Tarrant schools could gain millions if lawmakers give the OK. Here’s how they’d spend it
Tarrant County school districts may find some funding relief next year.
A funding plan in the Texas House would leave more local tax dollars at local schools — and it would let suburban districts considered wealthy dramatically drop the amount they send to help poorer schools through the state’s so-called Robin Hood funding system.
Educators across the state say the bill would boost local budgets allowing them to expand academic programs, hire new teachers and giving existing ones raises.
“We are certainly very encouraged by House Bill 3,” said Marcelo Cavazos, superintendent of Arlington schools. “It is definitely a larger investment in public education.”
Cavazos said the district will use any extra dollars to expand a half-day pre-kindergarten program to a full-day one. The district also wants expand its tuition-based pre-kindergarten program, dual language program, STEM and Career and Technology classes.
“It’s a process and we know there is still work to be done,” Cavazos said, adding that the process will likely include added amendments “we will be watching.”
Overall, the bill is promising to educators because it would benefit students throughout the state, Cavazos said. He said districts can decide how to pay for the needs in their school communities.
For example, in Southlake Carroll school officials said if the district were to benefit from school finance legislation in any way, the money would be used to help offset the operating deficit and to either hire additional staff or address student/staff wellness and safety initiatives or both.
“We are cautiously optimistic about what is being proposed and discussed in Austin right now with regard to school finance,” said Carroll Superintendent David Faltys. “Our representatives are listening and doing what they can to be responsive to the needs of our public schools. We are still a long way from the finish line, but at least we are headed in the right direction.”
Deanne Hullender, spokeswoman for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford district, said in an email that the added dollars would likely help boost payroll, she said.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday will debate the proposal known as House Bill 3 — which rewrites the way public education is funded in Texas — by state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Humble.
The proposal pumps an extra $9 billion into Texas schools starting in 2020, leaving extra money in school districts across the state. It not only bumps up the minimum per student funding amount from $5,140 to $6,030, but also pays for pre-kindergarten for low-income students.
A separate proposal will be debated in the Senate and the two versions will be reconciled in a conference committee closer to when the Texas Legislature will wrap up its work on May 27.
“We wholeheartedly support this piece of legislation which, if passed by the entire Legislature, would provide Fort Worth ISD with another $66 million,” said Clint Bond, spokesman for the school district. “However, if the funds are accompanied by requirements to spend it on mandated items, then those funds might not provide the relief we, or other school districts, are hoping for. So, we await the details.”
Keller school leaders are also keeping an eye on the proposed legislation.
“Keller ISD, like many other districts is hopeful, but HB 3 is far from its final iteration. It’s too early in our budgeting process to know, with certainty, what we would do with the additional funding, but as always, we will first examine the needs that impact student learning to best determine how we would use any additional state revenue,” said Rick Westfall, superintendent of Keller schools.
Here’s a look at how much more money some Tarrant County school districts would receive in 2020 under the House proposal — and if they’ll be impacted by the Robin Hood plan, according to HB 3 estimates.
▪ Arlington: $33 million, or $609 per student.
▪ Carroll: $3.3 million, or $409 per student. This district is scheduled to send $38 million to the state through Robin Hood, but that would drop to $29 million under this plan.
▪ Fort Worth: $66.4 million, or $888 per student. The district said the money would go into the general fund. Fort Worth was not expected to give or receive dollars through the so-called Robin Hood school funding plan.
▪ Grapevine-Colleyville: $5.2 million, or $401 per student. This district was scheduled to send $66 million to the state through Robin Hood, but that drops to $49.8 million under this plan.
▪ Hurst-Euless-Bedford: $7.2 million, or $313 per student. This district was not expected to give dollars through the so-called Robin Hood school funding plan.
▪ Keller: $12 million, or $367 per student. Keller was scheduled to send about $4.9 million in local property tax revenue to the state through Robin Hood. This state plan drops that amount to zero.
▪ Kennedale: $1.8 million, or $615 per student. Kennedale was scheduled to send $196,001 to the state through Robin Hood. That would drop to zero.
▪ Mansfield: $8.8 million, or $261 per student. This district was not expected to give dollars through the so-called Robin Hood school funding plan.
This story was originally published April 3, 2019 at 12:00 AM.
