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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming CLEBURNE ISD agenda and found 3 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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District Accepts $1.1M+ in Grants for Consultant-Led School Overhaul
Under Item 10.B.1, the board will approve ‘Targeted Improvement Plans’ for four schools, funded by over $1.1 million in state/federal LIFT grants. These plans hire an external provider, ‘Great Minds PBC,’ to implement a top-down curriculum and teacher evaluation system, and use a data-tracking platform called ‘Branching Minds’ which may collect sensitive student data. This cedes local control to outside consultants and grant mandates.
Response
Email the Board before Tuesday’s vote (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Vote NO on Item 10.B.1. Taxpayers did not approve spending over $1.1 million on outside consultants like Great Minds to take over our schools. We need local solutions, not grant-funded mandates and data-tracking systems like Branching Minds.’
💰 Impact: Ceding Local Control, Undisclosed Data Sharing
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Board Restricts Public Comment Access
The board requires citizens to sign up for public comment in person at the Central Office before 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. This policy makes it difficult for working parents and taxpayers to participate, effectively limiting public input on school board decisions.
Response
Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Item 2.A’s requirement for in-person signup for public comment during work hours disenfranchises working taxpayers. I urge you to amend the policy to allow for online or phone signup until the meeting begins.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Board to Approve $714,500 in Unbudgeted Employee Payments
Item 11.A proposes a budget amendment to fund $714,500 in ‘one-time payments to employees’ that were not included in the original budget. While supporting staff is important, this large, unbudgeted expenditure raises questions about fiscal planning, especially when the district’s budget already projects a significant deficit.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Regarding Item 11.A, why were these $714,500 in payments not included in the original budget? The public deserves a full explanation for this large, unplanned expenditure before you vote.’
💰 Impact: $714,500 (Unbudgeted)
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