New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas • Page 9

New Braunfels Sunday, January 9,1983 9A Big problems face the 1983 Legislature Education help to cost big money AUSTIN (AP) Education issues before the 1983 Legislature all end up with the same proposed solution more money. "It's big bucks any way you look at it," said one veteran lawmaker. The Legislative Budget Board already has recommended spending $8.5 billion for public school education the next two years, an increase of $1.1 billion. Most educators, and some lobbyists, want more. Three major educational issues apparently will take much of the time of the Legislature, which begins Tuesday.

More money for teachers to stem the loss of Texas talent to other states and occupations. More money for under-financed school districts hard hit by recent changes in property tax laws. More and new money for state colleges and universities, including a controversial division of the manent University Fund. Higher teacher salaries was a key campaign issue for Mark White, and he has promised to help them get an adequate raise out of the Legislature, although not saying how much. The Budget Board recommended a two-year increase of 11 percent amounting to $1.1 billion.

The Texas State Teachers Association proposes a five-year plan of raises ranging from 11.2 percent for experienced teachers to 35 percent for beginners. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association wants a minimum 30 percent wage increase. The Texas Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, supports a 40 percent increase for principals, teachers and paraprofessionals. The State Board of Education has proposed teacher salary hikes of 23 percent with much of the increase going to younger teachers. The Texas Association of School Boards backs the state board recommendation, so long as it does not cause any direct increase in local property taxes.

Educators say Texas teachers, particularly those teaching math and science, are being lured into the computer industry by higher salaries. According to the Texas Education Agency, the state is losing about 6.5 percent of its math teachers and 8.2 percent of its science teachers each year through resignations anil retirements. The College of Education at the University of Texas says there has been a sharp drop in the number of students who want to teach math and science, largely because of low public school salaries. Another "big bucks" fight looms over proposed increased state equalization aid to schools. The state bases the amount of equalization aid it gives each school district on the district's taxable wealth and the "average wealth per student." In the past, most equalization aid has gone to poor districts.

These same districts now are saying the present allocation is not enough because of inflation and property tax laws favoring agriculture lands. Now, big city urban schools want more equalization aid because teacher- salaries and other costs are higher in urban and surburban areas. A group called Communities Organized for Public Service wants state equalization aid payments in poor districts increased from the current average of $360 per student to $550 in 1983. They want the increases to continue until all districts reach the state average of $750. The Budget Board has recommended raising payments to $390 in 1984 and $420 in 1985.

The Board of Education wants $432 a student for both years. White has endorsed higher payments, saying "we have to make certain we break that chain of poverty." Big city schools favor a proposal of the Education Agency for a "density formula," which would give extra funds to districts with more than 10,000 students. "We have had a formula in law that gives money to rural districts simply because they are small and sparse," said David Thompson, spokesman for the Texas Association of School Boards. "What this formula would do is simply say that the large urban districts are going to get additional amounts of money based on the number of students they have." Legislators also will be asked to increase funds for schools where bilingual education must be offered and possibly for special instruction to "gifted students." "We asked for $150 per student for bilingual education last time and got only $50," said Sen. Carlos Truan, D- Corpus Christi.

"This time we think we should get at least $100 just to implement the program already in the law." There are signs that one of the big fights among state colleges and universities in recent sessions may already have been settled. Texas and University of Texas officials agreed recently to ask the Legislature for a proposed constitutional amendment to let Prairie View share earnings from the state's $1.7 billion Permanent University Fund. The amendment would go to voters for a final decision. In the past, supporters of and UT have stood firm against sharing any PUF funds with other schools, pointing out the 1876 Constitution set it aside for them. Giving a portion of PUF to Prairie View, which is administered by Texas would open the door for creation of a special fund to supply construction funds out of general revenue for the state colleges and universities not in the and UT systems.

Building projects at these schools formerly were financed by a state property tax that has been repealed by voters. "It has been suggested that this special fund will need $125 million a year out of general revenue," said Rep. Wilhemina Delco, D-Austin, head of the House Higher Education committee, who will handle the bill. "But we will have to see about the money situation. We may have to look elsewhere for money." Sen.

Carl Parker, D-Port Arthur, who is likely to be named chairman of the Senate Education Committee, will sponsor the bill in the Senate. Custodian loses sick pay appeal AUSTIN (AP) The State Board of Education backed the Dallas school system Saturday in denying some retirement benefits to a 46-year employee because he retired before the end of the school year. "It may be a lousy policy but they had a right to do it," said board member Virginia Curry of Arlington. The board technically sustained School Commissioner Raymon Bynum in denying Paul L. Moore's appeal from the Dallas school board decision.

He was head custodian at L.G. Pinkston High School. Moore, an employee of the Dallas Independent School district for 4(i continuous years, appealed after the district refused to pay his claim for a Retirement Service Award, which is based on unused sick leave days. His attorney said he retired in conformity with the Texas Teachers Retirement System plan at the end of 1978. Moore also asked for a $2,500 "bonus" which he said other retired employees got.

The Dallas district said un- successful efforts were made to persuade Moore not to take early retirement at the end of 1978 and wait until May, the end of the school year. The school said the unused sick leave payments could not figured until the end of the school year when nil retiring employees share proportionately. The state school commissioner found that the unused sick leave payments plan was strictly a Dallas school policy and paid from local funds. Water: the problem no one sees AUSTIN (AP) One reason Texas' "water problem" is so difficult to solve is that not everyone agrees there is a problem. Another reason is that past proposals have tended to align East Texans against West Texans.

Yet another reason is the enormous price tag for developing water supplies. A fact summary: Texas has 15 major river basins and eight coastal basins, containing about 3,700 streams and tributaries and more than 80,000 miles of streambed. Underground reservoirs include the High Plains Ogallala aquifer, which transformed the "Great American Desert" into fertile ground for food and fiber and now contains nearly 90 percent of the recoverable ground water in Texas. Annual rainfall ranges from eight inches in El Paso to 56 inches in Orange. Water experts estimate that even if 42 proposed reservoirs are completed by the year 2005, the state will still fall short by one million acre-feet of meeting demand.

An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons. Leroy Goodson, general manager of the Texas Water Conservation Association, said, however, a recent survey showed that only four out of 10 Texas adults think the state has a water problem. "We hear a lot of talk about alternative sources of energy, but no one has come up with alternative to water," Sen. Grant Jones, D-Abilcne, told a water conference. "Texas will have about 21 million people by the year 2000, and the energy crisis will be nothing compared to our water shortage if we don't address the problem." Interviews by state planners with 187 water "experts and notables" showed that over 90 percent believed water shortages would be commonplace by 2000 if present facilities are not expanded and patterns for using water are not changed.

"In 50 years, we can see a total shortage of water if something isn't done soon," said Fred Poe, Midland's assistant city manager. "Yes. Ghost towns, too." Outgoing Gov. Bill Clements held out hope importing water, presumably from Arkansas, but elect Mark White says water importation is "kind of like an oasis in the desert the longer you walk, the further it seems to be from you." "We have to show that there are water needs in East Texas that arc vastly different from those in West Texas, and then put a package together with something thai is reasonably supported by the fact that all will profit," White told a news conference. East Texans historically have opposed possible transfers of water from East to semi-arid regions in West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, an issue Sen.

Roy Blake, D- Nacogdoches, touched on when he said, "I think it might be cheaper to move West Texas to East Texas than to transfer East Texas water to West Texas." In 1969 voters defeated by a vote margin a $3.5 billion bond issue the largest in Texas history to begin work on a water system that would have included a system of reservoirs and canals to pump water from the Mississippi River to West Texas and from East Texas to the Lower Valley. Last year Texans overwhelmingly turned down Speaker Bill Clayton's proposal to reserve half of any future state revenue surplus for water development. Ken Kramer of the Sierra Club said the plan "reflects the ultimate mirage a false image of unlimited supplies of water into The Department of Water Resources estimates it would cost $51.6 billion, assuming 10 percent inflation a year, to finance the major non-agricultural water projects needed through 2005. As an illustration of the "immensity of this program," the Texas 2000 Commission, a long-range planning agency, said the total outstanding bonded indebtedness of the state and all units of local government stood at $22 billion a year ago. A House Study Group report said a canal and distribution system for moving water from Arkansas to West Texas for agriculture would cost an extra $53.3 billion, not including the cost of the water.

Cost estimates have had "a sobering effect on people's thinking," says Dr. Herbert Grubb, director of planning and development for the Department of Water Resources. "It made us realize we need to focus on using the water we have more efficiently." Nevertheless, vice chairman John Armstrong of the Texas 2000 Commission says Texas should reach to Mexico, Canada and Alaska for more water. "The task of importing should be no more challenging to us than putting a railroad over the Rockies was in the 19th Century or putting a man on the moon in this century," the Kingsville rancher told an environmental conference. Nonsense, say others.

A "dead issue," claim Kramer and Stuart Henry of the Sierra Club. "The effort of all of us to achieve reasonable and effective solutions to water resources problems should not be burdened by sentimental but impractical hopes of resurrecting the dead." John Montford, I)Lubbock, says another stale water fund proposal will be offered to voters in 1983, this time with the support of Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, who led opposition to the so-called Clayton plan in 1981. "We're going to have to have something clever obviously some type of permanent dedicated fund," said Montford.

Water planners have recommended various programs to back local water bonds, and recently the Texas Energy and Natural Resources Council recommended charging fees for the use of surface and underground water and the creation of a state commission to negotiate will: the federal government and neighboring states on importing water. TENRAC also proposed an additional $250 million in water development bonds, appropriating more money for the Water Assistance Fund, policies that would encourage local governments to set up regional water systems and a slate research program dedicated lo "practical economic solutions" to water problems. "The issue of conservation for future needs is too important to be left to local determination," says water law expert Corwin Johnson of the University of Texas. "If we don't come up with a water plan," said Grubb, "we'd better come up with an evacuation plan." Yl MRS. ANN For the first time in this area.

SPIRITUALIST READER AND ADVISOR IN ALL PROBLEMS OF LIFE CANDLELIGHT TAROT CARD READING READINGS She will give you aavice on love, marriage business transaction of all kinds. Are you SICK? Are you confused? See Mrs. Ann and your troubles will be over. 772 W. Court Seguin 379-9865 All readings are private and conndential Houston police chief holds info from paper HOUSTON (AP) Police Chief Lee Brown has refused to release complaints of alleged wrongdoing by his officers or records of the department's investigation, despite a Texas attorney general's ruling that such records usually cannot be withheld.

The Houston Chronicle asked last week to see "blotter" information containing the names of citizens arrested since June on misdemeanor charges. The request was prompted after a 25-year-old inmate claimed he had been raped and beaten repeatedly while in City Jail. The inmate, Melvin Roy Wells, said he screamed for help but his cries were either ignored or unnoticed by jail guards. Police spokesman Larry Troutt said 717 complaints had been received by Oct. 31.

He said 153 made serious allegations, such as criminal activity or excessive force, while the remainder claimed harassment, misconduct or verbal abuse, Charles Waters, an attorney for the Chronicle, said the newpaper will file a lawsuit Monday against the city, Brown and Mrs. Whitmire, asking a state court to allow reporters to see the records. Brown argued the records contained criminal history information that is not available to the public. The newspaper asked Mrs. Whitmire to order Brown to release the information, but the mayor referred the matter to the city Legal Department.

Troutt said Friday the records would not be released until lawyers review a Dec. 31 opinion by Texas Attorney General Mark White. Troutt was unsure how long the review would take. The opinion, released last week, said sworn complaints against Houston Police Department officers by private citizens, the officers' written response and letters outlining the department's ruling generally are public record. Mrs.

Whitmire sought the opinion in October after Brown denied Houston Post reporters access to records. White's opinion is not law but serves as the state's official policy until it is overturned by the court. The mayor's request for the opinion argued that releasing the records would "have a chilling effect on a potential complainant's willingness to come forward and Hie such a complaint. But White, referring to other decisions and court rulings, said an officer loses much of his right to privacy regarding his official duties when he goes on the city payroll. 'Clip Save 1 Winter '83 Program Schedule MONDAY SATURDAY SPANISH PROGRAMMING 6:00 Desperatar en Espanol THE MORNING SHOW 6:55 TSN News 7:02 The Big Band Sounds 7:16 Birthday Calendar 7:25 Weather News 7:30 Party Line Local News 7:45 TSN Morning Report 8:00 Morning Sports Report 8:10 Weather with Fritzic 8:15 Gardening with Johnny (Sat.

Only) 8:17 Paul Harvey "Good Morning America" 8:24 Sound of Texas 8:35 Houswives Local News 8:52 Community Calendar 8:52 Camera Corner (Sat. Onlyl 9:02 The Big Band Sound POLKA AS YOU LIKE IT 11:02 Your Favorite Polka tunes THE NOON REPORT 11:30 Paul Harvey "News and Comment" 11:45 N. B. Notebook 11:46 ABC Sports (Sat. Only) 11:50 The Canyon Lake Report 11:55 The Mid Day Stock Market Report 11:55 Community Calendar (Sat.

Only) 12:00 TSN News 12:15 The Swap Shop 12:35 Local News 12:50 Texas Extension Reports AFTERNOON KGNB MUSIC 1:02 KGNB Music continues 3:40 Closing Stock Market Reports THE EVENING REPORT 4:50 Dateline '78 6:00 Sound of Texas 5:05 Paul Harvey "The Rest of the Story" 5:12 Texas State Network Sports 5:15 Local News 5:35 ABC Sports EVENING KGNB MUSIC 6:02 KGNB Music continues SUNSET KGNB SIGN-OFF SUNDAY 6:00 AM Sign On 6:00 Master Control 6:55 TSN News 7:00 Trinity Tidings 7:30 ABC News 7:35 Local News 7:50 Power of Positive Prayer 7:55 TSN News 8:00 The Baptist Hour 8:30 ABC News 8:35 Thoughts Music 9:00 Reflections 9:55 TSN News 10:00 Local News 10:10 Religion in the News 10:15 Hal Bruner's Washington 10:26 ABC News Brief 10:30 First Protestant Church Service 11:30 ABC News 11:35 World News in Review 12:00 TSN Noon News 12:15 Local News 12:25 Weather 12:30 ABC News 12:35 The Music Makers AFTERNOON KGNB MUSIC 1:30 KGNB Music continues through 5:30 with special features including: 1:45 ABC Sports 3:45 ABC Sports EVENING REPORT 5:30 ABC News 5:35 ABC Sports 5:40 Local News EVENING KGNB MUSIC 6:02 KGNB Music SUNSET-SIGN-OFF 6 Minutes before each hour TSN News Each hour on the hour Local Newsbreak Half past each hour ABC News 15 minutes past each hour Weatherbreak MONDAY SATURDAY THE CHRIS LANE SHOW 5:55 TSN News 6:00 Country Living Music 6:30 ABC News 6:35 Early Bird Local News 6:45 Texas Extension Reports 6:50 Dan Lovett Sports 6:55 TSN News 7:00 Country Living Music 7:25 Weather News 7:30 Party Line Local News 7:45 Paul Harvey "Good Morning America" 7:50 TSN Sports Country Living Music THE NOON REPORT 12:00 Paul Harvey "News and Comment" 12:15 Local News 12:25 N. B. Notebook THE DAVIE LEE SHOW 12:30 Country Living Music 5:30 ABC News 5:35 Local News 5:45 TSN Sports 6:50 Fishing Report Sat.) 5:52 Jim Streety Program (Thursday) 5:55 TSN News THE CORKY MAYBERRY SHOW 6:00 Country Living Music 10:30 ABC News 10:35 Local News 10:45 Country Living Music Midnight Sign Off SUNDAY 5:55 Concert Overtures and Encores 7:30 ABC News 7:35 Local News 7:45 Birthday Calendar 7:48 Power of Positive Prayer 7:55 TSN News 8:00 Worship service from St. Paul Lutheran Church 9:00 Concert Overtures Encores 12:00 TSN Noon News THE DAVIE LEE SHOW 12:30 Country Living Music 5:35 ABC Sports 5:40 Local News THE CORKY MAYBERRY SHOW 6:00 Country Living Music MUSICAL MEMORIES FROM GERMANY 8:00 Host Norbert Kossack plays your favorite German melodies 11:00 KNBT Sign-Off 5 Minutes before each hour TSN News Each hour on the hour Local Newsbreak Half past each hour Community Calendar and Weather news Clip Save..