By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
Folks claiming that Republican lawmakers representing rural school districts might scuttle HB 2, the public education reform bill, might have been counting their chickens before they hatch, according to Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa).
Chisum and a handful of other Republican House members who represent rural school districts today said they support Rep. Kent Grusendorf's HB 2 and are convinced that it provides significant changes that will be good for rural school districts. Chisum said the bill guarantees that every school district will get a minimum 3 percent increase in funding over the last biennium, with many getting up to 9 percent.
Because the rural areas of the state have "a lot of land and equipment" instead of taxable business and industry property, they "suffer greatly" from property taxes, said Chisum. HB 2, he said, provides "significant property tax relief" for rural areas that are "long on land and short on money."
Chisum also enumerated several other provisions of the bill that will be good for rural schools, including open financial records of each school district that he called "good business for Texas."
The Pampa lawmaker said transportation is a major issue for rural area schools and added that a "friendly" amendment will be offered when the bill comes to the House floor Tuesday. He said transportation being funded at $1.50 per mile is a "big, big issue for us." He said Grusendorf has promised to accept an amendment that will more evenly disperse transportation dollars.
Rep. Rick Hardcastle (R-Vernon) said most of the reforms in HB 2 are "trying to bring the rest of Texas up to our rural standards and the kind of education we give children now." He said that can "only be a good thing."
Another rural lawmaker agreed, saying rural schools don't have the dropout rates that suburban schools have, and "do a good job on a tight budget." All in all, he said, it is difficult to debate "$3 billion in new money in education."
"This is a process," said Rep. Dianne Delisi (R-Temple). "It's important to realize for all the folks back home that are looking closely at HB 2, that this is the first step in a long journey toward better results in the classroom." She said she is encouraged that Grusendorf has heard the concerns regarding the transportation allotment for those who represent rural school districts.
Delisi indicated that more than 135 amendments to HB 2 have been pre-filed and that Public Education Committee members are analyzing those amendments.
Chisum said the money to fund transportation needs would include $106 million from Fund Six, adding that he has the commitment from Grusendorf that the amendment regarding transportation funding will be accepted. However, he said if the amendment were to fall off in the Senate deliberations or in conference committee, "those are votes we'll look at later."
Rep. Scott Campbell (R-San Angelo) said most rural area superintendents' biggest concern with HB 2 was transportation funding.
Chisum said that every superintendent who called his office wanted "more money in the bill." However, he said the $3 billion in the bill was "very difficult to come up with" and that if HB 2 does not pass and the money is left on the table, "it will be swept away and not available to us" for a special session.