gold_33
11-30-2007, 07:49 PM
This is a really big story in Wimberley right now. We do not have enough money to support our own school district yet we still have to pay out money. I really think its a dumb law and if we are in debt already why should we pay out money.
Wimberley ISD could layoff teachers in battle with TEA
05:53 PM CST on Friday, November 30, 2007
By JESSICA VESS
KVUE News
The Wimberley school district warns it could be forced to layoff teachers. WISD is struggling to find a way to pay nearly $2.3 million to the Texas Education Association (TEA).
Since a state law passed in 1993 wealthier districts across Texas were forced to share tax money with poorer districts.
"It was something passed by the state legislature to equalize funding, said Debbie Ratcliffe of the TEA.
Four years ago the Wimberley district hit that wealth level. Since then, the TEA says the district has made its payments, but over the past year Wimberley has gone up in value, and that means the district now owes more money -- money the district says it doesn't have.
"In our budget process this summer we realized very quickly that we will be bankrupt in two years and so I actually made the first call to TEA and asked them, could they help us; could we have a waiver," said Liz Tuttle, Wimberley school board trustee.
Tuttle says the district is about $600,000 short.
Yet, in Wimberley the money isn't actually tangible. That's because the wealth margin is based on the recent increases in property values. School district officials say that's money they don't actually have so they may have to cut their budget in other places.
"The bottom line is in order for us to balance our budget, we're going to have to cut teachers. We have cut our budget to the bare bones," said Dwain York, WISD Superintendent.
Wimberley homeowners say its not fair.
"I feel like it should be kept in the Wimberley area, I feel like it shouldn't be sent elsewhere," said Steve Henry, Wimberley homeowner,
"I think the district has cut everything down as far as they possibly can and even more to the point the teachers buy a lot of things out of their pocket and they don't even get pay raises. It's really sad, and the children are suffering because of it, said Adelle Turpen, homeowner in Wimberley.
If the money isn't paid, the district could be shut down and the students would be sent to neighboring districts. Wimberley is in talks with the TEA to find a solution and prevent that from happening. The district has until February 15th to make the payment and may work out an installment payment plan with the TEA. It has already sent the TEA paperwork detailing a potential payment plan.
Link (http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/113007kvuewimberleytax-bm.5520595a.html)
Wimberley ISD could layoff teachers in battle with TEA
05:53 PM CST on Friday, November 30, 2007
By JESSICA VESS
KVUE News
The Wimberley school district warns it could be forced to layoff teachers. WISD is struggling to find a way to pay nearly $2.3 million to the Texas Education Association (TEA).
Since a state law passed in 1993 wealthier districts across Texas were forced to share tax money with poorer districts.
"It was something passed by the state legislature to equalize funding, said Debbie Ratcliffe of the TEA.
Four years ago the Wimberley district hit that wealth level. Since then, the TEA says the district has made its payments, but over the past year Wimberley has gone up in value, and that means the district now owes more money -- money the district says it doesn't have.
"In our budget process this summer we realized very quickly that we will be bankrupt in two years and so I actually made the first call to TEA and asked them, could they help us; could we have a waiver," said Liz Tuttle, Wimberley school board trustee.
Tuttle says the district is about $600,000 short.
Yet, in Wimberley the money isn't actually tangible. That's because the wealth margin is based on the recent increases in property values. School district officials say that's money they don't actually have so they may have to cut their budget in other places.
"The bottom line is in order for us to balance our budget, we're going to have to cut teachers. We have cut our budget to the bare bones," said Dwain York, WISD Superintendent.
Wimberley homeowners say its not fair.
"I feel like it should be kept in the Wimberley area, I feel like it shouldn't be sent elsewhere," said Steve Henry, Wimberley homeowner,
"I think the district has cut everything down as far as they possibly can and even more to the point the teachers buy a lot of things out of their pocket and they don't even get pay raises. It's really sad, and the children are suffering because of it, said Adelle Turpen, homeowner in Wimberley.
If the money isn't paid, the district could be shut down and the students would be sent to neighboring districts. Wimberley is in talks with the TEA to find a solution and prevent that from happening. The district has until February 15th to make the payment and may work out an installment payment plan with the TEA. It has already sent the TEA paperwork detailing a potential payment plan.
Link (http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/113007kvuewimberleytax-bm.5520595a.html)