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April 21, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
School superintendents are making some serious cash in Texas, despite falling enrollments and flagging student performance, leaving taxpayers wondering what they are getting for their money.
Erin Anderson recently reported on new data from the Texas Education Agency for the 2023-24 school year which shows eight superintendents with salaries above $400,000 and another 81 receiving $300,000 or more.
Texas’ highest-paid school superintendent was again Cypress-Fairbanks ISD’s Mark Henry, who pulled down a base salary of $536,775 before retiring in December 2023.
The lucrative salaries are supplemented by benefits such as allowances for cars, phones, and housing, along with large pension contributions. They often include hefty bonuses as well.
All are provided at taxpayers’ expense.
Superintendent salaries are set by elected school board trustees. The top administrators’ salaries show no correlation to the number of students enrolled in a district or students’ academic performance.
Two districts in the top 20 of superintendent pay are under state-appointed management: Houston ISD and La Joya ISD.
Klein ISD, which paid Superintendent Jenny McGown $404,430 for the 2023-24 school year, had four teachers arrested during that time for sex crimes involving children—including a teacher charged with forcing students into prostitution.
Prosper ISD Superintendent Holly Ferguson received a raise in 2023—from $310,000 to $350,000—plus a $40,000 bonus following revelations that she covered up a bus driver’s arrest for sexually molesting two elementary students. Ferguson is currently under investigation by the Texas Education Agency.
Featured
Big-government apologists are furious that Dan Patrick thinks the Senate should ask more questions about Texas’ property tax system.
No one in the crony establishment—not the bureaucrats, lobbyists, or media shills—likes it when people have the temerity to start asking questions. We’re just supposed to accept the dictates of the status quo without question.
State
A First: Texans to Elect Appraisal District Directors in May
Voters in Texas counties with a population of 75,000 or more will elect three new members to their appraisal district board of directors.
TLR to Help Dade Phelan Raise Money in Houston
The Houston event is part of a series of fundraisers Phelan has hosted after coming in second place to former Orange County GOP Chairman David Covey in the March primary.
State Lawmaker Faces Heat for Employment by Lobbying Firm
State Rep. Gary VanDeaver is currently facing a primary runoff election against Chris Spencer.
Local
Kerrville Residents Sue City Over Controversial Anti-Solicitation Ordinance
The group accused the city of Kerrville of unfairly targeting candidates intent on challenging incumbents.
Houston ISD Expected to Seek Multibillion Dollar Bond
While the district hasn’t said how much a proposed bond would cost, a local paper reported that a recent estimate was for between $3.5 and $5 billion.
Feminist Media Critic to Depart UT-Austin Over DEI Ban
UT Professor Jennifer McClearen also took aim at the state’s lack of COVID restrictions.
HUBRIS: The Texas Kingmakers
They have been called the state’s kingmakers. They are the biggest political force in Texas. Yet, most Texans have no idea who they are, what they want, or even that they exist.
They protect the practice of giving committee chairmanships to Democrats in the GOP-dominated Texas House. They were behind the push to get rid of the Attorney General of Texas. They have quietly weakened pro-life laws and undermined reforms designed to protect children from abuse.
Hubris: the Texas Kingmakers reveals who Texans for Lawsuit Reform really is, and how they're impacting the Lone Star State.
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