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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming DENISON ISD agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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Board Proposes Doubling Superintendent’s Spending Authority
Under Item 11.B.3, the Board will vote on a policy change to double the Superintendent’s authority to make purchases without prior Board approval, from $50,000 to $100,000. This significantly reduces public oversight on large expenditures of taxpayer money.
Response
PACK THE ROOM & VOTE NO: Show up Tuesday and sign up for public comment. Email the Denison ISD Board (contact info on district website): ‘Vote NO on Item 11.B.3. Reducing board oversight on $100,000 purchases is a step away from transparency and accountability to taxpayers.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Oversight
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Fee Hidden in Bill Payment
The district is paying $8,948.51 to the TASB Risk Management Fund, bundled into the consent agenda’s bill list. The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) actively lobbies the Legislature for policies that increase taxes and reduce local control.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Denison ISD Board (contact info on district website). ‘I demand the payment to TASB (check #621339) be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and roll-call vote. Why are our tax dollars funding a lobby that works against taxpayers?’
💰 Impact: $8,948.51 Lobbying Fee
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Blank Check for Construction Change Order
Item 11.B.4 asks the Board to approve a ‘change order’ for renovation projects due to ‘unexpected expenditures.’ The agenda provides no dollar amount, no contract, and no explanation for the cost increase, asking the Board to approve a blank check.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Denison ISD Board (contact info on district website). ‘Do not vote on Item 11.B.4 until the full change order document, including the exact cost and justification for the overage, is made public. Taxpayers deserve to know the cost before you approve it.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Policy Endorses Lobby Groups for Official Training
Item 11.B.1 is a resolution to approve the district’s investment policy. The resolution explicitly names lobbyist organizations like TASB, TASA, and TASBO as approved providers for mandatory investment training, entrenching their influence and directing district funds to them.
Response
DEMAND AN AMENDMENT: Email the Denison ISD Board (contact info on district website). ‘Regarding Item 11.B.1, please amend the resolution to strike TASB, TASA, and TASBO as approved training sources. Our district should not be endorsing or paying groups that lobby against taxpayer interests.’
💰 Impact: Entrenching Lobbyist Influence
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Payments to Social-Emotional Learning Consultants
The check register includes payments totaling $28,225 to ‘Dan St. Romain Educational Consulting’ and ‘Behavior Network.’ These vendors specialize in social-emotional learning (SEL) and behavior management, which often brings divisive psychological programming into the classroom.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Denison ISD Board (contact info on district website). ‘Regarding checks #621152, #621309, and #621230, please provide the contracts and deliverables for these consultants before approving payment. Parents deserve to know what psychological programming is being purchased for our schools.’
💰 Impact: $28,225 for SEL Services
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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STEM Grant Used to Fund Social-Emotional Learning
An informational update on the district’s STEM grant (Item 12.D) reveals that part of the program’s goal is providing ‘social-emotional support for all students.’ This is an example of mission creep, using funds for academic subjects like Science and Math to push psychological programming.
Response
ASK FOR CLARIFICATION: Email the Denison ISD Board (contact info on district website). ‘Regarding the STEM Grant update, what specific ‘social-emotional support’ is being funded by this grant, and how does it directly relate to improving STEM outcomes? Keep academics focused on academics.’
💰 Impact: Politicizing STEM Education
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