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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD agenda. There are 10 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 10) |
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Partnering for On-Campus Mental Health Services
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The district is approving a partnership with Hill Country Mental Health to provide mental health and substance use services directly to students on campus. The district will provide “confidential space” for these outside providers. This model can lead to students receiving services without direct parental presence or consent for every interaction, creating a significant gap in parental oversight.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: Sign up for public comment on Item 6.S. Email the Board: ‘Parents must be the primary decision-makers for their children’s mental health. Do not approve third-party agreements that create on-campus clinics without explicit, opt-in parental consent for all services.’
💰 Impact: Erosion of Parental Oversight
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| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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Secret Pay Plan for School Employees
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The board is voting on an “Amended Compensation Plan,” but the document is marked “PRIVATE” and hidden from the public. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent on employee salaries and benefits. This secrecy makes it impossible to scrutinize potential raises or new positions funded by property taxes.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Item 6.K, the Compensation Plan, must be made public before any vote. Public salaries are not a state secret. Pull this from the consent agenda and release the document now.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Paying $26,899 to a Political Lobby Group
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The board is set to approve a $26,899 payment to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for unemployment insurance. While the service is necessary, TASB is one of the most powerful lobby groups in Austin, often working against property tax relief, parental rights, and school choice. These payments effectively use local tax dollars to fund a political agenda in the state legislature.
Response
DEMAND AN ALTERNATIVE: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Why are we sending $26,899 to a political lobby group like TASB? Please direct staff to find an insurance provider that doesn’t use our premiums to lobby against taxpayers and parents.’
💰 Impact: $26,899 to TASB
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Using District Time to Play Politics with Lobby Group
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
Meeting minutes from August 17 show the board used an official meeting to endorse a candidate for the TASB Board of Directors. This is an inappropriate use of public resources. District time and taxpayer-funded meetings should be focused on educating children, not engaging in the internal politics of an Austin lobby organization.
Response
DEMAND FOCUS ON STUDENTS: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘The board’s job is to govern the district, not play politics with TASB. Please commit to ending the practice of using official meetings to endorse candidates for outside organizations.’
💰 Impact: Misuse of Public Resources
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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District Plan Focuses on ‘Social and Emotional Wellness’
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The 2026-2027 District Improvement Plan centers a key goal on “Social Well-being, Mental, and Health Wellness” using a “Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).” These programs often serve as a vehicle for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum and can lead to data-mining students’ attitudes, values, and beliefs, shifting the school’s focus from academics to psychological programming.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board of Trustees regarding Item 6.M. ‘What specific curriculum and student surveys are associated with the “Social Well-being” and MTSS objectives? Parents have a right to review all materials and opt their children out of any psychological assessments.’
💰 Impact: Shift from Academics to Psychological Programming
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Approving a $218,900 Contract for One Student
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The board is approving a contract for $218,900 with a private facility, Texas Hill Country School, to provide educational services for a single student for one year. While federal law may require such services for students with severe needs, this high cost highlights the immense financial burden of out-of-district placements on local taxpayers.
Response
DEMAND FISCAL OVERSIGHT: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘The $218,900 cost for one student in Item 6.U is staggering. What is the district’s long-term strategy to serve high-needs students in a more cost-effective manner to protect local taxpayers?’
💰 Impact: $218,900
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Hiding the Cost of Legal Services
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The board is approving a contract with the law firm Walsh Gallegos, but the agenda provides no information on the cost, scope, or terms of the agreement. The only attachment is a cover sheet. Taxpayers deserve to know how much is being spent on legal fees. This item should be pulled from the consent agenda until the full contract and its cost are made public.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Pull Item 6.F from the consent agenda. The public deserves to see the full contract and know the cost of this legal services agreement before it is approved.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Legal Fees
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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‘Restorative Practices’ Added to Student Discipline Code
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The new Student Code of Conduct includes “restorative practices” as a discipline management technique. This approach often deemphasizes consequences for misbehavior in favor of discussion-based interventions, which can weaken classroom discipline and compromise school safety.
Response
ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS: Email the Board of Trustees about Item 6.N. ‘How will the district ensure that “restorative practices” do not replace meaningful consequences for students who disrupt the classroom or harm others? Will parents be notified when this technique is used?’
💰 Impact: Potential for Weaker Classroom Discipline
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Approving New ‘Safety Specialist’ Job with No Details
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The board is being asked to approve hiring a “Safety Specialist” without a public job description, salary, or explanation of duties. This lack of transparency prevents taxpayers from understanding the need for this new position or its impact on the budget.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board of Trustees regarding Item 6.J. ‘Please provide the job description and salary range for the Safety Specialist position before the vote. Taxpayers should not be asked to approve a blank check for new hires.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Salary and Benefits
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Win (LEVEL 0) |
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District Implements State Ban on DEI
| 📅 Vote Scheduled Aug 24, 2026 |
The board is formally certifying its compliance with Senate Bill 12, the state law that prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and activities in public schools. The district has updated its policies to prohibit DEI duties and discipline employees who violate the ban. This is a positive step, ensuring that district resources are focused on academics rather than divisive political agendas.
How to Secure It
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WIN: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Thank you for complying with state law and certifying the prohibition of DEI activities in our schools. Please continue to ensure our district remains focused on academic excellence.’
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