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Water park for poor district in valley-you paid for it

2,972 Views | 16 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by TriAg2010
Greenchiles
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AG
"It's owned, operated and paid for by the La Joya Independent School District, a half hour west of McAllen.

The water park is the only state-owned facility of its kind.

The park was built from the school's main education fund, commonly called the general fund. It wasn't paid for through bonds or any other credit. The district had the money available."


"La Joya is considered a "poor" district by state standards. In one index that puts a number of how expensive it is to teach kids, it's at the top.

This town of just 4,209 educates nearly 30,000 students from in and mostly around the city limits.

Class sizes are small. On average, there are 15 students in a first-grade class, according to TEA data.

Most of the teachers have between 11 and 20 years of experience. Principals average 24 years of experience.

The district's budget is mostly state money, including some of the nearly $200 million Houston ISD sent to the state as a part of the "Robin Hood" program.

Nearly 94 percent of the students in La Joya are considered economically disadvantaged."


https://abc13.com/education/a-texas-school-district-opened-a-water-park-and-you-paid-for-it/4162905/
Tom Hagen
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AG
Quote:

This town of just 4,209 educates nearly 30,000 students from in and mostly south of the border
.FIFY
Betoisafurry
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God ****ing damn that pisses me off.
Liquid Wrench
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Being from Houston, there have been a few times traveling through rural Texas when I was shocked to see what kind of facilities those poor humble folks had at their local high schools.

But the waterpark may take the cake. That's like the Cadillac Escalade with the handicap tag sitting with the engine running in front of the entrance to WalMart of public education.
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Greenchiles
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AG
Oh I bet.

Same Cadillac waits on their free turkey being handed out at Thanksgiving for under "privileged kids". Seen it.

I'm blown away with the $200 million.
Al Bula
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AG
This is what happens when liberal idiots run things.
IDaggie06
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AG
Things like this are when ignorance is bliss. I wish I never heard about stories like this because it just pisses me off and there is nothing I can do about it. My property taxes are sky high here in Houston with majority of it going to the public schools where I won't ever have any kids attending. And then to find out some of that school money goes to funding socialist crap like this not in my city. How do decisions like this get approved? Sickening.
Diggity
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AG
Not a swim diaper to be found in that pool
NoahAg
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Cue Southpark "Waterpark" song.
Your Friend
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Isn't HISD broke or close to it? Why are they supplementing districts that build water parks?
lunchbox
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Your Friend said:

Isn't HISD broke or close to it? Why are they supplementing districts that build water parks?
Because the law says so...HISD is property wealthy with not enough students (based on the fomulas developed by the state). Because of this, they have to send money back to the state. That money gets sent to poorer districts (again...based on formulas). These poorer districts now all of a sudden have too much money and have to spend it...and a water park is apparently what they decided to spend it on.
schmellba99
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AG
Charlie Kelley said:

God ****ing damn that pisses me off.
This is about the only thing that sums up my feelings somewhat close.
agnerd
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AG
lunchbox said:

Your Friend said:

Isn't HISD broke or close to it? Why are they supplementing districts that build water parks?
Because the law says so...HISD is property wealthy with not enough students (based on the fomulas developed by the state). Because of this, they have to send money back to the state. That money gets sent to poorer districts (again...based on formulas). These poorer districts now all of a sudden have too much money and have to spend it...and a water park is apparently what they decided to spend it on.
And also the reason we have $70 million high school football stadiums. Want to raise taxes to pay teachers more? Sorry, state will redistribute any additional tax money you take in before giving you whatever is left over. Wanna pass a BOND to build a $70 million football stadium or $100 million high school? Go right ahead and keep all the money to yourself! If Katy/Cy-fair/Klein/Conroe/Humble/Clear Creek ISDs could spend more on teachers without having to pay a penalty, they probably would. Instead we build football palaces since that's the only way to keep district money within the district.
MelvinUdall
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agnerd said:

lunchbox said:

Your Friend said:

Isn't HISD broke or close to it? Why are they supplementing districts that build water parks?
Because the law says so...HISD is property wealthy with not enough students (based on the fomulas developed by the state). Because of this, they have to send money back to the state. That money gets sent to poorer districts (again...based on formulas). These poorer districts now all of a sudden have too much money and have to spend it...and a water park is apparently what they decided to spend it on.
And also the reason we have $70 million high school football stadiums. Want to raise taxes to pay teachers more? Sorry, state will redistribute any additional tax money you take in before giving you whatever is left over. Wanna pass a BOND to build a $70 million football stadium or $100 million high school? Go right ahead and keep all the money to yourself! If Katy/Cy-fair/Klein/Conroe/Humble/Clear Creek ISDs could spend more on teachers without having to pay a penalty, they probably would. Instead we build football palaces since that's the only way to keep district money within the district.


This is an excellent point, blue star for you!
ThunderCougarFalconBird
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AG
It's no longer even satire to ask what will be the first school district to build an international airport.

Jock 07
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AG
sounds like the state legislature needs to pass a bill withholding however much money they spent on that waaterpark
TriAg2010
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AG
12thmayne said:

In one index that puts a number of how expensive it is to teach kids, it's at the top.


Who gets paid to write this poorly?
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