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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SAN BENITO CISD agenda and found 8 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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School to Refer Students for Behavioral Health Services
The district is signing an agreement with Su Clinica Familiar to create a formal referral process for students to receive ‘behavioral health services.’ The agreement allows the school to make direct referrals, bypassing the student’s existing family doctor, which could sideline parents from critical healthcare decisions.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: This is a major policy change hidden in the consent agenda. Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull Item 7.10 for a full discussion and a recorded vote. The school’s role is education, not facilitating behavioral health referrals that bypass a child’s primary care provider.’
💰 Impact: Bypassing Parents
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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District Moves Forward on Natatorium Project
The board will vote to hire an architectural firm for a new Natatorium/Aquatics Center. This is the first step in a major capital project that is a luxury, not an educational necessity, and will likely lead to a significant bond or other debt for taxpayers.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 10.3, what is the projected total cost for the Natatorium project, and how does the district plan to fund it? Taxpayers deserve to know the full price tag before any contracts are signed.’
💰 Impact: Future Bond Debt
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The board plans to approve revisions to the district’s compensation plan as a consent item. The document detailing these changes, which could have a significant impact on the budget, was not included in the public agenda packet.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether it contains hidden debt or policy changes.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Budget Impact
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Approves Federal Programs with Data Strings
The board is approving 5-year agreements for the federal ‘Talent Search’ and ‘Upward Bound’ programs run by TSTC. These programs target students from specific income and family backgrounds, require the district to share extensive student data (grades, test scores, financial aid info), and commit the district to providing transportation.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull Items 7.5 and 7.6 from the Consent Agenda. What specific student data is being shared with the federal government, and what is the total cost of the transportation the district is now obligated to provide?’
💰 Impact: Student Data Sharing
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The board is set to approve unspecified purchases exceeding $50,000 under the consent agenda. The supporting documents detailing these large expenditures were not included in the publicly available agenda packet.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether it contains hidden debt or policy changes.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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District Seeks Waiver for Overcrowded Classrooms
The district is asking the state for permission to exceed the legal 22-to-1 student-teacher ratio in multiple K-4 classrooms, with one Pre-K class reaching 26 students. This waiver allows the district to avoid hiring more teachers, but it directly impacts the quality of education for the youngest students.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 7.3, what is the long-term plan to get class sizes back within the legal limit instead of relying on waivers? Our kids deserve the attention a smaller class provides.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Quality of Instruction
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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‘Social-Emotional’ Goals in Campus Plans
Buried in a 53-page attachment for Campus Improvement Plans are goals to address students’ ‘social emotional gaps’ and provide ‘social-emotional supports.’ While not explicitly using controversial terms, this language opens the door for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum and initiatives in the classroom.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding the Campus Improvement Plans in Item 7.1, what specific curriculum or programs will be used to address ‘social emotional gaps’? Parents deserve to know what non-academic material is being taught.’
💰 Impact: Mission Creep
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✅ Wins for Taxpayers
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 7) |
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District Complies with Library Book Transparency Law
The district is following state law (SB 13) by publicly posting a list of proposed new library books for 30 days before the board votes to approve them. This gives parents and taxpayers a crucial window to review the titles being considered for school libraries.
How to Lock It In
SECURE AND AMPLIFY: Thank the Board for complying with SB 13 transparency. Review the book list (attached to Item 7.4 in the official agenda) and provide feedback to the board before the vote. This is your chance to have a say in what your kids read.
✅ Why It Matters: Parental Vigilance Required
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