Jun. 16, 2004

Gov. Perry: Textbook Orders Proceeding on Schedule

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today said that school textbook orders are proceeding on schedule one day after he, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick announced a solution to the cash flow problem that threatened timely delivery of textbooks for next school year.

As of noon Wednesday, 103 schools districts or charter schools had placed textbook orders. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), textbooks should arrive at school districts in time for the new school year. TEA notified all school districts Tuesday afternoon that they could begin ordering textbooks.

“Today, the process of moving textbooks from the warehouse to the schoolhouse is proceeding on schedule,” Perry said. “I have ordered the Texas Education Agency to expedite the approval process to ensure that schools have the textbooks they need when they need them.”

The legislative leadership has authorized the TEA to transfer funds from various accounts within the agency to cover the $63 million cost of textbook purchases for the current budget cycle. The state will later reimburse TEA for the cost of purchasing biology and bilingual/ESL books and other textbooks needed because of enrollment growth.

“We won’t allow our schoolchildren to be used as a pawn in a game of budgetary brinksmanship,” Perry said. “That’s why I joined the legislative leadership in taking the action needed to ensure textbooks arrive in the classroom on time.”