TASB Talks

Matt Mitchell and Dax Gonzalez recap a busy txEDCON24, including the SBAN luncheon and Delegate Assembly. Then, they discuss what other advocacy events are around the corner.

TASB Talks returns from hiatus, as host Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez, Division Director of TASB Governmental Relations. Dax provides an update on what's been going on in the legislative interim, and what trustees can be doing in the last few months leading up to the session. He also discusses recent meetings held by the Senate Finance Committee and the State Board of Education. Finally,...

In this episode, Kay is joined by Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield, TASB deputy executive director and Esperanza Orosco, TASB board development consultant and Hays CISD board member, to discuss building strong relationships between trustees and parents. Get practical advice and strategies to effectively engage with parents, leading to improved collaboration, trust, and educational outcomes. We also discuss...

The Legislature has adjourned, but a special session is already underway. We're here to recap some of the public-education-related bills that passed during the regular session.  First, we note that despite a $33 billion budget surplus, there was no increase in the basic allotment.  HB 3, school safety, includes several new requirements for school districts. It does include a small per-student allo...

"The last train out of Dodge" for vouchers this session is House Bill 100. The bill was passed in the House as a school finance bill. Earlier this week though, the Senate added a voucher program to the bill and made other changes. In its current form in the Senate, HB 100: Includes a $1.8 billion voucher/education savings account program. Increases the basic allotment by $50. Includes additional f...

Kay and Dax discuss the House Public Education Committee's discussion and vote on Senate Bill 8 (vouchers and testing.)  Get TASB's Legislative Report for regular updates on the legislative session. Sign up at  gr.tasb.org . Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for  Texans for Strong Public Schools .  © 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The House passed HB 100, school finance. Kay and Dax discuss what's in the bill, including changes to the basic allotments and other allotments. We also cover updates to budget negotiations and property tax relief.  Get TASB's Legislative Report for daily updates on the legislative session. Sign up at  gr.tasb.org . Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for  Texans for Strong Publ...

This week, we discuss the happenings in the Texas Legislature: Dueling property tax relief proposals Both chambers have passed their budget proposals and will now begin negotiations  Voucher bills are still pending in the House Public Education Committee and could be voted on at any time The Senate passed SB 11, school safety Get TASB's Legislative Report for daily updates on the legislative sessi...

On this week's TASB Talks, Kay and Dax discuss: The House Public Education Committee's discussion last week on several voucher bills The difference between the House and Senate's property tax relief plans The budget proposals from each chamber and what they include for public education Library book bills  Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report to get updates on the session: https://signup.e2ma.net/...

Last week was a busy one in the Texas Legislature. The Senate passed: SB 8, a voucher bill SB 9, the "teacher bill of rights" SB 175, community censorship Meanwhile, the House rejected vouchers during its budget debate. Get the details and learn what you need to know for next week.  Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report at  gr.tasb.org .  Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get...

Last week, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 8 (vouchers) and SB 9 (teacher bill of rights). The bills have not yet gone to the full Senate.  The House Public Education Committee took up several bills last week, including HB 2890, which would change the number of votes needed for the State Board of Education to veto a charter application from a majority to two-thirds.  State Senate Affairs...

Last week, the Senate Education Committee heard several voucher/education savings account (ESA) bills, including SB 8. This bill is estimated to cost Texans $1 billion.  TASB commissioned a poll on ESAs and found that 55% of Texans reported being less likely to support vouchers knowing that these proposals would give private schools, not parents, the right to choose.  We also share updates on the...

Kay and Dax journey through last week's happenings and talk about what's to come this week. Learn more about: Senate Bill 175 on "taxpayer funded lobbying" a.k.a. community censorship was discussed last week Conversations on property tax reduction continue Legislation related to teachers, including an across-the-board pay raise, will be heard in Senate Ed this week Senate Ed will also be focused o...

Things are starting to pick up in the Legislature with House and Senate committees meeting regularly. Kay and Dax discuss: Enrollment vs. attendance-based school funding House priority bills School safety The legislative process Accountability of voucher (education savings account) programs Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at Str...

This week we've seen Gov. Abbott travel around the state to promote education savings accounts. Kay and Dax discuss: What is an education savings account and is it any different from a voucher? Can public schools really be fully funded if vouchers are implemented? House and Senate education committee meetings  The Teacher Vacancy Taskforce recommendations ©2023 Texas Association of School Boards,...

Get all the info you need on public ed and the 88th Texas Legislature with our weekly Lege Update episodes! Our first weekly update covers: House and Senate Education Committees Gov. Abbott's emergency items (and what that means) Texas school leaders at the Capitol Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox! https://bit.ly/3cxTKME  

We discuss the happenings from the first few days of the 88th Texas Legislature, how trustees can stay informed, and upcoming TASB advocacy conferences.  Register for the Texas Federal Advocacy Conference and the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference: https://events.tasb.org/?type=GOVR&view=list   Sign up for Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://www.texansforstrongpublicschools.org/subscribe.aspx...

The next legislative session begins Jan. 10. Here's what school board members, administrators, and public school advocates need to know before it begins.  Sign up for Texans for Strong Public Schools action alerts: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0   Register to attend the Texas Federal Advocacy Conference, Feb. 6-7 in Washington, D.C., and the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference, Feb. 21 in Austin: https://bit...

Political family to rock star to pilot to cultural diplomat isn't your typical career trajectory. But Ravi Hutheesing, whose great uncle was the first prime minister of India, knows the importance of being able to pivot in life. On this episode, he shares some of his experiences with us, and talks about how we can nurture talent and curiosity in students, giving them the skills to become lifelong...

"What if you just listen to each other?" J. Michael Hall is the founder of Strong Fathers Strong Families and facilitates workshops between schools and parents across the state and country. He talks with Kay about the importance of transparency and communication. Mike will be the preconference speaker at Summer Leadership Institute, taking place June 15-18 in San Antonio and June 29-July 2 in Fort...

Dax Gonzalez, TASB Governmental Relations division director, joins us to discuss the issues public schools are facing right now and headed into the next legislative session.  TASB just wrapped up its Grassroots Meetings, one of the first steps in determing the Association's Advocacy Agenda. The meetings are held across the state and all public school leaders have a chance to participate and let th...

Lizzie Velasquez was born with a rare congenital disease—very rare, in fact. She's now a global motivational speaker, anti-bullying activist, and author.  Lizzie joins Kay to talk about being bullied in school, overcoming obstacles, and her advice to educators about dealing with bullying (it may surprise you). She'll be a general session speaker at TASB's Governance Camp, happening March 2-5 in Ga...

As a kid, Victor Rios was a dropout who lived on the streets. Now he's a MacArthur Foundation chair and professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, researching how educators can empower young people from marginalized groups. His TED Talk, "Help for Kids the Education System Ignores," has more than 1.4 million views.  Dr. Rios joins TASB Talks to share some of his persona...

Kay chats with Dr. Dan Troxell, TASB's executive director, about his first 100 days on the job and his plans looking forward. He discusses: What he's learned about school board service TASB's grassroots advocacy process Words of wisdom for educators Follow Dan on Twitter @DanTroxellTASB .  ©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.