BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – With the 89th Texas Legislature just around the corner, Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Karabin sat down with News Three’s Anna Maynard to discuss issues important to her district. .
Karabin outlined four major legislative priorities for the district: school finance, school safety, addressing the teacher shortage and overhauling the state accountability system.
One of the main issues they focus on is that of school finance.
Texas public school districts have not received increases in their base allocations, the amount of money districts receive per student, since 2019.
“We can’t do that with 2019 dollars, so we just level the playing field. Whatever the voucher amount is, we hope it’s not less than that,” Karabin explained.
Increasing funding for schools would address many other issues facing school districts, she said. He added that it is difficult to attract “good talent” when wages do not keep up with inflation.
“We want to take care of all our staff: teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, we have to pay them a livable wage so they can also keep up with inflation. So this cannot happen unless we adjust the school funding formula.”
In November 2024, the College Station ISD Board of Trustees passed a list of legislative priorities.
Like Bryan ISD, the district focused primarily on the need for increased funding for public schools. But College Station ISD took a firm stand against vouchers.
Superintendent Tim Harkrider asked, “What does this mean for the state of education in Texas given our track record of educational failure and the state being billions of dollars in debt?” did.
Superintendent Karabin said he has discussed the district’s priorities with incoming state Reps. Paul Dyson and Trey Wharton.
“And they have committed to listening to the feedback we gave them and bringing our legislative priorities to Austin.
She said she feels optimistic about the conversations they’ve had and hopes their relationship will continue to be strong.
“We have to trust that they will make decisions that will benefit all children in public schools, not just private schools,” she added.
The 89th Texas General Assembly convenes on January 14th.
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