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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming ECTOR COUNTY ISD agenda and found 8 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Discussion of Outsourcing Public Schools to Private Operators
The board will discuss ‘Senate Bill 1882 Partnership Performance Outcomes.’ SB 1882 partnerships allow districts to hand control of a public school to an outside operator, such as a charter school, often to avoid state accountability sanctions. This represents a significant loss of local control for taxpayers and parents.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the board before Tuesday’s meeting. ‘Regarding Item 12.A, please publicly disclose which schools are in SB 1882 partnerships, who the outside operators are, and what the full performance outcomes and financial costs have been to the district.’
💰 Impact: Loss of Local Control
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District-Wide ‘Turnaround’ Plan Relies on Consultant, Federal Funds
The board will vote on ‘Turnaround’ and ‘Improvement’ plans for at least seven schools that hire consultant Darryl Williams (‘Teach Like a Champion’) and use hundreds of thousands in federal Title I/II funds for new staffing. This creates a long-term obligation for local taxpayers when the federal money runs out and outsources instructional strategy to a consultant.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the district office. ‘Regarding Item 8.B, what is the total cost of the contract with Darryl Williams across all campuses, and what is the plan to fund these new positions when federal Title I and Title II money expires?’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Legal Services Retainer on Consent Agenda
The board is set to approve a retainer agreement with the law firm Walsh, Gallegos, et al. for special education legal services without separate discussion. The cost of this legal representation is bundled into the consent agenda, hiding a potentially significant taxpayer expense from easy public view.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the board. ‘I demand Consent Item 11.H be pulled from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Taxpayers deserve to know the cost of the district’s legal services contracts before they are approved.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Legal Fees
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Contract for International Teacher Recruitment
Under ‘Purchases over $100,000,’ the district is considering an agreement for ‘International Teacher J1 Visa Services.’ While staffing is a challenge, such contracts can be expensive and the details are not provided in the main agenda, preventing public review of the costs and terms.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file ‘1R RFP 25-12…’ attached to Item 10.B in the Official Agenda (linked above). Email the board: ‘What is the total cost and what are the terms of the international teacher recruitment contract under Item 10.B?’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Recruitment Fees
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Virtual School Agreement on Consent Agenda
The board plans to approve an agreement with the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) as part of a bundled vote. This agreement could have implications for curriculum, student data privacy, and district finances, but it is not scheduled for individual discussion.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the board. ‘Please pull Item 11.K from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and vote. The public deserves to understand the terms of the agreement with the Texas Virtual School Network.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Undisclosed Budget Amendment Details
The board is scheduled to approve ‘Budget Amendment #3,’ which can shift significant amounts of taxpayer money between departments or projects. The details of what is being changed are contained only in an attachment, preventing public scrutiny of the spending changes from the main agenda.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the files attached to Item 10.C in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see where taxpayer money is being moved. Email the board: ‘Please explain the purpose and fiscal impact of Budget Amendment #3.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Undisclosed Cost of Employee Stipends
The board will vote on a ‘One-Time Employee Incentive Stipend’ for the current school year. The total cost to taxpayers and the funding source for these bonuses are not disclosed in the main agenda, leaving the public in the dark about this spending.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item 10.D in the Official Agenda (linked above). Email the board: ‘What is the total cost of the employee stipends in Item 10.D, and what is the funding source?’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Undisclosed Bond Spending Over $100,000
The board is approving purchases over $100,000 using funds from the 2023 Bond. While voters approved the bond, the specific items being purchased are not detailed in the main agenda, preventing taxpayers from confirming the money is being spent as promised.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item 9.B in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see the list of bond purchases. Ensure the spending aligns with what voters were promised in the 2023 bond election.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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