http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=8hfxvncab&v=001iPF_ovG5vap_2ioXEemJPy-fIZj-kqsEb6GWHgYt5GS0y_rF82FEqbHcBPOiQxq2JPt6T8mCY5IxJJJKfDwpOvC1OWCjhueoNFwoYOrrFGhV2AjUUD5BIAnzr9RfQ3IgOcOvbC1F_DZisF708mF5CYgHVUd3g7nV
What are your thoughts about using the Rainy Day fund?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Texas' Rainy Day Fund
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/03/villarreal-calls-deal-an-embar.html
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/03/15/gov_rick_perry_and_house.html
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/03/15/gov_rick_perry_and_house.html
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A letter for this group from our Superintendent, Dr. Ryan:
A letter for this group from our Superintendent:
Thank you to everyone who has called, written and even trekked to Austin to meet with lawmakers and attend rallys urging our legislators to Make Education A Priority! As I left Austin after a day full of meeting with lawmakers, it seems that some of our state leaders have forgotten about the importance of having excellent public schools. Not once in this statewide funding discussion have I heard senior state leadership talk publicly about excellence in education or preparing Texas students for a global economy. I have heard only about budget cuts and fingerpointing.
While the issue at hand may be about a budget shortfall, how we handle it today will have long-term impacts on the future of our state. In GCISD we have done our part. We continue to provide our students with an excellent education in a lean and fiscally reponsible manner. Our legislators need to continue hearing from parents, teachers, and community members about how the massive cuts that have been proposed will impact our people, our schools and our students. Your voices are being heard and YOU are making a difference!
All the BEST,
RR
Dr. Robin Ryan
Superintendent
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Building Excellent Schools Together
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Senate Bills Moved from Committee to Local & Uncontested Calendar
SB 79 -
In 2009, the 81st Legislature unanimously approved S.B. 2033, prohibiting districts from requiring teachers to assign minimum grades without regard to a student's quality of work and clarifying that this policy may allow students a reasonable opportunity for make-up work. Several school districts misinterpreted this law to apply only to individual assignments and not to cumulative average or report card grades and filed suit against the Texas Education Agency in late 2009. In spring 2010, a Travis County judge ruled that S.B. 2033 was "not ambiguous" and that it requires districts to eliminate policies prohibiting teachers from giving honest grades on cumulative grade averages and on individual assignments and exams.
S.B. 79 clarifies that minimum grade policies are prohibited for "cumulative averages of grades," as well as for individual assignment and exam grades, and makes the prohibition applicable to any grade a district assigns and to the existing state requirement that districts report grades to parents every 12 weeks or, if performance is unsatisfactory, every three to four weeks. Finally, it removes references to "classroom teachers" to ensure that this legislation applies to student grades assigned by any teacher.
As proposed, S.B. 79 amends current law relating to the contents and applicability of a school district's grading policy.
*************************************
SB 140 -
Current law states that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. Some school districts have misinterpreted credit to mean high school credit for graduation, but credit actually applies to all grade levels (K-12) and all academic disciplines.
As a result of this confusion, the practice of pulling students from fine arts and other enrichment classes for tutoring on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) has become increasingly widespread—sometimes for as much of half or more of the days that the classes are offered. Students are receiving grades and class credit for courses they do not attend, and they are missing out on the valuable knowledge that these courses provide.
C.S.S.B. 140 will clarify that students may not earn a credit or grade for a class unless they are in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered in all grade levels (K-12). This bill will help ensure that students are in attendance in class so that the state-mandated Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) is taught and learned effectively and appropriately.
C.S.S.B. 140 amends current law relating to minimum public school attendance for class credit or a grade.
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SB 391 -
Instead of sending hard copies of textbook "drafts" to the school districts, this bill would require the publishing companies to send the drafts electronically which would save money and eliminate the waste of the hardcover "drafts".
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S.B. 764 -
prohibits a school board from imposing taxes, issuing bonds, and authorizing the use of school district employees or school district property, money, or other resources to acquire property to build and operate a hotel. The bill also precludes school boards from entering into any type of lease agreement for hotels.
As proposed, S.B. 764 amends current law relating to a prohibition against use of school district resources for a hotel.
************************
SB 912 -
Addresses the policies and rights of the Board not renewing a teacher's contract.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
List of all House Bills on public education being heard on Tues 3/15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING |
COMMITTEE: Public Education TIME & DATE: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess Tuesday, March 15, 2011 PLACE: E2.036 CHAIR: Rep. Rob Eissler |
HB 359 Allen Relating to the use of corporal punishment in public schools. |
HB 400 Eissler Relating to flexibility for public schools to administer primary and secondary education efficiently. |
HB 500 Eissler | et al. Relating to end-of-course assessment instruments administered to public high school students. |
HB 916 Allen | et al. Relating to corporal punishment in public schools. |
HB 1076 Shelton | et al. Relating to the student to teacher ratio applicable to accelerated instruction groups for certain public school students. |
HB 1326 Guillen Relating to authorization to operate school districts on the basis of a four-day instructional week. |
HB 1334 Allen Relating to the effect of a delay by the State Board for Educator Certification in renewing an educator's certification. |
HB 1632 Gonzales, Larry Relating to the dates by which public school teachers must provide notification of resignation from employment. |
HB 1703 Martinez Fischer Relating to the schedule for administration of state-administered assessment instruments in public schools. |
HB 1833 Shelton Relating to notice requirements for certain hearings and meetings of the board of trustees of a school district. |
HB 1834 Shelton Relating to elimination of certain requirements for increasing community awareness of prekindergarten programs offered by or in partnership with school districts. |
The order the bills are heard is at the discretion of the Chairman. Public Testimony is limited to three (3) minutes. |
House Bills Scheduled for Hearing on Tuesday 3/15!
HB 1589 would create a new governmental agency that would report to the governor, lt. governor, speaker of the House and legislature. It would be called the CENTER FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. The bill basically states that this agency would monitor the cost-efficiency of schools and report that back to the government. And who would pay for this agency and its staff???? Maybe the school districts in Texas should collectively create the CENTER FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN TEXAS STATE GOVERNMENT. Call or e-mail your rep about this one that is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday 3/15.
HB 1326 is scheduled for public hearing. This bill would change schools drastically. Students would attend 4 days instead of 5 and for 8.5 hours each day. How could students and teachers physically and mentally handle that long of a school day? Time to call and write our Representatives on this one!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
State Income Tax?
Okay, so we all realize that the current system of funding public education in Texas hasn't, and doesn't work. The "Rainy Day" fund won't fund what's needed. So what are the other options besides cuts? In yesterday's Star-Telegram, Jimmy DeFoor of Bedford wrote an opinion column, proposing a 3% flat rate state income tax. The article states that the Texas Constitution allows a state income tax only to fund primary and secondary public education and that 2/3 of the proceeds be given to the school districts. In return, each district is required to reduce it's M&O levy (Maintenance & Operations) by the same amount given in income tax proceeds. He says that "...a 3 percent income tax on all taxable incomes will fix the current school financing problem permanently while also cutting school property taxes significantly". Further, he states that a flat income tax rate is "efficient" (easy to administer & audit), "effective" (revenue will grow as population grows), and "equitable" because the tax burden to each person would relatively equal his/her ability to pay.
What do you think?
What do you think?
GCISD Budget Reductions Approved by Board
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/657420228155751503/lib/657420228155751503/budget_reduc_feb28_11.pdf
Hopefully, all of you are subscribed to GCISD's FastNews--basically their e-mail newsletter. Today's FastNews reported the reductions to next year's budget which were adopted by the Board at Monday night's meeting. The link above is to the attachment which shows each reduction as well as the dollar amount each will save.
Hopefully, all of you are subscribed to GCISD's FastNews--basically their e-mail newsletter. Today's FastNews reported the reductions to next year's budget which were adopted by the Board at Monday night's meeting. The link above is to the attachment which shows each reduction as well as the dollar amount each will save.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Grapevine-Colleyville Group Organizing May 12th Rally in Austin
https://sites.google.com/site/gcpubliceducation/home
Road trip! Interested? Check out the above site! Hopefully, this group will get a lot of sign-ups to ride the bus to Austin on Saturday, May 12th. They will represent all of us in GCISD who oppose cuts to public education and changes to the old "Robin Hood" system of school finance. A march at 11:00 will be followed by a rally at the Capitol from 12 to 2:00--with loud voices and lots of information to give legislators. By participating in a rally and communicating with legislators by letter, phone or e-mail, voices will be heard and will make a difference! Good job, Denise Light for organizing the rally!
Road trip! Interested? Check out the above site! Hopefully, this group will get a lot of sign-ups to ride the bus to Austin on Saturday, May 12th. They will represent all of us in GCISD who oppose cuts to public education and changes to the old "Robin Hood" system of school finance. A march at 11:00 will be followed by a rally at the Capitol from 12 to 2:00--with loud voices and lots of information to give legislators. By participating in a rally and communicating with legislators by letter, phone or e-mail, voices will be heard and will make a difference! Good job, Denise Light for organizing the rally!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
GCISD Board Eliminated Block Scheduling Next Year
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/28/2884668/grapevine-colleyville-trustees.html
I know that those parents of high school students have definite opinions about block scheduling. After sitting on the SEAT committee and hearing the proposals and questions about block scheduling, it is very clear that this move is not what anyone wanted, but it's the better of not-so-good options. Eliminating block scheduling will save the district $1.6M, the equivalent of 30 teachers. But does this mean that 30 teachers will be eliminated? No, because many teachers are "double-blocked" meaning they teach multiple classes. The district hopes to keep most, if not all of the teachers, through redistribution within the schools. The Board also voted to give teachers who are planning on retiring, but haven't declared their retirement to the district, a $1,000 incentive to go ahead and let them know they're retiring. The first 10 elementary and first 20 secondary teachers to respond will receive this incentive. The last big news to come from the Board was the notice of a May 14th bond election.
I know that those parents of high school students have definite opinions about block scheduling. After sitting on the SEAT committee and hearing the proposals and questions about block scheduling, it is very clear that this move is not what anyone wanted, but it's the better of not-so-good options. Eliminating block scheduling will save the district $1.6M, the equivalent of 30 teachers. But does this mean that 30 teachers will be eliminated? No, because many teachers are "double-blocked" meaning they teach multiple classes. The district hopes to keep most, if not all of the teachers, through redistribution within the schools. The Board also voted to give teachers who are planning on retiring, but haven't declared their retirement to the district, a $1,000 incentive to go ahead and let them know they're retiring. The first 10 elementary and first 20 secondary teachers to respond will receive this incentive. The last big news to come from the Board was the notice of a May 14th bond election.
99 Bills Currently Posted in House
Bills Currently Posted in House Public Education Committee
Click on the above link to see the 99 Bills currently posted for consideration by the House of Representative's Public Education Committee. They deal with various relevant subjects such as bullying, closing schools, offering American Sign Language in high school, etc. But there are also bills which don't really directly relate to the education or the educational environment such as the bill that would prohibit someone from removing the Ten Commandments if posted in a public school classroom. Is this really important to our children's education in the classroom? Shouldn't our legislators be considering more critical issues like funding?
Click on the above link to see the 99 Bills currently posted for consideration by the House of Representative's Public Education Committee. They deal with various relevant subjects such as bullying, closing schools, offering American Sign Language in high school, etc. But there are also bills which don't really directly relate to the education or the educational environment such as the bill that would prohibit someone from removing the Ten Commandments if posted in a public school classroom. Is this really important to our children's education in the classroom? Shouldn't our legislators be considering more critical issues like funding?
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