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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming MISSION CISD agenda. There are 10 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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District Proposes Property Tax Rate Increase
The board is considering a total property tax rate of $1.1130 per $100 valuation, which is higher than the “no-new-revenue” rate of $1.0977. This means the district will collect more property tax revenue than last year from the same properties, resulting in a tax increase for homeowners.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: A public hearing is scheduled for September 16. Show up to oppose the proposed tax rate of $1.1130. Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Adopt the no-new-revenue tax rate of $1.0977. A vote for anything higher is a vote to raise our property taxes.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Pay $116,500 to TASB Lobbying Group
The board is set to approve a $116,500 payment to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for its unemployment compensation program. TASB is a registered lobby firm that actively works in Austin, often against the interests of taxpayers and parents.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 7.B.6.(e), I demand this payment to the TASB lobbying group be pulled for a separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Our tax dollars should not fund organizations that lobby against our interests.’
💰 Impact: $116,500 to Lobby Group
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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District Proposes Doubling No-Bid Spending Limit
The board is considering a policy change to increase the threshold for contracts requiring competitive bidding from $50,000 to $100,000. This would allow the administration to approve larger purchases with less public scrutiny and competition, reducing transparency in how taxpayer money is spent.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 6.A.6, I oppose doubling the no-bid spending limit to $100,000. This reduces transparency and competition. I demand this item be discussed publicly and decided with a roll-call vote.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Spending Transparency
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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District Seeks Waiver for Larger Class Sizes
The district is asking the state for permission to exceed the legal 22-student limit in Pre-K through 4th-grade classrooms. While the district cites “savings to the local budget,” this means more crowded classrooms for young students and increased workload for teachers.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 6.A.5, I oppose waiving the 22:1 class size limit. What is the exact number of classrooms and students affected, and what is the “substantial” savings you expect from crowding our kids’ classrooms?’
💰 Impact: More Crowded Classrooms
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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District to Spend $145k on Student Web Monitoring Software
The district is renewing its contract for Lightspeed web filtering software for $144,917. This software not only blocks websites but also includes “Lightspeed Alert,” which actively monitors student activity for signs of self-harm, cyberbullying, or violence, raising significant student privacy concerns.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 7.B.6.(d), what are the district’s policies for parental notification when Lightspeed Alert flags a student? Parents have a right to know how their children’s online activity is being monitored and what data is being collected.’
💰 Impact: Student Data Surveillance
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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Vague “District Sustainability Plan” on Agenda
The agenda includes a discussion of a “District Sustainability Plan” covering enrollment, facilities, and finances, but provides no details or documents for public review. These plans can often be precursors to major decisions like school closures, boundary changes, or large bond proposals.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 7.B.11, please publish the full “District Sustainability Plan” and any related documents online before the meeting so the public can review them.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Future Plans
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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District Seeks Waiver to Retain More Pre-K Funds
The district is asking the Texas Education Agency for a waiver to bypass a state law requiring 85% of Pre-K partnership funds to go to the private provider. This could mean less money for the private childcare centers that partner with the district, potentially impacting the quality of Pre-K services.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 4.B.2, why is the district seeking a waiver from the 85% pass-through requirement? Please provide a full accounting of the in-kind services and their value before asking for this exception.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Funding for Pre-K Partners
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague $50,000 “Data Analysis” Consultant Contract
The district plans to award a $50,000 contract to Rivera Educational Consulting for “Professional Development for Data Analysis and Progress Monitoring.” The description is filled with jargon about “meaningful opportunities” and “clear frameworks” but lacks specific, measurable deliverables for this significant taxpayer expense.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Regarding Item 7.B.6.(a), what are the specific, measurable deliverables for the $50,000 contract with Rivera Educational Consulting? Taxpayers deserve to know exactly what they are buying before this is approved.’
💰 Impact: $50,000
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The agenda lists a “Quarterly Investment Report” but the attached document could not be read. This report details how the district is managing its funds, and it should be reviewed to ensure investments are being handled responsibly.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm the district’s investment performance and ensure funds are being managed in a fiscally sound manner.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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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 to Pay Down $4.2 Million in Debt Early
The board is authorizing the use of approximately $4.2 million in available funds to pay off existing bonds ahead of schedule. This “defeasance” action is a fiscally responsible move that will reduce the district’s overall debt and save taxpayers money on future interest payments.
How to Secure It
SECURE THE WIN: Show up to thank the Board for taking this fiscally responsible step. Email the Board (contact info on the district website): ‘Thank you for approving Item 7.B.3 to pay down debt early. This is a smart use of taxpayer dollars that will save us money in the long run.’
✅ Why It Matters: Future Interest Savings
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