Legislators attack of SBOE, SREC defends SBOE

For Immediate Release: 5-13-09



Members of the SREC shocked at legislature’s attempt to dismantle SBOE



The undersigned members of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) are shocked and dismayed that our elected officials would stealthily attempt to undermine our elected State Board of Education (SBOE) through Budget conference committee amendments and defunding mechanisms which covertly dismantles the authority of the SBOE. As statewide Republican leaders elected by the grassroots of the party, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and defending our state party platform and its ideals. In addition the Texas Constitution establishes the SBOE for specific purposes, such as the administration and oversight of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) which we believe also deserve to be protected and defended by all Texans.

Grassroots Republicans across this state have made it clear that they believe it is in the best interest of education in Texas to hash out matters of education in a separate elected body such as the SBOE. Whether everyone agrees 100% of the time with the decisions of this board is of little importance. The important component is that education issues and textbook adoption, etc. is achieved in an open and thoughtful process by elected officials from districts all across Texas. Legislators want us to believe that that the PSF, textbook adoption and education issues in general will be less politicized if decided by the Legislature every two years. The SBOE meets quarterly every year and provides a process for citizen input as well as expert testimony on a variety of subjects.

We ask our Republican legislators to heed the words of our state Constitution and our platform which states: "We oppose the replacement of textbooks by laptops," and "The SBOE must have sole authority over textbook content and state adoption, and this process must include public hearings. We urge the Legislature to give the State Board of Education authority to establish textbook adoption standards."

We also ask that members of the Budget Conference Committee to vote down any amendments which surreptitiously defund or impede the ability of the SBOE to perform its currently prescribed duties. We specifically ask that the final budget not contain riders that direct cancellation of Proclamations 2011 & 2012 as this is a back door attack on the SBOE’s authority to adopt & review textbooks. Further we respectfully ask that legislators vote against any bills whether in committee or on the floor that seeks the same ends.



Respectfully,



Jason Moore SD 31

Ashlea Quinonez SD 30

Angie King SD 23

Brian Russell SD 14

John Cook SD 2

Russ Duerstine SD 28

Bonnie Lugo SD 13

Peggy Thompson SD 22

Bernice Lewis SD 5

Cathie Adams National Committeewoman RPT

Phyllis Worsham SD 18

Gayla Miller SD 19

Davida Stike, SD 14

Dennis Paul SD 11

Matt Hayes SD 10

Tom Quinones SD 12

Rosemary Roe, SD 4

Jean McIver SD 12

Rex Teter SD 06

Luann Caudle SD 20

Jim Wiggins SD 3

(names available at time of media release)