Before Governor Perry even called a special session in 2004, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership and the South Texas Association of Schools already sponsored a meeting of business leaders, elected officials, and school superintendents to discuss potential legislation and its  impact on Valley education.  On April 6, nearly 200 people, representing different business sectors and school districts across the Valley, joined in the crucial discussion.  Guest speaker F. Scott McCown, former district court judge who presided over many decisions affecting current school finance laws, addressed the two overlapping topics of Texas public education and possible tax reform legislation.

   Less than a month later, at the start of the special session, Governor Perry invited local proposals on both issues. On May 6, Rio Grande Valley school officials and business leaders responded, articulating their recommendations on behalf of the South Texas community.

   "Our number one goal for this great state is that the student in Brownsville receives the same quality of education as the student in Highland Park," said Bill Card III, then-chairman of the Partnership board of directors, at the meeting. "Today, in a truly historic consensus between school officials and business leaders, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership announces it strongly supports full equity in the funding of the Texas public school system."

   While supporting full equity, the Position Statement of the Partnership also addresses the accountable stewardship of public funds and the Legislative review of school district mandates. Recognizing additional resources may be necessary to provide for equitable funding of the Texas public school system, the Position Statement addresses recent tax proposals, responding specifically to a business activity (value-added) tax, payroll tax, property tax, and sales tax. 

   Immediately, other groups and communities across the state took notice.  By invitation, Bill Card III and Bill Summers, president/CEO of the Partnership, submitted the Position Statement at the Border Education Summit on May 10 - 11, 2004 in Austin, hosted by Border legislators.

  Then, on May 12, Governor Rick Perry responded to the Position Statement with a personal visit to the Partnership headquarters in Weslaco, discussing with Summers the unique needs of the Rio Grande Valley.

   "The Partnership is very involved in this issue because education and business go hand-in-hand," said Summers. "Education creates the workforce and business creates the jobs. We have to promote both in order to continually improve the quality of life in the Rio Grande Valley."

Accomplishments in Education:

1964	Helped Pan American College secure four-year status
1990	Organized first Valley Proud Honors Banquet, which every May since, recognizes each valedictorian and salutatorian from every high school, public and private, in the Rio Grande Valley
2004	Submitted Position Statement on behalf of school districts and business community to Texas Legislative Special Session on Education; Governor Rick Perry responds personally with a visit to the Partnership