Do you know who your Texas State Representatives are? Do you know how to get a hold of them when you have something you want to advocate for? Don't feel bad, most people don't! But you should, and I'm going to show you why.
I had a lovely call with Vikki Goodwin who is serving her third term representing Texas House District 47, which includes parts of Westlake, Bee Cave and Lake Travis. In the 88th Session, she was successful in passing a number of bills to address safety issues, like Cati’s Act which is a drowning prevention law, and the Natalia Cox Act which is a violence prevention law. To address mental health needs, she passed a law that expands AcuDetox. Rep. Goodwin also filed a set of bills to address public school funding. Some of these did not pass...
In this phone call, we discussed the good and the bad, and the ugly truth about school funding. In the good news update, Rep. Goodwin was co-author on a bill to that provided a cost-of-living increase to retired teachers, hoping to encourage teachers to stay in the profession as they see our state investing in their future retirement fund.
The bad news was that because our legislature could not come to an agreement on vouchers, there was no additional funding in the per student basic allotment. The last increase was in 2019. Statistical analysis shows $1 in 2019 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1.21 today, an increase of $0.21 over 5 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.95% per year between 2019 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 21.38%. The basic increase in school funding per student for inflation has become dire. The legislative session is over. This will not be addressed again until 2025.
Not only do we have to contend with the lack of funding for inflation, but the rising cost of recapture is draining resources from local public schools in Texas, especially Westlake. Recapture, also known as Robin Hood, allows the State of Texas to remove local property tax dollars from public school districts, and legislators then use these dollars to help balance the rest of the state budget. But this use of our tax dollars is vague and excessive. It's questionable as to exactly where the recapture funds are going. If the state would reduce the recapture rate to 50%, that would help impact our inflation deficit here in Eanes. Asking our state to reduce recapture is asking to keep a little bit more of our own local tax dollars paying for our local school.
The ugly truth is we have 70% of our teachers thinking about leaving the profession this year. We have young person's not going into teaching because they hear negative things. We have to contend with politicians who belittle their ability, blame them for every student whose grades do not reach arbitrary standards, and want to take away every fringe benefit they have. We need teachers. In Eanes, we value our teachers (and our STAFF) and want them to have the pay and support they need.
Local governance for school districts is unique in Texas. This allows us to have a direct say and influence over Eanes. Real strength and survival of our public schools depends on maintaining the ability of local parents, citizens and board members to help shape our children's educational experience. Local control allows voters the opportunity to elect a school board representative. I am tested, trusted and committed to being that representative for you.
We have this time as parents and community members to start reaching out to our state elected officials asking for help. We need funding! Keeping in touch with elected officials and other school districts will empower us to make needed changes and advocate together for the betterment of our students and staff. As we approach the next legislative session, we will need to evaluate our school needs, identify the defictis, organize our data, prepare our presentations and speak directly to those that represent us to advocate for Eanes. As a parent and community member, I am fully invested in this mission. I care where our tax dollors go. I have spent my entire life and career advocating for others and I gladly accept this next challenge: To pay our teachers, To fund our schools, To educate our students. Let's do it together. Vote kelly4eanes.
Oops - gotta go! I think Donna Howard (RN and Texas State House Representative District 48) is calling! I'll let you know what she says!
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