Each and every child in our district should be prepared for a productive and fulfilling future. We have lived in Garden Ridge for over 10 years. Joel Torres III 6. 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. Amanda Jones and Amber Bracegirdle are vying for the District 6 position, and David Krawczynski, Kaila Stovall,. I do believe Comal ISD is doing a good job in educating our students. More students came back to in person learning when they saw how effective the precautions were. Proactively address district growth. With a very dynamic growth rate, Comal ISD is poised to continue growing at a rapid pace. Courtney Beach Biasatti, Drastatas opponent, said she would have polled her constituents before making a decision about masks. Mainly sunny. I have a B.S. 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. Election day will be November 8, 2022. 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. How would you / do you decide whether or not to approve the budget recommended to you by district administration? The idea of approaching grade level level, for example, is touted as the mark for schools to achieve comfort. Dont be bamboozled! FILE PHOTO: A vote sign sits on the curb at the Comal County Senior Center voting location Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 in New Braunfels. 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. 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. Code 11.002. Three possibilities exist to consider a new map in the future. Comal ISD incumbent Tim Hennessee received 61% of the vote in his race, despite facing two challengers. The Board's primary functions are goal setting, approving the budget and policymaking. 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. Collecting information regarding the budget, profit and loss potential. Be Proactive. Did not respond. please consider making your gift of support today. I am married to my wife Beverly for 36 years. We are one of the fastest growing districts in the area if not the state. If the state wants to administer and test to collect data to evaluate the public school system, I have no problem with that. Mask mandates are still being litigated in the Texas Court of Appeals by 19 Independent School Districts. Those values, instilled in me from birth, will continue guiding my decision-making if I am elected to serve on the Board of Trustees. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. (Community Impact Newspaper staff), Editor, New Braunfels and San Marcos/Buda/Kyle. Local school boards dont have much of a say in this. High 82F. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. Revenue generated by the VATREcould fund compensation increasesofup tothree percent annually over the next three to four years. Comal ISD is very reliant on homeowners to provide growth funding. Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. 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. 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. I have used my skill sets of Cost Accounting, Capacity Planning and Engineering in multi-million dollar capacity manufacturing facility expansions. 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. 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. 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. Incumbent Wes Clark is looking to defend his New Braunfels ISD at-large trustee seat. Yes, there are pockets of goodness in individual teachers and teams across the district, but for the most part this is dismal and must change. Four seats on the Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees were up for general election on May 9, 2015. Experience: 6 years as a certified teacher in the State of Texas. Brittany Soto: District No. Alamo Heights ISD had two competitive races without incumbents. This is a state issue however. Comal ISD, District 1 Tim Hennessee, Incumbent Brittany Soto Comal ISD, District 2 David Drastata, Incumbent 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. 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. 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.. 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. We need to fix these things. 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. One side consists of parents and students, another side consists of teachers and administrators and support staff. Board meetings should be live streamed so that all members of our community have the opportunity to attend and participate. Voters in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties re-elected Place 4 trustee Edward Finley and chose retired teacher Belinda Evans to represent Place 7. You have permission to edit this article. Masks are a simple and effective way to help provide that safety. File Photo | Camille Phillips | Texas Public Radio. I want to use my skills to help our districts children thrive in an educational environment. I am an avid sportsman and wildlife conservationist. She is a school board candidate in Comal ISD for the District 1 seat. CISD has done a great job keeping the schools open and I hope they remain open through the end of the school year. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Incumbents Flo Bernal and James Sullivan, Jr. retained their seats. Occupation: I am currently retired, but I do some substitute teaching. Note: Names are listed in order of appearance on the ballot according to the city clerks' office. Of adjoining school districts bordering Comal ISD, our teachers are number six in terms of compensation. 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. In doing so, we will achieve the best quality education. Voters, in turn, approved the measure. 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. Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. Candidates set for May 7 school boards and City Council ballots, By Catherine Wilson and Steve Knight | The Herald-Zeitung. You have permission to edit this article. Currently, COMAL ISD comprises over 40% minorities in our student body; yet, representation on the school board does not reflect this. Two of seven seats on the Comal Independent School District board of trustees were up for by-district general election on May 6, 2017. Ballotpedia provides in-depth coverage of school board elections in America's largest school districts by enrollment. A- opening schools in August was beneficial to the kids AND offering virtual learning as an option. However, we need to ensure that there is equity throughout our schools. Served on the districts Safety Committee? I would look at copying other school designs for expansions so we can reduce design and architecture costs. Updated Neither filed for re-election. Another challenge facing Comal ISD is the lack of transparency from board members and accessibility for community members. 2. Early voting will take place Oct. 18-29. Beginning on April 19, there will be an election for three members of the Board of Trustees for Comal Independent School District. | What could it be doing better? Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. As one of the board members correctly pointed out, there's no way that Comal ISD will ever close the gap between what we can offer and the private sector, but we're paying the higher price regardless, which is taking us over budget. I have a BA in Math Education, an MS in Computer Systems from the Air Force Institute of Technology, am teacher-certified in Hawaii and Texas, have certifications from TEA as a math teacher, and am Texas Principal-certified. Retired principal Corrine Saldaa narrowly won election with 33% of the vote. My kids are twelve, six, four, and I recently had another child who is almost seven months now. Thats a responsibility I take really seriously coming into the board.. Brittany Soto: District No. Six candidates are vying for Comal ISD single-member districts 6 and 7 in this Mays election. Their futures rely on the education they receive while attending Comal ISD schools. 3:37 PM Feb 22, 2022 CST (Warren Brown/Community Impact Newspaper). This would include being proactive in seeking out land to buy for future construction. Beginning on April 19, there will be an election for two members of the Board of Trustees for New Braunfels Independent School District. We publish election results following each election. Educ. Keep it Clean. Details about the VATRE and Bond 2021 can be found on theDistrictswebsite. However, downtown residents and residents of the Monte Vista, King William and Lavaca neighborhoods opted for new representation in the San Antonio Independent School District. I think the biggest challenges are the erosion of discipline in schools, current progressive ideology that is tainting the purpose of education, the philosophy and approach to student performance and learning in school, and STAAR test results. 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. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. Career Training is an important by product of our educational system. He received 120 votes. Neither filed for re-election. Also, Im a Latina this is important because the makeup of our board is not representative of our community. 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. Have my opponents served as a vice principal? It should also allow contractors to sharpen their pencils on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. Copyright 2021 Comal County Republican Party Paid for by the Comal County Republican Party. 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. For TPR's full Voter Guide, click here. Due to large volume of calls messages left may not be promptly answered. Texas Public Radio. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the school district and how do you plan to address them? 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. 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. Signup today! I taught for 5 years in Northside ISD as an engineering instructor at one of their magnet schools Construction Careers Academy located next to Earl Warren High School. We have a daughter Carolyn who is a Pharmacist in Austin. Because I have children in the district, I am 100% invested in what is best for students. *Tim Hennessee: District No. Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively. 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. Internet stream is unaffected. racist or sexually-oriented language. 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. 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. Our teachers work hard for our students, and, if I am elected, I plan to take a fiscally conservative approach to increase teacher compensation. Youth Development Director for Ignite Volleyball Association. I would have polled the constituents in my district- all staff, parents and student input would be considered before casting my vote. 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. Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. 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. The last day to register to vote for this election is April 7. Hes returning to the board after resigning to join the Alamo Colleges Board in 2019. 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. Error! | 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. These will be held outside of our regular board meetings. I have started youth sport organizations and had to create and approve budgets from year to year. The statistics show that masks work in helping slow the spread of Covid. I want to be your trustee because corrections are needed on this board. Updated (Courtesy Adobe Stock). How should CISD handle growth within the district? Rule ISD. Would you like to receive our daily news? at 5:30 p.m., a drawing will take place in the Board Room at the Comal ISD Support Services Building, located at 1404 IH 35 North, New Braunfels, TX 78130, for the purpose of determining the order in which the names of candidates for the Board of Trustees shall appear on the official ballot for the May 6, 2023, trustee election. Proposition C, at$20,397,672, will fundstadium capacityexpansion projects at both Canyon Lake and Davenport High Schools. Every child is different and learns differently so grouping them under 1 umbrella doesn't really give a clear picture of academic success and failure. 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. Maintain the ongoing academic and extracurricular success of our students. 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. It should also allow contractors to "sharpen their pencils" on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. 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! 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. *Courtney Beach Biasatti: District No. 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. It is no secret that Comal ISD is growing at an unprecedented rate, and how well we handle additional student enrollment is crucial. Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications, Movies romanticized the Alamo. Ill focus on the latter. * denotes candidates who did not respond to survey requests sent via email and/or phone calls by time of publication. Use the 'Report' link on 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. 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. kelsey wilson husband, charlotte spencer married,