Both are necessary to providing a quality education. Cut back in either area, and something must give. The on-base school districts in South Texas have rightly elected to spend the majority of their budget on teaching. The buildings at each school system are in desperate need of health and safety upgrades and additional space to facilitate better learning. I am working with my congressional colleagues and officials at the Departments of Defense and Education to create grant programs to ensure on-base schools have the tools essential to a safe learning environment.
Military families give up much of their personal lives to serve our nation.
Ensuring a quality education in a safe learning environment to the children of parents on military bases is a necessary, pragmatic approach to balancing service to country and family. And in the long run, we all benefit by every child we educate well.