The Texas comptroller’s office has named the four school districts whose spending it will review: Austin, El Paso, Prosper and Barbers Hill ISDs. Community Impact reports the districts were selected and announced on October 5.
Gov. Greg Abbott requested the review in August and directed Comptroller Don Huffines to examine four districts of varying sizes and geographic locations, citing concerns about administrative spending after the Legislature increased public school funding by $8.4 billion the previous year. The stated aim is to establish whether districts are directing tax dollars to students, teachers and classrooms rather than administration. Districts already under a state appointed board of managers are excluded from the review.
For readers here, the useful fact is a negative one. None of the four districts serving the Lake Houston area is on the list. Humble ISD, New Caney ISD and Sheldon ISD are not part of this review, and neither is Lone Star College. The outcome still matters locally, because a statewide finding about how districts spend state money would shape the funding debate that reaches every district in Texas, including the ones here.
