An education strategy

Three steps

Regarding “For Prop. 1” (Page A29, April 23), I think it is becoming painfully clear that Houstonians need to band together and do three things for our schools:

First, we need to vote “for” Proposition 1 on May 6 because it takes the least amount of money away from the Houston Independent School District.

Second, we need to enthusiastically support HB 21, the public-school reform bill offered by House Public Education Committee Chairman Dan Huberty. If any reform plan can pass the Legislature in Texas in a single session without a push from the Supreme Court, there is undeniable momentum in Austin.

Third, as a community, we need to push legislators to change the state’s Robin Hood laws. House Speaker Joe Straus, a Republican from San Antonio, said it best last fall: the Legislature never intended for large school districts like HISD to be subject to recapture. The school district certainly should not suffer because our economy has done well. And then there’s the irony that Robin Hood is taking money from a school district that serves predominantly lowincome youth. That just doesn’t make sense.

I am proud to say that I serve on the board of the Greater Houston Partnership and have served as the chairman of the education policy committee. The partnership is prepared to work with other Houston leaders and with the board and superintendent of HISD to develop and advocate for a school-funding proposal that works for all Houston kids and for the state overall. HISD currently serves more than 215,000 kids. They are our future workforce, and all children simply deserve the best education we can provide. Period. Scott McClelland,

president, HEB, Houston Division