The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, November 14, 1996, Image 12

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Thursday
Page
November 14, II
Judge refuses to deny lawsu
AUSTIN (AP) — A state judge
Wednesday refused to dismiss a law
suit by school districts that say the
State Board of Education is sitting on
an estimated $89 million that should
be spent on computers and other
technology in the classroom.
Judge F. Scott McCown asked
lawyers for the school districts,
however, to see if their clients are
willing to delay the case against
the board until the Legislature
has time to act on the matter.
“I think it’s appropriate for the
Legislature to have an opportuni
ty to address this problem,” Mc
Cown said. Lawmakers meet in
regular session in January.
More than 80 school districts
have sued, saying that under the
1995 education reform law, they
should be getting $55 per student
for technology this school year.
Instead, the board has OK’d only
$30 per student, the districts said.
The $89 million is the amount
that has been estimated as the
difference statewide by Austin
lawyer Buck Wood, representing
the school districts.
Lawyers for the board say
there’s a discrepancy between the
education law’s provision for in
creased technology funding and
the state budget, which doesn’t
provide for the increase.
Assistant Attorney General
Toni Hunter, representing the
state board, said because of the
discrepancy, the board doesn’t
believe it has authority to distrib
ute the extra money.
Hunter asked McCown to dis
miss the lawsuit, saying the
school districts need legisla:
permission to sue the state.
Gown would not.
Failing that, Hunter asked
to delay the lawsuit, noting
pending legislative session.
McCown said if school disti
agree to voluntarily delay thel
suit, a trial could be set inmic
or late February. If they do
agree, and McCown decides
to require a delay, he saida
in the case would begin Dec.l'
Wood said school district
deciding whether to agree;
delay, must weigh the like!;
of the Legislature giving them
money for technology ratheri
deciding to spend it elsewhert
“It’s just so uncertain.!,
the dangerous part abouttt
he said.
Bush calls for change in Texas taxe
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AUSTIN (AP) — Gov. George W. Bush is calling on
lawmakers to give Texans a “billion-dollar begin
ning” on promised school property tax relief.
Bush announced Wednesday that his budget pro
posal for the next two fiscal years will include a recom
mendation that $1 billion generated from higher-than-
expected state revenues and lower-than-expected
spending go to property tax relief.
He called that a down payment on his effort to
replace with a new revenue source the $10 billion
the levy generates each year.
“I believe taxpayers should benefit from leaner
government,” Bush said.
Rep. Robert Junell, D-San Angelo and chairman of
the House Appropriations Committee, said he wants to
see where the governor has come up with $1 billion.
“I’m not aware of anybody in the Legislature who
was consulted on this before the governor made his
announcement,” Junell said. “I look forward to see
ing where he and his people say (the money) is.”
Ross Ramsey, an aide to Comptroller John Sharp,
said official estimates of state financing have not been
Icompleted. But he said Sharp, a Democrat, will pre-
Isent his own list of $1 billion in state spending cuts.
“We're seeing him a billion and raising him a bu
llion,” Ramsey said.
Sharp is considered a potential challenger to the
^Republican governor if he were to seek re-election
in two years. Ramsey said politics will not factor
into Sharp’s financial estimates.
“This (estimate) is one of our constitutional
ties and every two years someone says it’s politil
It will be a clean number,” he said.
Richard Lavine, a fiscal analyst for the Genie:
Public Policy Priorities, said any extra state rever;
or lower government spendK.
generating one-time funds. He;
the state would have to findS!
lion in future budgets whensp:
ing could be up and revenuac:
be down.
“He hasn’t explained what
functions aren't going to get
ing or who’s going to get theta
lief,” Lavine said of Bush’s plan
Bush said he hasn’t worked
how the $1 billion would bedis;
Bush
uted or who would get it. But he said the mone
ready is available and wouldn’t have to be cut from
partment budgets.
Bush began talking about the need for sc 1
property tax relief last year. Since then, a cont
sion he appointed has said Texans need a c:
school property taxes.
Any cut or reduction would be replaced
some other tax.
Bush asked the commission to consider incrf
ing the state’s sales tax or imposing new busil
taxes. The governor has said he won’t considfj
state income tax.
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Chance for chairbound cheerleader change
ANDREWS, Texas (AP) — Few
in this West Texas oilfield town
doubt that Gallic Smartt, a
bright-eyed girl who loves ani
mals, Texas A&M and Andrews
High School, has enough spirit to
fill a cheerleading uniform.
Her engaging smile brightened
the sidelines throughout her fresh
man year. The school had reward
ed CaJlie for her help with a ninth-
grade cheerleading camp by
allowing her to accompany the
squad, complete with pompons
and a makeshift uniform.
Like the others, she yelled and
waved her black and gold balls of
tinsel to urge on the freshman
Mustangs. Her motorized chair, a
result of the cerebral palsy that
has wracked her body since she
was born 15 years ago, separated
her from her peers.
After the able-bodied girls
tried out for the junior varsity
team last spring, Callie and her
family simply assumed she’d join
them as a sophomore this semes
ter, cheering at JV games.
The school altered their plans
last June.
“We were concerned last year
about her safety because she is
in that wheelchair,” said princi-
H ad said I
r out to be a
ler, I’d al-
mpt to try.”
3 Smartt
cheerleader”
h^mrmnrhmnhm
pal Michael Fetner, explaining
why Callie’s role was reduced.
“If a player is headed in her di
rection or a ball is headed in her
direction or whatever, she could
be in danger.”
Callie counters that cheerlead
ing is laden with all sorts of dan
gerous throws, leaps and stunts
for any participant.
“If it was about safety, nt
of the other cheerleaders wo
be out there,” said Callie, w\i ■
home prefers to move aroi|
on her knees as fast as rr
people walk.
Her mother, Fonda Sn;/ I
signed an agreement witW'
ner outlining Callie’s new}®
leges, which limited hei
home junior varsity fooit
games and little else. Shea
received the title “honora
cheerleader,” which her fan
sees as an unnecessary pul
notice that Callie hadn’t g(
through the tryout process!
the others.
Smartt regrets the agreeme
saying she signed it onlyt
cause she felt it was the or
way Callie would get to c||
Callie’s main regret is thati!
school didn’t make the chat;
before spring tryouts.
“If they had said I had tot
out to be a cheerleader, I’d alwi
attempt to try,” she said.
“A Tuna Christmas”
Tuna,Texas is a nice place to visit but you wouldn’t want to live there, especially during the
holidays. In this hilarious satire, crisis looms and bad taste rules the day. Will the electric company
cut the power on the local theater’s production? Will anyone be able to catch the “Christmas
phantom” vandalizing holiday yard displays? And why are sales so brisk at the used weapons
store? This town of 22 Scrooges comes to life through the quick-change skills of Greg Currie and
Brent Briscoe, who between them play every role, both male and female.These characters are ec
centric, spiteful and ultimately unforgettable as they manage to salvage some humanity amid the
insanity. Great fun for the whole family!
Rudder Auditorium • Saturday, November 23, 1996 • 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
For Tickets Call 845-1234 gg
L Persons wil
enable us t<
903 to inform us of your special needs.We request notification three (3) working days prior to theeventto
ability. Now accepting Aggie Bucks