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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SAN FELIPE-DEL RIO CISD agenda and found 4 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Board to Adopt Policy Updates from Lobby Group TASB
The board is set for a final vote on policy updates provided by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). TASB is a taxpayer-funded lobbying group that often works against parent and taxpayer interests in Austin; their ‘canned’ policy recommendations should be scrutinized, not rubber-stamped.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link) before the meeting: ‘I request the TASB Localized Policy Manual Update 127-Part 1 be discussed individually, not passed in a bundle. Taxpayers deserve to know what changes are being made to district policy at the recommendation of an Austin lobby group.’
💰 Impact: Adopting Lobbyist-Authored Policy
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Hires Law Firm for Property Value Disputes
The district is hiring the law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson to handle ‘judicial appeals of property value study findings.’ This means the district is spending taxpayer money to legally challenge property appraisals, potentially working to keep property tax valuations high for homeowners and businesses.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link) and ask: ‘Regarding the contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, what is the district’s policy on challenging property value appraisals? Is this firm being paid to maximize tax collections at the expense of local property owners?’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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District Applying for Federal Grant with Unknown Strings
The district is applying for the ‘Title V, Part B Rural and Low-Income School Program’ federal grant. While federal money can seem helpful, it often comes with strings attached that can dictate curriculum, require data sharing, or create new programs that local taxpayers must fund forever after the grant money is gone.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link): ‘Before approving the Title V federal grant application, please provide the public with a summary of all conditions, mandates, and future financial obligations attached to this funding.’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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District Pays $21k for Teacher Data Platform
The district plans to pay SureScore, Inc. $21,488 for a ‘Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Data Platform.’ This is another layer of spending on outside consultants to manage a state program, raising questions about administrative overhead and whether these funds could be better used in the classroom.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link) and ask: ‘Regarding the $21,488 contract with SureScore, Inc., what specific function does this data platform serve that cannot be handled by existing district staff or TEA resources? How does this expense directly benefit students?’
💰 Impact: $21,488 Consultant Fee
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