Rep. Spiller meets with educators

State Rep. David Spiller met with superintendents and educators from his district last week at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Midwinter Conference in Austin. Olney Independent School District officials did not attend. Mr. Spiller said he discussed “action items” that the school officials wanted to see passed in the 88th Legislative Session, which runs from Jan. 10 to May 29. Mr. Spiller said he was “pleased” with the proposed House Budget, which allocates $600 million for school safety equipment and safety measures to school districts. He did not comment on a “school choice” bill championed by Gov. Greg Abbott that would allow Texas families to opt out of the public school system and receive about $10,000 for alternatives, including private schools. The measure is strongly opposed by rural school districts which could lose funding especially if families are allowed to use the school “vouchers” for homeschooling.

OISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Roach said the main education issue that schools grapple with is “a mass exodus [of teachers] from public education that has just started” because of unreasonable bureaucratic directives.

“The teacher shortage is a direct result of unreasonable and unattainable legislative mandates over the last 10-plus years,” Dr. Roach said. “Vouchers are not good but if they run enough out of the profession they can justify sending tax money to private schools saying public schools cannot handle the load.”

Mr. Spiller also was named Vice Chairman of the Texas Water Caucus, a role he described as “an extreme honor.” Mr. Spiller, R-Olney, said he was “committed to ensuring rural Texas has a seat at the table for all of the important water planning discussions.” The City of Olney issued $13.5 million in revenue bonds to finance a new water treatment plant to replace its century-old facility and is looking for funding to replace underground sewer and water pipes. The Public Works Department recently reported to the Olney City Council that it responded to an average of seven water main breaks each month in 2022.