SAN ANTONIO – State Rep. Diego Bernal filed a new bill aimed at creating more flexibility in school district budgets.
Every two years, the state gives school districts money to buy textbooks and technology in the instructional materials allotment.
During 55 school visits last year, Bernal heard something interesting from principals and teachers.
"I would just sit down with a principal or teacher and say tell me what you wish we knew," he said. "One of the things they said was, 'We're spending a lot of money on textbooks that we don't use and if it were up to us we'd use that money somewhere else, a different way. Not that we don't need textbooks, we just may not need as many.'"
On a trip to Stinson Middle School in Northside Independent School District a KSAT crew was showed the textbook room. It was explained that each classroom has a full set of textbooks but the room was still full of extras. The students are allowed to check those books out, but instead typically find the textbook online.
Money from that budget is also spent on things like iPads or computers, but one principal said local bonds fund a lot of their technology.
When Bernal asked where staff members would spend extra money, their answers all pertained to the emotional needs of students.
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"It's always the same thing: another teacher, a counselor, a social worker," Bernal said.
So he wrote House Bill 413, which would allow schools to spend the allotment on textbooks, technology, or one of those types of needed staff members. The bill also allows schools to use the money on professional development for things like teacher training.
"Exciting! I think that any time you can give local decision making to school districts to meet the needs of their students, I think it's really important," said Dr. Kimberly Ridgely, Northside's director of guidance and counseling.
Ridgley said at her district, there is a 1 to 450 ratio of counselors to students and some districts have a bigger ratio. She explained when there's a lack of counselors or social workers at a school to help children deal with emotional needs, the burden falls on teachers.
Other districts also supported the bill, welcoming extra flexibility.
"It's not a mandate. It doesn't tell them what to do. It just says you can if you want to. You could spend it in a complex way. Buy some technology, buy some textbooks, get a social worker, it's up to them," Bernal said.
Some school districts KSAT spoke to said while flexibility is great, they always use the full allotment on textbooks at technology and wouldn't be able to take advantage of the addition in the bill. Though technology has a bigger presence at school, they say many of their students don't have Internet at home and need textbooks.
Since the new legislative session just started Tuesday, Bernal is now rallying support from other state legislators hoping to push the bill through, eventually to a vote.