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Patrick's priorities include teacher pay, school safety, benefit boost for retirees

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick included increased teacher pay, school safety and a benefit boost for retired teachers among his top budget priorities for the 2023 legislative session, which begins Jan. 10.

With a $27 billion surplus in the current budget, Texas is expected to be awash in cash for the next two-year budget cycle due to unexpectedly robust tax collections and property value growth as well as a huge infusion of federal pandemic relief funds that offset some state spending. Lawmakers have a lot of ideas about how that money should — or should not — be spent:

• Gov. Greg Abbott has said he wants to use half of the $27 billion surplus to reduce school property taxes, which would benefit taxpayers but not schools.
• House Speaker Dade Phelan has called for major investments in infrastructure for transportation, water and coastal protection.
• For Patrick, property tax relief leads his priority list followed by electric grid reliability, rural law enforcement, border security, mental health and a variety of education-related issues.

In 2019, lawmakers included a provision in House Bill 3 that provided for increases in teacher salaries by raising the minimum salary schedule, which lifted salaries for teachers in districts paying at or close to the schedule. That mechanism, however, does not ensure that all teachers benefit from the additional funding. TCTA has urged lawmakers to take a different approach this time by increasing the basic allotment and adding a provision to guarantee a minimum increase to each educator. Click here to read more.

Join TCTA's lobby team for a legislative preview on Tuesday

To learn more about what lies ahead for public education and teachers in the next legislative session, register here for the Tuesdays with TCTA webinar at 6 p.m. CST Dec. 6. Members of TCTA's lobby team will provide a preview of the 88th Texas Legislature and answer questions from members. We hope you can join us.

Applications for Excellence in Education Awards due Monday

Applications for the 2023 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards are open through Monday, Dec. 5. Since 2002, H-E-B has awarded more than $13 million in funding to outstanding Texas teachers, principals, public schools and districts, school boards and early childhood facilities.

Visit HEBLovesTeachers.com to learn more and apply today!

Commissioner orders district to pay teacher who resigned

A teacher was placed on administrative leave with pay after a student recorded her making inappropriate comments about other students. Weeks later, the district notified the teacher that it was suspending her without pay, and an independent hearing examiner eventually recommended the same. The teacher filed an appeal to the commissioner of education, arguing that the district was required to pay her until the board accepted the recommendation of the hearing examiner. Click here to read why the commissioner said the teacher should be paid.

OTHER NEWS

There's still time to recruit:

Take 2, Make $25 ends Dec. 31

Help us recruit new members through our Take 2, Make $25 program. Give colleagues your TCTA member number and ask them to include it on their application. You'll get $25 for every two eligible First-Time Active members who join TCTA by Dec. 31.

Delegate-at-large, student delegate deadline is Dec. 13

Voting delegates at TCTA's 2023 Convention on Feb. 10-11 at Kalahari Resort in Round Rock will elect new state leaders as members of TCTA's Representative Assembly.

Delegate allocations will be sent to local association presidents in mid-December, but Active-level members who teach in school districts without a TCTA local affiliate have until Dec. 13 to notify TCTA of their interest in serving as a delegate-at-large. Click here to learn more.

Student members interested in serving as nonvoting student delegates must notify TCTA of their interest by Dec. 13 by completing this form.

Eligible members who express interest in being delegates-at-large and student delegates by the deadline will be entered into a random drawing to fill available slots in each category. Delegates will be notified of their selection in January.

Active-level members in local affiliates should notify their local president of their interest in serving as a delegate before registration ends Jan. 27.

USDE extends student loan repayment pause into 2023

The Biden administration extended the student loan repayment pause — which was set to expire Dec. 31 — into 2023 while its plan for debt relief is tied up in court. The U.S. Supreme Court said it will hear oral arguments in February.

Under the extension, payments will resume 60 days after the administration's debt cancellation program is implemented, 60 days after the lawsuits are resolved or 60 days after June 30, if litigation fails. Click here to read more.

Pin challenge tests students' 3D design skills

Students in grades 4-12 can put their 3D design skills to the test by creating a model of a wearable pin that honors U.S. veterans. Contest submissions are due Dec. 14, and the challenge winner from each age group will win a trip for two to Columbus, Ohio, to attend an event at the National Veterans Memorial Museum on Memorial Day. Each winner will also receive a 3D printer donated to the school, library or organization of their choice. Click here to learn more.

Save on holiday gifts, travel and more with TCTA discounts

Check out TicketsatWork for a wide selection of spectacular savings throughout the holiday season on electronics, gifts, health and wellness services, and more. Save now on your holiday travel plans on both domestic and international flights, car rentals and hotels.

Click here to log in to your TicketsatWork account. If you haven’t signed up yet, click become a member and enter our company code: SWTCTA.

Click here to explore all of TCTA's discounts and find links and codes.

• The TRS Board of Trustees meets Dec. 8-9 in Austin.
• The State Board for Educator Certification meets Dec. 9 in Austin.