High Plains Report

Critics assail Perry's pick to head state education board

But supporters call Bryan dentist fair and true to principles

By Jason Embry
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Gov. Rick Perry named Bryan dentist Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education on Tuesday, a choice that created immediate controversy.

With thanks to our friends at the venerable Quorum Report...see a note about Lubbock's Bob Craig near the end.

www.quorumreport.com

INSIDE STORY OF SHIRLEY NEELEY LEAVING TEA

Too close to education community for the Governor?

Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley was a victim of the Governor Office's decision to keep an iron-grip on education policy by creating a state agency run by two people.

This was the brainchild of the Governor's Office back in 2004 - some say the idea came directly from chief of staff Mike Toomey - to give Neeley the title of Education Commissioner and let Deputy Commissioner Robert Scott run the agency. If you've ever looked at the agency's organizational chart, that point becomes abundantly clear. All roads at the agency point to Scott.

Notable priorities:

- Initiatives taken by school districts to increase efficiency and quality of education through innovative measures such as shared services.      

Not only does the Texas Constitution require lawmakers to craft an equitable public school system, it's the right thing to do. We have one public school system in Texas to educate the next generation of leaders.

History shows us that greatness can grow from humble beginnings, and its our job to make sure everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their zip code.

It was with that in mind that rural and urban lawmakers, representing the needs of both rich and poor, crafted a school finance solution that will better serve all Texans.

This latest special session was enormously successful. Poor school districts will have access to more money than ever before, and wealthy districts will be able to keep much more of the money they generate locally.

I recognize that I am the most junior members of the House and for me to speak in this manner, I know, is highly unusual.  However, this may be the only opportunity I have to address this body on a matter that I feel is of utmost importance and lies deep within my heart.  In fact, what I am about to say to you, I believe, is so important that I am going to read it rather than speak freely as I am accustomed to doing.

HB1 is a good bill.  I am wholeheartedly behind reducing and restraining the growth on the egregious burden of property taxes in Texas.  I was glad to vote for it.  Carl stayed up way past his bedtime to watch the passage of HB1 and be a part of this historic legislation which you all have worked so hard on.

PROCLAMATION BY THE Governor of the State of Texas TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: WHEREAS, education is the foundation for the economic and cultural future of the state of Texas and the constitutional responsibility for the development of an efficient system of public education rests with the legislature; and WHEREAS, the current state of public school finance requires immediate action by the legislature to ensure the continued efficient and effective operation of Texas schools due to the Texas Supreme Court's conclusion that the public education finance system violates article VIII, section 1-e of the Texas Constitution and the Texas Supreme Court has given the legislature until June 1, 2006 to change the public education finance system.; and WHEREAS, the people have placed the constitutional power to call and convene the legislature into special session in the hands of the Chief Executive Officer of the State; NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, by the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, do hereby call an extraordinary session of the 79th Legislature, to be convened in the city of Austin, commencing at 2 p.m.

The state surplus has hit $8.2 billion, an amount so large that it could tempt lawmakers to forego a major tax overhaul as they begin a special session today focused on paying for school finance.

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