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TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
EDUCATION
DPS requests $300 million budget increase
Official calls to suspend STAAR exam
Funds for border security
Representative cites ‘litany of errors’ By Kiah Collier THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
By Mike Ward SA N A NT ONI O E XPRE SS-NEWS
AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Public Safety, already operating the nation’s biggest state-funded border security program, is seeking a nearly $300 million budget increase that over two years could drive the total cost of the controversial program to more than $1 billion. Officials said last week that the additional funds are needed to hire 250 more state troopers for border duty; install 5,000 more cell-based cameras along the Rio Grande; replace 1,240 vehicles, two helicopters and four airplanes used in border enforcement; and upgrade cybersecurity and counterterrorism initiatives.
John Moore / Getty
Texas State Troopers patrol the Rio Grande on Aug. 18 near McAllen, Texas.
The proposed items would add $291.7 million to the agency’s two-year base budget request of $749.9 million. If approved, that total request would increase the beefed-up border security cost to more than $1 billion — about what Texas currently spends on all its psychiatric hospitals and roughly two-thirds of what
it costs to feed two-thirds of the state’s public school students in the free lunch program. The proposal comes at a time when polls show that border security rates as a top issue among likely voters, especially Republicans. GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has made building a border wall a major campaign
issue in the fractious race. In the past, the state’s heightened enforcement efforts have drawn criticism for needlessly flooding some border areas with Texas law enforcement personnel who cannot enforce federal immigration laws and can only make arrests for violations of state law. Critics also have Security continues on A11
A state representative who has passed legislation aimed at reeling in Texas’ standardized testing regime is calling on the state to ditch required STAAR exams while it “tries to iron out STAAR’s many kinks.” State Rep. Jason Isaac’s proposal comes the week after the Texas Education Agency announced it was penalizing the New Jersey-based company that develops and administers the controversial exams more than $20 million over problems that surfaced during springtime testing — including computer glitches that caused
students to lose answers. It is the first year Educational Testing Services has overseen STAAR administration after the state scrapped the bulk of its longtime contract with London-based Pearson Education. “Flawed testing practices threaten the State of Texas’ ability to fulfill our education system’s goals — and our children’s futures,” Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, said in a statement Monday. “The litany of errors being uncovered about STAAR is simply a disservice to our students, hard-working teachers, and families.” While the state works with ETS to resolve the issues, STAAR continues on A11
BACK TO SCHOOL KID’S FISHING TOURNAMENT
SUMMER ENDS WITH A BANG TH E ZAPATA T IME S
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ast month’s Back to School Kid’s Fishing Tournament was deemed a great success by the Zapata Chamber of Commerce, who hosts the event annually. “What a great event we had last week, and it was all thanks to you,” the chamber said in a news release. “We hope you had a good time and hope to see you all at our next event.” The Family Fun Fest was Aug. 20 at Bravo Park. The tournament was for children ages 3-12. This year’s winners were Ashley Loyde, Pedro Gutierrez and Alyssa Guerrero, who came in first, second and third place, respectively. First place: Ashley Loyde
Second place: Pedro Gutierrez
Third place: Alyssa Guerrero
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