School buses are the safest way to get our children to school, but that doesn't mean they're perfect. The older the bus, the dirtier the exhaust that gets inside the cabin. And Texas has a lot of old buses.

Local school districts are doing what they can, and some have gotten very creative in finding non-education funding for these cleanup projects. But they can't fix the whole fleet without the state's help.

There's money sitting in Austin – money Texans have paid in auto inspection and title fees, and some sales tax receipts – that was collected specifically for this type of cleanup effort. We need the Legislature to see that this is one of the most tangible air quality projects it could fund. They need to free up the money needed to protect the health of our kids.

If necessary, I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them [his children] to the school next to where I live.

These folks make the biggest difference here in our school, ... They give the children that need it that little extra attention, and help them with a rough spot in their class work. I know it is rewarding for them and for our children, and we are really grateful to have them.

Most children come to school tired on Monday and Friday. When we look at the data, that's when we also have the most absences. Knowing that, we have to make it work for us because we want the children to perform their best.