| DATE |
CONTENT OF EMAIL: Register your email address in order to receive future information |
6-08-11
Action Alert #6 |
FROM YOUR COMMUNITY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
The House Government Efficiency and Reform Committee is considering House Bill 33, by Miller, which would create the Taxpayer Savings Grant Program, a voucher scheme that would require the state to pay 60 percent of the statewide average operating expenditure per student to parents who apply for a taxpayer savings grant – or voucher – to attend a private school.
The CLC asks you to help your School District by contacting Rep. Bill Callegari and the other conferees and asking them to:
Vote NO on House Bill 33.
Say NO to Vouchers.
There are zero requirements in the bill for accountability standards for the private school accepting the taxpayer money. There are an estimated 600,000 students in private schools. A school finance expert estimated a voucher value of $5,100; if all parents of private school students applied for a voucher, an estimated $3 Billion would be needed to fund the program.
WE NEED YOUR HELP – PLEASE ACT NOW!
Here are the conferees and how to contact them:
Members of the House Government Efficiency and Reform Committee are:
Rep. Bill Callegari (Houston–R), 512.463.0528; bill.callegari@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Eddie Lucio III (Brownsville–D); 512.463.0606; eddie.lucio_iii@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Erwin Cain (Como-R); 512.463.0650; erwin.cain@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown (Irving-R); 512.463.0641; linda.harper_brown@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Sergio Munoz, Jr. (Mission–D); 512.463.0704; sergio.munoz@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Bill Zedler (Arlington-R); 512.463.0374; bill.zedler@house.state.tx.us
Suggestion: When you call, consider saying:
I am _____________ and I am from Houston . I reside in the community served by Cy-Fair ISD. Please vote NO on House Bill 33, and please do not support vouchers. (Note: The entire process takes between 10 and 15 minutes by phone.) |
5-26-11
Action Alert #5 |
The House and Senate have each appointed members to a new school finance conference committee. This committee will write the allocation of funds to school districts.
The CLC asks you to help your School District by contacting the conferees and asking them to write the best possible budget while keeping the following precepts in mind:
Close the funding gap between school districts by following the Senate model on funding, and
Reject the concept of proration on allocation of funding cuts in the House model!
Here are the conferees and how to contact them:
WE NEED YOUR HELP – PLEASE ACT NOW!
Suggestion: When you call, consider saying:
I am _____________ and I am from Houston. I reside in the community served by Cy Fair ISD. Please help close the funding gap between school districts by following the Senate model, and please do not use proration on allocation of funding cuts as outlined in the House model!
(Note: The entire process takes between 10 and 15 minutes.)
Please remember, CFISD currently receives $500 less (on a per student basis) than the state average, and $1,200 less than a neighboring district. Proration continues this inequitable funding gap.
Please make your voice heard! |
5-17-11
Action Alert #4 |
The House and Senate have each appointed members to the conference committee. This committee will write the final state budget. Members of the House have been directed to stay within the confines of their funding bill while Senate Conferees have been given no such directive.
The CLC asks you to help your School District by contacting the conferees and asking them to write the best possible budget while keeping the following precepts in mind:
Close the funding gap between school districts, do not use proration on allocation of funding cuts,
do no worse than the Senate model on funding and
use the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund)!
Here are the conferees and how to contact them:
Sen. Jane Nelson: 1-888-514-5807
Sen. Steve Ogden: 1-888-510-4580 (Chair, Senate Finance Committee)
Sen. Tommy Williams: 1-888-514-8930
Sen. Robert Duncan: 1-888-723-0408
Sen. Chuy Hinojosa: 1-888-812-0531 (Vice Chair, Senate Finance Committee)
Rep. Jim Pitts: 1-888-823-9190 (Chair, House Appropriations Committee)
Rep. Myra Crownover: 1-888-958-8864
Rep. John Otto: 512-463-0570
Rep. Sylvester Turner: 1-888-828-0051 (Vice Chair, House Appropriations Committee)
Rep. John Zerwas: 1-888-838-0224
WE NEED YOUR HELP – PLEASE ACT NOW!
Your Community Legislative Committee
Suggestion: When you call, consider saying: I am _____________ and I am from Houston. I reside in the community served by Cy Fair ISD. Please consider closing the funding gap between school districts, please do not use proration on allocation of funding cuts, please do no worse than the Senate model on funding and please use the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund)!
(Note: The entire process takes between 10 and 15 minutes.)
Suggestion: Consider calling Senator Dan Patrick at 512-463-0107. Although he was not appointed to the Conference Committee he is the Senator who represents most of CFISD. |
5-05-11
Action Alert #3 |
The Texas Legislature is considering several important pieces of legislation involving Public Education. The CLC asks you to help your School District.
Please immediately contact State Representatives Allen Fletcher, Bill Callegari, Patricia Harless, Gary Elkins, and Dwayne Bohac and tell them that you SUPPORT:
1. HB 400 – The House Calendars Committee has set House Bill 400 for floor debate on Friday. Call your representatives and urge them to support HB 400 and follow Rep. Rob Eissler's lead on all amendments. As filed, the bill provides much-needed spending flexibility to school districts that will help superintendents and school boards save teachers’ jobs.
2. Urge your representatives to OPPOSE Rep. Phillip's amendment to HB 400, which would severely restrict local district staffing decisions, and prevent boards from making decisions in the best interest of the students, teachers, and communities they represent.
3. Local school board trustees and administration should make the decisions on how to allocate scarce resources - not Austin!
You can email the legislators at:
We also encourage you to phone your legislator or contact other Texas legislators regarding these issues! A list can be found at http://cfisd.net/aboutour/legislative.htm . |
4-27-11
Action Alert #2 |
The Texas Legislature is considering several important pieces of legislation involving Public Education. Your School District needs your help.
Please immediately contact State Senators Dan Patrick, John Whitmire, and Joan Huffman as well as State Representatives Allen Fletcher, Bill Callegari, Patricia Harless, Gary Elkins, and Dwayne Bohac and tell them that you SUPPORT:
- HB 400 – This House bill allows a 22:1 District wide student to teacher ratio in K thru 4th grade, which would save CFISD $10.75 million and is a viable alternative to teacher layoffs. This bill also grants Districts greater financial flexibility.
- SB 22 – This Senate bill provides over $4 Billion more in Education funding than the corresponding House bill. Tell your Senator that you do not care where they get this money from (they could take it from the Rainy Day fund) but FIND THE MONEY! The negative impact under SB 22 to CFISD would be much less than the corresponding HB 2485 described below.
Tell them that you are AGAINST:
- HB 2485 – This House bill will penalize fiscally efficient Districts like CFISD, and will cost CFISD $156 million dollars over two years.
You can email the legislators at:
We also encourage you to phone your legislator or contact other Texas legislators regarding these issues! A list can be found at http://cfisd.net/aboutour/legislative.htm .
A note regarding HB 400. This bill would permit savings to occur at the elementary school level. CFISD does not want to increase class sizes anywhere in the District, but under the circumstances, the CLC recommends supporting this legislation. |
| 4-20-11 |
Register Now for Cy-Fair ISD Day in Austin!
We are going to Austin ! The CLC is excited to extend an invitation to concerned residents for our first ever Cy-Fair ISD Day at the Legislature. The trip is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, 2011. We are also pleased to note that due to the generosity of some local benefactors, the cost of the trip has been reduced to only $15 per person. This will include bus transportation, a box lunch and a t-shirt. We regret that the event is scheduled for a school day and that teachers and other district employees will not be able to attend but hope that many parents and community members will make arrangements to join us. Reservations will be handled first come, first served based on bus availability. Please submit your registration form (attached) by email to Megan Bradley (meganbradley@entouch.net) or by fax to 281-586-9728. We need a headcount to secure the buses, so please reply no later than Friday, April 23rd. We will acknowledge receipt of your registration and reply with payment instructions.
Tentative Schedule for the Day (final schedule will be sent prior to the trip)
Meet at the Berry Center - 7:00 a.m.
Depart - 7:30 a.m.
Arrive in Austin - 10:30 a.m.
Attend the Session and Meet with Legislators and Legislative Aides - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch / Tour the Capitol - 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Depart Austin - 2:00 p.m.
Return to the Berry Center - 5:00 p.m.
Thank you for your support of this event. Please spread the word and let’s fill up those buses! |
4-19-11
Action Alert #1 |
The Texas Legislature is considering several important pieces of legislation involving Public Education. Your School District needs your help.
Please immediately contact State Senators Dan Patrick, and Joan Huffman as well as State Representatives Allen Fletcher, Bill Callegari, Patricia Harless, Gary Elkins, and Dwayne Bohac and tell them that you support:
- Use of the State’s Rainy Day Fund to help finance Public Education funding shortfalls occurring after September 1, 2011, and
- The granting of flexibility to School Districts in elementary school class size in order to help School Districts cover budget shortfalls as now included along with other provisions in HB 400. Estimated savings to CFISD for such a provision equals $10.75 Million.
You can email them at:
Senator Patrick: District7.Patrick@senate.state.tx.us
Senator Huffman: http://www.huffman.senate.state.tx.us/#form
Rep. Dwayne Bohac: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=138&session=82
Rep. Allen Fletcher: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=130&session=82
Rep. Gary Elkins: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=135&session=82
Rep. Patricia Harless: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=126&session=82
Rep. Bill Callegari: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=132&session=82
We also encourage you to contact other Texas legislators regarding these issues! A list can be found at http://cfisd.net/aboutour/legislative.htm .
Just a note on HB 400 (Eissler) – HB 400 provides flexibility for school districts in part by eliminating some unfunded mandates.
- Allows a 22:1 District wide student to teacher ratio in K thru 4th grade,
- Hard Cap of 25:1 teacher ratio in K thru 4th grade.
- Does not require 8th grade accelerated instruction, and
- Permits waivers regarding the teacher ratio in K thru 4th grade classrooms
CFISD has cut over $72 million of expenditures over the last four years. The cuts in staff positions have been largely focused in the middle school and high school. More cuts at the middle school and high school level could result in increased class sizes and overcrowded classrooms. This law would permit savings to occur at the elementary school level. CFISD does not want to increase class sizes anywhere in the District, but under the circumstances, CFISD is forced to support the legislation for budgetary reasons only, not educational. |
| 4-7-11 |
House Bill 1 Passes
House Bill 500, Senate Bill 6/HB 6, & House Bill 400
Up for debate and vote
House Bill 1 passes the House on the weekend, principally along party lines. There was much discussion about use of the Rainy Day Fund. You should know that the Rainy Day Fund was used to fund shortfalls through August 31, 2011 only! House Bill 1 keeps intact almost a $10 Billion shortfall in education for the two-year period starting September 1, 2011. Remember, some observers estimate that the Rainy Day Fund could be replenished by almost $2 Billion a year for each of the next two years! (See end of email for links.)
The Message:
Tell your Representative that you were disappointed that the Rainy Day Fund was not used for the biennium starting September 1, 2011. Tell your Senator & his/her colleagues to use the Rainy Day Fund to cushion the blow to education.
House Bill 500, Senate Bill 6 & House Bill 6
- HB 500 does not delay the implementation of End-of-Course (EOC) exams, but does provide a transition period for students from the TAKS to the more rigorous EOC system. This is a help!
- HB 500 removes the requirement that an EOC exam score count as 15 percent of a final course grade and transfers decision making to districts.. This is an improvement.
- HB 500 streamlines EOC retakes and provides better transition for 9th grade students in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 cohorts. These are both helpful.
- HB 6 and SB 6 establish an instructional materials fund that would provide flexibility for districts in determining which content and delivery method is best for their student population. This is a help.
The Message:
Tell your Representative that you support the flexibility in testing contained in HB 500.
Tell your Representative/Senator that you support the flexibility created in instructional materials in HB6/SB6.
House Bill 400
- This bill modifies the 22:1 ratio in K-4; We support this only because it saves teaching jobs in 5 thru 12.
- This bill does not reduce election costs for CFISD. We support an allocation of election costs to reflect CFISD paying no more than their historical prior election costs.
The Message:
- Tell your Representative that you support the flexibility in K-4 class sizes.
- Tell your Representative that you support fairness in election cost allocation to school districts.
Remember:
- CFISD is a Good Steward of Taxpayer Dollars & is a recognized leader in the state in efficiency and effectiveness.
- CFISD has been consistently underfunded for the last four years by Austin.
- The Message:
- Tell Austin to CLOSE THE GAP!
- Tell Austin to Protect Fiscally Efficient Districts!
The legislature is VOTING NOW! What can you do?
- Please forward this email and talk to your friends and neighbors about your school district.
- Find your State legislators at http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/legis/82/community.htm.
- Write, fax, email and call your Texas State Representatives and Senators and with the messages above. Numbers count.
Together we can work to maintain our schools for the good of our children, and our community. The CLC will send emails out more often as the pace in Austin is quickening.
Rainy Day Fund:
See: http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/fnotes/fn1102/fn1102.pdf,
See: http://texasweekly.com/node/4953, This source notes, “ it is quite possible that sometime in FY12 the Rainy Day Fund will attain its Constitutional limit” of $11.6B. Given a starting balance of $1.3B in 2007 and reaching a balance of $11.6B in FYE 2012 total additions would exceed $10.3 B during the referenced time period.
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/infographic-rainy-day-politics-in-texas-
This article notes that the balance was $1.3B in 2007, $4.4B in 2008, $6.7B in 2009, $7.7 B in 2010.
The current balance is estimated to be $9.8 B in 2011. Transfers out during this time period (2007-2010) were $0.8B. Dividing by 5 years results in an average of approximately $1.8B per year while using a 4 year basis the average addition is greater. |
| 3-7-11 |
Thank you for your interest in maintaining a quality education for our students! The Community Legislative Committee (CLC) needs YOU! Your contribution to the efforts to educate and persuade our lawmakers is essential. The stakes are higher than ever and we have so much to lose. For years CFISD has received far less funding per student than surrounding districts!!! The legislature is in session NOW, and critical spending decisions are being made every day! What can you do?
- Find your State legislators at http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/legis/82/community.htm
- Write, fax, email and call your Texas State Representatives and Senators and request that they “CLOSE THE GAP in school funding.”
- Communicate the same message to the Chair of the House and Senate Committees on Education and the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
- Please be polite and respectful. These are difficult times for all.
Ask your friends and neighbors to accompany you to a Community Information Meeting to learn more about the school funding issues. There are a number of dates and locations available! see http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/legis/82/Community%20Inf%20Meeting%20Dates_Locations.pdf
Every voice is critical in securing a fair share of the limited funding available. It might be yours that makes the difference between inadequate funding and a budget we can all live with!!! |
| 2-25-11 |
Because of State Funding inequities, students in Tomball, Katy, Spring Branch, Klein, Spring, and HISD receive a larger share of State tax dollars than the students in CFISD.
CFISD students receive $506 less per student than the statewide average! Our district receives the lowest funding per student of any district in the greater Harris County area! One neighboring district receives more than $1,200 per student more than students in CFISD. With 106,940 students, the impact of state funding inequities on our children’s education is enormous. I say to my state legislators that now is the time for fairness in school funding, it’s time to “CLOSE THE GAP!”
The state is facing a crushing budget deficit. Education will have cutbacks. CFISD has already cut $70 million over 4 years. However, Education experts forecast that CFISD may have to cut an additional $66 million to $116 million. We must act to stop the disparity in per student funding between School Districts! I say to the Texas House and Senate Committees on Education, and the Senate Finance Committee, “CLOSE THE GAP!”
Maintaining a quality school district matters to homeowners regardless of whether they have school aged children. Good schools support property values and are an investment in the quality of our future workforce! Making cuts without fixing state funding formulas will put the quality of our CFISD schools at risk. Please tell the State Legislature to “CLOSE THE GAP!”
With so much at stake, we are still fortunate.
We live in a district that is recognized as cost efficient! CFISD is a Good Steward.
- CFISD, now the 3rd largest district in Texas, ranks in the top 1% of the most efficient school districts in Texas (Education Research Group). Compare CFISD 9th place ranking with HISD at #28, Dallas ISD at #74, Ft. Worth at #123 and Austin at #162!
- CFISD has the lowest administrative cost ratio among all 21 Harris County school districts (TEA).
CFISD provides a quality education!
- 97% of CFISD campuses achieved a Recognized or Exemplary performance rating.
The legislature is in session NOW! What can you do?
- Please forward this email and talk to your friends and neighbors about your school district.
- Find your State legislators at http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/legis/82/community.htm.
- Write, fax, email and call your Texas State Representatives and Senators and request them to “CLOSE THE GAP.” Our legislative delegation is sympathetic to this request, and we must show that we are supporting their endorsement. Numbers count.
- Communicate the same message to the Chair of the House and Senate Committees on Education and the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee that you want fairness in funding for our schools and you want them to “CLOSE THE GAP!”
- Please be polite and respectful. These are difficult times for all.
Together we can work to maintain our schools for the good of our children, and our community. |
| 2-11-11 |
Your School District is effective in delivering a quality education while being a Good Steward of taxpayer dollars as measured by numerous outside groups.
- CFISD ranks in the top 1% of the most efficient and effective school districts in Texas (Education Resource Group).
- CFISD was one of only 32 of the 1,025 public school districts to receive the highest five‐star ranking in the Texas Comptroller's Financial Allocation. (Study for Texas (FAST) report for 2010 for financial efficiency and student academic achievement.)
- CFISD was identified by American School and University magazine as being the 5th most efficient district in the nation (of the 100 largest districts) for the years 1998‐2008.
Areas of Efficiency
- CFISD has the lowest cost per student among all 21 Harris County school districts.
- Administrative Cost: CFISD has the lowest administrative cost ratio among all 21 Harris County school districts (Texas Education Agency).
- Staffing: CFISD has the lowest number of staff per 1000 students in comparison districts (TASB Staffing Review, 2010).
- Maintenance: CFISD saves money by maintaining plant and equipment with less staff than comparable Texas districts (WCL Enterprises Operational Review, 2010).
- Building: CFISD construction cost per square foot averages 20% lower compared with other Gulf Coast area school districts. CFISD was highlighted in the FAST report for Smart Practices in facilities building design.
How do you think Austin should respond to Districts that are Good Stewards of taxpayer dollars? Reward them by sparing them from cuts or asking them to cut an amount equal to cuts required of less efficient districts?
What can you do?
- Please talk and email with your friends and neighbors about your school district.
- Find your State legislators at http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/legis/82/community.htm.
- Write, fax, email and call your Texas State Representatives and Senators and request their support to protect fiscally efficient districts. Our legislative delegation is sympathetic to this request. We must show we are supportive of them endorsing this idea.
- Communicate the same message to the Chair of the House and Senate Committees on Education and the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
- Remember: Every communication is important, but to be most effective, numbers count.
- Please be polite and respectful. These are difficult times for all.
Together we can work to maintain our schools for the good of our children, and our community. |
1-22-11 |
The 82nd session of the Texas State Legislature started January 11th. The projected revenue shortfall of roughly $26 billion has resulted in a proposed budget of nearly $5 billion less for public education, below the current base funding. It is also $9.8 billion less than what is needed to cover current funding formulas which includes about 170,000 additional students entering the public school system during the next two-year budget cycle. Under this proposal the impact to Cy Fair ISD would be a cut of between $66 million and $116 million per year over the next two years. This equates to cuts of between 1320 and 2320 employees making $50,000 annually.
‘That would significantly impact everything we do in the district,’ Dr. David Anthony, Superintendent, said as reported in the Houston Chronicle. CFISD, the state's third largest and fastest growing school district, has already cut more than $70 million, including some 800 positions over the past four years as a result of the already low amount of funding CFISD receives per student compared to other Houston area districts. Additional cuts of this magnitude will impact the services the district can provide and the quality of education our students receive.
The Cy Fair Community Legislative Committee has identified priorities that our Legislators must address to enable CFISD to maintain the highest quality of education and preserve property values in the face of very significant budget cuts. We are also working to provide information to the community so that constituents can communicate their concerns and expectations to Legislators, especially those on the House and Senate Education Committees. We want people to be prepared so that as soon as those committee assignments are made they can begin communicating in earnest. You can find the CLC-82 Legislative Priorities and other factual information about the district at http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/govt/legis/82/community.htm . Please bookmark that page so that you can keep up with the progress of the 82nd session as it relates to CFISD Also, the CLC-82 will be sending you emails to suggest potential action to take. Your support and participation in this effort is essential. |
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