Sorting out details
MISD’s board of trustees unanimously approved five legislative priorities for the district. According to Dec. 17 presentation materials from MISD, the priorities are:
- School finance: MISD is advocating for a “substantial increase” to the basic allotment— which is $6,160 per student and has not been upped since 2019—and that enrollment be used to determine funding instead of attendance.
- Safety and security: The district is asking for more funding to help school districts meet the House Bill 3 requirement to employ an armed officer on all campuses. In addition, “appropriate ongoing, sustainable” funding for student mental health is being requested.
- Vouchers: A state voucher program would give families public money to send their children to private schools, but MISD is requesting the state to first fully fund public schools and require equal standards for “entities accepting tax dollars.”
- Texas Education Code Chapter 37: MISD is asking for local control and flexibility pertaining to student discipline and changes to the education code that governs districts’ student code of conduct.
- Local control: The district is advocating to change current laws that require bond ballot language that “can be confusing to voters.” This priority also asks for various academic decisions to be made at the district level.
Notable quote
“Our board is committed to ensuring that MISD’s voice is heard at the state capitol,” board Secretary Eddie Winn said via a Dec. 18 MISD news release. “We know that excellent schools and a strong educator workforce are the foundation of a thriving economy and great communities. We are fortunate to have a delegation of lawmakers in Montgomery who are willing to collaborate with us on funding and policy issues. We remain optimistic that the legislature will prioritize public education when it meets in 2025.”
