Spring Branch is hosting a Legislative Town Hall meeting on February 24, 2011, beginning at 6:00p in the Board Room at the Administration Building - 955 Campbell 77024. Given the current anticipated budgetary issues, this meeting will be a great opportunity to share information, ask questions, and learn how best to work with our legislators to protect the education of students in Spring Branch.
Click here to RSVP.
Here is additional information from the SBISD website:
Don't miss our Legislative Town Hall on Feb. 24.
SBISD will host a special Legislative Town Hall meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24. Please make sure to join us.
Legislative 101 Training Session Video Recap
On Jan. 27, many SBISD parents and community members attended a Legislative 101 Training and Information Session held at the HISD Administration Building. SBISD was joined by HISD and both Spring and Cypress-Fairbanks ISDs for this important meeting. At the meeting, school districts and local residents focused on they can work together on student-related issues.
David Thompson, a partner in the law firm of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP and an expert in public school financing, told the group that Texas faces its worst budget crisis since World War II. He said that the impact on schools would be lessened if Legislators used a so-called Rainy Day Fund, a $9 billion emergency savings account, among other strategies and tactics.
- Visit HISD's site for more information: Legislative 101 Training and Information Session
SBISD Legislative Priorities and Resources
SBISD has posted to its website a special document, titled Legislative Priorities for the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature. At the site link, you will find contacts for local Legislators and a district map detailing State House and Senate districts. Read more >>
| Why should you care about the State Legislature and how its leadership impacts SBISD students?
In 2005, state property taxpayers were told by the Texas Legislature that their property taxes would be lowered and that the funding loss to our schools would be made up through other taxes or revenue sources, including a new business or "margins" tax. That promise to make up for the funding loss has not been kept. The Texas Legislature must honor its commitment and restore this funding. Reductions proposed in Austin would equate to 15% of SBISD's current funding. This represents a reduction of about $800 per student from the current $5,700 per student allotment, or $20,000 per classroom. Pictured in another way, this is the equivalent of one full class period being eliminated from every student's school day. In 2006, the state froze school district revenue at the 2006 level. Since that time, in order to fund basic inflationary cost increases, including cost-of-living increases for our teachers, SBISD has made difficult non-campus reductions and used its savings to limit the direct effect on our classrooms. In fact, the current 2010-11 SBISD budget reflects reductions of more than $8 million to make ends meet. Unless the Legislature restores school funding, SBISD will no longer be able to keep the impact of yearly budget reductions away from its classrooms. |
| Our Priorities:
Spring Branch ISD students will graduate from high school on time and go on to successfully complete a 2-year technical degree, or a 2-year associate's degree, or a 4-year bachelor's degree.
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Downloads:
- Legislative Priorities for the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature (pdf)
- Who Represents Me?
- Helpful Links
- SBISD Legislative Website
As the Texas Legislature continues to meet during the months ahead, reduced budgets and associated reductions will be more clearly defined. SBISD, in the meantime, will continue to communicate with Legislators and our community about what these cuts will mean to our students, our employees and the local community.
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