The Texas House of Public Education held their second meeting of 2026 last Monday on June 6.
One of the main topics of this meeting was the implementation of House Bill 2, HB 2. HB 2 is an $8.5 billion comprehensive school finance package. It delivers targeted funding to increase base allotments, raise teacher and support staff compensation, enhance special education, and create new certification incentives for uncertified educators, according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Navarro ISD Chief Financial Officer Paul Neuhoff testified that in Navarro the utilities have gone up close to 60% since 2019 and their cost per mile operating the bus fleet last year was $3.92 per mile, before the spike in diesel prices in these past few months.
“For the items we must pay for like any other business or household, we have utilities, insurance, and fuel for the vehicles, this is an essential help that we need in order to maintain operations,” said Neuhoff.
The key discussion points for this topic were teacher compensation increases, special education funding reforms, recruitment and retention efforts, district budget challenges despite new funding, as well as whether funding was too prescriptive versus flexible local funding.
Dr. Donald Heseman, Levelland ISD Superintendent, said for Levelland ISD, pay for teachers went up around 13% to 14%, but only for teachers. No support staff such as special education aides, teacher paraprofessionals, counselors, or custodians received a raise.
This means only half of the entire district staff has received a raise, according to Heseman.
The next issue discussed was the statewide enrollment decline, which is now becoming a major concern.
According to the Texas 2036 student enrollment report, Texas lost around 76,000 students during the 2025-2026 school year. Elementary age students accounted for 60% of this loss and hispanic students accounted for 4 out of the 5 students.
In Levelland, Hispanic students make up 73.5% of the student population, according to TEA.
Heseman said that for Levelland these numbers matter because fewer students means less state funding, as well as fixed costs remain high. Campus consolidations and closures are becoming more common statewide, Heseman said.
The South Plains have experienced a 1.8% decrease in enrollment, while Amarillo and Midland area are experiencing a 3% decrease. The only area with an increase across the state is Abilene with a 3.9% increase.
Next, the committee reviewed whether recent investments are helping districts recruit certified teachers, retain experienced staff, reduce reliance on uncertified teachers, and strengthen educator preparation pipeline.
“I promise we are doing everything imaginable to attract, retain, and recruit the best possible teachers,” Heseman said. Josh Damron, superintendent for Whiteface CISD says the district has yet to see a noticeable difference in its ability to recruit and retain educators, since the implementation of recent state investments.
“As of now, no it hasn't made a difference,” Damron said when asked about the effect of the new investments.
Damron adds that he does not believe a beginning teaching salary is as competitive to what most recent college-graduates receive.
“I don't think it's kept more in or brought more in,” Damron said.
Next, special education funding is receiving more attention.
The committee examined growth in special education enrollment, new funding models, staffing shortages, services for students with low-incidence disabilities, and transition planning into adulthood.
Kami Finger, Assistant Superintendent for Lubbock ISD, testified before the court asking to consider revising the evaluation requirement for voucher applicants due to the increased workload it places on staff, especially for students already attending private schools.
“If you're a district like Lubbock ISD with declining enrollment, yet an ever increasing population of students requiring special education services, every dollar matters. Currently Lubbock ISD makes up for an approximate $3.5 million shortfall in what we receive in state special education funding with our general fund,” Finger said.
Heseman said that this suggests these special education funding and staffing issues will likely be major topics heading into the 2027 legislative session. This is also a huge step for Levelland ISD because over 20% of the student body is coded for special education, according to Heseman.
“Districts that can demonstrate efficient operations, strong CTE programs, and stable enrollment will be in the best position going into the 2027 session,” said Heseman.
The public comment section was a bit of a heated discussion. Throughout the duration of the nearly 10 hour long meeting, 10 of the fifteen committee members had left. These members were James Talarico, Terri Leo Wilson, Jeff Leach, Diego Bernal, Alma Allen, Harold V. Dutton Jr., Trent Ashby, Alan Schoolcraft, Gina Hinojosa, and Helen Kerwin.
Lynn Davenport, an education policy analyst, brought this up in her