Dear Editor:
I am a product of public schools from elementary to a graduate degree from a state school. My children are also products of public schools and I have relatives that taught in public schools. I am also a Texas citizen who is deeply concerned about the crisis in funding our public education system.
Currently, the primary sources for school funding are local property taxes and funds from the state. In some districts additional funds come from recapture revenue known as the “Robin Hood Funding,” when wealthier districts are required to send a percentage of the school tax assessment dollars to the state which then distributes those funds to less wealthy school districts.
Wimberley ISD is a wealthier district, and thus some of our local property tax dollars go out of district. To my knowledge, state funding has not kept up with inflation since 2019 and indeed during the 2023 legislative session the legislature and the Texas governor were unable to agree to a school funding plan primarily due to the question of state tax dollars going to private school vouchers.
We are now at the start of the 89th Texas legislature session. The House and the Senate each have a “voucher system” proposal in the works. One current proposal, SB2, would provide families $10,000 per student for a private school Additionally, home schooled students would receive a voucher for $2000.
Regardless of one’s political persuasion, the use of tax dollars to offset private school costs and home school costs is simply wrong. The argument of parental choice seems to be a false narrative. We see Wimberley ISD property taxes sent out of district, while many of our teachers regularly spend their own money to supplement their classroom supplies. The state, with surplus funds, appears negligent in their commitment to our public schools and to our students. The logic of allocating a billion dollars( SB2) in state tax funds to any private school voucher system seems ludicrous given the current public school funding crisis.
The Wimberley ISD school board must reiterate their unanimous position opposing any school voucher plan. Taxpayers in rural, suburban and urban school districts across the state should oppose this taking of tax dollars. The legislation is flawed and misdirected in a state that takes pride in the public schools. Please consider calling our state representative and senator with your opposition.
Representative Isaac 512-463-0325 Senator Campbell 830-626-0065
W.G. Schwamb Wimberley
