By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-970811.mp3
Austin, TX – Thursday night, with just four days left in the state legislative session, lawmakers still didn't have an agreement for how to distribute the smaller amount of money they've approved for public schools.
Senate Education Chair Florence Shapiro of Plano thought lawmakers would have an agreement yesterday but that didn't happen. She says deciding how to divide the funding is the hardest thing she's ever done.
Shapiro: I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is when you're in the situation we're in now. We're making cuts to the districts and now we have the amount of money. How do we distribute that money? It has been enormously difficult to do.
Shelley Kofler/Reporter: Do you feel encouraged you'll reach some agreement before the end of this session?
Shapiro: I am the eternal optimist. I will not give up. I will not give up.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate have proposed different formulas for awarding districts funding. If the legislature doesn't adopt a school finance plan by Monday they'll have to return this summer in a special session.