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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for NORTHSIDE ISD and found 5 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 9) |
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District Increases Budget Deficit After Voter Tax Hike Fails
Following the failure of a Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election, the board will amend the FY2027 budget. The amendment cuts $32.2M in expenditures, primarily from a contingent compensation package, but revenues fall by $45.9M, increasing the projected deficit by $13.7M to a total of $31.6M. This action demonstrates a significant fiscal challenge and a disconnect with voters on tax and spending levels.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Items 6.C and 6.D show the district increasing its deficit to $31.6M after voters rejected a tax increase. This is a key example of local fiscal unsustainability for testimony on state budget and school finance reform.
Policy Lever: $31.6M Budget Deficit
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Policy Text Not Available – Pull Before Vote
The board will hold a first reading of policy FNG(LOCAL), which typically governs student and parent complaints and grievances. The proposed text is not included in the agenda packet, preventing public review of potential changes to parental rights and due process procedures.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Item 7.A is a first reading of FNG(LOCAL) on parent grievances. Retrieve the referenced attachment from the official agenda link and confirm the operative language before the vote. This is a key parental rights policy.
Policy Lever: Parental Grievance Policy
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Policy Text Not Available – Pull Before Vote
The board will review and possibly approve its legislative priorities for the upcoming session. This action formalizes the district’s lobbying platform, but the specific priorities are not included in the agenda packet, obscuring the district’s stance on key education issues like school choice, funding, and curriculum.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Item 8.A is an action item to approve the district’s legislative priorities. Retrieve the document from the official agenda link immediately to identify the district’s lobbying position on AFPI’s state legislative agenda.
Policy Lever: District Lobbying Agenda
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Board to Discuss Magnet School Transportation
The board will discuss transportation for its magnet schools. This discussion could reveal policies that either facilitate or create barriers to student access for in-district school choice programs.
Policy Use
WATCH: Monitor discussion on Item 8.E regarding magnet school transportation. Note any proposals that would limit access to these choice programs and re-evaluate when an action item appears.
Policy Lever: School Choice Access
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| NOTED (LEVEL 3) |
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Board to Adopt New Class Ranking Policy
The board will take a final vote on policy EIC(LOCAL), which revises the district’s class ranking system. The policy establishes a three-tiered weighting system for Advanced Placement/dual enrollment, advanced/honors, and regular courses, and sets eligibility criteria for valedictorian and salutatorian.
Policy Use
Monitor only; no action required. Item 5.G is a final vote on a technical class ranking policy.
Policy Lever: Academic Standards
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“America First, Always.”
AFPI exists to advance policies that put the American people first. Our guiding principles are liberty, free enterprise, national excellence, American military superiority, foreign-policy engagement in the American interest, and the primacy of American workers, families, and communities in all we do.
America First Policy Institute |