Texas Public Policy Foundation Alert: UNITED ISD – Wednesday, September 16, 2026 [937979fa]

Texas Public Policy Foundation

Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming UNITED ISD agenda. There are 4 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.

🚨 Alert (LEVEL 10)

Final Vote on $211.5 Million Property Tax Levy

📅 Scheduled Action

The board will cast a final vote to approve the 2026 tax roll, which will levy $211,556,672 from property owners. The agenda documents do not state whether the underlying tax rate is above the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate, which would constitute a tax increase on the community.

Response

PACK THE ROOM: This is the final vote to lock in the 2026 property tax bill. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link): ‘Before voting on Item VI.A, please state for the record how the proposed tax rate compares to the no-new-revenue rate and the voter-approval rate.’

💰 Impact: $211.5M Tax Levy

⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7)

Adopting Policy Recommendations from Lobby Group

📅 Scheduled Action

The board is voting on a bundle of policy changes recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) following a ‘Policy Review Session.’ TASB is a taxpayer-funded lobby group that often advocates for policies at the state level that reduce local control, transparency, and parental rights.

Response

DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link). ‘Pull Consent Item V.I for a separate discussion and roll-call vote. The public deserves to know which trustees are outsourcing their policy-making to the TASB lobbying organization.’

💰 Impact: Reduced Local Control

🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5)

Requires Verification

New ‘AI Risk Officer’ Position Created

📅 Scheduled Action

The district is creating a new ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) Risk Officer’ position without providing a public job description or governing policies. This role could oversee student data collection and AI-driven surveillance systems without transparent parental oversight or consent.

Response

DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link): ‘Regarding Item VI.C, please publish the full job description and the policies that will govern the new AI Risk Officer role before the vote. How will you protect student data and ensure parental consent?’

💰 Impact: Potential Student Surveillance

ALERT (LEVEL 4)

Requires Verification

Vague Title — Manual Review Required

📅 Scheduled Action

This item approves budget amendments for the Child Nutrition department. The specific financial details are in an attachment that was referenced but not included in the provided text, making it impossible to verify the nature and fiscal impact of the changes.

Response

INVESTIGATE: Open the file ‘CN BA 9-2-26’ attached to Consent Item V.B in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether it contains hidden spending or fund transfers.

💰 Impact: Undisclosed

District Info

Address

201 LINDENWOOD DR, LAREDO, TX 78045

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