Fort Bend ISD is taking a wait-and-see approach to the announcement Texas is about to receive $380 million in federal funding for public schools, saying it is too soon to know if the money will help ease the district’s looming budget shortfall.
On Friday, Gov. Rick Perry said the U.S. Department of Education had approved the state’s application for $830 million in federal funding for Texas schools.
Fort Bend ISD Chief Financial Officer Tracy Hoke said it was too soon for district officials to know how the state would disburse the money to local districts.
“It is our understanding that the federal education funds will be applied to the shortfall this biennium,” said Hoke. “The district is unsure of how the allocation of the award will impact the state funding allocation to public schools during the upcoming biennium—so it is just too early to tell.”
The funding had been withheld by the U.S. Department of Education for the past nine months after U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) attached an amendment to the 2010 federal education jobs bill that imposed special requirements on Texas to obtain the grant money. Those same standards were not applied to the other 49 states.
Perry and much of the state’s GOP leadership took the position that meeting the additional requirements would have resulted in a violation of the Texas Constitution.
Doggett’s amendment was subsequently repealed by a provision in the federal budget bill passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this month. That, in turn, paved the way for the release of the funding.
Perry called the Department of Education’s decision to release the money “a victory for Texas schools.”
Race? what does race have to do with this particular situation? I do not deal in the ridiculous or delusional; only the factual–so, do not try to undermine the creditable of my commentary with the ridiculous and delusional. In those instances in which I discerned racial disparity it was warranted. Furthermore, I shall not be moved from pinpointing it as such if embedded and discernible.
However, this is not one of those instances. If indeed, it were a disparate treatment issue related to race, gender, age, etc. I would call it out and say so. I do not need absurd reminders if the issue is unrelated to disparity.
I speak facts as they are and/or occur. I’m not into nonsense; deceit; delusion; make-believe; or fantasy. So since you have no equitable, befitting rebuttal, silence will do. The fact that you have inserted a question that is not discernible in this particular instance is indicative that you do not have a compatible response to my commentary; and since you do not, silence is in order. Consequently, if you dodge the question by not providing an equitable response, we can definitely discern what that is “really” about as well as what it is “not” about.
are you telling me to hush?
Yes, true—there are many comments lodged against FBISD and its BOT. However Mr. Watcher, since, obviously the comments have not affected change for the better, why do you watch, Mr. Watcher? Your team is still winning. What do you get from watching the losing team?
Mr. Jenny has a long running contract. And although it has been stated that Jenny does not make a lot of money compared to some other Texas superintendents, yet, he seems not to be looking elsewhere. The BOT remains stagnant and unresponsive to the citizenry. The citizens keep voting for change, but it does not come and the same type folks needing to be changed remain undefeated or some just like what we already have become elected when better opponents are also running.
So Mr. Watcher why are you watching those of us who comment counter to your opinion? Our opinions have no bearing to bring about an improvement; it they did, we’d have improvement by now. You need not be obsessed with watching us make comments to no avail, your group is still in the winning seat; it is baffling, but they continue to rule and maintain the status quo blasé and unaffected by any of our comments. Oh, maybe you have become bored with winning all the time so you come trifle with us and play Ring Around the Rosie with us regarding comments not favorable to FBISD and its BOT. You cannot have everything your way by winning all the times; yet, still wanting us to make nice comments while being on the losing end in being pitch forked and continuing to have to endure bad policy; bad rulings; bad decisions; and bad all around governance at our expense, to boot. No fair Mr. Watcher, go watch your team and leave us alone.
What no you’re a racist comment?
Kaiser roll, since when has the school district taken out loans for anything but the big non-campus based building projects the supt. keeps pushing every other year for certain district contractors? If Jenney could manage the 1.6 billion dollar long-term debt he incurred during his bloated and over-paid administration (360k/yr) then perhaps he wouldn’t be cutting almost 1000 teacher positions out over the last 2 years and hurting the children of this district via more over-crowded classrooms. Remember the 1.6 billion dollar debt was amassed for certain companies, several who have direct representation on the current BOT and is costing the operations budget 54 million a year and helping to cause these RIFs that you are so supportive of as a “teacher hater”. It’s time this borrow, tax and spender supt. be given his RIF papers and perhaps a few of his Va. bunch too. He has created more asst supt. positions than any previous supt for this district and with the blessings of this vendor board.
you make several good points such as “vendor board” and “teacher hater.” I don’t doubt that several companies have made big money off the mis-management of the Katy area ISD’s and the whole town of Katy itself by Katy’s incompetent civil servants. I really think the only way to solve this problem is fire the Supt. and raise Katy ISD taxes by 50% at least so that these teachers won’t be fired.
Katy? Are you paying any attention at all?
it’s a sad day for Texas when we have to take handouts from the Obama gov’t. Fort Bend should stand up and be the first county to reject these pathetic handouts. we look like a bum on the street with a cup in our hand.
Explain that to the hundreds of school employees who are losing their jobs through no fault of their own.
coporations lay-off hundreds of people all the time when it is no longer economically feasible to keep them on. just because it is a gov’t job doesn’t mean it is a job for life. how does an organization keep an employee they can no longer afford to pay without taking out loans they cannot afford to pay in the future?
It happens when you a have “big spender” board who loves to spend more money than they have.
I’m suprised you don’t know this Mr. Attaway.
How did you know I am secretly Mr Attaway? gonna have to change my log in name now…
Except those that take the Obama handouts and/or bailouts in order to turn a profit….
but its not too early for the FBISD bashers.
Actually, Watcher, it’s already TOO LATE for the FBISD “bashers” … FBISD has run its OWN SHIP AGROUND
FBISD has MIS-managed its funding and tax revenues for YEARS now … FBISD has received INCREASING revenues every year and yet this district has declared Financial emergencies the last 2 years ????
its never too late for the FBISD bashers, its a sport for some.
Have you been away at sea the past 7-8 years or something? Or are you just related to one of the mismanagers?
watcher
The problem is NOT the FBISD “bashers” as you refer to them … the PROBLEM is FBISD and the painfully obvious MISMANAGEMENT of funding by this district and Mr Jenney
Well when you have knickle heads like Daniel Menedez that doesn’t even know they have deficits for the last 4 years, that really says it all.
whats a nickle head?
Someone with more cents than you apparently….
maybe but not more sense.
The Watcher strikes again! you and The Lurker should join forces to create some kind of Super Gang.
what’s the gang sign, before
I committ?
an eyeball with a white-contrasted man standing (more of a sneaky stance, not like superman straight-up) in the pupil. you two will need to choose your own gadget/weapon/power that is most effective at stopping FBISD/BOT haters and Missouri City home-invaders.
Stopping the FBISD/BOT haters and Missouri City home invaders could be a full time job. Would this be an elected position? If it is, I want to run against veiwpoint.
It’s also too early to tell how FBISD plans to squander the money.