A Message from Dr. McFarland

I am reaching out to you today with a sense of urgency regarding our schools and the Texas Legislature. Lawmakers are in a special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott for the purpose of providing private school vouchers, also known as private school subsidies or education savings accounts.

The Governor did not include much-needed school funding on the special session agenda.

Today, the Texas Senate is considering Senate Bill 1 to provide public tax dollars for private school vouchers instead of fully funding public schools.

I cannot overstate the importance of this 30-day special session. It is critical that you pay close attention to the actions our lawmakers take and how those actions will impact your public schools and our community.

Public School Funding

• Texas ranks 43rd in the US in per-student funding.
• Public schools have been impacted by record inflation. Just as you have felt the impact of inflation, we are seeing massive increases in the cost of utilities, fuel, insurance and other expenses necessary for operating our school district.
• Our staff needs cost-of-living adjustments just to keep up with the rising costs of groceries, health care and gas.
• This year, Crowley ISD adopted a deficit budget, and we may be forced to make cuts to student programs and change staffing ratios to increase class sizes next school year.
• The state is sitting on a $33 billion surplus and expects record increases in revenue over the next two years. These increases are more than enough to cover increased funding for public schools and property tax relief.

Private School Vouchers

• Private schools are not held to the same financial or academic accountability standards as public schools.
• Private schools can pick and choose whom to admit.
• Vouchers do not improve student achievement and, in many states, lead to a decline in achievement.

We will be watching closely as the legislature considers these important topics, and we want you to follow along as well.

I encourage you to educate yourselves on these issues and stay engaged. Contact your lawmakers to talk about what your public schools mean to you and how important it is to support our teachers and staff.

You can find out who represents you in the state capitol by going to Who Represents Me? (texas.gov) and typing in your address.

Please thank our legislators for their service to our state and tell them:

• You support public schools and are FOR our school children and teachers in Crowley ISD
• What make you proud of your community's public schools
• A Crowley ISD program that has made a difference in your child's life
• A teacher or staff member who has made a difference in your child's life

• What it means to have Crowley Pride Unified

On behalf of the Crowley ISD Board of Trustees, I want to thank you for entrusting us with your students and giving us the opportunity to partner with you in educating the future of our great state.

Let’s make sure our representatives in Austin know how important our public schools are to our community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael McFarland
Superintendent

Crowley ISD

Front row (L-R): June W. Davis, board member; Nedra Robinson, board secretary;
Kelicia Stevenson, board member; Superintendent Dr. Michael D. McFarland;

Dr. La Tonya Woodson-Mayfield, board president; Gary Grassia, board first vice president

Dr. Mia Hall, second vice president; Daryl R. Davis II, board member