AUSTIN – Texas House-Senate lawmaker budget negotiators voted 9-1 yesterday for a two-year state budget that would cut Rockwall and Royse City ISD state funding, as well as overall Texas school funding, by 8 percent.

Cuts are less than were feared as a result of last minute accounting maneuvers. Rockwall ISD administrators had feared cuts as high as 9 to15 percent, or 15-23 percent of its overall budget.

The full House and Senate are now expected to vote on the $172.3 billion budget Saturday, which does not raise taxes, nor dip into the State’s rainy day fund to help close the coming fiscal year’s multi-billion dollar shortfall.

It shorts public schools to what they’re entitled to under current law by $4 billion.

If passed as expected by both houses, and signed by Gov. Rick Perry, the budget would be $20 billion less than the current budget.

According to a chart prepared by The Texas Tribune, Rockwall ISD’s budget would be cut by approximately $8,580,516, from its current $103,111,782 to $93,973,809.

Royse City ISD’s budget would be cut by approximately $2,976,728, from $37,209,095 to $34,232,367.

The budget compromise will rely on federal funds for one-third of state revenue, far less than the 39 percent federal share of the budget approved two years ago.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

(Rockwall Herald Banner) – RCISD Superintendant Randy Hancock came back home after the last Commissioner’s Cabinet meeting with dire predictions for the state of educational funding statewide

“We’ve been told that the deficit may be as high as $12-15 billion,” Hancock said. “From the commissioner’s mouth, we’re now hearing that it could be as high as $28 billion.”

“If it is a $25-28 billion deficit, we’re in trouble. We’re in big trouble.”

Among other possible measures to deal with the economy, Hancock said that state superintendents are looking for relief from the state for many of the unfunded mandates that the districts are saddled with.

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By J.J. Smith. Most and perhaps none of Rockwall County’s public and private schools will be showing President Obama’s controversial live speech to school children in their classes Tuesday morning at 11 a.m (Central Time).

Rockwall ISD will provide ”optional access” at a designated location on each campus.

Royse City ISD and Heritage Christian Academy (HCA)will not.

The Fulton School’s administrators were meeting Friday morning and have not yet decided.

RISD and RCISD will use their websites to make a recording and text of his speech available for students and parents to view at their convenience. 

According to a letter sent home yesterday with children from RISD, “due to the important content and historical nature of President Obama’s address, we will provide all students and their families optional access. ”

“On each campus the president’s address will be available at a designated location.”

“Please contact your campus administrator if you would like your student to view the message as it is broadcast live.”

RISD will also post “the full content of the message” on the RISD website home page” “so all students and their parents and guardians will have access to President Obama’s address at their convenience.”

“Our main goal is to keep the decision in the hands of the parents,” said RISD Director of Communications Sheri Fowler.

According to the RCISD website, ”Royse City ISD will not be attempting to show this event live to our students.”

“ There are too many issues,  including the capability of our technology system to stream a live event to all classrooms, as well as the fact that it will be during the lunch time of many of our students and staff.”

“ However, we will make a recording available to our social studies teachers for them to use at their discretion.  Parents always have the ability to opt their children out of the viewing of any video.  This should be done by contacting the teacher or the principal at the appropriate campus.”

HCA administrators said they had no particular comments to offer.

In a letter last week to the nation’s school principals, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the speech streamed live from the White House website would simply challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning.

But some education experts and parents are criticizing the speech because they say a suggested lesson plan that calls on school kids to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help Pres. Obama  establishes the president as a “superintendent in chief” and may indoctrinate children to support him politically.

Pres. Obama will deliver the national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. Most Texas schools have already been in session for two weeks.

“The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework and goals that parents and teachers alike can agree are noble,” Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman, told FOXNews.com. “This isn’t a policy speech. This is a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school.”

But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators “classroom activities” to coincide with Obama’s message. 

That’s the main reason for the controversy.