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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SAN FELIPE-DEL RIO CISD agenda and found 5 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Rubber-Stamping Policy from Austin Lobby Group
The board is scheduled for a First and Second Reading of policy updates provided by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). TASB is a taxpayer-funded lobby group that often opposes parental rights and fiscal transparency; adopting their boilerplate policies without local scrutiny can introduce unwanted changes.
Response
Email the Board: ‘Regarding the TASB Policy Manual Updates 127-Part 1 and 127-Part 2, please postpone the vote. The board should review these policies line-by-line in public session, not rubber-stamp a package from an Austin lobby group.’
💰 Impact: Lobbyist-Crafted Policies
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Hires Law Firm to Appeal Property Values
The district is hiring Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP to handle ‘judicial appeals of property value study findings.’ Districts sometimes do this to challenge the state’s valuation of local property, which can make the district appear ‘poorer’ and draw more state aid, shifting the burden to other taxpayers across Texas.
Response
Email the Board before the meeting: ‘Regarding the contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, what is the specific goal of appealing the property value study? Is the district spending local tax dollars to increase its state funding at the expense of other Texas taxpayers?’
💰 Impact: Shifting Tax Burden
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Seeks to Exceed State Class Size Limits
The administration is asking the board to approve a request to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for a ‘Maximum Class Size Waiver.’ This means the district wants permission to put more students in a classroom than state law allows, which can impact the quality of education.
Response
Email the Board: ‘Regarding the request for a Maximum Class Size Waiver, why is this necessary? Please explain to parents the reason for the waiver and which specific campuses and grade levels will be affected before you vote.’
💰 Impact: Overcrowded Classrooms
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Undisclosed Appointments to Health Advisory Council
The board is approving members for the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) for a two-year term. SHACs have significant influence over health curriculum, but the agenda does not list who these new members are, preventing public review before the vote.
Response
Email the Board: ‘Regarding the SHAC appointments, please release the names of the proposed members to the public before the vote. Parents have a right to know who is advising the district on their children’s health curriculum.’
💰 Impact: Lack of Transparency
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Seeking Federal Funds with Unknown Strings Attached
The district is applying for the ‘Title V, Part B Rural and Low-Income School Program’ federal grant. While the funding may be needed, federal grants often come with long-term mandates for data collection or hiring that local taxpayers must fund after the grant money is gone.
Response
Email the Board: ‘Before approving the Title V federal grant application, please provide a summary of all attached conditions, including data sharing requirements and any new positions that the district would be required to fund permanently.’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
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