ECISD pleads to public, to call Lawmakers about school funding

ECTOR COUNTY, TX (KMID/KPEJ) --- "There is a teacher shortage, in our state. Not only in our local districts here in West Texas, but across the state of Texas." said ECISD Superintendent, Dr. Scott Muri.

ECISD is making a may-day plea for funding help from the legislature.
Along with other local school districts, leaders are asking parents, supporters of education, and teachers to contact state lawmakers about increasing school funding.

Dr. Scott Muri says, since 2019, inflation in Texas has increased 17%, while the basic allotment or funding per student received by each district from the state has not increased during that same time. The district says they must continue to pay their bills.

"Our state legislators in both the house and the senate have an incredible opportunity to invest in public education like they've never invested before. There is a 32 billion dollar surplus in our state that can be used to offset inflationary increases that we've seen to the tune of 17 percent over the last several years," said Dr. Muri.

In ECISD, since 2019:
General insurance policies (structures) costs are up 40%
Maintenance, repair, and renovation costs are up 37%
Utilities (electricity, water, trash) are up 10%
Food services costs are up 8%
Fuel is up 7.5%
They're asking locals to make a call to legislative leaders- pushing for some of the state's budget surplus to be put towards public school education.

"The mor...