Of the many needs facing Texas schools, security is near the top of the list. With a vast budget surplus, the Texas Legislature needs to prioritize this and other education needs.extra $27 billionThat’s a good thing, especially if lawmakers prioritize the monumental needs of our schools. In the aftermath of the pandemic and the murders ofat Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, adequate public school funding has taken on a heightened level of urgency.
Schools need to hire and retain teachers, better ensure safety and shore up mental health resources. These are each costly efforts for cash-strapped schools, but the state’s coffers are brimming. While Gov. Greg Abbott and others have promised property tax cuts — something we support — funding these education needs must come first.Brian Woods, superintendent of Northside Independent School District and president of the Texas School Alliance, wrote about the dichotomy of a state flush with cash while public schools go wanting.
One of those needs is better school security. As San Antonio Police Chief William McManus pointed out in a July Express-News guest column, school shooters don’t break into campuses. As with the one in Uvalde,Since Uvalde, many a politician has used the phrase “hardening schools.” The wording makes us bristle because we should aspire to live in a world in which schools are not targets for massacres — and commonsense gun safety reforms are embraced.
Schools are flush with cash. Financial reports are online for each district. See for yourself. Instead, property tax relief. Let parents spend more time with their kids rather than trying to earn more money. Or do you not care about kids?