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State Rep. Patrick M. Rose (D-Dripping Springs) and State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) will be in Wimberley today touring WISD campuses, meeting new school board members and visiting with teachers. Rep. Rose has been leading the effort in Austin to change the state’s school finance law by increasing the state’s share of funding and implementing the mid-size adjustment for Chapter 41 mid-size school districts.

“I am pleased with our progress this spring in the House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance,” said Rep. Rose. “Lois and I both believe that Robin Hood is broken. I am grateful to her for joining me in Wimberley today, as her leadership on this issue on the committee and next session will be important.”

Rep. Kolkhorst’s visit is also significant for Rep. Rose’s legislative agenda as she is the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, the committee that will shape the state’s education budget next session. Her subcommittee will decide whether or not the state funds the $30 million per year needed to extend the mid-size adjustment to the thirty-five mid-size Chapter 41 school districts across Texas.

“Patrick and I are working together to bring relief to school districts that are unfairly penalized by the current school finance system,” said Rep. Kolkhorst. “He has educated me about Wimberley and Dripping Springs’ urgent need for relief and I look forward to learning more today.”

The campus tours come at a critical juncture in Rep. Rose’s efforts because the Select Committee is scheduled to begin work on its legislative recommendations this month. This report will be issued in December 2008, laying the groundwork for the Legislature’s direction next session beginning in January 2009.

“My office is coordinating efforts between the district, legislators that represent mid-size Chapter 41 districts and statewide education organizations to make sure that we deliver our message effectively to the Select Committee and to the Legislature,” said Rep. Rose. “I want to thank Terri O’Neal, Cindy Taylor, Linda Richter, Gina Fulkerson, Traci Maxwell, Jane Morton and Elizabeth Claussen for working tirelessly with my office on these efforts.”

Rep. Rose has asked every member of the Wimberley community to participate in these efforts. His office is collecting letters of support to be included in a bound document and those can be submitted by mail or email. The deadline to submit documents for inclusion is this Friday, May 16th.

“The most effective way to impact the process is through your state representative and I can attest to Patrick’s hard work and leadership,” said Rep. Kolkhorst.

Members of the community that would like to join Rep. Rose’s efforts can reach him at the Capitol office at (512) 463-0647, by email at patrick.rose@house.state.tx.us, or by mail at P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX, 78768.