April 22, 2005
GCISD Superintendent asks
do taxpayers want "steroid testing or bilingual teachers?"
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Dr.
Kay Waggoner, Superintendent of Schools for GCISD, was the feature
speaker at the April 22nd Colleyville Lions Club.
Waggoner pointed out that although, "we (GCISD) have been the
poster child for steroid abuse but it is not the prevalent misused
drug."
Random testing for the drug could cost as much as $175
versus $14 to $16 to test for the most abused substances such as
alcohol and marijuana. Taxpayers are faced with the cost of
the testing program and have to ask do they want "steroid
testing or bilingual teachers?", said Waggoner.
Click on photos
to enlarge. |
Waggoner
said next year's GCISD budget will reach $88 million, up $4
million from this year. Of tax dollars collected on
behalf of the school, next year will see $50 million go to
other school districts under Robin Hood, up from $44 million
this year.
She said the school district will propose a $0.01 tax
increase this year from $1.70/100 to $1.71/100.
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Waggoner
said that eventual school finance solutions are still being debated
by the legislature. "We will base our budgets on the
rules of last year and if the legislature changes the rules we will
adapt," said the Superintendent. She said that the
finance issue is also tied up in court and is currently on appeal to
the Supreme Court. "The current ruling however does not
pertain to the Robin Hood plan," clarified Waggoner.
While there appears no real solution for the school finance issue,
one thing does appear clear, GCISD will be back to the voters again
in September for another $108 million bond issue. Waggoner
said a diverse committee of individuals pared down the issue from
$200 million. The Bond Committee was divided into four basic
areas; construction, furniture & fixtures, technology and
athletics. Waggoner said the GCISD Board will address the Bond
issue on Monday evening and it is expected to go to voters in
September.
Concerning
the drug testing policies of the district, Waggoner encouraged
citizens to go to the district web site and register their opinion, Click
Here.
Commenting on the $1.5 million lawsuit by an irate mother
against Coach Cunningham of Colleyville Heritage, Waggoner said that
there was a great deal support for the coach. She said that
the life skills he has taught children have been a great asset to
the school and the community. She explained the District is
exploring its options on the issue of covering the Coach's legal
expenses.
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