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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming MARBLE FALLS ISD agenda. There are 7 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 10) |
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District Proposes Property Tax Hike Above No-New-Revenue Rate
The board will vote on a 2026-2027 tax rate of $0.8805. While this is a slight decrease from last year’s rate, it is 1.21% higher than the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate of $0.8699, meaning it will increase the total amount of taxes collected from property owners due to rising appraisals. The district’s own ordinance admits ‘This tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate.’
Response
DEMAND A VOTE FOR THE NO-NEW-REVENUE RATE: Contact the Marble Falls ISD board (see official agenda for contact info). ‘Regarding Item 10.A, I urge you to adopt the no-new-revenue tax rate of $0.8699. Do not pass a tax hike on homeowners while claiming it’s a cut.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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District to Approve Student Surveillance Sensors via Consent Agenda
The final vote to purchase $56,829 of ‘Triton Ultra Detection Sensors’ is hidden on the consent agenda. These devices monitor for vape and THC, but also for ‘aggression, keywords, gunshot,’ raising serious student privacy and data collection concerns without a full public discussion.
Response
PULL THE ITEM, PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY: Contact the Marble Falls ISD board. ‘Pull Item 11.A.4 from the Consent Agenda. We need a full public discussion and a recorded vote before installing surveillance technology that monitors student ‘keywords’ and ‘aggression’ in our schools.’
💰 Impact: $56,829 (Student Surveillance)
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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District Eliminates Required Parent-Teacher Conferences
Under proposed policy EIA(LOCAL), the district is using its ‘District of Innovation’ status to exempt itself from state law requiring at least two in-person parent-teacher conferences per year. This change reduces a key opportunity for parental involvement and teacher accountability.
Response
PROTECT PARENTAL ACCESS: Contact the Marble Falls ISD board. ‘Regarding Item 10.B, vote NO on the proposed changes to policy EIA(LOCAL). Do not use ‘innovation’ status to remove state-mandated parent-teacher conferences.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Parental Access
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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District to Spend $77,500 in Grant Funds on Consultants
The board will consider spending the discretionary 30% of a federal LIFT grant on ‘additional services’ from EDpact L.L.C. This $77,500 contract is for vague ‘leadership coaching’ and ‘executive improvement check-ins,’ creating a dependency on consultants that local taxpayers may be asked to fund when the grant money runs out.
Response
REJECT CONSULTANT CREEP: Contact the Marble Falls ISD board. ‘Regarding Item 10.C, vote NO on the EDpact contract. Use discretionary grant funds for direct student instruction, not for vague administrative coaching that creates future unfunded liabilities.’
💰 Impact: $77,500 (Future Obligation)
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Board Hides $399,450 Stadium Purchase on Consent Agenda
A nearly $400,000 expenditure to replace stadium seating is bundled into the consent agenda. This governance maneuver prevents separate public discussion and a recorded vote on a major capital project, shielding trustees from accountability.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Marble Falls ISD board. ‘Pull Item 11.A.2 from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Taxpayers deserve to see where each member stands on a $400,000 expenditure.’
💰 Impact: $399,450 (No Separate Vote)
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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New Library Policy May Sideline Parent Concerns
Proposed policy EFB(LOCAL) creates a new process for reconsidering library materials. The policy states that books cannot be removed ‘solely because of the ideas expressed’ or the ‘personal background of the…author or…characters,’ language that could be used by committees to dismiss parental concerns about age-inappropriate content.
Response
DEMAND A PARENT-FOCUSED POLICY: Contact the Marble Falls ISD board. ‘Regarding Item 10.B, please amend policy EFB(LOCAL) to ensure the reconsideration process gives primary weight to parental input on what is age-appropriate for students.’
💰 Impact: Bypassing Parents
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The consent agenda includes an ‘Annual Renewal of Phone System Licensing’ but the provided agenda packet does not contain the contract or cost details. This item requires manual review of the official agenda documents to ensure it does not contain excessive costs or unfavorable terms.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 11.A.3 attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm the cost and terms of the phone system license renewal.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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