Metroplex
Sponsored by

Potential Keller ISD split

4,642 Views | 52 Replies | Last: 7 days ago by MByrd03
Decay
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Trucker 96 said:

The overall system has issues, but there is no way the math works that this would somehow save $$$ and resolve a budget issue. That's a farce. Trying a backdoor move to slice off the poor folk in the district is what it is.

I'm not talking about KISD. I am talking about vouchers.
Trucker 96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I can't remember the issue several years ago, but there was some sort of Keller vs Wautaga/Birdville district controversy. The Keller folks came off so poorly. My wife and I still joke about some bedazzled speaker at the board meeting pleading for them to "Keep Keller classy"
Trucker 96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I wasn't replying to you. Just commentary on the whole thing
Stive
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Whenever the claim "my taxes should follow my kid" is made, I'm always curious how far that should be taken. What other tax aspects should follow you? Should your city and sales taxes only be for your roads? Should your income taxes help you proportionately more than someone that pays less? More federal aid (assuming a natural disaster) for your zip code or neighborhood than for a neighborhood in south Dallas?

double aught
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Yep, exactly.

Public schools need work. They are nowhere near as bad as some naysayers make them out to be, but they need work. And the answer isn't to cut funding. That's like cutting funds to the local fire dept because they're not performing to your standards.

But, this is a bit of a thread detail. Sorry.
Decay
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
"public schools need work" but let's keep on keeping on downwards forever with the status quo! Wee!
Hincemm
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Been in Southlake 10' years now and wonder what makes this district exceptional (came from Mansfield ISD, which isn't bad imo). Is it wealth, teacher quality, parent involvement, something else, all of the above?

I'm just a caveman when it comes to this stuff and I'm sure there's book out there that addresses this
NomadicAggie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
They said at the meeting that funding per student would increase in Alliance ISD compared to what it is presently (although not by much). I think this has more to do with debt, as it is the schools on the west side of 377 that have been building new facilities and taking on the debt. So yes, in essence, the folks on the east side are subsidizing the west. Those facilities were not built in Keller proper.

Race baiters love making this into a class warfare issue. Gets a lot more clicks and pissed off people.
nai06
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
As I understand it, the other issue is property taxes and density. So while the new district would have less students per school (and less state funding), the difference would likely be made up with the increased value from property taxes.

Trucker 96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Okay, but still, taking a macro vs micro view, it is still an idea that does nothing but raise the overall cost of educating this group of students.
powerbelly
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Hincemm said:

Been in Southlake 10' years now and wonder what makes this district exceptional (came from Mansfield ISD, which isn't bad imo). Is it wealth, teacher quality, parent involvement, something else, all of the above?

I'm just a caveman when it comes to this stuff and I'm sure there's book out there that addresses this
Parent involvement is the true differentiator between districts IMO. Both in things like PTA and being involved and supporting the student's academic success.
NomadicAggie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Yes, absolutely. 1000%.
MByrd03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I live in the city of Keller close to the Keller / Southlake border (east side of 377) and both my kids attend Keller ISD. We feed into the original Keller HS. There are 34,000+ students in Keller ISD with 70% to 80% living on the west side of 377 in Fort Worth and feeding into three different high schools. I don't get into school politics and don't care what the outcome is as it relates to the current discussions. I see both sides of the argument. One side is trying to reduce cost. Keller ISD has had to cut $45 MM from their budget over the past two years due to the lack of funding from the state as Abbott continues to hold $40 B hostage so he can get his voucher program. Southlake has had to cut $27 MM from their budget over the past year, including selling their administrative campus and consolidating multiple elementary and middle schools. When you consider the Robin Hood plan and the decreased funding from the state, school districts across the state are trying to find ways to save money. The issue with KISD is the parents of kids that may be "removed" from Keller ISD to form a new Alliance ISD and view this proposal from the lens that they live on the "wrong side of the tracks" as the actual dividing line is the railroad tracks along HWY 377. There is plenty of tax dollars on that side, including the very large Alliance retail development along I-35. The way the board went about proposing the plan was not good and it was leaked via Facebook and then the Star-Telegram got ahold of the story and the appearance is the KISD board is making plans in secret and not including public feedback. The cover up is always worse than the crime. I don't see anything coming of this anytime soon as attorneys are already involved, the FW Mayor is against the idea, and the current superintendent indicate in the most recent board meeting that she would resign of the plan moves forward. Like I said before, I really don't care either way.
Hincemm
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
great first post...welcome to texags
MByrd03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Been around for years but rarely post. Forgot my password a long time ago so just created a new account. My wife says I talked to much so she stopped listening to me. Figured I would annoy some new people!!
Maximus_Meridius
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
NomadicAggie said:

They said at the meeting that funding per student would increase in Alliance ISD compared to what it is presently (although not by much). I think this has more to do with debt, as it is the schools on the west side of 377 that have been building new facilities and taking on the debt. So yes, in essence, the folks on the east side are subsidizing the west. Those facilities were not built in Keller proper.



If this is accurate, then why not just spin those off into the new district, let them keep the debt for their facilities, but let them (Alliance) get the state grant money to help with that debt. The way I'm hearing/reading, Alliance would get the debt and Keller the state grant, which is what is pissing a lot of people off.
The Collective
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
If the argument is to never split districts (cost view), then why do we have any local districts? Why not just state-operated schools?
MByrd03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
There have been multiple new elementary schools constructed in the past three years for those feeding into Keller HS. However, the schools on the west side of 377 are "newer" overall just based on when that side developed versus the "original" Keller. I don't think it has as much to do with debt as it has to do with excising such a large portion of the district. There are 40 total schools with 27 being located on the west side of 377. It appears Keller wants to go back to having a single HS (similar to Southlake). Fort Worth ISD never annexed the northwest part of Fort Worth, which consists of the majority of Keller ISD, so as that side has grown, exponentially more than Keller proper (land locked), the cost of running the school district has increased.
Refresh
Page 2 of 2
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.