Capitol Counseling: Leaders will have to come to terms on schools

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials

If Oprah and Dave can mend fences, why not Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst?

People will say that's being overly optimistic about Texas' most celebrated political feud. They will point to the men's bitter dealings over the supercharged issues of tax reform, money for schools and the strings that should be attached.

For those watching the feud at home, this is how we size things up:

Having given up on a joint effort, Mr. Dewhurst is about to announce a special Senate panel on school-finance reform. He foresees "putting new money into the classroom."

Those words are key. Texas schools get just barely enough money to carry out their mission, according to a Texas Supreme Court decision of two weeks ago.

We joined those who were disappointed that the court stopped short of the educator's-eye view – that classroom achievement is minimal and that expensive improvements are called for. That requires better, better-paid educators certified in their fields who can benefit from smaller classrooms and sound facilities.