|
Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SHELDON ISD agenda and found 4 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
|
$951,355 in Undisclosed ‘Supplemental Pay’
The board is scheduled to approve nearly one million dollars in ‘supplemental pay’ under Item 14.A with no public description of who is receiving the money or for what purpose. This lack of transparency for a significant expenditure is a major red flag for fiscal accountability.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Sheldon ISD Board of Trustees. ‘Item 14.A for $951,355 in supplemental pay must be explained in detail to the public before a vote. I demand a full breakdown of these payments and a roll-call vote on this item.’
💰 Impact: $951,355.00
|
| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
|
Board Cites Wrong Law to Avoid Public Questions
The agenda notice for public comment incorrectly cites the ‘Open Records Act’ as the reason the board ‘cannot respond’ to public comments. The correct law is the Open Meetings Act, which does allow for limited factual responses, and this misrepresentation discourages public engagement by making it seem the board is legally forbidden from acknowledging citizen concerns.
Response
DEMAND CLARIFICATION: During public comment for Item 7, ask the board president to clarify their policy on responding to citizen comments, citing the Texas Open Meetings Act (Gov. Code 551.042). The law allows for factual responses, and the board should not hide behind a misquoted statute to avoid accountability.
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
|
Vague School ‘Improvement Plan’ Requires Review
The board will vote on a ‘Targeted Improvement Plan’ for an elementary school. These plans, often required by the state for low-performing campuses, can be used to hire expensive consultants or introduce controversial social-emotional learning (SEL) programs without parental input.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the ‘Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) for L.E. Monahan Elementary’ attached to Item 9.D in the Official Agenda (linked above). Look for any new curriculum, SEL programs, or contracts with outside consultants like Panorama Education or Second Step.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Consultant Fees
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
|
Federal Grant Creates 5-Year Financial Hook
The district is celebrating a 5-year federal ’21st Century Community Learning Centers’ grant. While presented as a win, these grants often come with federal strings attached, including data sharing requirements and new programs that local taxpayers will be forced to fund once the grant money disappears.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Sheldon ISD administration. ‘Regarding the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant (Item 10.D), please provide the full grant agreement. What new staff or programs will local taxpayers be required to fund after this 5-year grant expires?’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
|
|
|
“Freedom, Prosperity &
Opportunity”
TPPF is a conservative think tank whose mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation.
Contribute to the mission |