Lewisville Leader > News
LISD adopts resolution to oppose private school plan
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
The Lewisville ISD Board of Trustees on Monday adopted a resolution that calls for legislators to “reject all attempts to divert public dollars away from public schools in the form of vouchers, taxpayer savings grants, tax credits, or any other mechanisms that have the effect of reducing funding to public schools.”
Specifically, the board opposes a plan led by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston), which received support from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. A specific bill has not yet been filed.
Among other things, the plan calls for businesses to receive tax incentives for funding scholarships to private schools.
Board members Julie Foughty and Trisha Sheffield said the resolution is important and said problems exist with the plan. Foughty said it takes tax money that would go toward public schools and puts it into private schools.
"If someone receives a voucher to go to a private school, then that's less money for LISD and other districts," Foughty said. "Right now, we're already underfunded."
Sheffield said the money would only cover a small portion of the tuition anyway.
"It becomes a coupon for people to go to a private school," Sheffield said. "They say that it helps failing schools. But if it's for, say, $5,100 ... show me a private school you can get into for $5,100."
Foughty said another problem is that private schools don't have to follow the same mandates and accountability system as public schools do.
"If public money is going to private schools, then they need to meet the same standards," Foughty said.
The plan also calls for increasing the cap on the number of charter schools, which Foughty said would take money away from public schools even more.
It also calls for a change to the state’s testing system.
Sheffield said she is afraid the plan may gain traction since many people support changing the testing system.
Representatives from Patrick’s office did not return calls to The Leader.
Specifically, the board opposes a plan led by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston), which received support from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. A specific bill has not yet been filed.
Among other things, the plan calls for businesses to receive tax incentives for funding scholarships to private schools.
Board members Julie Foughty and Trisha Sheffield said the resolution is important and said problems exist with the plan. Foughty said it takes tax money that would go toward public schools and puts it into private schools.
"If someone receives a voucher to go to a private school, then that's less money for LISD and other districts," Foughty said. "Right now, we're already underfunded."
Sheffield said the money would only cover a small portion of the tuition anyway.
"It becomes a coupon for people to go to a private school," Sheffield said. "They say that it helps failing schools. But if it's for, say, $5,100 ... show me a private school you can get into for $5,100."
Foughty said another problem is that private schools don't have to follow the same mandates and accountability system as public schools do.
"If public money is going to private schools, then they need to meet the same standards," Foughty said.
The plan also calls for increasing the cap on the number of charter schools, which Foughty said would take money away from public schools even more.
It also calls for a change to the state’s testing system.
Sheffield said she is afraid the plan may gain traction since many people support changing the testing system.
Representatives from Patrick’s office did not return calls to The Leader.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News