Commentary: Take from the rich, keep from the poor
Amiko Nevills
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Billowing smokestacks of Harris County’s petrochemical plants create a skyline for one of the poorest schools in Texas.

Galena Park Independent School District educates more than 19,000 students in its schools. More than 80 percent of its students are minorities. Of those, many do not speak English as a first language.

Houston’s diversification has long been credited for creating cultural intelligence, and rightfully so. Yet along with diversity, the city – as do cities across America – imparts a great divide. This divide is sometimes obvious and sometimes not, yet exists whether it can be seen. It is the disparity between two distinct cultures – the rich and the poor.

Most will agree this widening gap is disconcerting, especially when it affects children and their education. The controversy arises, however, when state legislature, accountable for funding its schools, acts to secure equal opportunity between the two disparate groups.

Debates flare, not on the need to close the gap, but by what measures it should be done. Meanwhile, a permanent working solution is on hold at the expense of the future generation.

Although Galena Park is listed as a poor school district, its performance has been prosperous. Recently, GISD has been named the largest exemplary school district in Texas. Why? Educators are crediting Texas Education Code, Chapter 41, also known as the Robin Hood Act.

Like Robin Hood, a favorite folk hero who took from the privileged to give to the poor, the school-finance law redistributes tax revenue from rich property districts to poor property districts. Nicknamed for its nature, the law, established in 1993, ordered equalization and offered a temporary solution.

A bill to slay Robin Hood has been submitted to the 78th Texas Legislature currently underway and scheduled to end June 2. Gov. Rick Perry has been reported to be in favor of the bill; although, no replacement solution has been offered.

If there is one widely shared American ideal, it is the belief in equality. In fact, Thomas Jefferson defended this very ideal in the Declaration of Independence, stating that all individuals have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The definition of life, liberty and happiness has yet to be negotiated, but government – federal, state and local – is responsible for protecting such equal rights. Why then would a bill designed to equalize wealth and destitution among school districts be on the Capitol’s chopping block with no replacing solution?

Texas is facing a $10 billion deficit. Lawmakers and state fund beneficiaries are preoccupied with the onslaught of a national crisis and are not paying attention to the consequences the loss of school fund reallocation might have on children. While Robin Hood is an imperfect solution, it was also designed to be a temporary solution. A replacement plan to evenly fund school allocations is long overdue.

States combat public school financing in different ways according to its respective legislature; Texas schools rely heavily on property tax revenue. One solution that has been considered, and has many Texans nervous, is the imposition of a state income tax. Texas is one of two states that does not impose state income tax on its residents; the other is New Hampshire. Collecting a fixed-rate income tax may not bridge the gap either, since a specific percentage deduction will have an unfavorable affect on the poor. Uncertainties of what action to take are the result of legislation’s procrastination an neglect.

Regardless, without Robin Hood, several of the 24 Houston school districts will lose critical funding. Through this loss, school performances will slip and special programs such as tutoring, speech and supplemental instruction will be lost. In the end, children are the stakeholders of the future who will suffer. Texas Legislature should invest time to determine an optimal answer and implement a replacement plan before bidding Robin Hood farewell. replacement plan before bidding Robin Hood farewell.

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