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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming GRANBURY ISD agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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District Spends $98k on SEL Program
A district report reveals a $97,995 payment to The Flippen Group for its ‘Capturing Kids’ Hearts’ program. This is a significant expenditure on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) consulting, diverting resources from core academic subjects like math and reading.
Response
PRIORITIZE ACADEMICS: Contact the Granbury ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for details). ‘Regarding the spending report in Item 10.e, the district should prioritize academic recovery over expensive SEL programs. Focus our tax dollars on the classroom.’
💰 Impact: $97,995
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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District Pays $91k for Student Data Platform
The district spent $91,223 on a subscription to Branching Minds, a platform used to ‘centralize student data, document interventions, [and] monitor progress,’ according to the District Improvement Plan. This system collects and tracks student academic and behavioral data, raising concerns about student privacy and data surveillance.
Response
PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY: Contact the Granbury ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for details). ‘Regarding the Branching Minds purchase in Item 10.e, what specific student data is being collected, who has access to it, and how can parents opt out? We need transparency on student data collection.’
💰 Impact: $91,223.50
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Board to Create Official Lobbying Committee
The board will vote to create a ‘Legislative Priorities Board Committee.’ This formalizes the use of district time and resources to lobby the Texas Legislature, often against taxpayer interests like property tax relief and school choice.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Granbury ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for details). ‘Vote NO on Item 12.f. The district’s mission is to educate children, not to spend our tax dollars lobbying politicians in Austin.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Proposal Limits Public Comment at Regular Meetings
A proposed change to board procedures would ban public comment on non-agenda topics at all regular meetings. While the proposal adds a quarterly special meeting for these topics, this change significantly reduces opportunities for taxpayers to raise new or urgent concerns with the full board in a timely manner.
Response
DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK: Contact the Granbury ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for details). ‘Regarding Item 12.g, do not eliminate non-agenda public comment from regular meetings. Forcing taxpayers to wait up to three months for a special meeting silences urgent community concerns.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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District Report Confirms Ties to Anti-Taxpayer Lobby
The annual report on trustee training (Item 10.f) includes a script provided by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). This confirms the district is using taxpayer money to partner with TASB, a group that actively lobbies in Austin against property tax relief, transparency, and parental rights.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Granbury ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for details). ‘Regarding Item 10.f, how much in taxpayer funds did GISD pay for TASB membership and services this year? Taxpayers should not be forced to fund groups that lobby against their interests.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Lobbying Dues
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✅ Wins for Taxpayers
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Win (LEVEL 6) |
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Board Proposes Easier Path for Agenda Items
A proposed change to board operating procedures would allow a single trustee to place an item on the agenda, down from the current requirement of two. This change would increase transparency by making it easier for minority voices on the board to ensure important topics are publicly discussed.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THIS WIN: Contact the Granbury ISD Board (see the Official Agenda link for details) to support the proposed change in Item 12.g. ‘This is a common-sense win for transparency and accountability. Please approve it.’
✅ Why It Matters: Increased Accountability
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