Recently, I encouraged us all to stay focused on the main thing—teaching and learning. As the superintendent, I find it challenging to focus solely on instruction in our classrooms when we have difficulties with state funding for public education. Additional funding for safety and security and special education is essential to meeting our district's needs. The basic allotment has not increased since 2019 despite rising insurance, fuel, and electricity costs needed to keep the lights on in Alief ISD school buildings.
Several proposals are currently being discussed among our state leaders that would add vouchers and slightly increase funding to the basic allotment. As our state leaders consider taking public dollars to fund private schools, I wonder how private schools will be held accountable? Financially and academically, public schools are held to high standards. Will private schools be held to the same standards? If there is a different standard and they are both using public tax dollars, as voters, we should all be compelled to ask, “Why?”
Accountability questions regarding public tax dollars are fair and should be asked. Below are our officials for the House and Senate education committees. As we become more informed voters, I encourage everyone to call or write to ask these questions and others to learn how Texas students will be cared for in the next couple of years. Alief ISD Advocacy Day is coming soon and we will be advocating for fairness with public tax dollars.
