The members of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) were sworn in by Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday, February 3, as the state debates public education and school choice.
With nine returning and six new members, the state school board has not only expanded its Republican majority, it has also grown noticeably more conservative.
Although initially scheduled to begin on January 31, the severe icy weather delayed the SBOE from gathering until February 2. The board then engaged in a marathon session which lasted until after 10 p.m., during which members debated internal rules and discussed various matters.
Most notably, the SBOE voted to consider removing anti-school choice language from its legislative priorities for the 88th legislative session, as reported by The Dallas Express.
A performance by a student band opened the meeting, followed by an invocation offered by school board member Tom Maynard.
Chairman of the SBOE Kevin Ellis then gave brief remarks before introducing Gov. Abbott, who would be swearing in the members.
“I do truly believe that each of you has been elected to the most important office in the state of Texas — all due respect, governor,” Ellis said.
“I would not want to trade places,” Gov. Abbott responded as the crowd laughed.
“Not only are we guiding the education of the 5.4 million students of Texas, but the strong education policies approved by this board are also often followed by many other states in this nation.”
Sen. Mayes Middleton, Rep. Briscoe Cain, and Mike Morath, the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), were also in attendance.
“Let me start out by saying congratulations to everybody here,” Gov. Abbott opened his brief remarks to the SBOE members.
“You have been elected to a position that is one of the most consequential in this state,” the governor continued. “These legislators behind me, myself, everybody in the capitol, we have multiple goals — one of the primary ones, if not the primary one, is making sure the next generation is better than we are.”
“We need to recognize — all of us — from the top, side, to bottom … we need to recognize we all need to do better,” Abbott claimed. “Anybody who thinks we’ve done an adequate job in educating our kids are not seeing the results of what is happening in our classrooms.”
After indicating that the legislature would emphasize “more money for public education, more money for teachers, and definitely making schools safer for our kids,” Abbott stressed that funding alone would not solve the problems.
“It’s a mathematical, proven fact that more money does not always lead to better results,” the governor asserted. “We must do better, period.”
“We will get back to basics. Our kids deserve it. Our kids need it. The future of our state depends on our students getting better at math and reading.”
“We’re Texas, and in Texas, it’s not good enough to be 10th or 20th. There’s only one number that matters if you’re a Texan — number one,” the governor quipped. “If you come to work any day, thinking that our goal is anything other than being number one, you’re doing it the wrong way.”
“If we’re all in on this together, we can achieve this goal,” Abbott concluded before administering the oath.
Abbott, who has previously been vocal in his support of school choice, did not mention the issue in his address, however, contradicting the expectations of some observers.
Texas has seen growing calls among voters and elected officials to pass school choice legislation in the ongoing session, with various proposals allowing taxpayer money to pay for private school options. Opponents of school choice, however, suggest that doing so would strip public schools of vital funds.
While noble causes are to be commended, hope the SBOE keeps in mind that the teachers that are so deserving are compensated accordingly and emphasis is placed on the education and well being of the children.
My parents were both teachers. The average teacher works about 1200 hours a year. The average employee in every other trade works 2000 hours a year. Teachers earn about 62,000 a year in public schools after 7 years or so. Therefore teachers earn the equivalent of 103,000 a year, have one of the highest benefit and retirement systems in the USA, guaranteed employment and the BEST lifelong insurance packages in the nation. More money for teachers has never been the answer.
The proof? the average private school teacher has less benefits, longer days and longer years, earns only $46,400 per year and their students have higher scores by far on every type of exam given. Money for teachers is NOT THE ANSWER, not even part of the question.
It used to be having ANY government job meant lower pay, better benefit and guaranteed employment with reasonable retirement and full medical. Today all government employees want the highest and best of everything and the guaranteed job. Time to end the madness and fix the problem and teachers salaries are not part of that equation.
Part of the equation is ending the education system dive into creating social change in any way and making them to their job: teaching the basics at an internationally high level to give the tools for students to succeed in a global climate.
School will succeed when we get rid of this testing. It’s amazing how teachers taught. We have one test the Iowa test. Not these money making test.
Until parents step up and vote this mess out of teachers lesson plan children In Texas will exceed in the “3 R” plus STEM, Civic and Language. We will succeed, that’s the education we lost with greedy politicians.