate them or not? The money schools were supposed to get from the state lottery has been diverted and split up and augmented other portions of state dealings, while students languish in sub-standard schools and schooling. I suggest reducing representative compensation to minimum wage and require them to stay in session without air conditioning until schools are fairly funded for the children of future generations. This is yet another attempt to limit or kill public education by the extremist currently running the state, specifically the TEA party fringe. What Texas needs is more Democratic representation and less TEA party influences!
William Wayne Meyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Just goe's to show ya JERRY , that Texas needs to improve their education system since YOU don't KNOW !!? Guess YOU need to go back to SCHOOL to learn how to be a commissioner ! That is , if you have any CONTROL over THAT !
Joshua W. Scott via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It doesn't sound like we need a Land Commissioner, if all the work gets done without his knowledge.
Jerry Patterson
Someone above told me to "own it". I do. The legisalture proudly boasts they didn't raid the Rainy Day Fund, but in order to avoid doing so they wish to raid the Permanent School Fund? There's a reason its called PERMANENT, and that reason is to grow the corpus of the fund in order to have more school bonding authority, and to generate more percentqage payout to the available school fund. The fund is now approv $26 billion, and if prudent investments in all asset classes had been made over the last several decades, it would likely be in excess of $35 billion. The budget "tricks" used by the legislature (deferring the last school funding payment into the next biennium) are the reason they want more from the PSF.
I'm not without fault though, when I was in the legislature I'm sure I voted for some of those budget tricks. Too many folks just don't want to face the facts. Jerry Patterson
Sam L. Archer
While I have recoiled in shock at some of the headlines Jerry Patterson has generated over the past few years, I believe he is acting in the best interests of Texas and Texans in this case. He appears to be acting true to his philosophy of looking reality squarely in the eye and then dealing with it bravely. His action only appears abrupt to those who have not been paying attention. I guess he has discerned that the only way to shake people out of their stuporous attraction to the basest politicians they can find anywhere on the ballot is to reveal the effects of their silly thinking. I thank him for that.
The audience for this stunner will be concentrated in Austin and the offices of public school systems, I fear, at least at first. Maybe the message will seep out into the voting populace eventually. I hope so.
Rather intriguing bit of statesmanship this is; Texas-style, and quite understandable to people who know Texas.
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The money schools were supposed to get from the state lottery has been diverted and split up and augmented other portions of state dealings, while students languish in sub-standard schools and schooling. I suggest reducing representative compensation to minimum wage and require them to stay in session without air conditioning until schools www.newralphlaurenoutlet.com are fairly funded for the children of future generations. This is yet another attempt to limit or kill public education by the extremist currently running the state, specifically the TEA party fringe. What Texas needs is more Democratic representation and less TEA party influences!
texasgal
I totally agree with Commissioner Patterson. It is called permanent school fund for a reason. The legislature will take money from their children' s piggy bank if they can get away with it. Spend, Spend, is all they know. They will never do things the right way, if they can kick the can down the road. Stand firm Jerry.
Adele Roberson
Progress Texas Releases Report on ALEC and Virtual Schools in Texas
Phillip Martin - May 22, 2012
With the support of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) – which serves as a home away from home for ALEC here in Texas – for-profit education companies are attacking Texas public schools, promoting virtual schools, and putting profits ahead of the education needs of Texas children. These virtual schools are largely unaccountable to Texas taxpayers, despite the fact that their students receive the exact same amount of funding as students who attend traditional public schools. In fact, virtual school students are funded at the same level of traditional public school students thanks to a law passed by Republican Senate Education Chair Florence Shapiro, who sits on ALEC's Education Task Force which is Co-chaired by employees of private companies that own and operate virtual schools in Texas .Newspapers in this country (Houston Chronicle in Texas ) covering these schools say corruption is rampant. Owners are accused and being charged with nepotism, fraud, every chicanery you can think off. One Administrators husband actually bought a fleet of buses so he could charge students exhorbitant fees.
Put into your browser - ALEC EXPOSED. see their scheme for Profiting from Public Dollars. ALEC'S PRIVATIZATION AGENDA.
If you think the Right-Wings attempt to starve our public schools is lack of funds... it is true... but behind this effort is a sinister plot to destroy all public schools in Texas..
so that ALEC schools could have all the taxpayers money.