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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming RAYMONDVILLE ISD agenda and found 5 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Student Data Collection for ‘Research Study’
The district plans to partner with WestEd, a national education research organization, for a ‘mathematics curriculum research study.’ This raises questions about what student data will be collected, who will own it, and whether parents have a clear and easy way to opt their children out of the study.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Raymondville ISD Board (see Official Agenda link): ‘Pull Item IX.B.3 from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and roll-call vote. Parents deserve to know what data WestEd will be collecting on our students and how they can opt out.’
💰 Impact: Student Data Harvesting
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Public Comment Restricted to Agenda Items
The board’s policy prohibits the public from addressing any topic not already on the agenda. This prevents taxpayers and parents from raising new or emerging concerns in a public forum, limiting the board’s direct accountability to the community.
Response
DEMAND A POLICY CHANGE: Contact the Raymondville ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘I urge you to revise the public comment policy to allow residents to speak on any issue of concern, not just pre-approved agenda items. True accountability means listening to the public, not limiting them.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Blank Check for Unnamed Consultants
The board is set to approve an award for ‘Consultant / Speaker Services’ without naming the specific vendors, the cost, or the scope of work. This kind of vague, open-ended approval can lead to spending on politically-driven consultants for topics like DEI or SEL with no public oversight.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Raymondville ISD Board (see Official Agenda link): ‘Regarding Item IX.D.2, who are the consultants being awarded contracts and what specific services will they provide? Taxpayers should not approve a blank check for unspecified consultant services.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Emergency Plan Hidden from Public View
The board is discussing and approving the district’s Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plan entirely behind closed doors. While specific security details should be confidential, the overall plan and policies should be available for public review and input, especially regarding parental notification and reunification procedures.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Raymondville ISD Board (see Official Agenda link): ‘Regarding Item X.B and the subsequent vote, please make the non-sensitive portions of the Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plan public before the vote. Parents have a right to know the district’s policies.’
💰 Impact: Lack of Public Oversight
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague ‘Improvement Plans’ on Consent Agenda
The district is approving its District and Campus Improvement Plans for the next school year as part of a bundled consent agenda vote. These lengthy documents often contain new initiatives related to curriculum, student discipline, or social-emotional learning (SEL) that merit public discussion.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Pull Item IX.A.1 from the Consent Agenda for a full discussion. Contact the District Office (see the Official Agenda link) and ask for a copy of the proposed District and Campus Improvement Plans to check for hidden SEL or DEI initiatives before the vote.
💰 Impact: Hidden Policy Changes
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