(UPDATES Feb. 8, 8:45 a.m.: Cross Roads ISD Superintendent Clay Tompkins comments. … UPDATES Feb. 5, 6 p.m.: MISD Superintendent Randy Perry comments.)
HOT TOPIC: District Judge John Dietz ruled yesterday that the Texas public school funding system is unconstitutional.
In his ruling, Dietz wrote: “The Court declares that the current school finance system violates … the Texas Constitution in that it is inadequate and unsuitable because it is not structured, operated, and funded so that it can accomplish the general diffusion of knowledge.”
Local school boards shouldn’t start counting on extra money just yet, however. The state is expected to appeal the case directly to the State Supreme Court … and the high court has reversed Dietz on school finance before.
Either way, a ruling from the Supreme Court most likely wouldn’t come until after the current Legislative Session is over in May. That could set up a Special Session on public education financing in 2014.
And as Athens ISD Superintendent Blake Stiles warned, changing the school finance system doesn’t always equal making it better.
“The last time the system was declared unconstitutional we went from ‘formula funding’ to the current, and much worse, ‘target revenue system,’” Stiles said. “Although I am pleased with the court’s decision, I am worried that our current Legislature has other agendas in mind that will prevent them from developing an adequate system for school funding. The current backdoor voucher system (tax breaks for businesses who give money to private schools) that some of our Senators are proposing, along with the debate in the House over the current accountability system, will absolutely complicate the discussion.”
Malakoff ISD Superintendent Randy Perry said, “I am pleased by Judge’s Dietz’s ruling that the current school funding system fails to provide school districts around the state access to the funding necessary to provide a constitutionally adequate education. The Judge also found that the system of finance has become an unconstitutional state property tax. Because the state mandates a maximum tax rate, many districts are up against that cap and have no additional funding sources. Thankfully, Malakoff ISD is not one of those districts, but we will have to raise our tax rates without additional resources.”
“Academic standards have increased while state funding has declined. The state legislature cannot have it both ways. It is unfair to ramp up the expectations of our schools, while taking away needed resources to meet those expectations. There are many things we would love to do for our students, but the last two years Malakoff ISD has been in survival mode. We have lost the ability to do more innovative things for our students,” he added.
Cross Roads ISD Superintendent Clay Tompkins said, “As far as Judge Dietz’s ruling, I think it may take some time to fully interpret. However, from what I have read, his latest decision looks very much like the order he issued in 2004. But he now seems to find and declare that funding, for Texas school districts, is indeed inequitable. I think this is something that most school superintendents have known for a long time. As it now stands, schools that tax the same may not necessarily have equal access to funding. Hopefully, this ruling will help to correct some of those inequities.”
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ON TAP TONIGHT
Athens boys and girls basketball will be home against Brownsboro (I believe it is the final home game for the girls). Athens girls soccer is on the road against North Lamar while the boys soccer team is home against Nacogdoches.
Malakoff boys and girls basketball is on the road to Life Oak Cliff.
Cross Roads boys and girls basketball are home against Hubbard (last home game for girls).
Eustace boys and girls basketball is on the road at Scurry-Rosser.
Mabank boys and girls basketball is home against Mineola (last home game for girls).
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WHAT YOU MISSED
The TVCC Lady Cards softball program is off to a fast start.
A group of Athens High School students received a 1st Division rating on a Class I solo at the UIL Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contest (photo).
The recent list of indictments was released.
Obituaries for: Floyd Ray Smith, Jr., Stella Shelton, Russell Douglast McCloud, Elizabeth “Betty” Woolverton, and September Riley Rayelen Leigh.
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