News Summary
Canyon ISD Superintendent Darryl Flusche warns that the Texas Legislature’s focus on private school vouchers is undermining public school funding, jeopardizing education for over 11,000 students. Since significant budget cuts in 2011, public schools have struggled with chronic underfunding. Legislative proposals like House Bill 2 for school safety and new mandates on religion in classrooms threaten to add further strain to the already overwhelmed public education system. With a $33 billion surplus, advocates urge lawmakers to prioritize genuine investment in public education.
Canyon, Texas – Superintendent Darryl Flusche of Canyon Independent School District (CISD) is raising alarms about the ongoing discussions in the Texas Legislature regarding education funding. Flusche argues that the increased focus on private school vouchers, religious mandates, and other matters is diverting attention away from the pressing need for sufficient public school funding, which is crucial for the education of over 11,000 students in the district.
Since significant cuts to education budgets in 2011, when Texas lawmakers reduced funding by $5.4 billion, public schools in Texas have continued to struggle with chronic underfunding. A funding boost via House Bill 3 in 2019 provided some relief; however, the benefits of this increase have been eroded by inflation. The state’s basic funding per student has stagnated at $6,160 since 2019, failing to keep pace with escalating operational costs in schools.
Flusche reported that over 50% of Texas school districts operated on deficit budgets in 2024, deeming this trend unsustainable. The current legislative session, which is set to address educational priorities, finds Governor Greg Abbott campaigning for school choice, with proposals like vouchers being rebranded as Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Critics highlight that current voucher programs, which allocate around $1 billion for private school tuition, not only divert essential funds away from already struggling public school systems but may also cost Texas taxpayers an estimated $1.2 billion each year by 2027.
Although Canyon ISD has not yet felt immediate effects from the voucher program, Flusche expressed concerns about long-term repercussions on public education, especially with the rise of private schools that lack stringent regulations. The ongoing debates encompass various proposed bills, including mandates for religious displays in classrooms and changes to standardized testing, which many educators argue add unnecessary burdens without directly addressing the pressing funding shortfalls facing public schools.
Particularly worrisome for Flusche and other district leaders is House Bill 2, which proposes $500 million for school safety enhancements. This amount falls short of adequately covering the rising costs associated with security personnel. Additionally, the proposed law mandating religious symbols like the Ten Commandments in classrooms has raised flags regarding constitutional rights and the need for inclusivity within educational environments.
Reform proposals concerning the Texas STAAR testing system have also elicited concern among educators, with warnings that new changes may set students up for failure rather than improvement. In light of current teacher shortages, Canyon ISD has initiated programs in collaboration with West Texas A&M University to assist paraprofessionals in becoming certified teachers as part of their strategy to address staffing needs.
Despite a proposed $5,000 salary increase for teachers, the sustainability of such raises remains uncertain without assured future funding. Currently, starting salaries for teachers in Canyon ISD are $52,000, markedly lower than the national average of $68,000. Alarmingly, almost 33% of the district’s new hires in the past academic year were non-certified teachers, and new mandates for certified teachers in core subjects under Senate Bill 2253 could exacerbate existing staffing shortages.
Flusche warned that reallocating public education funds to support private school initiatives will place additional strain on already overwhelmed districts. While Canyon ISD has reported record-high enrollment numbers, illustrating community trust in the schools, it has also had to implement budget cuts and defer maintenance while depending on local taxes to cover deficits—options that may not be available to other districts facing similar challenges.
The call to action for lawmakers stresses the dire need for solutions that genuinely prioritize public education and foster a brighter future for children in Texas. In a state that boasts a $33 billion budget surplus, many advocate for reassessing priorities to invest in the educational system that serves as the foundation for the state’s young minds.
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