The beginning of a new school year is a time filled with excitement, anticipation, and nervous energy for many students and their parents. As the former president of Round Rock ISD and a parent of two, I recall fondly the hustle and bustle of families at the local shops preparing for the coming year. I will always remember getting my son and daughter ready for school by going through a checklist of school supplies, forms to fill out, and teachers to meet. Now as the first day of a new school year approaches, I see other parents doing the same things and checking off items on the same list.

For some of you, this will be the first time that you will walk your child to the local bus stop or drop them off at school, while others have become professionals at preparing for the back-to-school period. No matter how experienced you are, I believe we can all agree that this particular period of time is a special one for any parent. Back-to-school shopping can be a difficult balance of determining the wants and needs for our children and students. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 7.6 billion dollars was spent on back-to-school shopping in August of 2008. Preparing students for a new school year can oftentimes be a financial burden to many families who are struggling, especially during this current economic situation.

In 1999, the Texas Legislature wisely enacted a law allowing for a tax free shopping weekend in August to help families save money during a designated back-to-school shopping weekend. The measure eliminated the sales tax on clothing and backpacks valued under $100. While this program has proved incredibly successful, there was one rather large exception – school supplies. That is why I was proud to coauthor House Bill 1801, which unanimously passed the legislature adding school supplies to the list of back-to-school items exempt from sales tax during tax-free weekends. Including everyday school supplies for students in Kindergarten through college relieves some of the financial burden for families trying to prepare their students for a new school year. The Texas Comptroller’s office recently estimated that Texas families will save approximately $9 million on school supplies this year, and close to $66 million overall in state and local sales tax during the August 21st-23rd tax holiday.

While school supplies are important to a child’s education, we must also ensure that they have the proper support both at school and at home to thrive and achieve their goals. That is why I will continue to listen to and work with Williamson County educators, and take their ideas and suggestions back to my colleagues so that we can move our schools forward. Providing our students with a quality education is an essential tool for preparing them to compete in our new global marketplace.

With the summer vacation period coming to a close, let’s remember to help give our students a new wave of enthusiasm as they begin another year of school. By preparing our students and educators with the tools and resources they need to succeed from day one, we are building a solid foundation for learning in our classrooms. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Sales Tax Holiday on August 21st-23rd. For more information on specific school supplies included in the Sales Tax Holiday weekend, please visit the Texas Comptroller’s website at: www.window.state.tx.us.