COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Texas A&M University

State official: School finance in court's hands

Says worrying won't affect ruling

11/17/05

Courtesy Holly Huffman, The Eagle

Though the Texas Supreme Court is expected to soon decide the fate of the state's public school finance system, administrators and teachers shouldn't stress over the outcome, the state education commissioner said Wednesday.

Worrying won't affect the court's decision, so no educator should lose sleep over the announcement, anticipated Friday, Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley said.

"As leaders, we feel the world on our shoulders so often. You just think you have to solve all the problems all the time. You don't. You delegate," Neeley said Wednesday, speaking to dozens of school administrators at Texas A&M University's Administrative Leadership Institute.

"I just have this simple solution. I just put everything in God's hands. It's simple, but it works."

Neeley's 25-minute speech concluded the first day of the two-day conference, the focus of which is ethical leadership.

The forum, in its 23rd year, is sponsored by A&M's Educational administration and human resource development department, the Texas Association of School Administrators and Dell Computer Corp.

Neeley encouraged administrators not to worry about Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and the effect they would have on students' scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test or the district's federal ratings.

"No campus or district will be penalized for reaching out to 44,000 kids during ... the largest national disaster we've ever experienced," Neeley said as she acknowledged teachers' concerns before her speech.

Teachers are rightly frustrated by the impact of the hurricanes and the increasing requirements placed upon them by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, said Neeley, the state's top educator. But ensuring educators have good pay, administrative support, training and resources will keep teachers from feeling burned out, she said.

Equally important is maintaining the elementary school class size cap of 22 students for every teacher, she added.

Neeley also touched on the 65 percent rule, Gov. Rick Perry's recent mandate requiring districts to spend 65 percent of their budgets on classroom instruction.

Bryan and College Station administrators have expressed concerns about the regulation, but Neeley, describing herself as an eternal optimist, said she considered the new regulation a "golden opportunity."

"If we've not been as transparent as we need to be - no problem," Neeley told the crowd. "It's our job to deliver. We have no secrets."

As she concluded her remarks, Neeley asked the school leaders to examine their priorities. Career should make the top 10 list, but it shouldn't come before family or God, she said.

"If you're living for your job, you're in trouble," Neeley told the crowd. "Good leaders have a well-balanced life. Enjoy life. It's a great ride."

Texas Commissioner of Education Shirley Neeley speaking to crowd at the 23rd Annual Administrative Leadership Institute

Texas Commissioner of Education Shirley Neeley speaking to crowd at the 23rd Annual Administrative Leadership Institute

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