Episode 107: School Finance in the Balance
School finance is
on everybody's mind in Austin. Everyone has ideas about how to fix public
education. It's unclear who wants to pay for it.
We'll explore this issue, starting with a day-in-the-life of public
schools in Comfort, Texas.
Panelists:
- Dr. Cathy Bryce, Highland Park ISD
- F. Scott McCown, executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities
- Harvey Kronberg, Quorum Report and News 8 Austin
Dr.
Cathy Bryce
Highland Park ISD Dr. Cathy Bryce’s remarkable
educational career is solidly grounded in her conviction that all children
deserve an outstanding education. Her range of service in rural and
suburban districts across the state allows her to see the broad challenges
and opportunities facing school children today.
Dr. Bryce began her career 30 years ago as a choir and English teacher in Arapaho, Okla. She stands out as a leader in education, being named Texas Superintendent of the Year for American Association of School Administrators in 2000, the same year that she served as secretary, treasurer and board member for the Equity Center, an organization devoted to ensuring an equal education for all children in Texas.
Today,
as a member of the Texas Association of School Administrators Legislative
Committee, she works hard every day to advocate for all of the students
in the state’s public schools.
F.
Scott McCown
Recently named one
of “The 25 Most Powerful People in Texas Politics,” by Texas
Monthly Magazine, F. Scott McCown, executive director of the Center
for Public Policy Priorities, has been involved in public policy for
over 20 years. Before coming to the center, Scott was a state district
judge for 14 years, presiding over some of our state’s most difficult
cases, including the public school finance cases.
Scott is a child
welfare expert, having presided over a child-abuse docket for a decade
and also having served as a juvenile judge and on the Travis County
Juvenile Board. In 1997, Judge McCown petitioned the Governor and 76th
Legislature for additional funds for child protection. As a result of
his efforts, the state appropriated $200 million more for Child Protective
Services. Scott earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in 1976 from
Texas Christian University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, with Honors,
in 1979 from The University of Texas School of Law.
Harvey
Kronberg
Harvey Kronberg is the publisher and editor of the Quorum Report. QR
is an online news source publishing news about state government and
politics in real time. Kronberg started as a contract writer in 1989
and bought
the publication in 1998 at which point it was transformed from a biweekly
print publication to an online news service.
More about this topic:
- Texas ISD.com - The Homepage For Texas School Officials
- Suggested
HB 2 Talking Points for Superintendents
This is an extensive list extracted from HB2 and will be very helpful for those of you having meetings with your representatives today or Monday.
[ Download/View File ] from TexasISD.com (March 7, 2005) - GOP
is feeling heat on 2 House bills
by Jason Embry, Austin American-Statesman, March 7, 2005 - Educators
balk at school-reform bill
by Terence Stutz of The Dallas Morning News (registration required) - The
Education Deficit in the Lone Star State
by Christopher Hammons, Texas Public Policy Foundation (March 22, 2005) - Craddick,
House Pass Historic Reform HB2 Represents Academic Victory For All Texans
Texas Public Policy Foundation (March 9, 2005) - Review
Suggests Money Not Issue at Low-Performing Houston Schools
by Houston AP (March 6, 2005) - Senate
Begins Education Debate
by Adam Covici, The Daily Texan (March 21, 2005) - Gambling
is Back on the Table
by W. Gardner Selby, Austin American-Statesman (March 21, 2005) - Listen
to the Prophet
by Jake Bernstein, The Texas Observer (March 18, 2005) - Districts
Tired of Playing Nice about School Finance
by Kim Breen, The Dallas Morning News (registration required) - New
TAKS Scores Worry State Officials
by Joshua Benton, The Dallas Morning News (registration required) - Overath:
When testing interferes with learning
by Maryann Overath, Austin American-Statesman (registration required)
