Aid Cuts Have Texas Schools Scrambling

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HUTTO, Tex. — The school superintendent in this rural town outside the state capital has taken steps to trademark the district’s oddly un-Texan school mascot — the Hutto Hippo — in a frantic effort to raise cash. He is also planning to put advertisements on school buses and to let retailers have space on the school Web site.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/education/15texas.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

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1. more

Many school administrators attribute the current budget crisis to an overhaul of the school finance system five years ago, which Mr. Perry and Republican leaders pushed through in response to popular anger over high property taxes. The Legislature put a cap on property taxes for schools and promised to make up the difference with a new business tax. But that tax has never produced enough revenue to make the districts’ budgets whole.

The chronic shortfall in money for schools was papered over in the last two-year budget passed in 2009. Mr. Perry and Republican leaders in the Legislature used about $3.3 billion in federal aid under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to plug the hole. That aid has disappeared this year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/education/15texas.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[sonias]

3. "put a cap on property taxes for schools and promised ..."

Yep that's the big $25 billion hot check the legislature wrote, plus they hobbled the schools too.

:(

[onestepforward]

2. Just heartbreaking.

I know the layoffs will come this year, but does anyone know when it will actually start happening?

[sonias]

4. No idea when it starts - I guess it depends

They will have to start firing this year in some cases. It may happen by the fall school start and it may even impact summer programs. Expect those to be cut drastically in some cases.

What this also means for rural areas is that you will start to see more ghost towns. These smaller towns and cities will absolutely be obliterated.

Texas Tribune 2/7/11
In West Texas, a Town's Fate Tied to Its School

MARATHON — If you close the school, you close the town.

The phrase has the burnish of a truism in this outpost amid the vast, high-desert expanse of far West Texas, about 50 miles north of Big Bend National Park. The 400 or so residents here are closely watching the fate of their tiny public school — and working hard to keep it open.

The senior class at Marathon Independent School District will have a valedictorian this spring — Michelle Campbell, 17. She is also the only senior. With a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment of just 56 students, Marathon ISD is one of the smallest districts in the state.

But for Marathon’s ranchers, artists (trendy Marfa is 60 miles away), a growing number of retired baby boomers and the occasional political celebrity (the large family ranch of the state comptroller, Susan Combs, is nearby), the school’s fate is critical to the survival of this remote town known for its blend of the frontier and funky.

And so begins the decline of rural Texas. :(

[BearArms]

5. This is simply a tragedy.

I'm graduating high school in May, so I'm in a position in which I hear quite a bit of talk from school staff. Word is layoffs will be happening as early as this year or the end of this year. My school district has outright stated that they will have to perform lay offs if funding is cut.

This is one of the first times in my life where I'm directly witnessing the effects of this despicable Republican regime. It is frightening.

[onestepforward]

6. Welcome to DU!

Yes, it is very frightening. Please encourage all your friends to register to vote. It is critical here in Texas.

:hi:

[BearArms]

8. Thank you for the welcome!

And I will! I've been making it a point to mention the issues we face to my friends. It's nice to see that they get as upset as I do when they hear about some of our favorite teachers losing their jobs, funding cuts across the state and (especially) financial aid sources for college being cut. Too many of them have Republican parents and simply aren't aware of the real danger our state faces under the current political leadership.

[sonias]

7. Congratulations on your upcoming graduation, BearArms!

You are starting your life at a very scary time, but keep hope alive. We can come back from this. With a whole new generation of committed smart young people like yourself - things can change.

The whole Egyptian regime change started with disaffected youth.

If the youth in Texas wake up to their voting power, things will change.


Welcome to DU!
:hi:

[BearArms]

9. Thanks so much!!

Indeed! I truly believe things can and will change. Younger voters are showing up to the polls more and more often. I have faith in a new generation of Texans that won't tolerate the practices of today's leaders. I pray my peers don't forget what it feels like to watch government fail right before their eyes.

From the efforts from the participants of this board, and the many people like them, to a generation of Texans that are developing new ways of thinking, I'm very confident in Texas' future. I may be young but I know enough to know this won't last forever.

Thanks to everyone again for the warm welcomes and words of encouragement! :)

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12. Welcome BearArms

Glad to see you on board. Also glad to see the youth of today waking up to the reality of what the policy of the repug party has left us.

[efhmc]

10. Daughter has been told hiring freeze but will have to pay

more for insurance?

[sonias]

11. Wish her the best of luck

Times are tough and we know that Rs really hate teachers. I really hate that they hate teachers too. I think teachers are the most important people in the world. They are worth more than 1,000 bankers each.

:grouphug: for your daughter and every other education professional or worker in our schools who will be impacted by the horrible slash and burn policies of the state of Texas.