Educators Gather In Valley To Prepare Education Strategy

I was invited to speak with Rep. Veronica Gonzalez at a conference of educators at a "Summit on College Readiness" as interested parties from far and wide focused on how educators and policy makers were going to "close the gap" to prepare our children for college.

Inevitably the subject turned to school finance and whether or not the state was going to invest in the future of the state. As I told the audience, we are charged with reducing government waste but yet at the same time investing in human capitol. This is a matter of maintaining our competitiveness in the global marketplace, to use the business model. At this moment in time our border communities are booming economically and an educated populace means our ability to compete for jobs for our growing communities.

Had a good talk with Robert Shepard (next photo) who is the Chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He quoted Steve Murdock in telling me how much our economy would grow if we achieved our objective. I told the audience that this primary would decide the direction this state would take between the competing arguments regarding school finance.

My thanks to Shirley Reed, Pres. of South Texas College and her colleagues for organizing the event.

The Monitor newspaper has the story of the event.