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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS – WEST TEXAS agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Massive, Undefined Charter School Expansion Proposed
The board is voting on a resolution to seek state approval for a massive expansion, including ‘additional campuses, additional sites, and increase maximum enrollment’ across six of its charter regions. The agenda provides no specifics on the number of new schools, the size of the enrollment increase, or the long-term financial obligations this expansion will create.
Response
DEMAND A DETAILED PLAN: Contact the Board and ask that they table Item XI until a public presentation is made detailing the scope, cost, and educational justification for this multi-region expansion. Taxpayers deserve to see the numbers before the district commits to massive growth.
💰 Impact: Future Taxpayer Obligations
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Virtual School Plan Hidden on Consent Agenda
The board plans to approve a resolution to apply for a new statewide virtual school under the ‘Consent Agenda,’ which bundles items for a single vote with no discussion. This prevents public debate and scrutiny on a major policy shift that has significant implications for curriculum, accountability, and funding.
Response
DEMAND A SEPARATE VOTE: Contact the Board and insist that Item IV.D be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a full discussion and a separate, recorded vote. A decision this significant should not be hidden from public view.
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Scrutiny
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Blank Check for School Construction Contract
The board is set to delegate full authority to the CEO to ‘negotiate, finalize, and execute’ a major construction contract for a new gym and storm shelter. This process removes the final, negotiated contract from board oversight and public review, creating a risk of cost overruns or unfavorable terms for the district.
Response
DEMAND FINAL APPROVAL: Contact the Board and ask them to amend Item X. The board should approve the *final* negotiated contract in an open meeting, not give the CEO a blank check to sign away taxpayer dollars.
💰 Impact: Potential Cost Overruns
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Undisclosed Mid-Year Budget Changes
The board is scheduled to vote on first-quarter budget amendments without providing any public documents detailing what is being changed. This lack of transparency makes it impossible for taxpayers to see if funds are being shifted to new programs, consultants, or other non-essential spending after the annual budget was already approved.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board and ask for the proposed budget amendments under Item VI.A to be published online immediately. Taxpayers have a right to see how their money is being reallocated before a vote is taken.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Approval of Undisclosed ‘Targeted Improvement Plans’
The board will vote to approve ‘Targeted Improvement Plans’ for two schools, including Harmony Science Academy–Lubbock, as required for underperforming campuses. However, the actual text of these plans has not been made public, preventing parental review of potential new curricula, consultant contracts, or ideological initiatives like SEL being implemented as ‘solutions’.
Response
POST THE PLAN: Contact the Board and insist that the full text of the ‘Targeted Improvement Plans’ under Item IX be made public before the vote. Parents have a right to review the specific remedies being proposed for their children’s schools.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Mandates
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Vague ‘Improvement Plans’ for Seven Campuses Lack Detail
The board is set to approve ‘Local Improvement Plans’ for seven different campuses with no public details about what these plans contain. These vague plans could be a vehicle to introduce new spending, controversial curricula, or policies like Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) without proper parental review or public input.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Board and request that the ‘Local Improvement Plans’ for Item VII be posted publicly before the vote. Parents and taxpayers deserve to know what changes are being proposed for their schools.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Policy Changes
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