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Counties converge on Austin
By DEVIN MONK, Staff writer
Transportation was on the minds of many Frisco elected officials and administrators Tuesday, but not because they were returning by plane and car to Frisco from Collin County Days and Denton County Days in Austin.
Numerous elected officials and government staff members from Collin, Denton, and Grayson counties convened in the state capital Monday and Tuesday to press representatives, senators, and their aides on transportation, taxes, and other issues. This was the first time that both events were held simultaneously.
“It’s an opportunity to get so much done in so little time to focus on issues of Collin and Denton County,” Frisco Mayor Maher Maso said. “The entire area can come together to find solutions to the challenges we are facing. It’s a win-win for both our local officials and state representatives.”
“Rail is a very complex issue. We’re trying to work within the region,” said Maso, a member of the Regional Transportation Council in North Texas.
Bringing light rail to Frisco and expanding it through both counties will require partnerships on multiple levels throughout the area and state to secure funding and rights-of-way.
“The state needs everybody to work together,” Maso said.
An opponent of the tolling of State Highway 121, he said area drivers are bearing an unfair burden to help the Texas Department of Transportation solve its funding issues.
“To me, it’s important not have the process of what took place with the tolling of State Highway 121 happen again. A statewide solution to a transportation problem should not be a burden on a small area. The roads are getting out of hand.”
The City of Frisco’s contingent included Mayor Pro Tem Tony Felker, who also represented the Chamber of Commerce as its president, council members Scott Johnson and Jeff Cheney, and Deputy City Manager Henry Hill.
Frisco Economic Development Corp. President Jim Gandy as well as Frisco ISD Superintendent Rick Reedy and board trustees also journeyed to Austin to meet with legislators such as State Sens. Jane Nelson and Florence Shapiro and State Reps. Ken Paxton and Jerry Madden.
Reedy counted himself among those pondering the exclusion of education among breakout panel topics on taxes and spending, health care, energy, and transportation.
“We were a little disappointed that among the breakout sessions somehow education got left out. My feeling is that it is a big part of the state budget. That didn’t keep us from us talking about education to the legislators,” Reedy said.
School finance reform has dogged legislators since they devised a temporary fix in 2006 that has resulted in many Texas school districts drawing from their reserve funds to pay for operating expenses.
Shapiro, R-Plano, is one of several legislators who is looking at a solution, but the Senate Education Committee chairwoman doesn’t forecast a resolution in 2011.
Elected officials and administrators across the state are taking issue with unfunded state mandates, such as the 4 x 4 curriculum that requires a fourth year of math and science classes for all Texas high school students.
“That’s just not a program that we think will be beneficial to all students,” Reedy said. We have students with very diverse interests. They should be able to have more flexibility in their course selection in their junior and senior year.”
He noted that such a mandate could increase FISD’s dropout rate and curtail enrollment in its CTE Center programs.
The 4x4 curriculum “really doesn’t have a lot to do with preparing our students for the real world in the 21st century,” Reedy said.
The superintendent was optimistic that legislators would review the requirements during this session.
“I think they are hearing enough from people all over the state that they will look at that in the legislative session,” he said.
Maso said a large Collin County contingent played its part in communicating local issues to state representatives.
“It was extremely productive all around. It shows unity among different cities in Collin County. We go down there with one voice,” he said. “Overall it’s a good connection of local administrators and elected officials to legislators.”
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