There’s a crisis for our children’s education caused by the state budget shortfall
- 100,000 possible layoffs for public school employees statewide…more than 1,000 proposed for AISD
- Larger class sizes, cuts of $1,000 per pupil, and elimination of grants for pre-kindergarten for 64,000 schoolchildren.
- No money for crucial new textbooks, cuts to dropout prevention programs and elimination of services that help 650,000 children struggling to meet accountability standards.
There is a solution. Learn more about proposed cuts, possible effects on Mathews, and what steps the state can take to stop the destruction.
Please plan to attend a special Mathews Commmunity Meeting:
Thursday, March 3rd
6:00-7:30 pm in the Mathews cafeteria.
We’ll share what we know, and seek ways to take action, including plans for a statewide rally at the Capitol on March 12. Contact Mathews parent Rob D’Amico for more info. rdamico@texasaft.org
PTA presentation on local and state budget impacts (Powerpoint, PDF)
Don’t want to be overwhelmed with choices? Sign the Petition here and you’ll get word on all the events, letter campaigns and more: Texas Can Do Better: Our Kids, Our Future: www.texascandobetter.org
Or, Get on a roll…
Action 1 … Stay Informed
Be sure you are on the Mathews listserve
Texas Forward Coalition: www.txforward.org
Texas Can Do Better: Our Kids, Our Future: www.texascandobetter.org
Save Texas Schools: www.savetexasschools.org
Save Austin Schools: www.saveaustinschools.com
AISD Tough Times / Tough Choices site: www.austinisd.org/inside/budget/
Class-Size issues: www.22to1.org
Texas PTA “Under the Dome” http://www.txpta.org/legislative
Action 2 … Speak Out
Email the AISD Board of Trustees: trustees@austinisd.org
Sign the Petition at Texas Can Do Better: Our Kids, Our Future: www.texascandobetter.org
Sign the Petition at Save Texas Schools: www.savetexasschools.org
Sign the Petition at Keep the 22:1 Class-Size law: www.22to1.org
Email and Call state elected officials at Texas AFT’s Political Action Page
Action 3 … Show Up
Attend the Mathew Budget Issues Meeting: March 3
Attend the Save Texas Schools Rally: March 12
Attend the Texas American Federation of Teachers Rally: March 14
AISD Important Dates (www.austinisd.org)
Presentation of the 2011-2012 Preliminary Budget to the Board of Trustees: February 28
Presentation of Final Recommendations of the Facility Master Plan Task Force: March 7
Community Conversations on the Preliminary Budget: March 24 & 31
Board action on Facility Master Plan Task Force Final Recommendations: March 28
Presentation of the 2011-2012 Revised Budget: April 11
Public Hearing on the Revised Budget: April 25
