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SCHOOL FINANCE PROPOSAL OFFERS HOPE by David Stelmazewski, BISD Superintendent
The 84th Texas Legislature is moving into that interesting period when the days begin to pass rapidly. Our senators and representatives have about six weeks until the regular session comes to a close on June 1. Between now and then, the impact of their actions on public education will be significant. Throughout the session, I have joined my colleagues in education across the state, monitoring the Legislature’s proposals in critical areas -- public school funding, vouchers, testing and accountability -- and expressing the district’s position on the issues to our elected officials. Based on some of the proposed legislation coming out of Austin in recent weeks, I am guardedly optimistic that a more equitable funding formula might result from a bill proposed by Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock. The Killeen Republican and head of the House Public Education Committee has introduced a plan that would infuse an additional $3 billion into Texas public schools over the next two years. House Bill 1759 would suspend the current school funding formula. As written, Aycock’s proposal would bring a measure of relief from the “Robin Hood” element of the current formula, wherein districts deemed to be “wealthy,” like Boerne ISD, have local tax dollars diverted by the state and redistributed to less wealthy districts. Aycock’s “take-the-bull-by-the-horns” approach is commendable. He has addressed the critical issue of school finance well ahead of a pending state Supreme Court appeal of last year’s district court ruling that the current system is inequitable and inadequate. A recent San Antonio ExpressNews editorial cuts to the heart of the matter: “If state lawmakers are serious about demonstrating to the courts that they are making a good faith effort to equalize public school funding in Texas, they need to band together — and vouchers need to be taken off the table. It makes no sense to siphon off any education dollars from public schools when the Legislature has repeatedly failed to meet its constitutional funding obligation.” (San Antonio Express-News, April 13, 2015) Yes, the issue of school vouchers has been a topic of intense debate, specifically in the Texas Senate. I support the position of the editorial excerpt above and would add only that there are too many unanswered questions tied to any of the school voucher - or “school choice” - proposals. In addition, the vitriol directed at public schools by some proponents of school vouchers has not gone unnoticed. Scott Milder, founder and CEO of Friends of Texas Public Schools, recently wrote a very pointed open letter to the members of the Texas Senate,
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LET’S GO PLACES
“Condemning our public schools and casting harsh accusations of widespread failure is not only disrespectful and counterproductive, it is just flat inaccurate,” Milder said in his letter. Milder, who consulted with Boerne ISD during our 2013 bond initiative, posted a link to the full text of his letter at fotps.org. Milder concludes his letter by challenging elected officials to spend a day on the campus of any public school in Texas, shadowing a teacher and learning the true day-to-day successes and challenges of public education. I echo that invitation, encouraging state, county and local elected officials to let me arrange for them to spend a day on one of our campuses. I am confident that one visit would strengthen their appreciation of public education and reinforce their conviction as advocates for our school system. I will have more to say about this and other legislation in the weeks ahead as the session moves toward its final days. BBM Boerne ISD superintendent David Stelmazewski is an education leader who has served for more than 40 years as teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois and Texas public schools.
Shawn Vaughan (right), general manager of Toyota of Boerne, and his team have donated a new Toyota Tundra to the FFA chapters at Boerne High School and Champion High School. Chapter sponsors will use the new vehicle to drive students to FFA competitions and events around the state. Student officers from both chapters were on hand to thank the Vaughan family and Toyota of Boerne for the generous donation. BBM
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B oerne B usiness M onthly | May 2015