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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming PITTSBURG ISD agenda and found 4 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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Final Vote on Property Tax Levy
The board is scheduled to approve the final tax levy for the year under Item 9.7. The agenda does not state the proposed tax rate or how it compares to the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate, which is the rate that would raise the same amount of money as the previous year.
Response
DEMAND THE RATE: Contact the district office immediately: ‘Before voting on Item 9.7, please state publicly what the proposed tax rate is and how it compares to the no-new-revenue rate. Taxpayers deserve to know if you are voting for a tax increase.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Seeks Exemptions from State Law
The board will vote on amending its ‘District of Innovation’ plan, which allows the district to bypass certain state education laws. The specific exemptions being sought are not disclosed in the agenda, preventing public review before the vote.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the district office: ‘The proposed District of Innovation amendments in Item 9.6 must be published online for public review before any vote is taken. What specific state laws is the district seeking to be exempt from?’
💰 Impact: Reduced Accountability
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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New Communications Director Position Proposed
The board will vote on creating and hiring a new Director of Communications. This adds a new administrative position and salary to the budget, diverting funds that could otherwise be used for teachers or in the classroom.
Response
QUESTION THE NEED: Contact the Board of Trustees: ‘Regarding Item 9.10, how does adding a new communications director position directly benefit student achievement? Please justify this new administrative cost before taking funds away from the classroom.’
💰 Impact: Administrative Bloat
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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‘Whole Child’ Group Presents to Board
The board will hear a presentation from Communities in Schools (CIS), an outside organization that places social workers and counselors in schools. While aiming to help students, these programs can introduce social-emotional learning (SEL) and other services that may operate outside of direct parental oversight.
Response
ASK QUESTIONS: Contact the Board of Trustees before the meeting: ‘Regarding Item 6.4, will any future contract with Communities in Schools ensure full parental notification and consent for all services provided to students?’
💰 Impact: Bypassing Parents
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