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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming EDCOUCH-ELSA ISD agenda and found 9 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Black Out Public Information Act Access
The board is voting to designate 10 business days in the summer of 2027 during which the district will not be required to respond to Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) requests. This action deliberately obstructs transparency and makes it harder for the public to get timely information from their government.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘Vote NO on Item 10.c.1. The Texas Public Information Act is a cornerstone of government accountability. The district should be expanding access, not creating blackout periods to avoid transparency.’
💰 Impact: TPIA Obstruction
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Vote on Undisclosed Expenditures Over $25,000
The board plans to approve expenditures over $25,000 as part of a bundled consent agenda vote, with no details provided about what the money is for. This practice hides significant spending from public view and prevents accountability.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘I demand Consent Item 10.b.1 be pulled from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Taxpayers deserve to see a detailed list of all expenditures over $25,000 before they are approved.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Taxpayer-Funded Trip to Lobbyist Conference
The district is paying for the Assistant Superintendent to attend the TASA Midwinter Conference. TASA is a lobbying group that frequently opposes taxpayer-friendly reforms like property tax caps and school choice at the state legislature.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘Pull Item 10.f.2 from the consent agenda. Taxpayer money should not be used to send staff to conferences hosted by TASA, an organization that lobbies against taxpayer interests.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Lobbying Fees
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Taxpayer-Funded Trip to Lobbyist-Affiliated Conference
The district is paying for three staff members to attend the TASBO Engage Annual Conference. TASBO is an association that lobbies the legislature, often in alignment with other groups that oppose taxpayer protections.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘Pull Item 10.f.3 from the consent agenda. Taxpayer money should not be used to fund travel to conferences hosted by organizations that lobby against taxpayer interests.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Lobbying Fees
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Massive Tech Purchase with No Price Tag
The district plans to approve the purchase of 1,380 MacBook devices for students and staff under Item 10.b.4. The agenda provides no information on the total cost of this major technology expenditure, preventing taxpayers from assessing the financial impact.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘What is the total cost for the MacBook purchase in Item 10.b.4? This major expenditure should not be hidden on the consent agenda without a clear price tag for taxpayers.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Vote on Undisclosed Behavioral Health Contract
The board is approving an agreement with ‘Advance Forward Behavioral Health’ without making the contract public. These agreements can involve sensitive student data collection or introduce social-emotional learning (SEL) concepts without parental oversight.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 10.b.8 in the official agenda to see the terms of the ‘Advance Forward Behavioral Health’ agreement. Email the board at comments@eeisd.org to ask what student data will be shared and if parents have an opt-out.
💰 Impact: Potential Data Harvesting
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague Consultant Contract on Consent Agenda
The board is set to approve a contract with ‘TargetED Solutions K12, LLC’ without providing the contract or any details about the services to be rendered or the cost. This could be a benign contract for academic services or a costly agreement for ideological consulting.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 10.b.3 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether it contains hidden costs or ideological consulting. Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘Please publish the contract with TargetED Solutions K12, LLC, and explain the specific deliverables and total cost before any vote is taken.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Contract with ‘Communities In Schools’ on Consent Agenda
The board is approving a contract with ‘Communities In Schools of Hidalgo County,’ an organization that often implements social-emotional learning (SEL) and wraparound services. Without the contract details, taxpayers cannot know what services are being provided, what data is being collected, or the cost.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 10.b.9 in the official agenda. Email the board at comments@eeisd.org: ‘What are the specific terms of the Communities In Schools contract? Taxpayers need to see the details before approval.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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District Restricts Public Comment to Pre-Registration
The district requires citizens to email their name and topic by 5:30 PM on the day of the meeting to be allowed to speak. This rule prevents parents and taxpayers from addressing the board on issues that arise last-minute and can stifle public participation.
Response
Email the board via comments@eeisd.org: ‘Item 3’s pre-registration rule for public comment is a barrier to participation. Please allow citizens to sign up to speak upon arrival at the meeting to ensure the board hears from the community it serves.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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