Socorro ISD approves resolution calling for equitable school funding

Socorro Independent School District has every intention of being heard in Austin next year. At Tuesday night’s board meeting, the board unanimously approved a resolution promising to lobby our local legislators.

The goal is to bring equity to how school districts are funded. The lawsuit they’re supporting is hundreds school districts versus the State of Texas. Socorro is one of the plaintiffs. Their issue is that certain school districts get more money per student than others.

The board agreed with the plaintiffs, the way Texas funds its school districts is unfair. For example, according the American Federation of Teachers, based on property taxes and the make-up of student populations, schools districts in central Texas could get up to $8,000 per student, whereas Borderland schools like Socorro, get $5,700 per student.

This means borderland students are stuck in larger classrooms, with less resources, and less opportunities to get to succeed in college, according to AFT.

During the meeting, AFT members asked the SISD board to promise to fight for equitable funding by signing a resolution, which they did.

“We hope the message gets to Austin,” said Tony Ayub, SISD Board secretary.

“The good thing is most of our senators are on board,” said AFT member Lilly Ruiz. The next goal is trying to get the rest of Texas on board.”

The union said one of the ways to get equitable funding is to first get education funding back to the level it was in 2011, which is when it was cut by $5.4 billion. In 2013 they restored $3.4 billion.

Lawmakers get back to work in Austin on January 13th.