SAN ANGELO, TX —The Texas public school system is under attack from elected officials at the state level threatening Texas’ ability to provide a consistent educated workforce according to State Rep. Drew Darby (R), San Angelo.
Darby was the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s monthly San Angelo Chamber of Commerce luncheon held in the ballroom of the Cactus Hotel. He spent most of his time discussing the successes and failures of the regular legislative session, the special session and the massive repercussions of hurricane Harvey.
Darby likened the legislature’s work this year to the Clint Eastwood movie, “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.”
“We had a lot of conflict in the process.” Darby said of the regular session. “We gave homeowners a $10,000 homestead exemption that cost the state about $1.6 billion dollars. All those decisions have consequences.”
The ‘Good’ was the regular legislative session. The ‘bad’ was the special session. Darby said they passed nine of Governor Abbott’s 20 priorities for the special session.
“One of the things that came out of the special session is that we are going to have a commission to look at this issue school funding and that commission is going to be tasked with figuring out the best way to fund public schools.”
Darby mentioned that the legislature was able to fund some higher education priorities including needs for Howard College and Angelo State University.
Darby said we had a pretty good regular session, but, “We didn’t get it all right, so the Governor called us back.”
According to the Governor’s office, “Governor Abbott called the special session with 20 priorities Among them:
- Legislation to increase the average salary and benefits (including TRS-Care) of Texas teachers; and legislation to provide a more flexible and rewarding salary and benefits system for Texas teachers.
- Legislation establishing a statewide commission to study and recommend improvements to the current public school finance system; and other legislation relating to school finance, including Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR).
- Legislation to empower parents of children with special needs or educational disadvantages to choose an educational provider that is best for their child.
- Legislation reforming the laws governing ad valorem property taxes.
- Legislation using population growth and inflation to establish a spending limit for state government.
- Legislation using population growth and inflation to establish a spending limit for political subdivisions.
- Legislation protecting the private property rights of landowners from political subdivision rules, regulations, or ordinances that interfere with, delay, or restrict private property owners’ ability to use or enjoy their property.
- Legislation expediting the issuance of permits by political subdivisions and reforming the laws governing the issuance of permits by political subdivisions.
- Legislation preventing political subdivisions from imposing on private property additional or enhanced regulations that did not exist at the time the property was acquired.
Darby’s response, “Quite frankly, we didn’t agree on some of those issues in the regular session, and we didn’t agree on them in the special session.”
Darby said the legislature helped retired teachers keep their healthcare and added funding to the teacher retirement system.
Darby then discussed Hurricane Harvey response and its impact on Texas now and in the future. Darby says Harvey was a storm, “of biblical proportions.”
“Let me tell you what the profound effect of Harvey is...Economist Ray Perryman says there’s $110 billion in real property loss in Texas due to hurricane Harvey.”
"I’m no longer hearing that you can’t touch that ‘mattress fund’ (Rainy Day Fund), We have $11 billion in the rainy day fund." Darby said. “It’s raining now.”
I’m hearing from the Governor and Lt. Governor that, “By Gosh that time is here!”
Former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples was on hand at the San Angelo luncheon to present Darby with an award.
Staples is currently the President of the Texas Oil and Gas Association and a former Texas Agriculture Commissioner. He presented Darby with the 2017 Legislative Champion Award from the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
![Fort Stockton police alerted citizens of the city that their K9 working dog, named "Fauce," slipped out the front door of the police station.](https://sanangelolive.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_compact_extra_large/public/2024-05/fauce.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=R3SucVyC "Fort Stockton police alerted citizens of the city that their K9 working dog, named "Fauce," slipped out the front door of the police station.")
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Why is it that funding for public schools is never enough, yet the private schools function (and actually TEACH) on a fraction of that amount? The students that come out of our schools have trouble doing basic arithmetic and writing a complete paragraph....don't even get me started on their lack of spelling ability!
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Permalink@ Janet Senatore: Hello...I just wanted to put something out there. I am a public school teacher who has taught at both private and public schools. I find it sad that people think that public school teachers are not actually teaching, due to the declining academic abilities coming out of the public education system. There are too many things that contribute to this outcome for me to list, but I'd like to highlight a couple of points. First of all, the socioeconomic differences in the student populations of private schools vs. public schools make a big difference. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but in private schools the majority of students are coming from families who value education. Families where many of the parents are college graduates, themselves, and the family culture is one that fosters lifelong learning. Families that are taking care of the child's physical and emotional needs at home. Often times private school teachers deal with much fewer discipline problems and are walking into a classroom of students that are much more prepared and ready to learn. On the contrary, in public schools, those students coming from similar family backgrounds are becoming the minority. You'd be heartbroken to know what some of these kids are dealing with on a daily basis. When survival is your number one goal each day, sitting in a classroom and actively learning can seem like a joke. Public school teachers cannot teach these students without earning their trust and forming a relationship with them first, if that is even possible in the short year that we have them for. They won't simply listen to what is being taught because it's the right thing to do, or because it will benefit them to know the information. Public school teachers are not only playing teacher, but trying to play parent as well. Hands are tied nowadays in terms of discipline. Many students welcome ISS. You, as the teacher, are attempting to go back and correct years of misconceptions that many students have formed which prevent them from wanting to learn. Meanwhile you are trying to cram as much content down them as you can so they can pass the big test. You are trying to be their everything (teacher, parent, counselor, disciplinarian) and praying that it is good enough to make a difference in their lives. That being said, I love my job. I got into it because I love the kids. I don't care what they pay me. They could pay me less than they do now and I'd still do it...so long as I can make enough to feed my family and cover the bills, then that's all I need. I, for one, think that the low pay helps to ensure that teachers are in it for the right reasons (not that I wouldn't mind higher pay). Whether they teach at a private, public, or charter school, doesn't matter. They should be doing it because they love the kids first and foremost...not for the money. Anyways, the point I'm getting at, Janet, is that unless you've walked in both sets of shoes (which for all I know maybe you have), then I don't think it's fair for you to pass such insensitive judgement over public school teachers. God bless. :)
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PermalinkML S, I am really glad you are teaching! I must say that you brought out an important point in that public school teachers are having to go back a correct years of misconceptions that many students have formed which prevent them from wanting to learn. Lets be real....public school is indeed responsible for that! I have been watching my granddaughter in her formative school years. First grade was rough for her...second grade o.k. third grade a total nightmare for her, her mom and her grandparents (there was discussion about holding her back). Fourth grade teachers did not know that. It is a different world. She is making 100s in classroom work, and wanting to practice multiplication tables after and before school and is excited about school every day. Private schools have grown in popularity partially because of the failure of public schools. This child's parents and grandparents really want to see her succeed in public school. However, we are keenly aware there is an alternative. I think in some cases some public teachers should chose a different profession. Your rant hit on several key areas that are problems in public schools that many of us can do nothing about. Still we want a decent education for our children.
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PermalinkMLS, I believe the statements that you made are true an honest. If the parents are not instilling in their children that school and learning are important then it is spiral that not even the most accomplished teachers can overcome. When it comes to learning it begins at home with the parents, wither it is reading to them at night, teaching them various things at home and reinforcing behaviors at home. Then when school come the students should be able and have a desire to learn more. But if this behavior is not instilled at home in the first several years leading up to school, then you see the misbehavior. Also the class sizes do not help. School districts cannot afford to hire more teachers or do not have the room to hire more teachers. on average most class room are 20 + students. This is just my opinion but the max class size should be no more than 15. So that students can get more one on one, and possibly establish a better relationship with the teacher so that the trust is there. Money won't solve the family issues or behavior issues that teachers are seeing, but perhaps if there where more teachers hired and smaller class sizes perhaps it would at least help.
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PermalinkIt amazes me how the lottery was sold to the public as the end-all solution to school funding; and even though the lottery has been wildly successful, the money is still never enough. It appears that the school system is a money pit. In view of the previous comments on the efficiency and success of private schools, perhaps public education is due for an overhaul.
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PermalinkSAISD's cost per student is $9282 (2015). I'm sending my kids to private school for about $3500 per kid, including all books, fees, etc. Now, what's wrong with vouchers again? I would be saving the state money! There's not a private school in San Angelo that costs $9282 per student. Every private school in San Angelo does it for less than SAISD so why can't I take that money and send my kids somewhere else? Drew Darby is one of the biggest opponents of school vouchers, by the way.
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