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Resident criticizes proposed tax rate and school library books at Godley ISD meeting
Summary
Rhonda Miller told the board the district’s proposed rate 'maxes out' the tax limit and criticized multiple library titles as 'social justice' material, urging retained hiring authority and increased oversight; the board responded that book list changes were made and moved forward with approvals.
Rhonda Miller, a public commenter, told the Godley Independent School District board on Tuesday evening that the district’s proposed tax rate “maxes out” the legal limit and urged trustees to provide taxpayers relief. “The maximum rate the district can assess without a special election is 1.285,” Miller said, reading a statement; she added that the district’s notice shows a proposed rate of “1.28545” and called that “maxing out the tax rate.”
Miller also criticized items on the district’s library list, characterizing several titles as “social justice” propaganda and saying some reviewers would not place them in school libraries because they address border crossing, trafficking and race. She told trustees she was “concerned about the lack of discernment” in recent hiring decisions and urged the board to “retain hiring authority and increase oversight.”
Board President (presiding officer) interrupted to note time limits and directed discussion back to the agenda when comments fell outside the specific budget-amendment item. Superintendent Dr. Nicks later told the board that, following trustee feedback, the district had removed two books from the publicly posted list and moved seven titles to a different grade level. “Those books are also coming from our teachers who are building lessons and units,” Dr. Nicks said, describing the monthly review and approval process and urging that the listing be used as an opportunity for community feedback.
The public remarks included a claim that the board’s budget aligns the district with United Nations directives; that assertion was presented as part of the speaker’s statement and was not corroborated during the meeting. The board did not take formal action in response to the public comment other than to proceed with the agenda; later in the same meeting trustees approved the library materials list with the superintendent’s changes and approved the district’s final 2025–26 budget amendments.
The board’s next regular meeting is expected to follow its usual posting and notice procedures; specific follow-up on the book-list process and hiring oversight was not scheduled during the session.
