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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming MANOR ISD agenda. There are 9 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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District Appointing Delegate to Lobbying Group
The board is appointing a delegate and an alternate to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Delegate Assembly. TASB is a taxpayer-funded lobbying organization that often works against the interests of parents and taxpayers at the Texas Legislature, opposing property tax relief and school choice.
Response
Contact the Manor ISD Board (see Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Item 12.3 sends our tax dollars to Austin to lobby against taxpayers. Please vote NO on sending a delegate to the TASB assembly and reconsider our district’s membership in this organization.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Budget Amendment Hikes Local Tax Revenue by $1.2M
Under the cover of a routine “Budget Amendment,” the district is increasing its projected local revenue for the General Fund by $1,199,904. This money comes directly from local property taxpayers due to rising appraisals, even if the tax rate itself doesn’t change. This is how tax bills grow without a clear vote on a “tax increase.”
Response
Demand the board pull Consent Item 11.13 for a separate vote. Contact the Manor ISD Board: ‘Please explain the $1.2 million increase in local revenue collection in Budget Amendment 1. Taxpayers deserve transparency about their rising tax burden.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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District Prepares for Future Bond Debt
The district is approving a pool of financial firms to serve as bond underwriters. The agenda explicitly states this is “in preparation for the upcoming bond election.” This is the first step toward putting a new, large debt package before voters, which will be paid for by future property taxes.
Response
Contact the Manor ISD Board regarding Item 11.12: ‘Before you hire underwriters for a new bond, taxpayers demand a transparent, public presentation of all proposed projects, their costs, and the total impact on our property tax bills.’
💰 Impact: Future Bond Debt
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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District to Spend $1.3M on Grant-Funded Consultants
The board is approving a $1,323,705 contract with the Region 13 Education Service Center, funded by the state’s LASO 4 LIFT grant. This money pays an outside entity for services like “curriculum implementation” and “instructional leadership,” creating a dependency on consultants for core district functions and accepting state-level strings on local education.
Response
Ask the board to pull Consent Item 11.11 for discussion. Contact the Manor ISD Board: ‘Is a $1.3 million contract with Region 13 the most effective use of these funds? What long-term obligations does this grant create for local taxpayers after the money is gone?’
💰 Impact: $1.3M in Grant Spending
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Board to Discuss Appointing, Not Electing, New Trustee
The board is reviewing options for filling a vacant trustee seat. One option is likely to be appointing a replacement, which would bypass the voters entirely and allow the current board to hand-pick a new member. This denies citizens their right to choose their own representatives.
Response
Contact the Manor ISD Board regarding Item 10.6: ‘The only democratic way to fill a vacant trustee seat is with a special election. Do not appoint a replacement; let the voters decide who represents them.’
💰 Impact: Bypassing Voters
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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District Approving $80,000 Contract with ImmSchools
The board is set to approve a contract for up to $80,000 with ImmSchools, an outside group, to provide services for “multilingual and immigrant families.” While sounding helpful, using federal funds for outside groups focused on specific populations can lead to mission drift and political advocacy instead of core academic instruction for all students.
Response
Ask the board to pull Consent Item 11.5 for discussion. Contact the Manor ISD Board: ‘Please provide the full contract with ImmSchools and confirm that these services are strictly academic and do not involve political advocacy or non-educational support.’
💰 Impact: $80,000 (Federal Funds)
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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District Adds New Staff, Increasing Long-Term Costs
The board is approving several new full-time positions, including aides, bus staff, and an office clerk. These positions will cost local taxpayers over $215,000 annually, plus long-term benefits. Each new hire permanently increases the size and cost of the district’s bureaucracy.
Response
Contact the Manor ISD Board regarding Consent Item 11.8: ‘Are these new positions absolutely necessary, or can their duties be absorbed by existing staff? Every new hire is a permanent cost to taxpayers.’
💰 Impact: $215,538+ Annually
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| ALERT (LEVEL 3) |
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School Board Election Cancelled Due to No Competition
The district is cancelling the November trustee election because all four candidates are running unopposed, saving an estimated $50,000. While the savings are noted, a lack of contested elections is a red flag for civic health and can lead to an entrenched board that is less accountable to voters.
Response
Note that the election for Places 1, 2, 3, and 4 is cancelled. This is a sign that more qualified parents and taxpayers need to step up and run for school board in the future to ensure the community has a choice.
💰 Impact: Reduced Voter Choice
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 8) |
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District Certifies Compliance with State DEI Ban
The board is voting to certify its compliance with Senate Bill 12, the state law prohibiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, staff, and practices in public schools. The provided documents confirm the district has updated its policies to align with the law, a positive step for focusing schools on academics instead of political agendas.
How to Secure It
Show up or email the Manor ISD Board to thank them for approving Item 12.2. This ensures our schools are focused on education, not divisive political theories, and sets a standard for accountability.
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