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Alliance Independent School District, 3901 Summerfields Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX (2026)

09/04/2026

One thing that gets lost in conversations about school bonds: when voters approve a bond proposition, they are authorizing the district to issue debt up to that amount for the purposes described in the proposition. That is not the same thing as handing Keller ISD a check for the entire amount the morning after Election Day.

Projects still have to be designed. Costs have to be refined. Contracts have to be bid and approved. Construction has to be managed. And the Board of Trustees still has a responsibility to scrutinize what we are actually getting for the money.

Take Proposition D.

Voters are being asked to authorize about $11 million for renovations and improvements to the Keller ISD Athletics Complex and Keller High School Field House site.

If voters approve it, that doesn't mean the district should say, “Great, we have $11 million. Let's spend $11 million.”

If the necessary work can be completed for less, we should spend less. The same principle should apply across the bond.

Vote on whether the projects are necessary and whether you're comfortable authorizing the funding. Then expect the Board and administration to competitively bid the work, control costs, provide oversight and be transparent with taxpayers about what is actually being spent.

Bond approval is authorization, not an excuse to stop asking questions. We can invest in our schools and demand fiscal responsibility at the same time.

What kind of district do we want to be?

09/03/2026

Why do Texas school districts need bonds?

Because the cost of running schools keeps going up, while state funding hasn’t kept pace. Since 2019, inflation has increased roughly 26%, while Texas’ Basic Allotment has gone from $6,160 to just $6,215, less than a 1% increase.

That squeeze frankly, sucks. Districts still have to pay teachers, keep buses running, cool buildings, fix plumbing, maintain roofs and replace aging equipment.

That’s where bonds come in. Bond money can’t pay teacher salaries. But bonds can pay for major repairs, HVAC, roofs, renovations, technology and other long-term needs. When those expenses are covered through bonds, districts don’t have to pull as much money from the operating budget, the same budget that pays employees.

Bonds aren't free money, we know that, and you have to decide for yourself on bonds and what you want to vote for but when state funding doesn’t keep up with the cost of operating schools, local communities are increasingly being asked to fill the gap.

09/02/2026

One of the arguments we hear whenever Keller ISD talks about money is: “Stop spending so much on administration.”

That's worth examining. So let's look at the actual TEA numbers. The latest numbers we could find were the 2024-25 TEA staffing data, and it shows central administration makes up 1.7% of Keller ISD's total staff.

That's higher than the Texas average of 1.2%. And it's higher than several neighboring districts:

Keller ISD: 1.7%
Texas: 1.2%
Azle ISD: 1.1%
Northwest ISD: 1.0%
Birdville ISD: 0.7%
Frisco ISD: 0.6%

So to be clear: Keller does have a higher percentage of employees classified as central administration than many surrounding districts.

That is absolutely something taxpayers and the Board should examine, but here's the part that gets left out of the “just cut administration” argument.

Keller's average central-administrator salary was $106,539, compared with a Texas average of $118,447. And 69.5% of Keller ISD staff are classified as instructional staff, compared with just 64.8% statewide.

In other words, Keller has more positions classified as central administration than many neighboring districts, but it also devotes a substantially larger share of its workforce to instruction, while paying its central administrators less than the state average.

Could Keller eliminate administrative positions and save money? Absolutely. Should we continually ask whether every central-office position is necessary? Absolutely. Should some people be paid more? Probably for the workload they take. Do people at the admin building do a lot of work that people don't realize? Yes? Can you run a district without admin? Not well.

So, we should also be realistic about the scale of the problem.

There isn't some enormous pile of administrative money sitting at Central Office that, if eliminated, suddenly fixes teacher pay, HVAC, maintenance, special education, transportation and every other financial challenge facing Keller ISD.

“Cut administration” can be part of a budget conversation. It isn't a budget plan. The bigger conversation is still the same:

What kind of district do we want to be, and what will it actually cost to be that district?

09/01/2026

When we talk about the Keller ISD bond, most of the conversation naturally focuses on what the bond would actually fix: HVAC systems, roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, aging facilities, technology, turf, and other long-term needs. But there is another part of this conversation that we don't think we can ignore: our people.

The simple fact is that Keller ISD has slipped significantly when it comes to being competitive on teacher pay. In 2019, Keller was much more competitive with surrounding districts. Today, Keller ranks 41st out of 92 districts in the region and 58th out of 75 comparable peer districts statewide in teacher pay.

For some perspective, Birdville ISD starts new teachers at $66,000, while Keller ISD starts them at $61,408. That's almost a $4,600 difference before a new teacher ever walks into a classroom. When surrounding districts can offer thousands more, it becomes harder to attract great teachers and, perhaps even more importantly, harder to retain the great teachers we already have.

There is another issue coming down the road. House Bill 2 provided additional state money for teacher raises, including increases of up to $5,000 for eligible teachers. That's great, but what happens a year from now if the state doesn't continue that funding? Districts could be left holding the bag, forced to find that money locally, reduce salaries, cut programs, eliminate positions, or make reductions somewhere else.

And it isn't just about teachers. The state did not include many of the people who make our schools work every day in the main teacher retention allotment, including librarians, counselors, nurses, and paraprofessionals. They didn't get that raise that the teachers received. If Keller wants to remain competitive for those employees too, much of that responsibility falls back on the district and its local budget.

So what does any of this have to do with a bond? M&O. Keller ISD's Maintenance & Operations budget pays for the everyday operation of the district, including employee salaries. When aging HVAC units fail, roofs leak, plumbing breaks, and major repairs can't wait, those needs put additional pressure on the same operating budget we rely on to pay and support our staff.

To be clear, bond dollars cannot simply be used to give teachers raises. But bonds can pay for eligible long term capital needs instead of forcing the district to address as many of those expenses through its operating resources. That gives Keller ISD more flexibility with its M&O dollars and a better opportunity to invest those dollars in attracting and retaining good employees.

So yes, the bond is about air conditioners, roofs, plumbing, technology, turf, and buildings. But the bigger financial picture is also about creating room in the district's budget to remain competitive for the people inside those buildings. We need facilities that work, but we also need great teachers, counselors, librarians, paraprofessionals, and staff who want to come to Keller ISD and, more importantly, want to stay here.

Those aren't separate conversations. They're connected.

We just have to decide: What kind of district do we want to be?

08/28/2026

KELLER ISD BOARD MEETING RECAP: HVAC, Accountability, Virtual Learning, Recapture, the Natatorium and a Lawsuit

Thursday night's Keller ISD Board meeting covered a LOT of ground, from the district's ongoing HVAC problems and some impressive academic gains to virtual learning, recapture, the Natatorium and whether Keller ISD should join a lawsuit against the state.

Here’s the rundown:

NORTH RIVERSIDE & OPENING UPDATES

The meeting opened with students from North Riverside Elementary leading the pledges, along with a presentation highlighting the academic growth happening on that campus.

Board President John Birt thanked district staff for getting schools back up and running after Wednesday's storm. He also congratulated the Timber Creek Band on being selected for the Rose Parade and encouraged the community to attend upcoming events to learn more about the November bond election.

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE

Superintendent Dr. Cory Wilson spoke about the damage across Keller ISD from Wednesday's pop-up storm and thanked maintenance crews and staff for working quickly to get campuses back up and running.

Then he turned things over to Keller ISD's Explainer-in-Chief, John Allison, for the HVAC update.

HVAC: 380 OPEN WORK ORDERS AND 180 SPOT COOLERS

Allison gave an update on the district's continuing HVAC battle. A run of 100-plus-degree days combined with aging equipment, including units more than 20 years old, has put tremendous strain on the system.

Keller ISD currently has about 380 HVAC work orders, down from more than 650 at one point.

Allison said the district's partnership with SSC has roughly doubled the number of HVAC technicians compared with previous years, but the number of HVAC problems continues to grow. Getting replacement parts has also become increasingly difficult, with longer lead times for some equipment.

In the meantime, the district is using 180 portable spot coolers across Keller ISD. Allison emphasized that these are a stopgap, not a permanent solution.

Those units can cost around $550 per week each, although the district receives discounted pricing for longer rentals. The units will continue moving between campuses as needed until temperatures finally begin to fall.

Last spring, the district put out an RFQ for spot coolers and was able to get better pricing and service.

Later in the meeting, the Board approved up to $100,000 for spot cooler and heat pump rentals, installation, removal and related services.

As Allison basically put it, this is the battle Keller ISD is fighting until cooler weather arrives.

30,000 DEVICES AND 13,000 USB-C CHARGERS

Allison also gave a technology update.

Technology refreshes are normally staggered between elementary, middle and high schools. This year, however, Keller ISD had roughly 30,000 student devices to refresh, not including staff devices.

The goal is to have student deployment completed by Labor Day. About 24,000 devices have already been deployed since the first day of school.

There have been some bumps along the way, including the ClassLink ransomware attack, repair-part delays, more damaged devices than anticipated and the normal wear and tear on charging cables.

That led to another interesting purchase: 13,000 USB-C chargers.

Microsoft now allows the laptops to use USB-C charging, which is significantly cheaper. Allison said the price dropped from around $35 per charger to $13.55.

The purchase was approved 5-0.

NATATORIUM UPDATE

Phase One repairs continue at the Keller ISD Natatorium.

Leak repairs are complete, and two large holes were cut into the pool deck to reach the problem areas. Contractors are expected to pour new concrete Friday and allow it to cure over the weekend.

Filter demolition begins next week, followed by installation of the new filtration system and work on the new door structure.

The district is still hoping to reopen the Natatorium during the first week of October, although Allison cautioned that additional problems could still be discovered. One concern is whether sand from the failed filters damaged the pumps.

Phase Two will look at the longer-term future of the facility, including pumps, controls and other systems necessary to bring the Natatorium up to current standards and hopefully extend its useful life another 20 years.

The district has an RFQ out for that work, with walkthroughs planned for next week and bids due by September 10. The goal is to have recommendations ready for the September Board meeting.

Just a reminder, if the Bond passes for this, these repairs can come out of the bond vs the general fund.

KELLER ISD'S FINANCIAL RATING IMPROVES

Cory Wilson reported some good financial news.

Keller ISD's financial accountability score improved from a 70, or C rating, to an 82, or B rating.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Stuart Rennie spoke about district finances and took direct aim at several arguments Trustee Chris Coker has made. Rennie argued that the previous Board's failure to bring a bond before voters years earlier contributed to today's higher repair costs. He also criticized Coker for previously resigning, retracting that resignation, running again and now opposing the current bond proposal.

Jason Cory spoke about his son, a LIFE 2 student, and raised concerns about how Special Education staffing changes were handled and communicated to parents.

Barbara Brewer addressed classroom temperatures and the district's air-conditioning problems. She urged the Board to approve additional cooling equipment while also asking the obvious question: How did things get this bad?

ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY: SOME BIG GAINS

Jennifer Price presented Keller ISD's state accountability results, and there was some genuinely impressive news.

North Riverside Elementary jumped from a D rating to an A, something Keller ISD officials said was a district first.

Caprock Elementary moved from a C to an A.

There was significant improvement across the district overall.

Keller ISD does still have two campuses with D ratings, Heritage and Friendship. Price said district staff are working directly alongside those campuses to address the issues and improve performance.

VIRTUAL/HYBRID HIGH SCHOOL IS COMING

The Board also got a much clearer picture of Keller ISD's proposed Virtual Learning Program, made possible by SB 569.

The idea isn't necessarily to create an entirely separate online high school. Instead, Keller ISD is looking at how virtual and hybrid courses could give high school students more flexibility while keeping them enrolled in the district.

That could be particularly useful for students juggling CTE programs, athletics, Fine Arts, advanced coursework or credit recovery, and it could provide another option for families who might otherwise choose homeschooling or another virtual program.

SB 569 gives districts quite a bit of flexibility. Keller ISD can offer synchronous or asynchronous instruction primarily online, offer virtual courses for credit recovery, CTE and advanced coursework, and track attendance through things like LMS progress, teacher interaction or completed assignments.

The district can also choose whether to provide students with computers or internet access. There are some important guardrails.

Teachers cannot be required to simultaneously teach an in-person class and a virtual class at the same time.

Students also cannot be forced into virtual or hybrid courses. Participation has to remain optional for families.

The district also cannot deny a parent's request for a virtual course that aligns with the student's graduation plan, and the state does not require Keller ISD to provide computers or internet access at home.

Courses will still have to meet TEKS and state course-quality standards, and teachers will have specific training or experience requirements for virtual instruction.

And this isn't something Keller ISD plans to throw together overnight.

The proposed roadmap looks like this:

July-August 2026: Present the concept to the Board and begin committee work.

August-September 2026: Conduct interest surveys and work with the Long Range Planning Committee on proposals, logistical restrictions and feedback.

Fall 2026: Continue committee work, hold information sessions, publish a virtual course catalog and begin registration.

Spring 2027: Recruit and hire staff and hold parent/student information sessions.

Summer 2027: Teacher training, student onboarding and program launch.

So, the big takeaway is that Keller ISD isn't proposing to replace traditional school with virtual learning.

It's trying to build another option into the system, particularly for high school students who need more flexibility, while potentially keeping students and the associated attendance funding in Keller ISD.

RECAPTURE: ABOUT $2.69 MILLION

John Allison then explained Keller ISD's required recapture payment to the state. The current estimate is approximately $2.69 million.

Keller ISD plans to handle that obligation by purchasing attendance credits, one of the standard methods available to districts subject to recapture.

After discussion, the item passed 5-0.

BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The Board unanimously approved its Board Advisory Committee members. Roughly half are returning members and half are new.

That passed 5-0.

LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

The Board also created its Legislative Subcommittee.

Randy Campbell, Chelsea Kelly and Jennifer Erickson will serve on it and develop legislative priorities that will eventually come back before the full Board for approval.

That also passed 5-0.

BUYING THE LAND UNDER THE NATATORIUM

This one produced some debate.

Keller ISD owns the Natatorium building, but the City of Keller owns the approximately 2.4 acres underneath it.

Yes, it is a strange arrangement, and it has created plenty of confusion over the years about who is responsible for what. The administration asked for authorization to spend up to $675,000 to purchase the property from the City of Keller, rather than continuing to lease it.

Chris Coker opposed the purchase. He argued that the district shouldn't continue putting money into the facility right now and preferred extending the lease for several years while waiting to see whether the November bond passes. Also worth noting he does not support the current bond.

Allison argued that owning the land gives Keller ISD greater control over the facility and its future. It would also eliminate requirements connected to the current agreement for public and open swimming, which costs the district money. Fees for outside organizations using the facility would likely increase.

Cory Wilson supported purchasing the property, arguing that ownership makes financial sense and pointing to the district's ability to bring forward a bond without increasing the tax rate.

John Birt also supported purchasing the land and said he believed it was the best path forward.

The purchase passed 4-1, with Coker opposed.

SHOULD KELLER ISD SUE THE STATE OVER RECAPTURE?

Finally, Coker proposed Keller ISD join Midland ISD's lawsuit challenging Texas' school finance and recapture system.

Basically everyone on the Board agrees on the underlying problem. Nobody likes sending local property tax dollars back to the state. Nobody argued that the current school finance system is working particularly well. The disagreement was over whether joining this particular lawsuit makes sense for Keller ISD.

Randy Campbell pointed out an important difference between the districts. Midland ISD is sending roughly $83 million to the state through Tier One recapture, while Keller ISD's estimated Tier Two recapture obligation is around $2.7-$2.8 million.

Campbell argued that joining the lawsuit isn't worth the legal fees, staff time and district resources when Keller ISD's situation is so different. His preference was to monitor the case rather than join it. Chelsea Kelly pointed out that Texas has already seen multiple lawsuits challenging recapture and school finance, without producing the desired result. She also said the district has no way of knowing how much joining another lawsuit would ultimately cost.

Her view was that litigation should be a last resort and that Keller ISD should instead put pressure on lawmakers to fix the system. Coker also mentioned that he had traveled to Austin to advocate for "local control" of school districts. What he left out was that part of that trip involved advocating for legislation that would have allowed school boards to initiate splitting their districts. That seems like a fairly important footnote to the "local control" story.

Finally, John Birt pushed back pretty strongly on the implication that Board members who don't support joining this particular lawsuit somehow support recapture.

They don't. The disagreement isn't really over whether Texas school finance is broken. It's over whether spending Keller ISD money joining this lawsuit is the best way to try to fix it.

And with that, another Keller ISD Board meeting is in the books.

08/24/2026

KELLER ISD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PREVIEW | AUGUST 27

The Keller ISD Board of Trustees meets Thursday, and there is a pretty packed agenda covering state accountability, virtual learning, HVAC rentals, student mental health services, recapture, the Natatorium property, school finance litigation and the creation of a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee.

Here are some of the things we're watching:

STATE ACCOUNTABILITY

The meeting will start with a look at Keller ISD's latest state accountability results, including district and campus scores.

The Board will also receive updates on two instructional items:

Virtual Learning: TEA now allows districts to offer virtual learning opportunities while receiving ADA funding. A district committee is developing options for Keller ISD students in grades 9-12 beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

Math Adoption: The Board will receive an update on the math curriculum adoption approved in spring 2025. Teacher training took place over the summer, with implementation beginning this school year.

TWO LARGE PURCHASES

The Board will consider two district-wide purchases:

• $100,000 for spot cooler and heat pump rentals, including installation and removal.

• $172,250 for USB-C chargers for district-wide student use.

Obviously, with all the discussion surrounding HVAC problems across Keller ISD, the $100,000 spot cooler and heat pump rental item is one worth watching. It shows the price of Band-Aids in real time. If we don't pass a bond, wait and see how bad this gets.

As for USB-C Charger, we assume, we don't know, that those are for Computers and iPads. Even at $15 a pop, lets say for 20,000, that would cost $300,000. The point it, they are not cheap. Obviously some pricing of scale helps, but that is still a lot of money.

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR FREEDOM ELEMENTARY

Freedom Elementary's library suffered significant water damage during the winter storm earlier this year, damaging a large number of books.

So Atmos has offered to donate $25,000 to help restock the Freedom Elementary library.

Whatever you do, don't tell Matt Krause, he'll add them to his list, and for sure don't tell Dan Patrick, he is coming for the books.

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS: $330,000

The Board will vote on an agreement with Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County providing seven full-time student-support professionals for the 2026-27 school year at a district cost of $330,000.

That includes four CIS case managers serving Keller, Central, Timber Creek and Fossil Ridge high schools, plus three licensed mental-health counselors serving nine designated campuses.

CIS will employ and supervise the staff, while Keller ISD provides workspace and appropriate access to school resources. The agreement calls for case management for at least 75 qualifying students at each high school, while the mental-health counselors will maintain caseloads of approximately 25-30 students each.

KELLER ISD ENTERS RECAPTURE

Keller ISD is officially entering recapture for 2026-27.

In simple terms, the state estimates Keller ISD will collect more local property-tax revenue than the state funding formula allows the district to keep. Approximately $2.69 million will be recaptured, primarily by reducing state funding Keller would otherwise receive.

We gave a detailed post about how that works here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FNYXspPsf/

That amount is still an estimate based on projected enrollment and property values and will eventually be recalculated using final numbers. We have to pay it, but expect one person to grandstand and vote no, just to show they are "tough"

KELLER NATATORIUM PROPERTY: UP TO $675,000

This one can be a little confusing because Keller ISD already built and operates the Keller Natatorium.

The catch is that KISD owns the facility, but the City of Keller owns the land underneath it.

Background Here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SqHX7cDL/

The Natatorium was constructed on city property through an interlocal agreement that has now expired. The Board will consider authorizing Keller ISD to purchase the property at 1000 Bear Creek Parkway for up to $675,000, plus closing costs.

The resolution would also authorize the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent to negotiate and execute the final contract and a shared parking agreement with the City of Keller.

In plain English: Keller ISD already has the Natatorium. This purchase would give the district ownership of the land underneath it as well. It sure seems like the City of Keller doesn't want anything to do with it, except enjoy increase traffic to nearby restaurants from swim meets.

One oddity worth noting: the agenda cover sheet lists the fiscal note as "Proceeds from Sale of Property," even though Keller ISD is purchasing the property rather than selling it.

This one will upset some, and make some happy. At the end of the day, the district removes The City of Keller from the equation, and has an asset.

OTHER ACTION ITEMS

The Board will also consider:

• Approval of adjunct faculty connected to the Tarrant County 4-H Youth Development Program for 2026-27.

• An affiliation agreement with Texas Tech University for student clinical training in the Orientation and Mobility program.

• Approval of the 2026-27 Board Advisory Committee recommendations. Maybe Chris will know someone to appoint to a committee this year.

• Appointment of two members to the Board Legislative Committee.

AND FINALLY, TWO IMPORTANT WORK SESSION DISCUSSIONS

These aren't simply routine consent items and could produce some of the more interesting discussion of the night.

First, the Board will discuss the Midland ISD lawsuit challenging the Texas school finance system.
We covered that here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LXfz2Un2j/

Second, following the Board's decision to call the November bond election, trustees will discuss the creation of a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee.

We'll be watching Thursday night and will have updates on what the Board decides.

08/23/2026

A few things going on in public education right now, both here in Keller ISD and across Texas.

Keller ISD:

Timber Creek is headed to Pasadena

Huge congratulations to the Timber Creek High School Band, which has been selected to perform in the 2027 Rose Parade. This is the first time in school history the band has received the honor.

It was also great seeing Keller ISD trustees Chelsea Kelly, John Birt, Randy Campbell and Jennifer Erickson, along with Fort Worth City Councilman Charles Lauersdorf, there cheering on the students and celebrating with the Timber Creek community.

That is a pretty cool accomplishment for those kids, directors and families.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1242882302247886

Casey’s Kids turns 30

For three decades, Casey’s Kids has brought Keller ISD students, families and the community together around health, wellness and giving back. It was founded in 1997 by Janie Casey, a former Keller ISD counselor, after she noticed a student missing school from a lack of proper clothing.

If you would like to get involved, there is a come-and-go Volunteer Interest Meeting from 5–7 p.m. Tuesday, August 25. You can learn more about helping with one of Keller ISD’s longest-running community traditions.

Questions can be sent to [email protected].

The Future of Keller ISD Breakfast

Keller ISD is also hosting a Future of Keller ISD Breakfast on September 17 from 9:00–10:30 a.m. at The Bowden.

The event will bring together community leaders, business partners, educators and district leadership to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing Keller ISD and where the district goes from here.

And hopefully there will be plenty of discussion about the upcoming bond election.

Registration: https://tinyurl.com/FutureKISD

Around Texas

You can tell it is election season, because state leaders are finally acting like they care about public education. Here are a few public education headlines and statements from the past several days that caught our attention.

“We’re coming for the books.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is taking a page from Matt Krause's playbook and announced that he wants additional penalties for districts that fail to remove books deemed inappropriate under state law, including potentially lowering a district’s state accountability rating.

This comes after Senate Bill 13 already dramatically changed how Texas school libraries handle book selection and challenges. Districts have spent significant staff time creating procedures and bringing their libraries into compliance.

There are legitimate conversations to have about age-appropriate materials in schools. But with Texas schools facing teacher shortages, rising operating costs, aging facilities, growing class sizes and academic challenges, it is fair to ask how much more time and energy the state wants districts spending on this issue.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19Ac4pkazr/

Greg Abbott finally Announced: “Texas has zero tolerance for predators in our schools.”

Duh? Of course. There should be zero tolerance for anyone who harms or exploits a child, and student safety should always be a priority.

But framing this as though predators in schools are one of the central problems confronting Texas public education seems disconnected from what districts are dealing with every day. Ask most superintendents about their biggest challenges and you are much more likely to hear about staffing, funding, special education, attendance, facilities, student achievement and rapidly increasing costs.

Protect kids. Prosecute predators. Absolutely. But let's also deal with the problems schools are actually confronting every single day.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EZ5sKC1xi/

Abbott wants lawmakers to restrict H-1B visas in schools

Again, there can certainly be a policy discussion about when and how school districts use international workers. But is this really one of the biggest problems facing Texas public schools right now?

When districts are struggling to recruit teachers in difficult to fill positions, keep experienced educators in classrooms and balance budgets, it feels like another issue that is receiving a lot more political attention than its actual impact on most Texas classrooms.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DEzTfsEUi/

“Make Texas #1 in Reading and Math”

We would love that.

Texas has significant room for improvement in both areas. But Greg Abbott has been governor since 2015. If improving reading and math outcomes is going to become a major state priority, then it should also come with a serious discussion about what Texas has been doing for the last decade and what needs to change.

That means talking about teacher recruitment and retention, class sizes, early literacy, special education, instructional resources and, yes, whether schools have the funding necessary to do the job we expect them to do.

You don't become #1 by making a slogan. You become #1 by making education a sustained priority.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Jm2kDq1Yw/

Abbott requests investigation of school district finances

Governor Abbott has asked the Texas Comptroller to formally review the finances of up to four school districts to determine whether taxpayer money is reaching students and teachers rather than being consumed by administrative costs and other noninstructional spending.

Transparency is good. Taxpayers absolutely deserve to know how their money is being spent.

But school finance is already one of the most regulated and publicly scrutinized parts of local government. Texas school districts undergo annual independent financial audits, adopt budgets publicly and report extensive financial information to the state.

So investigate waste where it exists.

But let's also investigate why districts across Texas are cutting positions, increasing class sizes, delaying maintenance, closing campuses and asking local taxpayers for additional money just to maintain the educational programs and facilities their communities expect.

and finally, today, Greg Abbott announced he wants to pay teachers more and cut red tape. Yet is making more data requested, taking over school districts, and not funding public schools, while sending it to private schools. It seems the problem wants to become the solution?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FKSKBLe1c/

Our state leaders should be working with public schools to improve education in Texas.

There are real problems that deserve their attention: teacher recruitment and retention, school funding, special education, reading and math performance, aging facilities, student attendance, classroom size and the growing cost of operating schools.

Instead, too much of the conversation around public education seems designed to generate the next headline, political fight or social media clip. We can disagree about how to solve the problems facing Texas schools. We should have those debates. But we should at least be debating the actual problems.

Because when providing a high quality public education for every Texas student stops being the central focus of our state’s education policy, it isn't politicians who ultimately pay the price. It’s the kids.

Alliance Independent School District

09/04/2026

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