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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming MISSION CISD agenda. There are 8 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 10) |
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Board to Vote on Property Tax Rate Hike
The Board will vote on a total property tax rate of $1.1130 per $100 valuation. This rate is higher than the No-New-Revenue rate of $1.0977, meaning it will increase the total amount of taxes collected from existing properties. The district is using a procedural maneuver, increasing its debt service tax rate far above the minimum required, to raise the voter-approval tax rate ceiling and avoid an election on the tax hike.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: This is a vote to raise your property taxes. Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘I urge you to adopt the No-New-Revenue tax rate of $1.0977. Do not use a debt service maneuver to raise taxes without voter approval on Item 8.F.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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$680,453 Phone Contract With Single Bidder on Consent Agenda
The district plans to approve a five-year, $680,453 phone system and licensing contract with Netsync. This major expenditure is on the consent agenda, meaning it will pass without discussion unless a trustee pulls it, and the district’s own documents state only one response was received, indicating a lack of competitive bidding.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Please pull Consent Item 9.I.3 for individual discussion. Why was a $680,000 contract awarded with only one bidder, and why is it on the consent agenda?’
💰 Impact: $680,453 (No Competition)
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| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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District to Pay $116,500 to TASB Lobbying Group
The district is set to approve a $116,500 payment to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for its ‘Unemployment Compensation Program.’ TASB is one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in Austin, frequently opposing property tax relief, transparency, and parental rights legislation.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Pull Consent Item 9.I.5 for a separate vote. Taxpayer dollars should not fund political lobbying. Please vote NO on renewing with TASB.’
💰 Impact: $116,500 to Lobbyists
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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District Proposes Doubling No-Bid Contract Limit
The Board will vote to amend its policy to increase the purchasing threshold requiring formal competitive bidding from $50,000 to $100,000. This change would double the amount of money that can be spent on a single purchase without going through the most transparent and competitive process, reducing oversight on six-figure deals.
Response
DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Vote NO on Item 8.C. Doubling the no-bid threshold to $100,000 reduces transparency and competition. Keep the limit at $50,000 to protect taxpayers.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Oversight
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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Vague $50,000 ‘Data Analysis’ Consultant Contract
Buried in the consent agenda is a $50,000 contract with Rivera Educational Consulting, LLC for ‘Professional Development for Data Analysis and Progress Monitoring.’ The description is filled with vague jargon about transforming ‘key accountability measures into meaningful opportunities,’ with no clear, measurable deliverables for taxpayers.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Regarding Consent Item 9.I.1, what are the specific, measurable deliverables for this $50,000 consultant contract? Please publish the full contract before the vote.’
💰 Impact: $50,000 (Consultant)
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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District Seeks Waiver for Larger Class Sizes
The administration is asking the Board to approve a waiver request to the Texas Education Agency to exceed the maximum class size of 22 students for grades Pre-K through 4. While this saves the district money by not hiring additional teachers, it directly impacts the learning environment for the youngest students.
Response
PARENTS, SPEAK UP: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Regarding Consent Item 9.F, I am concerned about increasing class sizes for young children. What is the district’s long-term plan to get back into compliance with the 22-to-1 ratio?’
💰 Impact: Increased Classroom Crowding
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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$145,000 Renewal for Student Internet Monitoring Software
The district plans to spend $144,917 to renew its subscription to Lightspeed Web Filter. The software monitors students’ web browsing to prevent self-harm and violence, but these surveillance tools can also raise significant concerns about student data privacy and the extent of monitoring on school-issued devices.
Response
ASK ABOUT PARENTAL CONTROLS: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Regarding Consent Item 9.I.4, what specific data is collected by Lightspeed, how is it stored, and what are the parental notification and opt-out policies?’
💰 Impact: Student Data Harvesting
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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District to Pay Down $5.1M in Debt Early
The Board will authorize using approximately $5.1 million in available funds to pay down a portion of its outstanding bonds early. This action, known as defeasance, will reduce the district’s total debt and save taxpayers money on future interest payments.
How to Secure It
SECURE THE WIN: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info) to thank them for taking this fiscally responsible step in Item 8.E. Ask them to make early debt payment a regular practice whenever funds are available.
✅ Why It Matters: Taxpayer Savings on Interest
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