Be a voice for all Comal ISD communities. You have permission to edit this article. Carey Watson Hildebrand will represent Place No. With the end of the month-long candidate-filing period for the May 7 elections last week, the slate of hopefuls for seats on area school boards and the New Braunfels City Council is set. City council hopefuls must have resided in their respective districts at least six months prior to filing, have resided in the city at least 12 months prior to the election date, and in no way be currently indebted to the city. M-F 10-2. 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 Christopher Willis and Fabian Castillo Dealva are seeking the District 2 seat. I want to be your trustee because corrections are needed on this board. Casey Moeller 13. Enrollment (14-15) 20,327 students. It is no secret that Comal ISD is growing at an unprecedented rate, and how well we handle additional student enrollment is crucial. In following years, the tax rate is projected to lower back to 92 cents in 2022 and 91 cents in 2023 due to rising property appraisal values. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. Experience: 6 years as a certified teacher in the State of Texas. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. Brittany Soto: District No. 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. This skill set will lend itself well to future capital construction projects the Comal ISD will seek out to meet future expected growth. 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. I feel as if this prevents students from having a good learning environment and reaching their full potential. 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. This can be accomplished by replicating school designs which should lower design and construction costs, lowering maintenance parts and fixture costs, and allowing contractors to look at previous issues and correcting those in lower price bids. or anything. I came into education in my later years through alternative certification pursuing a specialty in career and technical education while getting certified in High School Math and Science, Business Education, Social Studies, Career and Technical Education, and Grades 4-8 Math, Science, Social Studies and Generalist. Board of Trustees Agendas & Minutes Board Policies Elections Meeting Schedule Meeting Video Single Member Districts Past Board Elections If the School Board approves the updated Hillsborough County District Map, the students of thousands could be affected during the next school year. Sitting in a quiet room for 4 hours straight with only a lunch break is not an efficient way to ensure our students are retaining information. 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. Student grades are not improving, and the loss of teachers is making it worse. How should Comal ISD handle its ongoing growth? A keen eye must be kept on how our tax monies are being spent. Comal Independent School District elections 2015 bond package See also: What was at stake in the 2015 Comal Independent School District election? Updated Be Nice. This will lower maintenance and supply costs. We need to fix these things. I will also expand teacher inputs into district decision-making and create a teacher task force for addressing student discipline, social media and teacher pay. What could it be doing better? While there are teachers and staff that they commend, they seem to want to silence some or refuse to hold others accountable for their actions resulting in distrust. Two incumbents and five challengers competed for three trustee seats on the Southwest ISD board. That is the equivalent of adding an entire high school to our district every year. TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. Standardized tests should not exist. What is your current or most recent occupation? 7. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 3 and 5. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. On Tuesday, district administration will go over specific guidelines with the board about what it can and cannot do related to sharing information about the election with the public. 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. Incumbents Flo Bernal and James Sullivan, Jr. retained their seats. Don't Threaten. 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. Do you know this means your student scored about a 40% on the test? Why or why not? Camille Phillips can be reached at [email protected], on Instagram at camille.m.phillips and on Twitter at @cmpcamille. FILE PHOTO: A sign tells people where to cast their ballots. During those three years of college, I cared for my four-year-old, married my husband, Ryan, and had two more children. May 7 Election results: School, College Districts Northside ISD, North East ISD, ACCD, Alamo Heights ISD, Boerne ISD, Comal ISD, Harlandale ISD, Ingram ISD, Kerrville ISD,. Currently I am an English Language Arts and Reading high school teacher working with 9th-12th grade students who are working towards earning English credits so they can stay on track to graduate with their peers. I would have voted to keep the mask mandate. 2. You have permission to edit this article. | Proposition B, at $61,487,803, willfunda variety ofathletic programenhancementprojects at Canyon,Canyon Lake, Smithson Valley High and Mountain Valley Middle. I feel that I have the skill set necessary to meet future capacity demand requirements. 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. Details about the VATRE and Bond 2021 can be found on theDistrictswebsite. In addition, utilizing school design replication would lower design costs, maintenance costs and fixture costs. We publish election results following each election. It is important we manage our tax monies prudently. Comal ISD, District 7: The trustee candidates speak. Comal County Isd District Map - Comal County Isd District Map - Locating a map of your county's district may be difficult. 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. I have started youth sport organizations and had to create and approve budgets from year to year. My goal is not to raise taxes. My goal is to see our district continue being a pacesetter in statewide education. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 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. 5:11 PM Feb 2, 2021 CST, Applications for election to the school boards will be accepted until Feb. 12. These skills can be acquired by more investment in Career and Technical Training courses at existing high schools or consolidation into schools that specialize in particular career options. Click here to find out what district you are in. Note: Names are listed in order of appearance on the ballot according to the city clerks' office. Comal ISD is a very large land mass. Mainly sunny. Hes returning to the board after resigning to join the Alamo Colleges Board in 2019. 1What is your current or most recent occupation? Former Judson trustee Jose Macias Jr. will once again represent Judsons District 4. While I was recruited to play football for McKendree College in Illinois, a knee injury ended my football career. The statistics show that masks work in helping slow the spread of Covid. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. To be elected to a school board, an individual must be a qualified voter: 18 years of age or older, a U.S citizen, a Texas resident, a registered voter, not determined to be totally or partially mentally incapacitated by an appropriate court, and not finally convicted of a felony. Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. Internet stream is unaffected. 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. Don't knowingly lie about anyone There was an error processing your request. By Lauren Canterberry Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. We need to work with state legislators to keep more tax dollars in our school district and increase teacher compensation to reflect current costs of living and inflation. 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. Jason Isbell 5. We must continue to study the projected growth in the district so we can make strategic decisions regarding when and where to purchase land. My wife, Tory, and I attend Northeast Bible Church and have two daughters who go to Garden Ridge Elementary School. (Warren Brown/Community Impact Newspaper). By Lauren Canterberry 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. Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. Comal ISD Positions 1, 2 and 5all single-member districtswill be up for. Educ. We have a daughter Carolyn who is a Pharmacist in Austin. It should also allow contractors to "sharpen their pencils" on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. The housing policy coordinator was endorsed by former San Antonio Mayor and HUD Secretary Julin Castro, and the Northside chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. It is our responsibility to use money wisely, and the wisest thing we can do is pay our teachers more, but not only our teachers, we also need to pay our support staff more. Comal ISD is very reliant on homeowners to provide growth funding. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Proactively address district growth. Their futures rely on the education they receive while attending Comal ISD schools. We also need to continue the strategic use of portables so that we build schools at the right size at the right time, all while having a conservative and mindful approach about using taxpayer supported bonds. Another challenge facing Comal ISD is the lack of transparency from board members and accessibility for community members. I will do everything in my power to support the school district in providing the best teachers, curriculum and facilities needed to prepare our students for what lies ahead. Neither filed for re-election. Low 52F. The seats of District 1 incumbent Stephen Smith, District 2 incumbent David Drastata and District 5 incumbent Amy Freund were up for election, in addition to a special election for the District 6 seat held by Marty Bartlett. We will continue to lose teachers, and we will start to see students leave this district. Tex. I have used my skill sets of Cost Accounting, Capacity Planning and Engineering in multi-million dollar capacity manufacturing facility expansions. I plan to push for the development of intentional and conservative budgets that prioritize hiring and compensating existing teachers as well as hiring well-qualified teachers to fill new positions. I am a full-time student at St. Phillips College. He was one of two trustees to vote against removing the mask mandate. After graduating with a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia Lauren was a freelance journalist and worked as a college English teacher in China. Northside board policy is to declare whoever wins the most votes the winner, so there wont be a runoff. 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. 1 of 2. 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. So, I plan to look at our current spending and see where we can make changes. My top priorities include: Looking at our budget and finding where we are overspending so that we can find a way to pay teachers and support staff more; making sure we are being more transparent and accessible to parents, Comal ISD staff and all community members; offering support by listening to Comal ISD staff to find out what things need to change in our schools to ensure student success; and communicating with constituents. Where are our new students coming from? My kids are twelve, six, four, and I recently had another child who is almost seven months now. 5:22 PM Apr 7, 2022 CDT Success! Use the 'Report' link on The date and location of the next general election of Trustees for the District shall be in the Single-Member Districts as indicated in Board Policy BBB (Local), which may be accessed by clicking this link and inserting policy code BBB.. Six candidates are vying for Comal ISD single-member districts 6 and 7 in this Mays election. He received 120 votes. We are one of the fastest growing districts in the area if not the state. CTE Spotlight: Health Science Students Gain Experience, Earn Certifications 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.. I served in the Army Corps of Engineers with the 25th Infantry Division. Also seeking to win one of the at-large trustee seats, which are currently held by Clark and David Heefner, is Matthew D. Sargent. This says a lot about my passion and determination to help others. Comal ISD Board of Trustees Calls May Bond Election 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. 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. Seats representing District 1 and 2 on the City Council are up for grabs, as incumbents Shane Hines and Justin Meadows did not file for reelection. However, we need to ensure that there is equity throughout our schools. It now has approximately 30,000 students. Nine out of the 10 incumbents on the ballot won reelection. FILE PHOTO: A vote sign sits on the curb at the Comal County Senior Center voting location Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 in New Braunfels. Sign up today! 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. They will be joined by Daniel Carrillo. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. Parents are concerned about what is taught in our classrooms that Texas is not immune to the rampant progressive ideology that is being taught in other states and there is no mechanism in place for our district to give them any kind of assurance. I have experience in Engineering, Cost Accounting, Production Planning and Plant Operations Management. Low 52F. D. At first I believe Comal ISD did a good job of providing options to students and parents to see if theyd like to attend in person or remote learning. As a retired educator, I have a keen understanding of what goes on in the classroom and the issues facing our teachers and administrators. Greetings, Texans. Local school boards dont have much of a say in this. Copyright 2021 Comal County Republican Party Paid for by the Comal County Republican Party. Zapata was disqualified from the race due to residency issues. Transparency is critical to our constituents whether they have children in the district, or not. Both elections will be on Nov. 2 and early voting will be Oct. 18 to 29. Clark joins Megan Louise Willis, who will appear as Megan Stratemann-Willis on the ballot, and James Randall Lenard, who will appear on the ballot as Randy Lenard for one of two seats. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received not postmarked) is April 26. Sorensen was part of aslate of candidates backed by the teachers union, student groups and progressive organizations running against board incumbents and former city councilwoman Leticia Ozuna. How should CISD handle growth within the district? Comal ISD, District 1 Tim Hennessee, Incumbent Brittany Soto Comal ISD, District 2 David Drastata, Incumbent . 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT We are working to restore the radio signal. VisitVotetexas.govfor more information on how to register. 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. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. Internet stream is unaffected. Teaching skills sought by local businesses would be key to providing our taxpayer base with the students they will need in the future. I think it shows our message has resonated with the community, and people are ready for change, Sorensen said. Diaz is married to Texas State Board of Education member Marisa Perez-Diaz and was endorsed by Julin Castro. Elec. Would you like to receive our daily news. I do not know my opponents, but you have educated yourself and have decided, based our experience and education, whether we are the people for the job and you will vote for the best person accordingly. Brittany Soto, 19, poses in front of Canyon High School in New Braunfels, where she graduated last May. Code 11.002. Signup today! We are working to restore the radio signal. 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. School discipline at some schools are lax and district policy is not always enforced. Eric joined Community Impact as an editor in July 2021, returning to journalism after several years in the New Braunfels business community. Seats representing District 1 and 2 on the City Council are up for grabs, as incumbents Shane Hines and Justin Meadows did not file for reelection. As a recent student of Comal ISD, I was taught to look at and believe the math and the science. 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. What are their needs? Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. For TPR's full Voter Guide, click here. 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. If you are in favor of the progressive ideas eating away at the root of our representative republic and democracy, then do not vote for me. She currently works as a COVID-19 contact tracer. How should CISD handle growth in the district? 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. Please download the PDF file. Student enrollment growth is also a significant challenge for the district, and is projected to increase by 1,200-1,500 students per year for the next four years. 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 I have served as a high school vice principal and have taught at colleges and universities in four states since 2000. School board candidates must be registered voters, reside in the district they are filing for and must have resided within the school district for at least six months. NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - Comal Independent School District Superintendent Andrew Kim will be leaving the district after 10 years. Also, Im a Latina this is important because the makeup of our board is not representative of our community. Preliminary election results for three open seats on the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD school board show voters chose experience with one exception. 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. 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. If approved by voters, the Maintenance and Operations tax rate for 2021 would be 94 cents compared to 2020s tax rate of 92 cents. Comal ISD is divided into single-member districts and has a seven-member Board of Trustees. Early voting begins April 25 and ends May 3. According to a letter sent to residents from Comal ISD. I plan to keep a students first mindset in all decisions. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. We do not need to do deficit budgeting. This allows me to literally Think Outside the Box when looking at solutions to problems facing the community and its educational requirements. Also . I have over 13 years of experience making financial decisions. 3:37 PM Feb 22, 2022 CST, Three New Braunfels ISD positions and two Comal ISD positions will appear on the ballot May 7. Heath Pinkerton 21. With a very dynamic growth rate, Comal ISD is poised to continue growing at a rapid pace. 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. The idea of approaching grade level level, for example, is touted as the mark for schools to achieve comfort. Dont be bamboozled! These will be held outside of our regular board meetings. Have my opponents served as a vice principal? Error! 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT, Learn more about the candidates for districts 1 and 2 for the Comal ISD board of trustees. There are ways to responsibly manage growth that allows for the tradition of excellence and student success to continue in our district. 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. I am a parent with a long-term vested interest in the district. 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. Sorensen said she wants parents and students to have more of a say in their schools, and to bring more transparency to the budgeting process. School board terms are four years long. Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. As for being an educator for 6 years, I have seen what works and what did not work in these other school districts. The last day to register to vote for this election is April 7. Thats a responsibility I take really seriously coming into the board.. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Incumbent Laurie Schley lost to former board member Jason York in the race for District 3. 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. Comal ISD is very reliant on homeowners to provide growth funding. Rule ISD. . Click here to find out what district you are in. 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. Teachers must know their school board has their back. Shedefeated Drastata Saturday with just under 59% of the vote. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. 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. 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. With 16 competitive races spread across six different Bexar County school districts Saturday, familiar names held a lot of sway. Mask mandates are still being litigated in the Texas Court of Appeals by 19 Independent School Districts. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. 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. Our teachers work hard for our students, and, if I am elected, I plan to take a fiscally conservative approach to increase teacher compensation. What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend listening and viewing, Attorney General Merrick Garland attends war crimes conference in Ukraine, A mother fights for accountability after her daughter died during ROTC training, Barnes & Noble is staging its biggest expansion in more than a decade. For more information about the Comal County Elections, click here. The biggest challenge facing Comal ISD is low teacher pay. High 82F. 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. Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications, Movies romanticized the Alamo. (Community Impact Newspaper staff), Editor, New Braunfels and San Marcos/Buda/Kyle. why is my cookies pen blinking purple is there mobile coverage across the nullarbor comal county fire department Threats of harming another I have a B.S. I am Orlando OJ Dona, and with your vote I will be your Trustee for Comal ISD SMD 7 on May 7, 2022. It should also allow contractors to sharpen their pencils on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. Proposition A will also fundcampusreinvestmentandinfrastructure projectsas well asthe purchase ofcampus safety and security,busesand land. I will not waiver in my commitment to keep a students-first mindset. I am an avid sportsman and wildlife conservationist. File Photo | Camille Phillips | Texas Public Radio. 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