How does Dallas school district's wasteful spending affect debate on Texas school funding cuts?

Our Dallas school district reporters, Tawnell Hobbs and Matthew Haag, had an important investigative story this weekend about the extravagant spending and waste in the district: $57 million over four years on meals, travel, legal fees, and consultants. The question for political types is: How does such a revelation affect the political fallout as state budget cuts come down the pike over the next two years?

Democrats, teacher groups and school officials are hoping that as schools get $4 billion less than they would otherwise receive, voters will rise up in anger and demand fixes to the budget. And there's some evidence that may be beginning -- at a minimum, people are paying attention to the process.

The key is, how will the debate be framed? The Senate's chief budget writer, Sen. Steve Ogden, and other Republicans are correct when they note that schools are getting slightly more funding in the next budget as in the current one. But Sen. Wendy Davis and other Democrats are right to note that it's the first time in memory that the state hasn't provided more money to schools to keep per-pupil spending at the same level. They're banking on voters declaring that more kids mean more money, and punishing those who didn't go along.

When it comes time to dole out political blame, how will stories like Tawnell's and Matt's factor in? It's true that even if you cut out all that spending, it wouldn't replace what DISD will lose from the state. And other, smaller districts probably don't have that level of waste. But Texas voters are conservative and distrust government, and they may be receptive to the idea that schools can tighten their belts, like governments and families all across the country have for the last couple of years.

What do you think? Do stories like our investigation make it harder for school districts to rally voters against cuts? Or will parents who see fewer teachers, reduced programs and possibly higher local property taxes take it out on Republicans at the ballot box next year?

Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/how-does-dallas-school-distric.html

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