Session In-Depth: Education funding

Bill allowing armed teachers advances

Schools could train teachers to exchange fire with potential …

Hecklers interrupt Gov. Perry's speech

Hecklers have repeatedly interrupted a speech by Gov. Rick …

Drug-testing OK'd for jobless benefits

The legislation would require applicants for unemployment …

House gets ready for major budget vote

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he takes House leaders at their …

Welfare drug testing fails after stall

More than an hour of delaying tactics from House Democrats has …

Commissioner says high court ruling is next step

Updated: Sunday, 10 Feb 2013, 2:41 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 10 Feb 2013, 12:13 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Education Commissioner Michael Williams, appearing on Sunday's edition of KXAN's "In Session, In-Depth," said any final fix to the state's public school finance system should wait until the Texas Supreme Court rules on the recently decided lawsuit.

"There is going to be a robust conversation among the legislators about funding for schools," Williams said less than a week after a state district judge said the present system falls short of constitutional standards.

"But it seems to me that the more prudent time to make those large funding determinations is after the Supreme Court has given the final ruling in this case."

On Monday, state District Judge John Dietz said that the state fails to provide local school districts equal access to revenue. It also has effectively established a statewide property tax system, which is unconstitutional.

Dietz, who heard 12 weeks of testimony in the case and had presided over a previous challenge to the state's funding methods, left no doubt in his explanation from the bench that Texas is short-changing its students.

"Eight years ago, at the conclusion of a previous school finance case, I said that education costs money but ignorance costs more money," he said. "I also said that it is the people of Texas who set the standards, make the sacrifice, and give direction to their leaders as to what kind of education system they want."

Appearing separately on the Sunday show, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he is instructing the Texas Senate to hold back some money as it prepares its version of the 2014-15 state budget to boost funding for schools. (See the full interview in the video box above.)

But panelists on the show said local districts are clamoring for a fix sooner than later. Kate Alexander, a Capitol reporter for the Austin American-Statesman said it's likely to be a year before the state's highest civil court hands down its ruling once an appeal is filed and the justices mull over their decision.

Erin Cargile, KXAN's education reporter, said local school officials are telling her, "We cannot wait. We need lawmakers to act now."

Clay Robison, a former Capitol Bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle and now the spokesman for the Texas State Teachers Association, there's no reason to put off all big decisions while the high court decides. The state is projecting a large budget surplus, and the state's reserve account is flush with cash, he said.

"Right now, the public schools are hurting," he said.

Session In-Depth: Education funding

Commissioner says high court ruling is next step

Site Tools