By Scott Harvey
Commerce – The Texas legislature stands to hear arguments this legislative session for a change in the current public school finance system.
More and more citizens continue to come forward, expressing their concern.
On Monday, Commerce resident Karen Maxwell addressed the school board, urging administrators and citizens to start a petition to inform our state senators and representatives of the need to revamp the system.
"School funding must be overhauled... it can only be done if we work together," Maxwell said.
She used the Commerce ISD's tax ratification election this summer as an example of why the current system is failing.
Since state lawmakers adopted new finance requirements four years ago, 30 percent of school districts in Texas have asked their voters for tax increases.
Maxwell notes that she would like other districts to join in the fight.
Last month, Commerce ISD joined a campaign to inform legislators of a need for change to the current school finance system. Administrators passed a resolution of acknowledgment Making Education a Priority, a campaign that originated through the Aledo ISD, west of Fort Worth.
On Tuesday night, Greenville ISD board members passed a similar resolution.