When my wife and I work on our family budget, we talk about how to make the best use of the money we have. We set aside funds for necessities and plan for our long-term goals, and never stop looking for ways to spend and save smarter. The Texas Legislature goes through a similar process every other year. During the 2015 session, Texas legislators crafted a responsible budget for the next two years, passed laws to make tax collection more efficient and reduced the tax burden for many Texans.

Early this year, Brennan Johnson moved into his Dixie Lane ranch home just one street east of Gaston Middle School. Once a 1950s duplex, it was renovated into a single-family home. Now, he might relist it in a few years. Leo Landin, who lives across the street at the corner of Mariposa Drive and Dixie Lane, has talked of moving out then, too. That’s when the lease on his duplex ends. view article

Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson is planning to unveil his much anticipated five-year strategic plan to the Spring ISD board of trustees on May 21. The meeting will be begin at 6 p.m. and will be held atFallbrook Church, 12512 Walters Road in Houston. view article

Tyler ISD on Monday commemorated opening its Career and Technology Center as a long-sought facility to produce workforce-ready graduates. The $34 million, two-story 147,000-square-foot structure on Earl Campbell Boulevard was among a half dozen projects funded with a bond issue approved at the polls in May 2013. view article

At the beginning of the school year, Taft ISD opened the doors to their first daycare for the children of employees and there's been a lot of progress since our first visit. In August, Taft ISD's Early Learning Academy looked like this...now these classrooms are bright, cheerful, and full of activity. With positive response from parents, like Maisavel Saldivar, who's able to nurse and visit her 6 month old throughout the day while teaching with the district. view article

The Dallas ISD home-rule commission voted Tuesday not to write a proposed charter that could have overhauled how the district operates and is governed. The commissioners voted 10 to 5 not to move forward with a proposed charter, effectively ending the contentious effort to convert Dallas ISD into the state’s first home-rule charter district. Despite that vote, the commissioners decided to continue meeting in the coming months to discuss DISD and eventually write recommendations for the school board. Unlike a proposed charter, however, the recommendations would not be binding. view article

The Texas Education Agency is taking a close look at the Donna Independent School District. The TEA is meeting with district leaders because many of their students are underperforming. Superintendent Jesus Rene Reyna said the TEA is also meeting with parents within the district. view article

Because of a federal rule, kids throw away millions of dollars of fruits and vegetables every single day at school. But a new study shows a simple, no-cost trick that should leave federal policy makers saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?” When recess takes place before kids sit down to eat – instead of after - fruit and vegetable consumption increases by 54%. view article

More local parents will now be able to receive free literacy instruction as McLennan Community College and Waco Independent School District expand their parent enrichment classes starting with an orientation session Tuesday. A Texas Workforce Commission grant pays MCC instructors to teach basic literary instruction, GED and citizenship classes twice a week at Cesar Chavez PDS Middle School. view article

The Dallas ISD home-rule commission will decide next month whether to create a charter that could determine how the district is operated and governed. Voters would need to approve it in an election with at least a 25 percent turnout. view article

Roxton ISD is taking its first step to bring back their football team next fall. The school board voted, 5-0, to add a 6 man football team. This will be the first time the school has had a football team in over fifty years. The school already has a football field, but will still need to add stands, facilities and purchase equipment. They will also look at in-house candidates for the coaching job. view article

Police in Abu Dhabi say an American school teacher has been stabbed to death in a public restroom at a mall by a suspect wearing the traditional black robe and full-face veil worn by many women throughout the Arab Gulf region. A statement posted on the Abu Dhabi Interior Ministry's website late Tuesday says the victim was stabbed Monday with a sharp tool that has been confiscated by police. They say the American woman was 37 years old. Her name has not been made public. view article

Just before the Thanksgiving break, high school students across the Keller district took time to look at the road ahead en route to the future, thanks to Roadtrip Nation. “Roadtrip Nation” is both a movement and a program on public television that helps teens and young adults use their interests to map out possible careers. A group of “Roadies” brought their trademark “Big Green RV” to Keller, Central and Timber Creek high schools Nov. 20. Fossil Ridge High School has used the program in the past and plans to have the group visit in the spring. view article

here was a preview Tuesday of what promises to be one of the hot topics during the upcoming legislative session. Both sides in the long running battle over school choice were at the state capitol laying the ground work for the coming debates. There are new holiday decorations in the Texas Senate chamber as well as a new "English" made carpet. Despite all the sprucing up a familiar and controversial debate was also being dusted off for the upcoming session. view article

After fending off accusations of liberalism from opponent Gary Gates throughout their special election race, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, finally got to respond to her main challenger face- view article

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will commemorate its official 75th anniversary on the date the district was established with a ceremony in front of Cy-Fair High School (22602 Hempstead Highway) on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. view article

The Houston school board would grow from nine elected trustees to 17 under a bill filed by state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, who said she wants to give residents of the former North Forest school district increased representation. The Houston Independent School District took over the northeast Houston district in 2013 under orders from the Texas Education Agency. The seven-member elected North Forest school board dissolved, and HISD absorbed the schools and students. view article

When two medical emergencies arose in October, Midland ISD personnel nearby were ready to react. Fannin Elementary School PE teacher Jay Sherrill successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on a student who was choking on her lunch. MISD Police Department officers Lupe Sanchez and Pablo Loya applied tourniquets to a Midland High School student who had severely cut his arms and required 150 stitches. view article

The Belton Independent School District on Tuesday held its last community listening session to tackle the projected continued growth of the district. The session was the last of three held throughout the district this fall presenting the community with facts about the district’s growth in the past 10 years and its projected growth for the next 10 years. “In 2000, Belton ISD had 6,600 students,” Superintendent Susan Kincannon said. “Today, we have over 10,500 students.” view article

Frisco Independent School District trustees will consider new, final attendance zones on Monday. Plans to ease crowding on the high school level have been in development since September. view article

 At a Dec. 1 work session, the Austin ISD board of trustees discussed plans for its FY2016 budget in the face of tight finances, an upcoming legislative session and declining enrollment. One question before the board is how it wants to address employee compensation, Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said. “We are looking at a multiyear financial plan by looking at our fiscal realities,” Cruz said. view article

The Amarillo City Council on Tuesday bid adieu to Councilman Jim Simms and named former two-term city commissioner and Amarillo businessman Ron Boyd to fill Simms’ unexpired term. view article

With the final Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) meeting this Thursday, those interested in hearing about the future of Waxahachie Independent School District’s dual language program got an inside look at what two-way dual language would mean Tuesday night at Howard Junior High. view article

Beaumont Public Health director Sherry Ulmer says West Brook High School cafeteria workers did not want old sandwiches to rot outside during the Beaumont Independent School District Thanksgiving week-long break, since they were not sure when the trash would be collected.  view article

Several days before the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature convenes on Jan. 13, newly elected Comptroller Glenn Hegar will release his first official revenue estimate—the document that will guide legislators as they proceed to write a 2015-2016 budget for state government. Based upon the revenue updates that have been issued in recent months by outgoing Comptroller Susan Combs, it’s clear the Legislature will have an enviable bank account, as it goes about its budget-writing responsibilities. view article

Waco Independent School District’s board of trustees wants to hear from the public before any decisions are made on possibly redrawing middle school attendance zones to level the high school enrollment numbers. view article

New Braunfels ISD Superintendent Randy Moczygemba is in Washington DC today, joining President Barack Obama for the "ConnectED to the Future" Event, a special conference including superintendents and other educators from across the country, who will lead their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning.  view article

Five Waco Independent School District elementary schools will keep their social workers after the board of trustees accepted the second installment of a grant funding the Waco Counseling Project. view article

Direct Energy today unveiled a partnership with Brownwood Independent School District that aims to give back to the community while increasing its presence among residents. As an added incentive for residents to switch to Direct Energy, a donation from part of the proceeds of that new customer’s everyday energy usage will be made to Brownwood ISD.

A math class focused on the medical profession might be available to high school students in Amarillo Independent School District if the Texas Education Agency approves the course. view article