In This Edition
Features
Texas Lone Star • Volume 31, Number 2
Texas Association of School Boards
P.O. Box 400 • Austin, Texas • 78767-0400
512.467.0222 or 800.580.8272 (toll-free)
Roger White • Managing Editor
Melissa Locke Roberts • Assistant Editor
Denise Schulz • Advertising Coordinator
Kristie Robles • Graphic Designer
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2012-13 TASB Officers
Viola M. Garcia, Aldine ISD, President
Faye Beaulieu, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, President-Elect
Andra Self, Lufkin ISD, Vice-President
Bret Begert, Fort Elliott CISD, Vice-President
Gloria Casas, La Feria ISD, Secretary-Treasurer
Gary W. Inmon, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD,
Immediate Past President
2012-13 TASB Board of Directors
Joe Adams, Katy ISD, Region 4E
Carlos Vasquez, Fort Worth ISD, Region 11B
Oasis or Mirage?........................................... 8
The most pressing need for school districts during the 83rd
legislative session is restoration of funds cut from their budgets during the previous session—about $540 per student
on average. Unfortunately, with the new school finance
ruling, legislators are in no hurry to address major school
finance issues. (Cover art by Brady Severns)
School Finance System Ruled Unconstitutional.... 12
Making Your Point .............................................. 14
Behind the Scenes............................................... 16
TASA/TASB Legislative Conference.................... 18
2013 Legislative Dates of Interest ..................... 18
Project: High Performance......................... 20
When the Texas education commissioner invited 23 school
districts to participate in the Texas High Performance
Schools Consortium last fall, he chose districts that had a
jump on the group’s stated goals: to help develop innovative, next-generation learning standards, assessments, and
accountability systems. Read more about this group.
Departments
Calendar...................................................................................................................... 6
Legal News ................................................................................................................ 22
Technology Today....................................................................................................... 30
News & Events ........................................................................................................... 33
Columns
Editor’s Footnote.......................................................................................................... 5
From the Top ............................................................................................................... 7
Leadership TASB ........................................................................................................ 33
Q & A ........................................................................................................................ 46