comal isd school board elections comal isd school board elections

One big challenge I have mentioned previously is to manage the phenomenal growth that Comal County has been experiencing the last 5 years. March 14, 2012 Candidates for the Comal ISD School Board including Stephen Smith (District 1), David Drastata (District 2) and Amy Freund (District 5) are all unopposed for the May 12. The Boards primary functions are goal setting, approving the budget and policymaking. I think it shows our message has resonated with the community, and people are ready for change, Sorensen said. While I feel that the other three candidates in the Comal ISD District 7 Trustee race have skills sets that are good and well meaning, I believe I possess the skill sets that encompass the broad picture of the Comal ISD. Voters, in turn, approved the measure. I was born and raised in Comal County and attended Smithson Valley High School where I played football and was a member of the track & field team throughout my high school years. We need to look at how we plan out future growth by working with local leaders in New Braunfels, Garden Ridge, Canyon Lake and Smithson Valley to insure we meet this growth in a fiscally responsible manner. Revenue generated by the VATREcould fund compensation increasesofup tothree percent annually over the next three to four years. For best results call during our business hours Proposition C, at$20,397,672, will fundstadium capacityexpansion projects at both Canyon Lake and Davenport High Schools. Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week. I would love the opportunity to work with teachers and parents across the district to promote the well-being of our students. Comal ISD is divided into single-member districts and has a seven-member Board of Trustees. 1 Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. According to a letter sent to residents from Comal ISD. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Why or why not? Voters in Bexar County's wealthiest school district overwhelmingly approved a tax rate election Tuesday night, but voters in three other Bexar County school districts rejected their districts' requests for bond funding. Single-Member District 1 incumbent Steve Lechelop, an attorney who has represented the district since 2013, was narrowly defeated by Sarah Sorensen, a former legislative analyst in the New York State Assembly. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. We are working to restore the radio signal. The Board's primary functions are goal setting, approving the budget and policymaking. M-F 10-2. Educ. School Board Elections: Comal ISD Texas Public Radio Published April 19, 2021 at 1:20 AM CDT Note: Names are listed in order of appearance on the ballot according to the city clerks' office. The biggest challenge facing Comal ISD is low teacher pay. Being a teacher has always been my dream job, so Im thankful I am able to continue down this path. Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. If you value our commitment to the highest standards of responsible journalism and are able to do so, please consider making your gift of support today. Youth Development Director for Ignite Volleyball Association. I plan to keep a students first mindset in all decisions. The requirements for being a Trustee on the Board of Trustees for the District may be found at Board Policy BBA (Legal), which may be accessed by clicking this linkand inserting policy code BBA.. Casey Moeller 13. Six candidates have filed for two Comal ISD trustee positions, five seek two city council spots, and six vie for three seats on the New Braunfels ISD board. However, we need to ensure that there is equity throughout our schools. We have lived in Garden Ridge for over 10 years. 7. Candidates set for May 7 school boards and City Council ballots, By Catherine Wilson and Steve Knight | The Herald-Zeitung. Click here to find out what district you are in. I want your vote as the trustee for our district because I am greatly concerned about the reasons why good teachers and staff are leaving our district, some after only three or four months in the classroom; why bus routes are being canceled; why teachers get yearly pay cuts because any increase they get is less than the rise of inflation, pay cuts, and the failing grades! There are ways to responsibly manage growth that allows for the tradition of excellence and student success to continue in our district. Beginning on April 19, there will be an election for two members of the Board of Trustees for New Braunfels Independent School District. accounts, the history behind an article. What would be your top priorities if you are elected? The idea of approaching grade level level, for example, is touted as the mark for schools to achieve comfort. Dont be bamboozled! I feel as if this prevents students from having a good learning environment and reaching their full potential. As a Board, we are committed to ensuring that our teachers, staff and auxiliary employees are compensated fairly for the work they do on behalf of our students.. Lastly, it is no secret that there are divisive political agendas threatening to infiltrate our schools a place where these differences should be set aside. This would include being proactive in seeking out land to buy for future construction. Businesses and taxpayers are the end customers for our educational product we put out into the marketplace once students graduate. Board members should be willing to talk with their constituents and work with them to ensure every voice is heard and taken into account when making decisions. Texas called me back home and I transferred to Texas Tech University, where I majored in Wildlife Management. As a recent student of Comal ISD, I was taught to look at and believe the math and the science. It is imperative the Board of Trustees be comprised of people who are ready to set aside personal political ideologies and collaborate in a way that, together, advocates for what is in the best interest of our students. I served in the Army Corps of Engineers with the 25th Infantry Division. Of adjoining school districts bordering Comal ISD, our teachers are number six in terms of compensation. Five school board member positions in New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD will be up for election May 2. What would be your top priorities if you are elected? This is a state issue however. Comal ISD, District 1 Tim Hennessee, Incumbent Brittany Soto Comal ISD, District 2 David Drastata, Incumbent A keen eye must be kept on how our tax monies are being spent. I would have voted to keep the mask mandate. I have used my skill sets of Cost Accounting, Capacity Planning and Engineering in multi-million dollar capacity manufacturing facility expansions. In June, this Board approved a resolution that would ensure that revenue generated by the VATRE, both this year and in future years,isdedicated solely to fund teacher and staff compensation, as well as new teacher positions, says Comal ISD Board President Jason York. (Community Impact Newspaper staff), Editor, New Braunfels and San Marcos/Buda/Kyle. New Braunfels police chief finalists announced, Q&A: Meet the candidates running for New Braunfels City Council, From persuasive writing to planting trees, Carl Schurz Elementary students celebrate Earth Day, Q&A's: Meet the candidates running for New Braunfels ISD board of trustees, Comal County surpasses 10K confirmed, probable COVID-19 cases. It is important we manage our tax monies prudently. Share with Us. Don't Threaten. Click here to find out what district you are in. Voting and Election Information | Comal County, Texas Home Elections BBM & Early Voting Data May 7, 2022 Election Ballot by Mail and Early Voter Data Data for May 7, 2022 Election **NOTE: If an election entity is not hyperlinked, no data has been reported for that date. Voters in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties re-elected Place 4 trustee Edward Finley and chose retired teacher Belinda Evans to represent Place 7. We are working to restore the radio signal. Why or why not? As a retired educator, I have a keen understanding of what goes on in the classroom and the issues facing our teachers and administrators. In comparison, Northside School District which has approximately 110,000 students and Northeast ISD which has 60,000 students can easily fit within the boundaries of Comal ISD and have a much denser and diverse tax base to support this higher student number to include businesses. [1] I also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston and transitioned to VP of Operations for an oilfield service company in College Station. I graduated from San Antonio College in 2015 with my Associates Degree, and then I went on to graduate from Texas State University in 2017 with my Bachelors Degree in English and 7th-12th teaching certificate. Alamo Heights ISD had two competitive races without incumbents. Clay Page will be the new trustee representing Place No. Incumbent Laurie Schley lost to former board member Jason York in the race for District 3. Two of seven seats on the Comal Independent School District board of trustees were up for by-district general election on May 6, 2017. What is your current or most recent occupation? | One of the biggest challenges the school district faces is student performance, and I dont mean just performance on state-mandated tests. Success! The Texas Secretary of State's elections department is also an excellent resource for election/candidacy questions and can be reached at (512) 463-5650 or http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/index.shtml Submit application to: Comal ISD, 1404 IH 35 North, New Braunfels, Texas, 78130, US You have permission to edit this article. 5. Courtney Beach Biasatti, Drastatas opponent, said she would have polled her constituents before making a decision about masks. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. Current board president and UTSA education professor Carol Harle easily won reelection in District 6, and incumbent Karen Freeman received the majority of the vote, even with a crowded field of three challengers. I have lived in New Braunfels 11+ years and have a family of four two of which graduated from Canyon High School. We are one of the fastest growing districts in the area if not the state. Diaz is married to Texas State Board of Education member Marisa Perez-Diaz and was endorsed by Julin Castro. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. Because I understand some of the financial burdens placed on school districts, I will strongly advocate for teachers and taxpayers at the state level to ensure that more of our tax dollars stay in our own fast-growing district. I have experience in Engineering, Cost Accounting, Production Planning and Plant Operations Management. If approved by voters, the Maintenance and Operations tax rate for 2021 would be 94 cents compared to 2020s tax rate of 92 cents. My wife, Tory, and I attend Northeast Bible Church and have two daughters who go to Garden Ridge Elementary School. While I acknowledge that each student has different learning style, I do not support charter schools. To the registered voters of the Comal Independent School District, Texas: (A los votantes registrados del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Comal, Texas:) Notice is hereby given that the vote centers listed below will be open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 1, 2021, for voting in a general election in single-member districts 1 and 2 to elect 1 of 2. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, With 16 competitive races spread across six different Bexar County school districts Saturday, familiar names held a lot of sway. TheBoard called for aVATREto generate additional local revenue toprovide teachers and staff with additional compensationand to fund new teaching positions to meet student enrollment growth. Do you know this means your student scored about a 40% on the test? Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly clear. Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees Calls Two Elections to Address Enrollment Growth and Teacher Pay The Comal ISD Board of Trustees called for two elections to be held Nov. 2. I am a full-time student at St. Phillips College. One of the first things we need to do is have conversations and work closely with city leaders to learn about new developments being approved so we can make growth projections and plan accordingly. High 82F. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Why or why not? Where are our new students coming from? Retired principal Corrine Saldaa narrowly won election with 33% of the vote. Both elections will be on Nov. 2 and early voting will be Oct. 18 to 29. August 17, 2021 - Monday evening, the Comal ISD Board of Trustees called for two elections to be held on Nov. 2. I also want to serve because I want ALL students to feel safe in our classrooms and hallways across the district. The statistics show that masks work in helping slow the spread of Covid. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. I want to participate in the process to fix it as your trustee. I am Orlando OJ Dona, and with your vote I will be your Trustee for Comal ISD SMD 7 on May 7, 2022. May 6, 2017. He received 38% of the vote, placing him a fraction ahead of Lillian Zapata. You have permission to edit this article. I challenge voters to look at the most recent grade report on their local school and not be horrified. This will lower maintenance and supply costs. I would like to see teachers, teach and not have to focus on the standardized testing regulations. The pandemic created significant gaps, and they need to be addressed in meaningful ways, so our students go into the next phases of their education prepared. That means we need to open the doors of our schools and invite our taxpayers to see the facilities and programs that could not be possible without their financial support. As an educated, experienced trustee, I can help effect this change. Support our teachers and staff. Student success will always be a top priority for discussion in quarterly meetings with community members. Elec. I would have polled the constituents in my district- all staff, parents and student input would be considered before casting my vote. Would you like to receive our daily news? Neither filed for re-election. Signup today! Rafael Diaz, who was appointed to replace Macias, won the District 7 seat, which represents all of Judson. What grade on an A-F scale would you give your districts response to the coronavirus pandemic. For the past two years, theComal ISDBoard has beenworking witha group of community members representing all areas of the districttodevelop abondpackage that allows the district to continue to addressnearly6,000new students who are projected to enroll in Comal ISD over the next five years. My goal is to see our district continue being a pacesetter in statewide education. 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT Current New Braunfels ISD District 1 trustee Keith D. Smith will face off against Morgan Lindsey Armitage, who will appear as Morgan Renaud on the ballot, for the seat. Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. Also seeking to win one of the at-large trustee seats, which are currently held by Clark and David Heefner, is Matthew D. Sargent. May 1, 2021 Election Results: Comal ISD The KSAT 12 News Team provides a look at local, regional, statewide and national news events and the latest information on local traffic and weather. Also, Im a Latina this is important because the makeup of our board is not representative of our community. This is especially true in how we spend our monies. Think of the Comal ISD school district as a triangle. I am no progressive I am a Christian and am for family values, a quality education for all students, hard work, academic integrity, teacher-enforced discipline supported by administration, and the entire district answerable to you, the voter. FILE PHOTO: A sign tells people where to cast their ballots. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. He was one of two trustees to vote against removing the mask mandate. This concept of approaching means your student is likely to succeed in the next grade level. How likely is not at all stated for you! Because I have children in the district, I am 100% invested in what is best for students. Six candidates are vying for Comal ISD single-member districts 6 and 7 in this May's election. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 3 and 5. Occupation: I am currently retired, but I do some substitute teaching. Shedefeated Drastata Saturday with just under 59% of the vote. CTE Spotlight: Health Science Students Gain Experience, Earn Certifications The Comal ISD Board of Trustees approved a bond package that will accommodate continued enrollment growth as well as address items such as campus safety and security, student technology, and expansions and improvements at existing campuses during a meeting on Feb. 15. Updated Proposition A, at $411, 287,320, will fund the construction offournew schools:Elementary #19, which will provide relief for Clear Spring and Freiheit Elementary Schools; Elementary #20, which will provide relief for Garden Ridge and Morningside Elementary;Middle School #8, which will relieve Pieper Ranch Middle School; anda new Hill Country College Preparatory High School. I am a parent with a long-term vested interest in the district. The last day to register to vote for this election is April 7. That matters when we think about community involvement and equity. We need to be very proactive in locating where new housing developments are going up and how to serve the educational needs of our fast growing district. Trustee (vote for 3) Amy Rogers 43. Keep it Clean. Based on the recommendations of the Comal Forward committee, Comal ISD Board of Trustees on Feb. 15 approved an order calling for a $634,659,847 bond election to be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 to address the needs of the district. We will continue to lose teachers, and we will start to see students leave this district. Comal ISD Board of Trustees meetings are conducted in the Board Room of the Support Services Building, 1404 IH 35 North, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Proposition A will also fundcampusreinvestmentandinfrastructure projectsas well asthe purchase ofcampus safety and security,busesand land. Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. Students, parents, and staffed should not have to worry about contracting the virus while going to school. After the filing period for the upcoming May election closed Feb. 18, a total of 12 candidates filed for two Comal ISD and three New Braunfels ISD trustee positions. Career Training is an important by product of our educational system. 5:11 PM Feb 2, 2021 CST, Applications for election to the school boards will be accepted until Feb. 12. I feel compelled to serve on the Comal ISD Board of Trustees, first and foremost, because I have two young daughters and many friends with children in the district. However, lifting the mask mandate that was set in place to protect students and staff less than 12 hours before the next school day and without consulting experts completely disregards all of those efforts. As for being an educator for 6 years, I have seen what works and what did not work in these other school districts. I taught one year at an Alternative Charter School in Schertz to middle school students and high school students. Comal ISD Trustees Adopt Tax Rate, Approve Separate Elections to Address Compensation, Growth Stephanie Johnson August 17, 2021 Comal ISD's 2017 $263.5 million school-bond package included $94 million for the construction of two middle schools and $21.3 million for technology. From my perspective Comal does not treat their school employees well. I do believe Comal ISD is doing a good job in educating our students. Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. Comal ISD has a seven-member Board of Trustees. While I was recruited to play football for McKendree College in Illinois, a knee injury ended my football career. If you are an incumbent, please defend your vote on the decision to rescind the districts mask mandate March 9. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. The forefront of our goals as board members should be student success, but success is not only grades and test scores. These will be held outside of our regular board meetings. Local school boards dont have much of a say in this. Questions regarding elections can be directed to Melanie Allen at (763)689-6202 or mallen@c-ischools.org. Updated NEW BRAUNFELSIn a resounding 7-0 vote, the Comal ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution supporting area residents and communities, echoing their concerns about the proposed Vulcan quarry, and directing the school administration to file for a contested case hearing. Ive always visualized Comal County as the place where I would raise a family. By Eric Weilbacher, Lauren Canterberry . Even though she was the only member of the slate to win election, Sorensen said narrow margins in the other races show a lot of people are behind them. Teachers in some cases are even overworked due to the high demand to meet their high standards. I have a B.S. Zeke Mendoza, who died shortly after Texas winter storm, was also on the ballot for District 3. I want to use my skills to help our districts children thrive in an educational environment. So, I plan to look at our current spending and see where we can make changes. Teachers and support staff are responsible for student success they spend time with our students every day of the school year, and they should be making a wage that matches the work they put in each and every day. Amanda Jones and Amber Bracegirdle are vying for the District 6 position, and David Krawczynski, Kaila Stovall,. We must continually perform needs assessments across the district to ensure equity and excellence are maintained in existing facilities while also planning for expansion with new facilities. Folks, I dont like the gamesmanship with student testing. Comal ISD residents who need to register to vote or need to update their voter registration due to a recent change of address,maydo so untilOct. 4. Have my opponents served as a vice principal? Be Nice. Nine out of the 10 incumbents on the ballot won reelection. Sargent, who was the District 4 trustee from 2017 to 2020 for the New Braunfels ISD school board, is running again this time for at-large trustee after being defeated by John Tucker by 251 votes during the 2020 election for the District 4 seat. Have they mentored students in the National Honor Society or won awards for Robotics at the Texas State Level with their kiddos? Top priorities for me are transparency in how board decisions are made. Early voting will take place Oct. 18-29. Christopher Willis and Fabian Castillo Dealva are seeking the District 2 seat. This could be done by being more proactive in reducing construction costs via replication of construction designs. We publish election results following each election. Six candidates have filed for two Comal ISD trustee positions, five seek two city council spots, and six vie for three seats on the New Braunfels ISD board. | We need to keep expanding our programs to keep up with our rapidly growing district. Greetings, Texans. Drastata and four other board candidates voted to remove the districts mask mandate in March without surveying parents or giving them time to make alternative plans. Did not respond. Standardized tests should not exist. The early years of my post-graduate career were spent in the outdoor industry, beginning with the famed YO Ranch and, soon after, a luxury wing-shooting lodge in Kentucky. How would you / do you decide whether or not to approve the budget recommended to you by district administration? Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. How should CISD handle growth within the district? For New Braunfels ISD, there are two at large trustee seats and one for District 1 up for grabs, while Comal ISD is looking to fill trustee positions for District 6 and 7. I am an active member of the community, serving as the chairman of an advisory commission for the city of Garden Ridge over the past four years and coaching sports teams for my children. The Comal ISD Board of Trustees approved a bond package that will accommodate continued enrollment growth as well as address items such as campus safety and security, student technology, and expansions and improvements at existing campuses during a meeting on Feb. 15. High 82F. What is your stance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests? I would recommend all of you make a tally of things that you want to see in your school board member, judge us according by your list, and vote accordingly. Political agendas and ideals have no place in the classroom. My roots run deep in Comal County and I graduated from Comal ISD. Threats of harming another Eric joined Community Impact as an editor in July 2021, returning to journalism after several years in the New Braunfels business community. 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT, Learn more about the candidates for districts 1 and 2 for the Comal ISD board of trustees. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. What could it be doing better? By Lauren Canterberry But I believe transparency and accountability lead to trust throughout an organization, and no matter how an organization is currently run, there are always improvements that can be made in transparency and accountability. Harlandale ISD residents reelected both incumbents on the ballot in their first election since the Texas Education Agency put them under the oversight of a conservator. These acquired skills give me a key understanding of educational requirements and issues, personnel and disciplinary issues, construction, capacity planning, maintenance and finances as well as the caring and compassion needed to understand and address any issues facing the Comal ISD School Board. Teaching skills sought by local businesses would be key to providing our taxpayer base with the students they will need in the future. The other three members of her slate, Judit Vega, Luke Amphlett and Yasmn Parra Codina, received 40 to 45% of the vote in their races. They will be joined by Daniel Carrillo. School Board District 1. Prior to CI, Eric freelanced for multiple publications and was a reporter for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. A top priority would be implementation of programs,. We'd love to hear eyewitness If Harlandales board policy required candidates to win a majority of the vote, trustees would have had to either call a special election or appoint someone to represent District 3. I plan to have town hall meetings with anyone in the district who wishes to be heard. Former Judson trustee Jose Macias Jr. will once again represent Judsons District 4. She currently works as a COVID-19 contact tracer. Lillard set franchise and career marks with 71 points tied for the most in the NBA this season and 13 3-pointers in the Portland Trail Blazers' 131 -114 victory over the Houston Apartment Therapy flipped into Apartment Therapy There was no 72 hour notice as it was required by the state and there were no experts present at that meeting to present the actual facts and statistics to the board. CISD has done a great job keeping the schools open and I hope they remain open through the end of the school year. Creating accountability to our parents, students and staff where it might be lacking now through open communication. A new exhibit reconsiders its complicated history, Rosie Castro confirmed as temporary council member for San Antonios District 7, Former SAPD officer who shot Erik Cantu Jr. receives criminal trial start date in June. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. We also need to make sure that before we continue to let people outside of the district register students here, we have sufficient staffing, especially for our students who are [in special education], [English language learners] and on 504 plans. A- opening schools in August was beneficial to the kids AND offering virtual learning as an option. Being sure our children are at the forefront of all decisions made by the school district is my top priority, and I will continue to advocate for the conservative family values that are important to many living in Comal County. Code 11.061; Tex. Meet the Teacher, Orientation, & Open House, Lamar University Educational Leadership Program. Also . Be Proactive. Ryan and I made our home New Braunfels seven years ago, and we have loved living here. Early voting begins April 25 and ends May 3. I have over 13 years of experience making financial decisions. Trustee meetings drew packed board rooms this year following a series of controversial actions, motivating those who opposed their decisions to launch a get-out-the-vote campaign. Good communications between schools and parents is sometimes not there, and teachers and staff are leaving because of a lack of trust or for other unknown reasons because our Central Office doesnt have a process to analyze why. Zapata was disqualified from the race due to residency issues. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Comal ISD, District 7: The trustee candidates speak. There was an error processing your request. Image courtesy of Comal ISD. My kids are twelve, six, four, and I recently had another child who is almost seven months now.