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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SANTA MARIA ISD agenda and found 5 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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District Confirms Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ties
Consent Agenda Item 5 confirms a board member attended a meeting of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), a lobby group that works against taxpayer interests in Austin. While accepting a student scholarship is positive, this item reveals the district’s ongoing relationship with an organization that lobbies for higher taxes and reduced local control. Taxpayers deserve to know how much of their money is being sent to TASB for dues and fees.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board and ask them to pull Consent Item 5 for a separate discussion. Ask ‘What is the total annual cost of Santa Maria ISD’s membership and fees paid to TASB? Taxpayers should not be forced to fund lobbyists who work against them.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Lobbying Fees
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Secretive Policy Change Hidden by Vague Title
Governance Item 2 proposes a ‘change to DEAB (Local)’ with zero explanation of what this policy covers or what the change is. This forces the public to be policy experts just to understand the agenda. Obscure codes like this are often used to pass substantive changes, potentially affecting staff compensation or benefits, without public scrutiny.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Board and ask: ‘Regarding Governance Item 2, what is policy DEAB (Local) and what is the specific change being proposed? The board must explain all policy changes in plain English before a vote.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Transparency
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Another Vague Consultant Deal on Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda Item 7 seeks approval for a ‘Service Agreement with Comprehensive Training Center.’ Hiding a vague consultant contract on the consent agenda, which is typically passed without discussion, is a tactic to avoid scrutiny. Taxpayers have no idea what service is being purchased or for how much.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board and demand that Consent Item 7 be pulled for a separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Ask ‘What are the specific services and total cost associated with the Comprehensive Training Center agreement?’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague Consultant Contract on Action Agenda
Item 3 under ‘Financial and Operational Efficiency’ asks the board to approve ‘Analysis and Trainings’ from a consultant, TargetED Solutions K12. The agenda provides no details on the scope of work, the cost to taxpayers, or what the ‘analysis’ and ‘trainings’ will entail. This is a blank check for a consultant with no public accountability.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board before the meeting. Ask ‘Regarding Action Item 3 for TargetED Solutions, please publish the full contract, including cost and deliverables, before any vote is taken. What problem is this consultant being paid to solve?’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Improvement Plans — Manual Review Required
Action Item 1 calls for approval of the Campus/District Improvement Plans, but the documents themselves are not included in the agenda text. These plans can be a vehicle for introducing controversial programs related to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The lack of attached documents prevents public review before the vote.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attachments for Action Item 1 in the Official Agenda (linked above). Review the Campus/District Improvement Plans for any mention of SEL, DEI, ‘equity audits,’ or partnerships with ideological consultants before the meeting.
💰 Impact: Hidden Policy Changes
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