Republican education board officials at odds with George P. Bush

Some Republican members of the State Board of Education say Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, a fellow Republican who is running for re-election, is taking undue credit in funding Texas public schools.

Tensions have been fueled by a recent decision by the School Land Board, which is housed under the General Land Office and made up of Bush and two others appointed by the governor, to not contribute any money for the first time ever to the Permanent School Fund. Instead, the land board in the 2020-21 budget cycle has decided to contribute $600 million, the maximum allowed by law, into the Available School Fund and invest another $55 million.

The State Board of Education, which will discuss the land board’s action formally on Wednesday, uses the Permanent School Fund for investments, to back construction bonds so that school districts and charter schools can earn lower interest rates, and to dispense money into the Available School Fund. Money from the Available School Fund goes to pay for textbooks, instructional materials and other education expenses.

By bypassing the State Board of Education and the Permanent School Fund, the School Land Board harms the possibility of future returns on investments and puts at risk the fund’s ability to back school bonds while inflating Bush’s role in school funding, said education board member David Bradley, R-Beaumont.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/republican-education-board-officials-odds-with-george-bush/ZP6svd3yo0drKxOrOEcgKO/