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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming NORTHSIDE ISD agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 10) |
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District Proposes $886.2 Million Bond Election
The board has placed a massive $886.2 million bond on the November 3 ballot, asking voters to approve nearly a billion dollars in new long-term debt. The proposal includes $65.5 million for athletic swimming facilities (‘natatoriums’), a luxury item that will be paid for by all taxpayers for decades.
Response
A nearly $1 billion bond is on the ballot for November 3. Demand the district provide a clear, unbundled list of every project. Contact the District Office and ask your board member why taxpayers are being asked to fund multi-million dollar swimming pools.
💰 Impact: $886.2M in New Debt
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| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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Board Puts M&O Tax Rate Increase on Ballot
The board has called a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) for the November 3 ballot. If passed, this would permanently increase the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate to generate an estimated $46 million in new annual revenue from taxpayers.
Response
A permanent tax increase election is coming on November 3. Investigate the district’s justification for this $46 million annual increase and be prepared to vote. Ask the board for a clear accounting of how current funds are being spent before they ask for more.
💰 Impact: $46 Million Annual Tax Hike
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Board to Approve $1.7M Student Assessment Contract
Hidden in the consent agenda is a $1.7 million contract with NCS Pearson, Inc. for a ‘Digital Assessment Library for the Evaluation of Referred Students.’ This raises questions about what sensitive student data will be collected, how it will be used, and who will have access to it.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board of Trustees before Tuesday’s meeting. Ask them to pull Consent Item 6.B for a separate discussion and vote. Demand they explain what student data is being collected by Pearson and what parental opt-out rights exist.
💰 Impact: $1.7M Student Data Collection
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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District Considers Hiring Lobby Group as Consultant
August meeting minutes reveal the board discussed hiring the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) as a paid ‘facilitator.’ TASB is a taxpayer-funded lobby group that advocates in Austin for policies that lead to higher taxes and less local control, making this a backdoor subsidy for their lobbying.
Response
Email the Board of Trustees: ‘I see from the August 25th minutes you are considering hiring TASB as a paid consultant. Please commit to not using taxpayer funds to hire lobby groups like TASB that work against taxpayer interests.’
💰 Impact: Paying Lobbyists with Tax Dollars
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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District Rolls Out Vague ‘Decision of Respect’ Initiative
The board will recognize a new ‘Decision of Respect’ anti-bullying program where counselors use district-provided lessons to promote a ‘healthy school climate.’ While anti-bullying is a worthy goal, such programs often serve as a vehicle for controversial Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula without parental review.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board regarding Item 3.G. Ask for the specific training materials and lesson plans for the ‘Decision of Respect’ initiative to be posted publicly for parental review before they are used in classrooms.
💰 Impact: Politicized Classroom Content
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✅ Wins for Taxpayers
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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District Accelerates Debt Payoff to Save Taxpayer Money
In a fiscally responsible move, the board in August approved a debt service tax rate specifically designed to pay off existing district debt ahead of schedule. This proactive measure will save taxpayers significant money in future interest payments.
How to Lock It In
SECURE AND AMPLIFY: Email the Board of Trustees to thank them for their fiscally responsible decision in August to accelerate debt payments. This action saves taxpayer money and should be the standard for all Texas school districts.
✅ Why It Matters: Long-Term Interest Savings
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