Austin Motel
It's Time to Hold the Legislature Accountable
RECEIVED Fri., Aug. 19, 2005
Dear Editor,
If the Legislature had focused on their assignment during the regular and special sessions, they might have had a better chance of accomplishing their mission. But they did not, and they did not.
When Judge John Dietz declared the current system of public school finance unconstitutional, he didn't say a thing about “reforming” the current public education system. He was referring to the way the state funds the current public education system.
But the governor, working on his re-election campaign, focused on property tax reduction and doing away with the system of recapture better known as “Robin Hood” for wealthy school districts. House Speaker Tom Craddick focused on the same but included school vouchers, the start-of-school date, and when to hold school board elections.
School superintendents, school board members, and teachers were left wondering why the entire educational system once again was in need of “reform” when reforming the state's funding system was the issue. It seems the only issue on which the Legislature can repeatedly agree is increasing their own retirement pension through higher judges' salaries. This after reducing teachers' pensions no less.
I become amused when I read how new money for “meaningful school reform” will be followed with more accountability. I can assure you that “new” money does not mean “more” money. It means that taxpayers will finance schools out of their left back pocket as opposed to their right back pocket. As a school superintendent, I cringe when I hear that “new” dollars are coming and more accountability will be expected. The translation is that very little money might be coming, but a lot more paperwork is definitely on the way. For the record, superintendents have not been clamoring simply for more money. School superintendents have been clamoring for fairness in school funding (equity) and adequate money to fund the programs as mandated by the Legislature.
The continued rhetoric from our legislative leaders of “reform” and “accountability” is simply rhetoric. Texas has been holding school districts accountable for years and is on the leading edge of student testing and accountability. Most of the country isn't even close to the Texas level of ratings and reporting.
We need our politicians to stop playing politics and focus on our kids. Paying for public education isn't hard; apparently it just isn't easy.
If the Legislature had focused on their assignment during the regular and special sessions, they might have had a better chance of accomplishing their mission. But they did not, and they did not.
When Judge John Dietz declared the current system of public school finance unconstitutional, he didn't say a thing about “reforming” the current public education system. He was referring to the way the state funds the current public education system.
But the governor, working on his re-election campaign, focused on property tax reduction and doing away with the system of recapture better known as “Robin Hood” for wealthy school districts. House Speaker Tom Craddick focused on the same but included school vouchers, the start-of-school date, and when to hold school board elections.
School superintendents, school board members, and teachers were left wondering why the entire educational system once again was in need of “reform” when reforming the state's funding system was the issue. It seems the only issue on which the Legislature can repeatedly agree is increasing their own retirement pension through higher judges' salaries. This after reducing teachers' pensions no less.
I become amused when I read how new money for “meaningful school reform” will be followed with more accountability. I can assure you that “new” money does not mean “more” money. It means that taxpayers will finance schools out of their left back pocket as opposed to their right back pocket. As a school superintendent, I cringe when I hear that “new” dollars are coming and more accountability will be expected. The translation is that very little money might be coming, but a lot more paperwork is definitely on the way. For the record, superintendents have not been clamoring simply for more money. School superintendents have been clamoring for fairness in school funding (equity) and adequate money to fund the programs as mandated by the Legislature.
The continued rhetoric from our legislative leaders of “reform” and “accountability” is simply rhetoric. Texas has been holding school districts accountable for years and is on the leading edge of student testing and accountability. Most of the country isn't even close to the Texas level of ratings and reporting.
We need our politicians to stop playing politics and focus on our kids. Paying for public education isn't hard; apparently it just isn't easy.
Rickey Williams
Superintendent, Devine ISD
Devine
Superintendent, Devine ISD
Devine
