1. SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS

2. TELECOM DISCOUNTS

Given the Legislature’s inability to finalize a new funding system and educational reforms for Texas schools, the issue of public education is very much an open question. While many reports have speculated that the Legislature will wait to see if the Texas Supreme Court provides any guidance in how the matter should be addressed, many scenarios are possible.

For libraries, one major policy decision is very much alive. The Governor issued an executive order earlier this week directing the Texas Education Agency to establish a procedure for requiring districts to allocate at least 65% of revenue to direct instructional costs, as defined by the National Center for Education Statistics. Such an action could make library services ineligible for the 65% of funding earmarked as “direct instructional.”

This issue proved extremely controversial during the Regular 79th Legislative Session and during both special sessions. Educator groups, including TLA, lobbied against creating an overly-limiting definition. The language was eventually broadened in the final Senate version to include school library programs. However, since the education reform bill did not make it through the House, no provision was instituted.

In response to the Governor’s executive order, the Texas Education Agency plans to create a task force to look at the issue of instructional costs and determine a workable definition. The task force, which is composed primarily of ISD superintendents, will begin meeting on September 7. For additional information on the task force, go to: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/press/65percentrelease.html.

The members of the task force include the following:

• Superintendent David Anthony, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District

• Executive Director John Bass, Region 16 Education Service Center, Amarillo

• Superintendent Carol Ann Bonds, Livingston ISD

• Superintendent Cathy Bryce, Highland Park ISD, Dallas

• Superintendent Bonny Cain, Pearland ISD

• Superintendent Pat Forgione, Austin ISD

• Superintendent Annette Griffin, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

• Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD

• Superintendent Robert Nix, Midland ISD

• Superintendent Patricia Pickles, Pflugerville ISD

• Superintendent Thomas Randall, Lamar Consolidated ISD

• Superintendent Abe Saavedra, Houston ISD

• Superintendent Jesus Sanchez, Eagle Pass ISD

• Superintendent Carrol Thomas, Beaumont ISD

• Executive Director James Vasquez, Region 19 Education Service Center
   (El Paso)