The board of trustees unanimously adopted its priorities during its regular meeting Oct. 17.
Some context
The board previously approved four resolutions during a June 6 board meeting, which were submitted to the Texas Association of School Boards to help form its 2024-26 Advocacy Agenda. The agenda guides TASB representatives on advocating for public schools at the legislative level.
TASB held its Delegate Assembly Sept. 28, where delegates—or trustees from Texas school boards—adopted the advocacy agenda using resolutions submitted by districts to the association. Trustee Jean Mayer serves as PfISD’s delegate.
Zooming in
The priorities PfISD submitted to TASB June 6 and adopted Oct. 17 include:
- Increase the current basic allotment of $6,160, or how much the district is paid per student. An increase of at least $250 would help close PfISD’s $7 million budget shortfall.
- Change the public education funding model from attendance-based to enrollment-based. This could result in at least $16 million in additional state aid for PfISD, as enrollment-based funding is more consistent and reliable.
- Increase allocations to fund safety mandates, per House Bill 3. The mandates require facility safety improvements and the addition of armed police officers at every campus, and trustee Vernagene Mott said current funding is "too low for us to accommodate all the demands and what we would like to do."
- Fully fund special education. There was a $15 million special education funding gap in PfISD in 2022-23, with $22 million allocated and $37 million spent.
Per the administration report, PfISD is also pushing for voter approval to be required for charter school expansion, and that these schools be supported through the legislature rather than diverting public funds. The district is also seeking to remove state-imposed barriers that hinder the hiring of retired teachers and other prospective educators, such as costly exams and unnecessary requirements.
Superintendent Quintin Shepherd also said amendments for mental health and student behavior could be added to the list of priorities.
“It’s important that our staff and our community are aware of these legislative priorities, because all of us speaking the same message is where the real power is in this effort,” Shepherd said.
Stay tuned
The 89th Texas Legislature will take place between January-June of 2025, where TASB representatives will bring forward its Advocacy Agenda with district priorities.
