East Texans react as Hinojosa wants TEA commissioner, vouchers removed

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - After becoming governor-elect, Gina Hinojosa turned her focus to education. “The days of treating our public schools like they are for sale are over,” she said.

Hinojosa said she will fire Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath on her first day in office. Two East Texans, a superintendent and a former state lawmaker, said what they are watching for.

Funding is top issue for Tyler ISD

Tyler ISD Superintendent Marty Crawford said he is watching the Texas Education Agency and what lawmakers do when they return to Austin in January.

“I think the most important thing that we can talk about is funding,” Crawford said. “There’s no doubt that attracting talent into the profession so that we can improve academic outcomes is something that needs to happen.”

Crawford said he hopes the state keeps the teacher incentive allotment. He also said lawmakers need to look at starting teacher pay.

Former lawmaker says agency is off course

The TEA oversees about 1,200 school districts and nearly 5.5 million students. Morath has led the agency for 10 years.

Former state Rep. Travis Clardy is a lifelong Republican. He served with Hinojosa in the Texas House and calls Morath a personal friend. Still, he said the agency has lost its way.

“TEA has been off course for a while now,” Clardy said. “And I think they’ve been trying to meet a mission, and the mission became get vouchers shoved through legislature, you know, come hell or high water.”

Clardy said he thinks Morath wants what is best for Texas children. He said he thinks it is time for a change at the agency and that 10-plus years is enough.

Vouchers part of $1 billion program

The vouchers Clardy referred to are part of a billion-dollar program called Texas Education Freedom Accounts. The program started this year.

“The sad truth of it is that vouchers lived down to my expectations,” Clardy said.

Clardy said he supported trying vouchers with guardrails when he was in office. He said his concern is the program’s scope and its growth into public education dollars.

He said taxpayer money should not pay for private school. Clardy said his sons attended private school.

“It was my responsibility to write the check and pay the bill, not the taxpayers of Texas,” Clardy said.

Clardy said now is the time to move away from the voucher program. He said teacher pay needs to come up.

Hinojosa has also led fights against the program.

Texas Education Freedom Accounts is in state law

Crawford said the program is “baked into statute right now.” He said changing it would involve political wrangling. He said that would have to be worked out in the next legislative session between the governor’s office and the Legislature.

“When it comes down to it, it’s our job to provide the best educational experience for our school children here in Tyler, Texas, regardless of who’s leading TEA, has no impact on us,” Crawford said.

Crawford said Tyler ISD will tell families about any changes that come from the next legislative session.