Read this if you want to keep seeing football in Texas

[lonny23]

This is the text in an email I got from the Texas High School Coaches Association. I know what you guys will do! Please fight this effort.

Subject: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION
>Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:38:41 -0500
>
>
>Date: July 14, 2005
>
>Urgent Attention: Parents, Coaches, Friends and Supporters of Texas High School Athletics
>
>Both the Senate and the House versions of HB 2 contain a provision requiring districts to spend at least 50%, phased up to 65%, of revenue on direct instructional activities. While we support increased funding for core academic subjects we are concerned that courses in the enrichment curriculum such as fine arts, foreign languages, technology and athletics will suffer greatly. In a time when the drop out rate is significant, research clearly shows that students who are involved in extra curricular activities stay in school, graduate and perform better academically than those who do not participate in these activities.
>
>Unless the language is changed by the conference committee on HB 2, this section will take effect for the 2005-2006 school year. Please help eliminate this provision in HB 2. Promised changes in the language of the existing section still have the potential of unintended negative consequences on enrichment courses and extra curricular opportunities.
>
>An urgent message needs to be sent to your local legislators in Austin conveying this concern. Please contact your local legislators by phone, email or fax as soon as possible. This message needs to be conveyed by today or Friday at the latest.
>
>Texas State Senate: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/
>Texas House of Representatives: http://www.house.state.tx.us
>
>It is crucial that you ensure your legislator understands the impact this CSHB2 requirement would have on our young people. A twenty-five year veteran legislative consultant wrote "This is the most damaging amendment we have encountered and when it was explained on the floor, it was not explained in the most forthcoming manner".
>
>Thank you for your immediate attention to this important matter.
>
>
>D.W. Rutledge
>Executive Director
>Texas High School Coaches Association

[lonny23]

I wanted to give you guys a little more insight into the HB 2 struggle and here is what Rep. Farabee in Wichita Falls wrote back to me:

Dear Sgt. Rowden:
>Thank you for letting me know your concerns about a mandatory increase to 65% of school funding for core academic courses. Having your view on this issue is both helpful and appreciated. Recently the author of HB 2, Rep. Grusendorf, stated that the House/Senate Conference Committee bill will likely allow districts to count any classroom spending toward the 65% requirement. However, HB 2 is still being considered in the Conference Committee where differences between the House and Senate versions are being discussed.
>As you may know, I did not support HB 2 when it came before the House floor where it narrowly passed with 77Ayes and 70 Nays. In fact, I supported and Co-Authored an amendment (HB 15) to HB 2 that increased state education funding to cover at least 50% of the cost of our children’s education, raised teacher salaries from 38th nationally to the national average and lowered school property taxes by tripling the homestead exemption for Texas homeowners. This plan put more money into the classroom and provided funds for up-to-date textbooks and technology and increased funding for students in North Texas schools. This amendment was defeated by one vote (75 to 74).
>HB 2 is extremely controversial legislation and is intensely opposed by numerous local teachers and school boards and every superintendent in Wichita and Archer County. There is such opposition to the House version of House Bill 2 because it contains numerous unfunded state mandates placed on local districts, does not equitably fund schools in North Texas compared to metropolitan, affluent districts and does not provide adequate facility funding. The Senate substituted their plan for HB 2 which is now in a House/Senate Conference Committee to work out differences between the two plans. In this process, one final bill will be reported out of the Conference Committee and come before both Chambers for final approval.
>Please know that I cannot in good conscious support a bill that gives more money to fast-growth suburban and affluent school districts at the expense of schools in Wichita and Archer County. Our teachers, school boards and superintendents have made it clear they do not want a bill that penalizes our students so others may have more, and I agree with them. I will continue to strive for school finance legislation that treats every Texas student fairly and hope that we pass a plan that fully funds our schools, is supported by our education community, and delivers significant property tax relief for our homeowners.
>Once again, thank you again for your input concerning classroom funding. Be assured that public education remains a legislative priority to me and I will continue to monitor all of the public education issues of concern.
>Best Regards,
>David Farabee
>
>
>David Farabee
>900 8th Street, Suite 510
>Wichita Falls, TX 76301
>(940)761-1136
>(940)723-4652 fax
>(940)781-7900 mobile

[Rerun]

I do not see a problem with this.

[LoneRocket]

I do not see a problem with this.
I think the problem would be that school districts would have to cut back on athletic programs or have parents pay for programs, which could make private schools more attractive if the public school around the corner does not have a team and the private school does.

[lonny23]

This has been a big fight in the Legislature.

[mtbray]

I'd prefer that they simply spend the tax dollars efficiently, and hell raise taxes for education. I personally wouldn't mind chipping in a little more as long as I know it's being spent wisely!

[Exporter]

HB2 reminds me of what happened in France before WW II. Each hour of each day in every public school was directed by a committee in Paris. It turned in to rote memory for students. It seems that the Texas Legislature is attempting to take away individual differences in our schools. It will be a real headache for the Legislature to confirm audits from every school. How will they implement this demand?

[dragons08]

lonny is your name lonny or is it david farabee?

[RAB-07]

lonny is your name lonny or is it david farabee?


a general letter format would be the following:

dear [person who the letter is being sent to],


blah blah blah

signed
[author of the letter]



in lonny's case, he was copying and pasting a letter sent to him.


i thought we learned that in grade school?

[dragons08]

a general letter format would be the following:

dear [person who the letter is being sent to],


blah blah blah

signed
[author of the letter]



in lonny's case, he was copying and pasting a letter sent to him.


i thought we learned that in grade school?
no that second one was the one i thought he sent to the guy, my mistake, i misunderstood

[lonny23]

a general letter format would be the following:

dear [person who the letter is being sent to],


blah blah blah

signed
[author of the letter]



in lonny's case, he was copying and pasting a letter sent to him.


i thought we learned that in grade school?
That's pretty good for your first post. I'm laughing at 08's question. My first sentence in both posts indicated that they were emails I received! :D

[dragons08]

That's pretty good for your first post. I'm laughing at 08's question. My first sentence in both posts indicated that they were emails I received! :D
come on man, its summer, and plus the board was kind of busy at the time, trying to keep up wiht all the threads, so i skimmed it! i doubt that wasnt the last time something like this happens again hahahaha

[Garland02]

Does anyone here have any information on the average amount currently spent on direct instructional activities? Is there currently a percentage in place? Without knowing the current economics, its hard to evaluate the effect of this.

I do agree that kids involved in extra curricular activities are much less likely to leave school early, not to mention the life lessons that are learned from participating and competing............invaluable!

I agree with the above poster, I am more inclined to agree to a higher tax if necessary to supply the funds, and assure that Texas teachers compensation is in line with that of other states, rather than take money from extra curricular activities.

[bullrock]

I would have to believe most of us would support a tax increase if we knew how it were being used. It's no secret to anyone what district I support (Judson), and it's also no secret we benefit somewhat from the old "Robin Hood" act. I still don't like the fact that more of that money goes to districts much with much less tax base than ours, but for some reason it costs a whole lot more money per student to educate these kids than it does ours. Not only that, but the fact that these trustees are robbing these poorer districts and spending our money with no accountability is ludicrous! Even the ones who are caught are slapped on the hand and sent on their way. I have heard that most districts sweep mis-approporiation under the rugs to avoid district embarassment. Let's just play some football!

[LoneRocket]

If you did not catch the news, Gov. Perry mandated that school districts spend 65% of their budget this year in the classroom. That could mean that schools could cut back security, cut back on lunch programs, athletic programs and other programs to meet his 65% rule. It seems that the state’s leadership is so tied up into giving tax breaks to corporations and high income individuals and not helping school district’s students and employees instead solving an accident that called Robin Hood. I also heard that large companies, like Wal-Mart do not pay the state business franchise tax. I think if they closed certain loop holes there would be more money for education.

[bullrock]

The article I read includes athletics in the 65%.
San antonio Express Tue. Aug 23--
Classroom expenses include:
Teacher, aide salaries
Textbooks
Supplies
Classroom equipment
Athletics
Music, art classes

Not included
Administration salaries
Transportation costs
Nursing, library and counselor
Cafeteria, food service
Maintenance and repairs
Security

All in all, I don't think it's that bad. When I went to school the buses only picked up the rural students. That is an expense that could be put back on the parents. Cafeterias in the newer schools remind me of Luby's. What's wrong with a brown bag? Maintenance doesn't need to be overlooked. Administrators making six figure salaries while the grunts on the front lines are on welfare!!?? This is an inequity that needs to be righted.
It's going to come to privatization to get the cost of education down. The govenment has never been accountable for spending.