During a San Antonio campaign stop, Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, ripped Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent threats to take over public school districts whose students protested against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“What is happening is districts are being taken over by the state in an effort to control all the vendor contracts, the contracts to build schools — all of those things are always about the money when it comes to what Greg Abbott is doing,” said Hinojosa, who represents an Austin district.
Hinjosa’s allegations of corruption come as Attorney General Ken Paxton this month said he’d launched an investigation into whether three school districts, including San Antonio’s North East ISD, approved and facilitated recent school walkouts there.
That investigation followed Abbott’s threat to take over districts that allowed similar demonstrations. Previously, state takeovers of school districts have been reserved for those struggling academically, as was the case with San San ISD’s takeover last year.
By contrast, NEISD is among San Antonio’s highest-performing districts.
Regardless, Hinojosa, a former Austin ISD Board of Trustees member and favorite to challenge Abbott in the general election this year, reiterated that a state takeover should be the last resort and not used as a political weapon.
“We are against that; we never support reforming schools by taking power away from parents and the community,” Hinojosa said. “That is not the right way forward.”
For reference, when the state takes over a school district, the Texas Education Administration (TEA) suspends the elected school board and replaces them with state-appointed bureaucrats. The superintendent also is replaced with state-appointed one.
Some critics charge that state takeovers are a way to entice parents to sign up for Abbott’s signature school voucher program, which he signed into law last year.
Hinojosa didn’t go that far during her conversation with the Current. However, she said school vouchers are another money making scheme for Abbott and his cronies.
“That is also about the money,” Hinojosa said. “That is about taking our taxpayer dollars and putting them into private schools, where we have no insight into how the money is being spent, who is getting it and what it is being used for.”
Hinojosa spoke to the Current following rally for U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett at north-of-downtown venue The Social Spot.
Crockett, who gave a brief speech and didn’t answer any press questions, is engaged in a tight race with State Rep. James Talarico. Both are vying to be the Democratic nominee to run for U.S. Senate.
During a press conference outside Rhodes Middle School last week, Talarico also lambasted Paxton’s investigation into public school districts.
“Instead of applauding those students, our top state leaders are trying to go after them with the power of their public office, and it’s unconscionable,” said, who taught at Rhodes getting into state politics. “Our students and our educators deserve a lot better in this state.
Early voting in the Republican and Democratic primaries runs through Feb. 27. Polls will reopen on March 3, Election Day.
Folks can visit the Bexar County Elections Department’s website to find their nearest polling station and hours of operation.
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