 Sarah Winkler
Secretary
Alief Independent School District Board of Trustees
With a special
session underway, school board members throughout the state are
concerned about school funding, equity, and the lack of capacity
in our current system. What role can Texas trustees play in this
critical time for our education system?
Board members are a vital
source of information and must spread the word about our students
and their needs, how we manage and use our
funds, and the shortcomings and successes of our current system.
It is critical that everyone understands that Robin Hood or “recapture” benefits
88 percent of the students across the state. Additional state aid
is needed not only to replace the funds we will lose if the system’s
requirement that high property wealth districts share their tax
revenue with lower wealth districts is abolished, but to furnish
additional
money so that all students can receive the education they deserve.
After testifying before
the Texas Legislature’s Joint Select
Committee on School Finance and attending the TASB Legislative Advisory
Council meeting, I realized just how critical input from board members
will be in crafting a funding system that provides a quality education
for all students. We must carefully consider how much local enrichment
to allow and whether all or part of it should be equalized. It is
vital for trustees from property-poor and property-wealthy districts
to work together in demanding that the state find new revenue sources
and provide more funds for the children of Texas. This issue must
not drive a wedge between property rich and property poor districts.
Equity can be achieved, but legislators must have to have the courage
to face the unpopular subjects of taxes and local enrichment. Unfortunately,
too many legislators have adopted the mantra of “Don’t
Mess with Taxes.”
The 45,000 students of
Alief ISD speak 60 languages, with more than 30 percent classified
as Limited English Proficient and
more than
50 percent as economically disadvantaged. We are a Chapter
42 district and face many of the challenges shared by fast growth
districts
with rising property values. Our district is one of 494 districts
that
is within pennies of the $1.50 M&O tax cap. Area residents
are paying a growing percentage of the total cost of educating
students,
since higher property values mean less state funding. Unfortunately,
taxpayers are painfully aware of their higher tax bills, but
they do not understand that increased local property tax revenues
are
largely offset by reductions in state aid. The problem is over
reliance on local property taxes.
Meanwhile, our operating
costs are increasing. Salaries make up 89 percent of our budget.
We must continue to offer competitive
wages
to attract and retain quality teachers and administrators.
Meeting the needs of our growing Limited English Proficient
population
has also significantly impacted our budget. We join all districts
in
locally funding and meeting the requirements imposed by No
Child Left Behind.
In these critical times, school supporters must band together
to keep our state strong and prosperous. Contact your legislators,
speak to business leaders and parent groups, and give them
the facts. Let
them know that you want the best education system in the
nation for every Texas child and the state funding to make
it possible. |
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