By Marsha Farney

Special to the Pflag

[July 23’s] vote by the State Board of Education to proceed with consideration of funding Charter School facilities using the Permanent School Fund gives me concern for several reasons. The action was contrary to the advice of the Board’s financial counsel. Also, there is a substantial question whether the action was within the Board’s authority, a question the Attorney General will need to decide. As there is a reasonable possibility that the Attorney General will conclude the Board lacks such authority, I believe it would have been more prudent to first seek that opinion before proceeding.

I do applaud the efforts of the Board to be innovative in seeking a solution to this problem. I am a strong supporter of Charter Schools, and indeed all public schools. I would recommend we continue to work with the House and Senate Education Committees to find a solution to the facility funding needs of our Charter Schools. If I become a Board member, I would intend to work closely with these committees and my Senator and good friend, Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden, to seek a real solution to the issue of Charter School facility financing.

If the Attorney General were to conclude that the Board has a role to play in this area, I still believe the Board should consider the matter with caution. Our focus should be to take care that 100 percent of the Permanent School Fund investments are always working to receive the highest investment return for the public schoolchildren of Texas. If I am elected, I will certainly do everything I can to make that happen.

Marsha Farney is a candidate for the State Board of Education, District 10, which includes a portion of Travis County including Pflugerville.