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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming REG 20 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER agenda and found 7 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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Vote on Undisclosed Changes to Public Comment Rules
The board is scheduled to vote on changes to local policy, including BED, which governs public participation at board meetings. The actual text of the proposed changes has not been made easily accessible, preventing the public from knowing if their right to speak is being limited before the vote happens.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: Show up and demand the board postpone the vote on Item 13. Email the Board: ‘Do not vote on policy BED (Public Participation) until the full text of the changes is published and the public has time to review it. We will not accept a vote on secret rules.’
💰 Impact: Silencing Taxpayers
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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New Hire for Federal ‘Project AWARE’ Program
The board is confirming the hiring of a new consultant for ‘Project AWARE.’ This is a federal grant program that often requires districts to implement controversial mental health screenings, social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, and extensive student data collection, bypassing parental authority.
Response
DEMAND ANSWERS: Contact the Board regarding the new hire in Item 11: ‘What are the specific duties of the Project AWARE consultant, and what data on students will be collected and shared with the federal government under this program? Parents have a right to know.’
💰 Impact: Student Data Mining
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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$76,742 Payment to Lobbying Group’s Insurance Arm
An expenditure report reveals a $76,742 payment to the TASB Risk Management Fund. While for insurance, this payment financially supports the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), an organization that actively lobbies the state legislature against property tax relief, parental rights, and other taxpayer-friendly reforms.
Response
DEMAND AN ALTERNATIVE: Contact the Board regarding the payment in Item 16.C: ‘Why are we sending taxpayer money to an arm of TASB, a political lobby? The board should direct staff to find insurance providers that do not use our money to lobby against us.’
💰 Impact: $76,742 to Anti-Taxpayer Lobby
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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$120,000 Contract for School Finance Lobbying Firm
The board is set to approve a $120,000 consulting contract with MoakCasey, LLC. This firm is known for its school finance consulting and lobbying activities at the Texas Legislature, meaning taxpayer dollars could be used to lobby for policies that increase the overall tax burden.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board: ‘Pull Item 8, the MoakCasey contract, for a separate discussion and vote. Taxpayers should not be funding lobbyists to influence the legislature. What specific services will be provided for $120,000?’
💰 Impact: $120,000 for Lobbying
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Major Policy Revisions on Public Access and AI
The board is reviewing major legal policy updates, including changes to public participation at meetings (BED), access to public information (EAB, EABB), and a new policy on Artificial Intelligence (ECB). Without the text of these policies, it’s impossible to know if they restrict citizen access, obstruct public records requests, or introduce new student surveillance tools.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attachments for Item 12 in the Official Agenda (linked above). Email the Board to demand that the full text of revised policies BED, EAB, EABB, and ECB be posted publicly and explained before any future vote.
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Federal Grant Funds Mental Health Professionals
The board is approving an agreement with Abilene Christian University funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s ‘Mental Health Service Professionals’ grant. These federal programs often come with strings attached, promoting specific social-emotional learning (SEL) frameworks and creating permanent positions that local taxpayers must fund after the grant expires.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board regarding Item 10: ‘What curriculum, data collection, and parental consent requirements are mandated by the federal Mental Health Service Professionals grant? Taxpayers must know the long-term costs and policy commitments before this is approved.’
💰 Impact: Federal Ideological Strings
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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$2.3M in New Grants, Including Federal Funds
The board is being asked to approve adding over $2.3 million in new grant funding. This includes $1.4 million in federal IDEA-B funds, which often come with federal mandates and create long-term obligations that local taxpayers must fund after the grant money is gone.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board before the meeting: ‘Regarding Item 7, what are the specific requirements and long-term staffing obligations attached to the $1.4 million in federal IDEA-B funds? Will local taxpayers be on the hook when this money runs out?’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
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