"4 Day Instructional Week" Bill Moving to House Floor Vote

Crazy Legislative Alert: HB1326 passed committee today and now moves to vote on House floor. This is the bill that would change the entire public school week (and work week) with 8.5+ hr days/4 days per week. Call or e-mail Vicki Truitt to urge her not to support this bill.  How in the world could the districts, and the businesses and child care centers, change their schedules to a 4 day week and 8.5 or more hours each day?  The "operational costs" that this proposes to save districts aren't defined.  However, what are defined are the costs to the TEA (Texas Education Agency) which are approximately $60,000 to implement the changes in the accounting of schools if this bill passes. 

GCISD Bond Package

This is a good article explaining the $1.24M bond package that is being proposed on the May 14th ballot.  Please vote "YES" and vote early beginning next Monday, May 2nd.

http://impactnews.com/grapevine-colleyville-southlake/583-news/12281-gcisd-voters-consider-1245m-in-projects

Senate Finance Committee passes school finance bill

From the "Texas Association of School Administrators" website on April 21, 2011:  Senate Finance passes school finance bill

Sen. Florence Shapiro earned support for her school finance plan, which was voted favorably out of the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday. The bill now goes to the full Senate.

Several who testified on the bill thanked the senators for providing more money for public education than the House has currently proposed, though the bill still represents $4 billion in cuts to public schools. Shapiro said she believes the bill represents a best-case scenario in what “could have been a catastrophe” for public education.

“I truly believe this is the best that we could do,” Shapiro said. “We’ve said again and again that public education is our highest priority…If there is more money my hope would be the first place we put it is in our public schools.”

Shapiro said the bill goes a long way toward fixing a broken school finance system by moving from 127 districts on formula funding to 650 on formula funding by 2013. Shapiro, who also chairs the Senate Education Committee, said her plan allows for a phase-out of the current system without decimating school districts – a potential outcome if the legislature attempted to do away with target revenue in one fell swoop at a time when they’re cutting funding from the system.

Shapiro said the average cut for districts would be 6 to 7 percent, with the highest cuts at around 9 percent and some as low as 1 to 2 percent.

Sen. Kel Seliger, who had said he would offer up a substitute bill that would eliminate target revenue by 2013 bringing all districts under formula funding in two years, did not offer up his plan Wednesday.

Amendments to the bill, which were rolled into the committee substitute that was approved, were:

1. Restoring the $250 / $500 supplement

2. Modifying the pre-k language so that the commissioner can withhold up to $65 per pre-kindergarten student from Foundation School Program funding in the first year of the biennium only.

3. Modifying the pre-k language to create a pre-k accountability system through TEA rather than the state center.

4. Repealed ASATR (hold-harmless) beginning in 2016-17.

This bill will now go up for vote in the full Senate.

No Action on School Mandates Bill in House

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/04/21/house_adjourns_with_no_action.html?cxntfid=blogs_postcards
This Bill proposes to raise the class size of Kindergarten through 4th grade as well as give greater flexibility to school districts to fire and/or cut teacher pay.

Warnings of school funding problems ignored by Perry

A very insightful article, written by the Superintendent from Bryan/College Station, explaining how the problems with school finance and funding began with a change in revenue and how Gov. Perry ignored the warnings.  Not surprising.
http://www.theeagle.com/columnists/Education-funding-a-house-of-cards-

Senator Davis to hold Town Hall Meeting Saturday

Senator Davis in Colleyville Saturday to Discuss the Budget

I hope that you can attend Senator Wendy Davis' Town Hall meeting on Saturday in Colleyville, where she will discuss what's going on in Austin with the budget.  Click on the link above for more information.  She needs to hear from the masses, her constituents, about what we want and expect from our elected official in Austin!

Vicki Truitt's Newsletter dated 4/5/11 about the Budget

From Where I Sit . . . 82nd Legislature April 4, 2011     A message from . . . State Rep. Vicki Truitt                                                                         STATE REPRESENTATIVE VICKI TRUITT   Proudly serving the people of the 98th Texas House district! (Residents of Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Keller, Westlake, Trophy Club-Tarrant County, far north Fort Worth, and unincorporated northeast Tarrant County) vicki.truitt@house.state.tx.us ·   DISTRICT OFFICE 1256 Main Street Suite 248 Southlake, TX 76092 Southlake Town Square (817) 488-4098 (817) 488-4099 fax · CAPITOL OFFICE P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768-2910 GW.18 (512) 463-0690 (512) 477-5770 fax · CAMPAIGN OFFICE P.O. Box 886 Keller, TX   76244 (817) 897-0056 RepTruitt@VickiTruitt.com      Thank You District 98! GOD BLESS TEXAS! and GOD BLESS AMERICA! ____________________ Vicki at House front mic on opening day of the   82nd Legislature    Dear Friends, You can tell the Legislature is in full swing.  Last week, on Wednesday, I had a 20-hour day, and then on Friday, we worked for 16 hours on the next biennial budget.  Beginning last Friday, and concluding last night (Sunday evening), the Texas House of Representatives passedHouse Bill 1, the House's version of a proposed budget for the state's fiscal period beginning on September 1, 2011 and ending on August 31, 2013. HB 1 sets a proposed budget for the state that: Is within available revenue, Creates no new taxes, and  Promotes the principles of limited government. The bill passed on both second and third readings with a vote of 98 in favor, and 49 opposed, 2 present, not voting, and 1 excused absence.  I voted in favor of the bill.  Many of you have contacted me with your concerns over the severe cuts in the budget.  This proposed budget would cut every aspect of state government.    The fact is - Texas is constitutionally bound to operate with a balanced budget.  With the downturn in the economy, there are limited resources to allocate (something, frankly, by which I believe Congress should also be bound). The bill the Texas House passed would decrease the state's spending by about $23 billion, or 12.3% of all funds.   (Compare this to what, I believe, the federal government is considering - a $30 billion cut in spending.)  General revenue funding (which comes mostly from state taxes and fees) would fall $4.6 billion, or 5.2% from the current fiscal year's budget. The Texas Legislature must strike a careful balancebetween living within our means, and funding vital services like public education and other essential services for Texas' most vulnerable citizens, needed transportation infrastructure, etc.    Please understand that the passage of HB 1 is only a starting point.  This is not the final product.  This is thebeginning of a process that will, undoubtedly, change.  The budget will "evolve" as the House and the Senate go to "conference" to resolve the differences between their two different versions of the budget. I am keenly aware that there is a human face behind each of the difficult decisions we must make.  As the budget works its way through the legislative process, we will continue to work on finding ways to reduce the cuts to our most essential and important state services - such as public education. In the meantime, I want to continue to hear from you.  I welcome and need your input.    On the state's budget . . . stay tuned.  Please remember the members of the Texas Legislature in your prayers - not only that we will be guided to make sound decisions for the people of our beloved state, but also for Rep. Barbara Nash (R-Arlington) whose sister passed away yesterday, and Rep. Alma Allen (D-Houston) who buried her husband of 54 years on Saturday. Finally, please look for and respond to the survey I'll be sending you regarding HB 750 - "Campus Carry."  I would sincerely appreciate having your opinion on this matter. Thank you for the privilege of serving you in the Texas House!                                           Vicki   Political ad paid by TRUITT for DISTRICT 98 P.O. Box 886 Keller, Texas 76244 William E. Greenwood, Treasurer

Forward email This email was sent to cwalgren@verizon.net by reptruitt@vickitruitt.com |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Vicki Truitt - State Representative District 98 | P.O. Box 886 | Keller | TX | 76244