Texas business leader Bill Hammond testified Tuesday in Austin that the additional fund small public schools get to offset sparse populations should be reduced or eliminated to discourage districts from remaining small.

"The small district adjustment incentivizes small districts to stay small," rather than to consolidate with neighboring districts, said Hammond, president of Texas Association of Business, the state's largest business group.

He testified before the House Public Education Committee, which is considering legislation to overhaul Texas education system.

Small, rural school districts argue that it doesn't make financial sense to force their students to drive to another campus that could be several miles away.

Hammond also suggested cutting back state funding for career and technology courses and capping the amount of money school boards can give teachers for performance bonuses.

LEGISLATIVE LINKS

Click Here For Texas House of Representatives Web Site

Click Here For Texas Senate Web Site

Click Here To Find Information About Specific Bills

Click Here For Texas House Speaker’s Web Site

Click Here For Texas Lt. Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For Texas Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For Legislative Budget Board Web Site

CENTRAL TEXAS STATE SENATORS:

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Averitt Senate Web Site

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
Click Here For Fraser Senate Web Site

Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
Click Here For Ogden Senate Web Site

CENTRAL TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
Click Here For Cook House Web Site

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
Click Here For Pitts House Web Site

State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
Click Here For Gattis House Web Site

State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
Click Here For Hilderbran House Web Site

Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
Click Here For Hupp House Web Site

Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
Click Here For Delisi House Web Site

Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
Click Here For Anderson House Web Site

Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
Click Here For Dunnam House Web Site

Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
Click Here For Orr House Web Site

Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Miller House Web Site