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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SAN ISIDRO ISD agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Accept $748k Federal Grant with Strings
The board will vote to accept a $748,322 federal grant for ‘Distance Learning and Telemedicine.’ These grants often come with permanent strings, including data-sharing mandates and technology systems that local taxpayers must fund forever after the grant money is gone.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board before the meeting. Ask: ‘Regarding Item VI.H, what are the long-term costs and data-sharing requirements attached to the $748,322 USDA grant? Taxpayers must know the full price before the district accepts this money.’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Superintendent Seeks Blank Check for Grant Applications
Item VI.E asks the board to give the Superintendent pre-approval to apply for ‘LASO Cycle 5 Grant Opportunities.’ This allows the district to chase federal or state money without the board first reviewing the specific strings, mandates, and long-term costs attached to each grant.
Response
DEMAND OVERSIGHT: Contact the Board and ask them to vote NO on Item VI.E. ‘The Board should approve specific grant applications one by one, not give away its oversight authority. Taxpayers deserve to know the full cost of every grant before the district applies.’
💰 Impact: Unknown Future Costs
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Adopting Lobbyist-Written District Policies
The board is discussing updates to policies FOC and FOCA using ‘sample policies’ and ‘policy manuals.’ This language strongly suggests the district is adopting boilerplate policy from the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), a taxpayer-funded lobby group that often works against parent and taxpayer interests in Austin.
Response
KEEP POLICY LOCAL: Contact the Board regarding Item VI.J. ‘Please ensure all policy updates are developed locally with community input, not adopted from an Austin-based lobby group like TASB. Our district policies should reflect our community’s values.’
💰 Impact: Ceding Local Control
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Board to Schedule Training with Lobby Group
The board is scheduling a ‘TEAM of 8 training.’ This training is a hallmark of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), an organization that lobbies the legislature using local tax dollars, often against taxpayer interests like property tax relief and parental rights.
Response
DEMAND NEUTRAL TRAINING: Contact the Board regarding Item V.A. ‘Please ensure any board training is conducted by a neutral party, not by a political lobby group like TASB that uses our tax dollars to lobby against us in Austin.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague ‘Budget Amendments’ Hide Spending Details
Item VI.C is a vote on ‘Budget Amendments’ with no supporting documents or explanation provided in the public agenda. This lack of transparency makes it impossible for taxpayers to see what money is being moved, what new spending is being approved, or how their tax dollars are being used.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item VI.C in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see the specific dollar amounts. If details are missing, email the Board: ‘Please table the vote on Item VI.C until a detailed breakdown of the budget amendments is made public.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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✅ Wins for Taxpayers
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 8) |
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Win for Transparency: Board to Consider Livestreaming Meetings
The board will vote on a proposal to livestream its meetings. This is a major step forward for transparency and accountability, making it easier for busy parents and taxpayers to stay informed and hold their elected officials accountable.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THE WIN: Show up or email the Board to support Item VI.I. ‘Thank you for considering livestreaming meetings. Please vote YES on this important transparency measure to ensure all taxpayers can access their government.’
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