NEWS
Schools could see $2.2 million if penalty is thrown out
By BARBARA GREEN
Nothing is set in stone in the Texas Legislature. But if a pair of bills related to basic school funding pass, seven school districts in the greater Montague County area could see more than $2.2 million come back into their districts.
State Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) introduced House Bill 1710 on Feb. 9 which would eliminate the “small district penalty.” There is a similar bill in the Senate, SB 648.
This legislation would correct a 30-year-old problem imposed on districts that are less than 300 square miles in size and have 1,600 or fewer students.
During the ensuing years, the system has changed dramatically. The original legislation adopted two formulas that recognized the additional cost to educate children in a smaller school district.
Small schools were defined as those with 1,600 or fewer students. The state established a cost-based multiplier of .0004 for those districts.
However, an additional formula was added that penalized small school districts less than 300 square miles in size by lessening their multiplier to .00025.
There was no real basis given at the time for this addition; however, many people have said it political and an attempt to get smaller schools to consolidate.
Read the full story and how the passage of these bills could impact the local schools districts in the weekend News.
NEWS
Gold-Burg High one-act prepares for public show on Sunday
The cast and crew of Gold-Burg High School’s state-bound one-act play “Interview,” will present a public show at 4 p.m. on May 5 in the Bowie Junior High Auditorium.
Admission is $5 and there will be a bake sale to raise funds for travel and other OAP expenses. The show is directed by Linda Fitzner.
The group will travel to Austin to perform on May 13 for the state title. This is the school’s first time to take a play to the state contest.
Pictured above: Cast of “Interview” in rehearsal this week. (Courtesy photo)
NEWS
Voters decide today on two ISD bonds
Voters in Bowie and Forestburg Independent School Districts will have their say Saturday as both entities offer up bond issues to improve infrastructure.
Early voting came to an end on Tuesday with a total of 1,230 people casting their ballots.
On election day the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at three locations: Bowie Senior Citizens Center, Forestburg ISD Library and Sunset City Hall. Voters can cast their ballots at any of these locations due to countywide voting.
Read more about both bond proposals in your weekend Bowie News.
NEWS
City crews replace fire hydrant near downtown
Water was off Wednesday morning as the City of Bowie public works crew replaced a fire hydrant at the corner of Walnut and Matthews. (Photo by Barbara Green)
-
NEWS1 year ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS6 months ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS1 year ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS9 months ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS12 months ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS1 year ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint