Thomas Ratliff

 

MT. PLEASANT- Thomas Ratliff, Republican Candidate for the Texas State Board of Education, today expressed concern about the latest proposal being considered by the State Board of Education for investment of the Permanent School Fund. Members of the SBOE are discussing using the Permanent School Fund to invest in facilities for charter schools.

Mr. Ratliff said, "I understand and am sympathetic with the charter schools' need for facilities funding, but I am deeply concerned about this notion that the Permanent School Fund can become a mortgage company. Since their inception, charter schools have seen an estimated 30% failure rate in Texas and some have gone out of business leaving the taxpayers holding the bag for millions of dollars. We need to ask a lot more questions before we jump headlong into this."

"After speaking with educators and taxpayers around the district, I think this is an issue better left to the Texas Legislature to address, rather than the State Board of Education. More importantly, with the recent display of poor judgment by hiring of the least qualified investment company to manage the $20 billion Permanent School Fund, I don't have a lot of confidence that the State Board of Education could craft a plan that would protect the integrity of the Permanent School Fund while maximizing the returns for the purchase of textbooks statewide."

"To be clear, I support our public schools, charter schools, private schools, and home schools. Each serves a key part of educating children in Texas. There is not a one-size fits all approach to educating kids."

Mr. Ratliff concluded by adding, "I think the State Board of Education needs to focus on the key issues facing our school children instead of finding new ways to increase their power and control over our local neighborhood schools from Austin."