Dewhurst Makes Bold Statement

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. is supporting this site.   LAN, Inc. serves clients with quality personnel, quality services, and quality reports at a reasonable price.  For 75 years, LAN, Inc. has met client needs and exceeded client expectations.   www.lan-inc.com

Maok, Casey’s latest version of the House cuts to Public Education can be found at: www.texasisd.com

Lt. Gov. Dewhurst Makes Bold Statement

At a Legislative Conference in New Braunfels, last Friday, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst stated that spending on Public Education can be maintained and even increased in the next 2-year budget.  Dewhurst is counting on selling state land, reducing some expenses and raising other revenue to prevent the catastrophic cuts to Texas school districts.  Dewhurst believes the Foundation School Program can be funded “at the same appropriate level we’re funding right this second”.   A Senate Subcommittee is currently working to find revenue to meet expenses for the next biennium.

The House version of a State Budget slashes Public Education funding by $8 Billion.  Many in the House believe that Public Schools need to “tighten their belt” and cut their budgets just like businesses have to do when their company experiences a downturn in the economy.  While this is a noble claim by some legislators, public education is not a “business”.  It is not a company.  Public Education is managed by a team of elected officials from a local community whose primary revenue comes from taxation of its citizens.   There are no clients, customers, contracts, or profit margins in Public Education.  Public Education is governed by legislative law, judge’s orders, education codes, administrative codes, the State Board of Education, Local Board policy, State Board policy, societal demands, community values, and the Texas Education Agency.  While business principles can and should be applied to the management of a Public School system, the organization and structure of public education is very different from business.  Public Education is a supplier for every business and company.  It remains the single largest supplier of citizens, employees, and employers for communities and the state. 

 In many Texas communities, Public School employees work for the largest employer in the town – the Independent School District.  Under the House version of the State Budget, 335,000 employees(70,000 public school employees),  will hit the streets looking for jobs.   Jobs that are not available in the Texas economy.  The unemployment rate in Texas could move from one of the lowest in the United States to one of the highest in the U.S. in just two years.  If the 335,000 employees forced from their jobs earned an average of $30,000.00 per year, the economy of Texas will lose more than $10 Billion in household earnings over the 2-year period.

As a Senate-House Budget Showdown is certainty, there is hope that all in the Chambers will consider the short and long term effects of their decisions.

Education Continues

While many leaders in the business world would be overwhelmed with the magnitude of focus, energy and input needed to address the State Budget Shortfall.  School leaders must maintain a focus on the maintenance of buildings, development of curriculum, expenses from the current school budget, and the well being of students and staff. Communities count on schools to educate and prepare the future generation that will live, work and lead in towns and cities.  The education community will continue to do its part to prepare students for citizenship, workmanship, and leadership.