7 Feb 2011
Dallas ISD Trustees Adopted a 'Make Education A Priority' Resolution
DALLAS–Dallas Independent School District Board Trustees adopted a resolution on January 28 in an effort to raise awareness of the growing financial crisis public school districts are facing. The resolution adoption encourages state legislators to work with local school board members and other stakeholders with an attitude of the highest priority.
"As a board, we felt it was important to go on record to voice our concern about the state budget," said Dallas ISD Board President Adam Medrano. "Boards throughout the state are unified in urging lawmakers to strongly support public education."
With this adopted resolution, Dallas ISD joins a unified majority of school districts across Texas in the "Make Education a Priority" campaign launched by the Aledo Independent School District Board of Trustees.
The campaign aims to unite school districts to support and share with our legislators an attitude of making education a sincere priority during the 2011 82nd Legislative Session. The campaign calls for a commitment to fix the broken system of school finance and to properly fund education.
One of the main causes of the current school finance crisis is 2006 legislation (House Bill 1) that has proven to fall short of properly funding Texas public schools. The state cut property taxes by one third and did not establish a new stream of revenue to completely make up the difference.
In 2007 and 2009, legislators were unsuccessful in addressing school funding shortcomings. Currently, more than half of the school districts in Texas are being forced to use dollars from their fund balances for daily operating expenditures – a practice that is neither financially sound nor sustainable
over the long term. In addition, teaching positions are being eliminated, salaries reduced and local educational programs removed to meet reduced budgets.
"Our united priority message is respectful and clear. During difficult financial times, the process of prioritizing becomes magnified. A united concern to protect and properly fund education must be found as the highest priority during the 82nd Legislative Session," says Bobby J. Rigues, Aledo ISD Board Vice President.
More information may be found at the Make Education a Priority Web site www.schoolpriority.com. A list of school districts adopting the resolution and supporting statements by legislators and educational organizations can also be found within the Web site.
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