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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming DEVINE ISD agenda and found 5 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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District Seeks to Delay Public Records Requests
Under Item 9.B, the board will vote to designate ten ‘nonbusiness days’ for Public Information Act (PIA) requests in 2027. This is a new provision in state law that allows government bodies to slow down their response time to public records requests, making it harder for taxpayers to get information in a timely manner.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Regarding Item 9.B, the Texas Public Information Act is a cornerstone of accountability. Voting to designate ‘nonbusiness days’ intentionally slows down the public’s right to know. Vote NO on this measure.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Undisclosed Budget Amendment on Consent Agenda
Item 8.B on the consent agenda is a ‘Budget Amendment’ with no details or attached documents provided in the public packet. Placing an undescribed financial change on the consent agenda allows it to pass without discussion, potentially hiding significant shifts in spending from public view.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘I demand Consent Item 8.B, the Budget Amendment, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and a roll-call vote. The details of this amendment must be made public before any vote is taken.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Social-Emotional Programs in District Improvement Plans
Under Item 9.A, the board will approve District and Campus Improvement Plans that repeatedly call for expanding ‘social-emotional and mental health supports.’ While student well-being is important, this language is often a gateway for introducing ideological Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula, student surveys, and data collection that can occur without full parental transparency.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Regarding Item 9.A, what specific ‘social-emotional’ curricula, surveys, or consultants will be used? Parents have a right to know what is being taught and what data is being collected on their children before these plans are approved.’
💰 Impact: Mission Drift on Taxpayer Dime
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague ‘Turnaround Plan’ — Manual Review Required
Items 6 and 9.C concern a ‘Turnaround Plan’ for Devine Intermediate School, but the key documents explaining the plan were not included in the agenda packet. These plans for low-performing schools often involve hiring expensive outside consultants or accepting federal grants that come with long-term ideological strings and financial commitments for local taxpayers.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the files for Items 6 and 9.C in the Official Agenda (linked above). This ‘Turnaround Plan’ could authorize new spending or federal programs with hidden costs. The Board must disclose the full plan and its price tag before the vote.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Undisclosed ‘Retention Stipend’ Cost and Funding
Item 9.E asks the board to approve a ‘Retention Stipend’ for staff, but provides no information on the total cost, the source of the funds, or which employees are eligible. Approving this item is like signing a blank check, and if one-time federal funds are used, it could create a future budget shortfall that taxpayers will have to cover.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Before voting on Item 9.E, please state the total cost of the retention stipend, the source of the funds, and which employees are eligible. Taxpayers deserve these details before money is committed.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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