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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming MANSFIELD ISD agenda and found 10 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 10) |
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$21.2M Construction Contract on Consent Agenda
The board is set to approve a $21,270,929.00 Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract with Authers Building Group for transportation facility construction. This massive expenditure, funded by the 2024 Bond, is bundled into the consent agenda, preventing public discussion and a separate recorded vote.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘I demand Consent Item 14.11 be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Taxpayers deserve to see where each member stands on a $21.2 million contract.’
💰 Impact: $21.2M (No Separate Vote)
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| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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Report Reveals $159M in Unassigned Bond Funds
The Superintendent’s 2024 Bond Program Report reveals the district is sitting on $159.3 million in ‘Unassigned Funds.’ Taxpayers approved this debt for specific purposes, and the district has not presented a public plan for this massive surplus.
Response
DEMAND A PLAN: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding the $159M in unassigned funds in the Bond Report (Item 15.16), what is the plan for this money? Taxpayers expect surplus bond funds to be used to pay down debt early, not for a slush fund.’
💰 Impact: $159.3M Surplus
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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$4.46M Contract Hidden on Consent Agenda
A $4,460,228.00 contract for network cable and management services is buried in the consent agenda. This prevents individual review of a multi-million dollar purchase and allows it to pass without a separate, recorded vote.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Pull Consent Item 14.6 for separate discussion. Taxpayers deserve a roll-call vote on a $4.46 million contract.’
💰 Impact: $4.46M (No Separate Vote)
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Taxpayers Funding 13,754 Empty Seats
A district presentation reveals that enrollment has fallen by 1,477 students since 2023-24, and overall facility utilization has dropped to 71%. This means taxpayers are funding nearly 14,000 empty seats and maintaining underutilized buildings, a significant long-term financial drain.
Response
DEMAND A LONG-TERM PLAN: Email the Board of Trustees regarding Item 11.1. ‘What is the district’s long-term plan to address declining enrollment and the rising cost of maintaining thousands of empty seats? Taxpayers expect a strategy for fiscal sustainability.’
💰 Impact: Underutilized Facilities
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Proposing to Redraw Trustee Election Map
The board will hear a presentation on a draft map to change the trustee election system to five single-member districts and two at-large positions. Changes to election maps can be used to protect incumbents and dilute voter influence, and this process requires close public scrutiny.
Response
PAY ATTENTION: This is a presentation (Item 11.2), not a vote. Monitor this process closely to ensure the proposed maps are fair and compact, not drawn to protect incumbents or special interests.
💰 Impact: Potential Incumbent Entrenchment
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Adopts ‘Good Cause Exception’ for Armed Officers
Under Resolution #27-09, the board is claiming a ‘good cause exception’ to the new state law (HB 3) requiring an armed officer on every campus. While the district states its intent to comply, this resolution gives them a legal off-ramp, potentially weakening the security mandate voters expect.
Response
DEMAND CLARITY: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding Consent Item 14.12, under what specific circumstances would the district use the ‘good cause exception’ instead of its stated backup plans to ensure an armed officer is always present?’
💰 Impact: Weakened Security Mandate
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Undisclosed Appointments to Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
The board plans to approve members to the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) on the consent agenda, but the list of proposed members is not included in the public packet. The SHAC has significant influence over health curriculum, and parents have a right to know who is being appointed before the vote.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item 14.13 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see the names of the proposed SHAC members. Email the board to demand the list be made public and that the item be pulled from consent for discussion.
💰 Impact: Reduced Transparency
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Potential Conflict of Interest with Testing Giant Pearson
The board is approving a personal services contract for an employee, Robin Rickard, to work as an ‘Assessment writer’ for NCS Pearson, Inc. on STAAR test development. This creates a potential conflict of interest, as a district employee will be paid by the same corporation that develops the high-stakes tests for its students.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding Consent Item 14.9, what safeguards are in place to prevent a conflict of interest when a district employee is also working for the company that creates the STAAR test?’
💰 Impact: Potential Conflict of Interest
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| WATCH (LEVEL 3) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The board is voting on ‘Consideration and Approval of 2026-2027 T-TESS Appraisers’ as part of the consent agenda. The attachment that would provide details on who is being approved was not included in the public packet.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item 14.5 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether it contains hidden policy changes. This item should be pulled from consent for a public explanation.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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✅ Wins for Taxpayers
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 8) |
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District Earns ‘Superior’ Financial Rating
The district’s annual financial accountability report (FIRST) shows a rating of ‘Superior’ with a score of 96 out of 100. This indicates strong financial management and responsible use of taxpayer dollars for the 2024-2025 school year.
How to Lock It In
SECURE AND AMPLIFY: Attend the meeting or email the board to thank them for their fiscal stewardship reflected in Item 10. Ask them to make this level of performance the standard for all future budgets.
✅ Why It Matters: Fiscal Responsibility
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