The three major goals of the Bexar County School Board Presidents' Coalition are:

1. Improve Governance
2. Identify Common Legislative Priorities
3. Collaborate on Areas of Commonality

Improve Governance

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (PDF) plans and obtains sponsorship for the Bexar President Institute.  The purpose of the Institute is to improve student achievement in Bexar County by providing training for the two Coalition representatives from each of the 17 school districts.  The Hispanic Chamber obtains full sponsorship for the training which is offered to the 34 Coalition members at no cost.  The training is conducted by the Center for Reform of School Systems (CRSS).

Inaugural Training was held:

• July 9 – 11, 2005
• Kerrville, Texas
• Sponsors: American City Vista, Bank of America, Ruben Barrera, Barshop, Bear Stears, Bracewell & Patterson, Broadway Bank, Conceptual Mindworks, Cox & Smith, Valerie Finch, Fulbright & Jaworski, HEB, K. Sosa DBA Sosa Cons., Laurel Ridge, Linebarger, Goggan, Fernando Lopez, Martin Marietta, Mission Plus Healthcare, Bobby Perez, Reyes Industries, Cynthia Rocha, SACU, Salute to Education, SBC, Siebert, Brandford Shank, Spurs Sports & Ent., USAA, Valero, Wells Fargo, and Zachry Construction
• Course Instructors:  Center for Reform of School Systems
• Attendees:  11 districts, 11 Trustees

Second Event was held:

• November 18 – 20, 2005
• Kerrville, Texas
• Sponsors: Bank of America, City Public Service, Conceptual Mindworks, Cox & Smith, Firstmark Credit Union, HEB, Linebarger, Goggan Blair, SACU, SBC, The Edouard Foundation, USAA, Valero, Wachovia Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and Zachry Construction
• Course Instructors:  Center for Reform of School System
• Special guests invited by Coalition for best practice discussions:
  • Los Rios Collaborative, presented by Bob Bruggner and Becky Bordelon Riverdeep and Sandra Bloom, Urban Systemic Initiative
  • Smaller Learning Communities, Gary Patterson, Superintendent, East Central ISD
  • Advancement VIA Individual Determination (AVID), Rosemary McKinney, Former AVID District Director, Regional Consultant for AVID
  • National Hispanic Institute, Ernesto Nieto
• Attendees:  13 districts (15 Trustees, 1 Superintendent

 

Common Legislative Priorities

65% rule and school start date.  The Coalition met with and sent letters to express strong opposition to two legislative amendments (PDF) currently being considered in the extraordinary session of the Texas 79th Legislature.  The coalition requested that Legislators not support the whole or any portion of bills or amendments specifying the following:  (1) school districts shall allocate a required set percentage (e.g., at least 65 percent) of the district’s total available revenue to fund direct instructional activities in the District, especially as it relates to foundation and enrichment funding and (2) prohibiting a school district from beginning its instructional school year prior to Labor Day.

Collaboration

Public School Funding Model
The Coalition developed a public school funding model (PDF) that addresses the revenue needs for all districts in Bexar County and through the State. The undersigned members of the Bexar County Coalition of School Board Presidents created the public school funding model as part of its commitment of collaboration and to find a possible solution to the Texas School funding dilemma. The Coalition believes that the public funding model must move from the existing paradigm of equality to a paradigm of opportunity and achievement. The Coalition wants to make sure that every public school in the State of Texas has the financial resources to provide an education for its students that will equip them for success, without requiring that some schools be restricted from providing even more resources for their students where the community is willing to undertake an additional burden

The resolution has been presented to TASB Legislative Advisory Committee Members (LAC), ISD Board meetings, Chamber members, and individual legislatures. The Coalition also held a discussion with the San Antonio Express Editorial Board and a media event to present the Public School Funding Model resolution.