Photo by TASB Media Services
T
exas school leaders are quick to lend each other a helping hand, share ideas, and even offer comfort when needed. Trustees, superintendents, and other school leaders know there is strength in connecting, and they often discuss what to do with pressing challenges. One such example came earlier this year, when snow and ice blanketed much of Texas, said TASB President Tony Hopkins, who also heads the Friendswood ISD school board. Hopkins said Houston-area school leaders huddled virtually, talking about possible school closures, road conditions, staffing, and more. “District-to-district communication is important on so many levels,” Hopkins noted. Engagement and connections also are important when it comes to advocating for students and schools. Districts know they share some of the same challenges, such as funding, campus safety, and teacher retention — even if they haven’t seen each other’s priority list. Now, TASB is making it easier for district leaders to gain awareness and learn from each other’s legislative priorities with the recent launch of its Local Legislative Priorities Tool, a new online resource that collects publicly available legislative priorities from Texas school districts in a display map with easy-to-navigate filters. “A primary goal for the TASB Board in creating this tool was to provide a convenient way for district officials to see other districts’ legislative priorities,” Hopkins said. “We hope this will increase districts’ ability to understand each other’s concerns and perhaps join forces in addressing those challenges at the state level. It was important to start this initiative now so that districts can use it ahead of the 2027 legislative session.” While enhancing the visibility of local legislative priorities is a key objective, TASB members can use the new online tool to explore this information in ways that is most helpful for them. TASB leaders hope the tool also can help districts form their own legislative priorities, if they haven’t already.
Dax González (standing), division director of TASB Governmental Relations, talks to trustees attending the Grassroots Meeting in Region 6 in Montgomery, where the new tool was discussed.
“We’re thrilled to see this tool come to life,” said TASB Director Nicholas Phillips, who chairs the board’s Delegate Outreach Committee, which oversaw the project’s development. “This initiative aims to foster collaboration and connections among districts with similar concerns and underscore the importance of school boards establishing their local legislative priorities to engage more deeply in Texas public education advocacy.” Phillips, who also is board president at Nederland ISD, said the tool allows school boards to easily access legislative priorities of districts within and beyond their regions. “For districts without established priorities, seeing regional focuses may inspire them to develop their own district priorities or collaborate with nearby boards for regional priorities.”
Legislative Priorities Georgetown Independent School
District Board of Trustees | Superintendent
Dr. Devin Padavil
Georgetow
n Independe
nt School District
the success of our public in economic growth and opportunity, As Texas continues to lead the nation educators are making state's future prosperity. While Texas schools remains fundamental to our Georgetown ISD recognizes challenges and increasing mandates, remarkable progress despite funding global economy. Our legislative to compete in an increasingly complex the need to prepare our students public education through reflect our commitment to advancing priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature Districts with in our educators, and a focus on for critical programs, investment per student property wealth above adequate funding, targeted support just in our schools, but in must send represent essential investments not a portion of a certain threshold tax revenue student well-being. These priorities their to the state By addressing these fundamental for redistribu local property community's continued success. tion. Texas's economic future and our opportunity to reach their full potential the has YEAR PAYMENT ISD Georgetown in needs, we can ensure every student TO STATE 24-25 of educational excellence and innovation. while contributing to Texas's legacy *$17,000,0
Board of Trustees
| Superintendent
Dr. Devin Padavil
fast facts GISD Budget Def
recapture paymen
ts to the State
Sources: Texas
14,9 69 STUDEN TS (as of 12.02.24)
47% HISPANIC 31% WHITE
12% AFRICAN-AMERI 7% TWO OR MORE CAN RACES 2% ASIAN
16
Level
6,398
Elementary
3,094
Middle
4,391
High School Alternative TOTAL
Texas Association
of School Business
1,931
3 HIGH SCHOOLS
JUNIOR HIGHS CAMPU SES 32INTERMEDIATE
Inflationary
$7,000,000
EMPLO YEES
SCHOOLS SCHOOLS
Costs Since 2019-
20
$6,000,000 $5,000,000
54% Increase
$4,000,000 $3,000,000
32% Increase 37% Increase
$2,000,000
SCHOOL SAFETY & STUDENT WELL-BEING
$1,000,000
93% Increase
$0 2019-20
2018-19
Special Education
2019-20*
• Stabilize A-F accountability standards
Property Insurance
for 5-7 years.
School Safety
inflation and provide health benefits comparable
2023-24
Health Insurance
vs Spending Spending vs Allotment
173.1% $19,350,519
attendance hold
harmless calculations
$104,165,180
193.5%
$21,832,058
$16,770,796 by COVID-related
163.6%
21,482,717
149.4%
$25,417,435
$63,609,364
151.6%
Over 5 Years
$379,793 TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION employees.
• Ensure Educator salaries increase with • Remove teacher retirement penalties.
2022-23
$16,082,451
$14,616,512
*Allotment adjusted
TRS & TRS Care
Actual Spending
$11,101,095
2022-23
2021-22
Special Educa tion Funding
Allotment
$9,292,119 $11,828,842
2020-21*
2021-22
ACCOUNTABILITY
2020-21
Utilities
YEAR
FACILITY FUNDING/BONDED DEBT PAYMENTS
major facility system components/ replacements. • Update Facilities funding to include Bonded Debt Payments. • Increase IFA & EDA to help with I & S/ Exemptions. to offset Disabled Veteran Homestead • Create a hold-harmless mechanism
d for Inflation
and Staff
GISD Enrollment
Students
13,883
Education Agency;
8 ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL FUNDING
to cover costs of mandated services. • Increase the school safety allotment district partnerships. • Incentivize law enforcement /school (86R). health and safety requirements of SB11 • Dedicate funds each year to fulfill the health providers and school districts. for service agreements between community • Provide dedicated funds and support
Funding
nt Adjuste
Level the mental and Provide dedicated funds to support staff. Elementary emotional health of students and and cover the Support expanded Pre-K programs Middle employees. cost of Pre-K for public school district High prepare ourSchool Increase CTE program funding to the Texas, TOTAL students as the next generation for United States and world workforce.
teacher certification.
AT- A - G L A N C E
Texas School
Basic Allotme
For GISD Students
OUR ASKS
educator Increase the basic allotment to ensure pay increases. basic Increase the basic allotment to ensure are for other health benefits are covered as they state employees. pathways to Create affordable and attainable
to a permanent inflationary adjustment. • Increase the Basic Allotment and establish to cover costs of mandated services. • Update the Special Education Allotment – Academic and Fiscal. students require public, transparent accountability • Public dollars used to educate Texas through property tax reduction agreements. • Incentivize business to invest in communities based funding. • Shift attendance based funding to enrollment
on: Unlock
+ $17.4 M
supporting the whole Georgetown ISD is committed to that address child through comprehensive programs needs. academic, social, and emotional
OUR ASKS
LE
*projected
with Inflati
Allotment
OUR CHILDREN NEED SUPPORT
OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE MORE
of student success, Our educators are the foundation ability to provide yet funding limitations impact our competitive compensation and comprehensive staff. benefits that attract and retain quality
NIVERSAL CITY ISD SCHERTZ-CIBOLO-U GISLATIVE PRIORITIES
icit
0
to meet Increase the special education allotment currently all mandated services. SPED services allocation. cost $4.6M more than the state’s to meet all Increase the school safety allotment exceed mandated services. Actual expenses allotment by nearly $300,000. Increase funding for Career and Technical in course Education to continue innovation demands of offerings that meet the workforce tomorrow.
and student Increase the basic allotment for staff inflation. needs and index the allotment to to Shift from attendance-based funding on current enrollment-based funding. Based $5.5M in enrollment, this would net an additional revenue for GISD. offers full-day Fund full-day Pre-K. Currently, GISD half-day Pre-K but only receives funding for this programs. Based on current enrollment, for GISD. creates an additional $1M in revenue
0
0
Keep Pace
Current Basic
OUR ASKS
OUR ASKS
0
$22,500,00 $15,200,00 $11,400,00
since 2023.
MILLION
$49,500,00
21-22 20-21
funding shortfalls Georgetown ISD faces significant between state 19-20 in critical service areas. The gaps create allotments and actual expenditures ability to provide substantial deficits that impact our mandated services.
a deficit budget
$125.2
00 $ 9,600,000
23-24
22-23
FUND SPECIAL PROGRAMS
FUND SCHOOLS FIRST meet the needs of Public schools are underfunded to have worsened students and staff, and new mandates cannot continue the funding crisis. Georgetown ISD funding that to meet growing needs without adequate growth. keeps pace with inflation and student
GISD has adopted
Allotment
to all state government
Total Operating
Costs
$2,419,215
84%
DIFFEREN
CE
Campuses 11 4
13,883 student
s
3 2 20 Officials, Raise
Your Hand
Texas, Williamson
Co.; Georgetown
ISD (v2)
TASB’s new Local Legislative Priorities Tool collects publicly available legislative priorities from Texas school districts in a display map with easy-to-navigate filters.
issuu.com/tasb-org | April/May 2026 |
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