MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE
“Do Not Be Fooled”
There is a lawsuit in the making consisting of four different groups verses the State of Texas over the financing of public schools. Each of the four groups has a different purpose for being involved. Granger ISD is part of the group called “The Texas Taxpayer and Student Fairness Coalition.” The largest numbers of districts in Texas (392) belong to this group, representing nearly 1.3 million students. It is hoped, that by the time of the suit, the number of districts involved will have increased to over 500. These are districts that have been discriminated against in financial funding by the state as pointed out in lawsuits dating back to the mid 1980’s. Yet, the legislature has not only allowed it to continue, they have increased the discrimination over the past 15 years.
The coalition representing Granger ISD is not only saying it is unfair for the district; but, that it grossly discriminates against our students and our taxpayers. For example, compare Granger ISD to Wink-Loving ISD. Schools are funded by what is called a “Weighted Average Daily Attendance” (WADA). The weighted part comes from the type of program to which the student may be assigned. Some programs (such as vocational, special education, etc.) cost more to operate. Therefore, it is assigned a heavier weight than just the regular classroom. Wink-Loving ISD, under current law, receives $12,500 per WADA. Granger ISD, under current law, receives only $4,990 per WADA, a difference of $7,510 per WADA. If funded at the Wink Loving funding level, Granger ISD would have an additional $4,641,104 annually (this is more than our entire budget), and our taxpayers would not be out one penny more. Over a 5 year period that would amount to a total of $23,205,525 in additional revenue for our children with no additional taxes. In fact, access to this type revenue would reduce our local taxes while increasing educational opportunities for our students.
Our present constitution, written in 1876, requires a suitable and efficient distribution of funds.
I sat in a meeting for school board members of Region 13 and listened to three present members of the Texas legislature (both Democrat and Republican). They all stated that the only way there would be a change to the structure of school finance is that it would have to be mandated through the courts.
The questions our community should be asking are:
- Why is a student in Granger ISD considered to be of a lesser value than a student in Wink-Loving ISD or any of the other created rich school districts of this state?
- Why are our taxpayers penalized when the constitution and the courts declare revenues should be essentially the same for the same effort in taxation? Justice Hecht noted in his 2005 opinion “citizens who were shouldering similar tax burdens, should have similar access to revenues for education.” West Orange Cove v. Neely, 176 S.W. 3d at 757 (Tex.2005).
The list of inefficiencies (inequity) and unsuitability (inadequacy) of the present system are numerous. Yet, the state legislature and rich districts protect and hide the advantages of the high wealth districts. We are told that the protected wealthy districts are entitled to their advantages over the children and taxpayers of the poor districts even if the legislation violates the state constitution.
Do not be fooled by the slyness of speech. It is the constitutional duty of the legislature to provide legislation for school finance that is both equitable and adequate for all students and taxpayers. The framers of our constitution never intended a system of education that advantaged one class of people over another. Regardless of your age, position, or wealth we ask that you educate yourself and stand with the members of Granger Board of Trustees as they have joined “The Texas Taxpayers and Student Fairness Coalition” in a fight for both equity and adequacy in school finance.
