August 17, 2021 - Monday evening, the Comal ISD Board of Trustees called for two elections to be held on Nov. 2. In addition, utilizing school design replication would lower design costs, maintenance costs and fixture costs. How should CISD handle growth in the district? Being a teacher has always been my dream job, so Im thankful I am able to continue down this path. Ryan and I made our home New Braunfels seven years ago, and we have loved living here. I am a teacher first in all things, and have taught students here in my own district for years I am known by parents and current/graduated students from Smithson Valley, Davenport, and Pieper High Schools. This will have a domino effect on our community if we do not address this before the coming school year. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. If you are an incumbent, please defend your vote on the decision to rescind the districts mask mandate March 9. Note: Names are listed in order of appearance on the ballot according to the city clerks' office. Career Training is an important by product of our educational system. 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. What experience do you have making financial decisions? PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The celebration surrounding Damian Lillard's record-breaking performance was short-lived. An application of a candidate for a place on the election ballot must be filed with the Districts Board Secretary or the Secretarys designated agent at the Districts Central office location not later than 5:00 p.m. of the 78th day before the date of the election and not earlier than the 30th day before the date of the filing deadline, as per Education Code 11.055. 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. I also want to serve because I want ALL students to feel safe in our classrooms and hallways across the district. There is a trust that comes from our Constitution that the republic works, and that the People will elect in a fair election the only kind we have here in Texas the representative whose values best represents them. Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week. Voters in the San Antonio area will also vote in municipal and school board elections. I know for a fact we are overspending in certain areas of our budget via open record requests. They will be joined by Daniel Carrillo. . At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. For more information about the Comal County Elections, click here. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly clear. Be a voice for all Comal ISD communities. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Voters can be certain that I have no employment history with the district, no conflicts of interest, and I am not a radical activist who wants to change the fundamentals of our education system. Top priorities for me are transparency in how board decisions are made. That matters when we think about community involvement and equity. 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. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. Click here to find out what district you are in. The next election for Board members is scheduled for May 6, 2023. Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. I am willing to collaborate and solve the challenges or stand in respectful opposition when I believe something is not in the best interest of the families of Comal County. 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. Incumbent Laurie Schley lost to former board member Jason York in the race for District 3. 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. 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. Lastly, Im a mother, a breast-feeding mother, a mother of four, a working-class mother. Camille Phillips can be reached at camille@tpr.org, on Instagram at camille.m.phillips and on Twitter at @cmpcamille. 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. Be Proactive. Board of Trustees Agendas & Minutes Board Policies Elections Meeting Schedule Meeting Video Single Member Districts Past Board Elections 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. In the race to fill the District 7 trustee seat for the Comal ISD school board, currently held by Cody Mueller, are David Krawczynski, Kaila Stovall, Orlando Joseph Dona, Jr., who will appear as Orlando OJ Dona on the ballot, and Stephen (Steve) Gallets. Also seeking to win one of the at-large trustee seats, which are currently held by Clark and David Heefner, is Matthew D. Sargent. These two separate elections will consist of a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election(VATRE), which will address teacher and staff compensationand new teaching positions,and a Bond Election, which will address continued District growth. 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. I also plan to live stream board meetings and allow community members to speak and listen in, so that their voices are part of the conversation. We are working to restore the radio signal. Why or why not? Why or why not? It should also allow contractors to "sharpen their pencils" on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. 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. Comal Independent School District elections 2015 bond package See also: What was at stake in the 2015 Comal Independent School District election? Currently, COMAL ISD comprises over 40% minorities in our student body; yet, representation on the school board does not reflect this. TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Also . At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. 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 Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. 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. Comal ISD, District 1 Tim Hennessee, Incumbent Brittany Soto Comal ISD, District 2 David Drastata, Incumbent Share with Us. From my perspective Comal does not treat their school employees well. Candidates set for May 7 school boards and City Council ballots, By Catherine Wilson and Steve Knight | The Herald-Zeitung. Early voting will take place Oct. 18-29. This could be done by being more proactive in reducing construction costs via replication of construction designs. 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. Thats a responsibility I take really seriously coming into the board.. School discipline at some schools are lax and district policy is not always enforced. 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. I want to serve on the board because being more involved in the community has not always been easy as a mom and a teacher, so this is my way to get more involved and to help students in a different way. Due to large volume of calls messages left may not be promptly answered. Irma Iris Duran de Rodriguez came close to coming out on top, with 31% of the votes. I would decide on whether or not to approve a budget by seeing and listening to my districts needs. 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. This would include being proactive in seeking out land to buy for future construction. please consider making your gift of support today. While I was recruited to play football for McKendree College in Illinois, a knee injury ended my football career. More students came back to in person learning when they saw how effective the precautions were. I have lived in New Braunfels 11+ years and have a family of four two of which graduated from Canyon High School. Would you like to receive our daily news. 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT Election day will be November 8, 2022. Increasing teacher pay to keep teachers in Comal ISD would be a step in the right direction. I served in the Army Corps of Engineers with the 25th Infantry Division. Clay Page will be the new trustee representing Place No. By Lauren Canterberry In addition, utilizing school design replication would lower design costs, maintenance costs and fixture costs. 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. Questions regarding elections can be directed to Melanie Allen at (763)689-6202 or mallen@c-ischools.org. In 2022, four of the seven board seats are up for election. Voters in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties re-elected Place 4 trustee Edward Finley and chose retired teacher Belinda Evans to represent Place 7. Think of the Comal ISD school district as a triangle. The last day to register to vote for this election is April 7. 3:37 PM Feb 22, 2022 CST Comal Independent School District, District 4 General Election, 3-year term, 2014; Party Candidate Vote % Votes Nonpartisan : Denise Kern: 61.2%: 386 Nonpartisan : Nancy Pappas Incumbent: 38.8%: 245: Total Votes: 631: Source: Comal Independent School District, "Comal ISD School Board Election Results," May 10, 2014 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. VisitVotetexas.govfor more information on how to register. Casey Moeller 13. racist or sexually-oriented language. Standardized tests should not exist. 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. Nine out of the 10 incumbents on the ballot won reelection. This is especially true in how we spend our monies. 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. 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. Do you think your district treats its teachers, principals and support personnel well? I challenge voters to look at the most recent grade report on their local school and not be horrified. Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the school district and how do you plan to address them? We've already got a shortfall of budget around special education. With 16 competitive races spread across six different Bexar County school districts Saturday, familiar names held a lot of sway. Would you like to receive our daily news? My kids are twelve, six, four, and I recently had another child who is almost seven months now. Zapata was disqualified from the race due to residency issues. Occupation: I am currently retired, but I do some substitute teaching. For best results call during our business hours 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. I do believe Comal ISD is doing a good job in educating our students. We are one of the fastest growing districts in the area if not the state. Proposition C, at$20,397,672, will fundstadium capacityexpansion projects at both Canyon Lake and Davenport High Schools. Comal ISD paid for the construction of Davenport High School through a bond approved by voters in 2017. Zeke Mendoza, who died shortly after Texas winter storm, was also on the ballot for District 3. Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week. 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. * denotes candidates who did not respond to survey requests sent via email and/or phone calls by time of publication. Be Nice. Looking to replace the District 6 trustee seat for Comal ISD, which is currently occupied by Marty Bartlett, are newcomers Amanda Jones and Amber Bracegirdle. Why do you want to serve on the school board? 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. 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. Amanda Jones and. We need to fix these things. Updated This tally should include: Understanding of Texas and New Braunfels. Hello, my name is Kaila Stovall. degree in Management. 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. My time as a teacher has been rewarding, exciting, and, at times, mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. I will not waiver in my commitment to keep a students-first mindset. 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. 1What is your current or most recent occupation? We have lived in Garden Ridge for over 10 years. I am guided by my own motives and the wisdom of like-minded others who have the singular goal of graduating children ready for the challenges they will meet in the future. 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. 1, Did not respond. What is your stance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests? Folks, I dont like the gamesmanship with student testing. Did not respond. Cheryl . 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. Withitspassage, teachers and staff would receive a 3 percent pay increase this year with auxiliarypersonnelreceivinga$1.50 hourly pay increase. Comal County Isd District Map - Comal County Isd District Map - Locating a map of your county's district may be difficult. 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. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. Comal ISD has a seven-member Board of Trustees. Our teachers work hard for our students, and, if I am elected, I plan to take a fiscally conservative approach to increase teacher compensation. Meet the Teacher, Orientation, & Open House, Lamar University Educational Leadership Program. As a retired educator, I have a keen understanding of what goes on in the classroom and the issues facing our teachers and administrators. 1 Greetings, Texans. Experience: 6 years as a certified teacher in the State of Texas. Retired principal Corrine Saldaa narrowly won election with 33% of the vote. I am a full-time student at St. Phillips College. 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! Texas Public Radio | Our coverage includes school board member and candidate profiles, noteworthy election issues, district data, and more. I feel that I have the skill set necessary to meet future capacity demand requirements. Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. New Braunfels voters will elect CISD school board members for districts 6 and 7. Educ. Have they mentored students in the National Honor Society or won awards for Robotics at the Texas State Level with their kiddos? Teacher retention and pay is crucial to insuring we have the best teachers for our children. Get the latest breaking news from The Herald-Zeitung. 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. Use the 'Report' link on I feel a very personal and serious responsibility for all children in our growing district and the quality education they receive. Why? Neither filed for re-election. My passion and motivation to make a difference are my girls and their education. What is your current or most recent occupation? 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. I have over 13 years of experience making financial decisions. Why or why not? What grade on an A-F scale would you give your districts response to the coronavirus pandemic. We do not need to do deficit budgeting. Four seats on the Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees were up for general election on May 9, 2015. 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. According to a letter sent to residents from Comal ISD. Ive always visualized Comal County as the place where I would raise a family. Louie G. Luna, the only viable candidate for Harlandales District 3, won election by just 16 votes. Transparency is critical to our constituents whether they have children in the district, or not. or anything. Tex. Mask mandates are still being litigated in the Texas Court of Appeals by 19 Independent School Districts. Because I have children in the district, I am 100% invested in what is best for students. As for being an educator for 6 years, I have seen what works and what did not work in these other school districts. San Antonios largest school district, Northside ISD, had three competitive races on the ballot. Neither filed for re-election. I have started youth sport organizations and had to create and approve budgets from year to year. Political agendas and ideals have no place in the classroom. 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. *Courtney Beach Biasatti: District No. | TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. 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. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. Another challenge facing Comal ISD is the lack of transparency from board members and accessibility for community members. Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively. I plan to have town hall meetings with anyone in the district who wishes to be heard. Do you think your district is doing a good job educating its students? 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. 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. TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. Sorensen is the mother of a 5th grader enrolled at SAISDs Bonham Academy and vice-president of the Lavaca Neighborhood Association. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. View the 2022 School Board Candidates. 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. 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. Joel Torres III 6. Texas called me back home and I transferred to Texas Tech University, where I majored in Wildlife Management. I am married to my wife Beverly for 36 years. 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. Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications, Movies romanticized the Alamo. I have served as a high school vice principal and have taught at colleges and universities in four states since 2000. I believe in hard work and integrity demanded it of my own children and students and will demand it of this board if you elect me. School board terms are four years long. This would enable us to locate our schools within satisfactory distances for parents to send their children. 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. Details about the VATRE and Bond 2021 can be found on theDistrictswebsite. All are for three-year terms. 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. It now has approximately 30,000 students. One side consists of parents and students, another side consists of teachers and administrators and support staff. File Photo | Camille Phillips | Texas Public Radio. Each and every child in our district should be prepared for a productive and fulfilling future. | Creating accountability to our parents, students and staff where it might be lacking now through open communication. 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 would love the opportunity to work with teachers and parents across the district to promote the well-being of our students. Prior to CI, Eric freelanced for multiple publications and was a reporter for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. I would like to see teachers, teach and not have to focus on the standardized testing regulations. Meet the Teacher, Orientation, & Open House, Lamar University Educational Leadership Program. 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. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received not postmarked) is April 26. Don't Threaten. This is a challenge. The forefront of our goals as board members should be student success, but success is not only grades and test scores. Mainly sunny. Please download the PDF file. 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.. The Comal Board of Trustees approved a bond package worth $147.4 million at its February 2015 meeting, that was put to voters on the May 9, 2015, ballot. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. As a Trustee, I intend to allow parents to make decisions that are best for their children. 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. Five school board member positions in New Braunfels ISD and Comal ISD will be up for election May 2. 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.. Brittany Soto, 19, poses in front of Canyon High School in New Braunfels, where she graduated last May. Masks are a simple and effective way to help provide that safety. 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. With a very dynamic growth rate, Comal ISD is poised to continue growing at a rapid pace. There was no communication with teachers or parents. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 3 and 5. 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. 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. I think it shows our message has resonated with the community, and people are ready for change, Sorensen said. Those values, instilled in me from birth, will continue guiding my decision-making if I am elected to serve on the Board of Trustees. 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. Where are our new students coming from? He received 120 votes. 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. 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. Beginning on April 19, there will be an election for three members of the Board of Trustees for Comal Independent School District. We have difficult decisions ahead in the district that will challenge the resolve of the Trustees. What would be your top priorities if you are elected? I taught one year at an Alternative Charter School in Schertz to middle school students and high school students. Schools should keep students safe and secure while they learn. I believe handling growth is going to come down to understanding the data around that growth. I am involved in and understand the community, and I have based my campaign on the collective opinions and objectives of family stakeholders in the district. Click here to find out what district you are in. Trustee (vote for 3) Amy Rogers 43. If elected, I intend to understand and communicate to constituents the districts efforts to close those gaps. One of the biggest challenges the school district faces is student performance, and I dont mean just performance on state-mandated tests. 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
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