Why or why not? Incumbents Flo Bernal and James Sullivan, Jr. retained their seats. Updated 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. [1] | There was a lot of concern over the health precautions that were going to be set in motion for the school year, but ultimately the first semester was a success. Transparency is critical to our constituents whether they have children in the district, or not. During those three years of college, I cared for my four-year-old, married my husband, Ryan, and had two more children. We have difficult decisions ahead in the district that will challenge the resolve of the Trustees. 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. Six candidates are vying for Comal ISD single-member districts 6 and 7 in this May's election. 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. It should also allow contractors to sharpen their pencils on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. (Warren Brown/Community Impact Newspaper). Heath Pinkerton 21. (Community Impact Newspaper staff). Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications, Movies romanticized the Alamo. I plan to have town hall meetings with anyone in the district who wishes to be heard. Teacher retention and pay is crucial to insuring we have the best teachers for our children. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The celebration surrounding Damian Lillard's record-breaking performance was short-lived. Ensure our budgets do not contain wasteful spending and insure we are meeting the needs for the education of our children as best we can. 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT, Learn more about the candidates for districts 1 and 2 for the Comal ISD board of trustees. Maintain the ongoing academic and extracurricular success of our students. 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. Ive always visualized Comal County as the place where I would raise a family. I feel a very personal and serious responsibility for all children in our growing district and the quality education they receive. We do not need to do deficit budgeting. How should CISD handle growth within the district? Comal Independent School District elections 2015 bond package See also: What was at stake in the 2015 Comal Independent School District election? Increasing teacher pay to keep teachers in Comal ISD would be a step in the right direction. Would you like to receive our daily news? If the School Board approves the updated Hillsborough County District Map, the students of thousands could be affected during the next school year. I am Orlando OJ Dona, and with your vote I will be your Trustee for Comal ISD SMD 7 on May 7, 2022. Four seats on the Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees were up for general election on May 9, 2015. 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. I enjoy hunting, fishing, or traveling when I have the time. Candidates set for May 7 school boards and City Council ballots, By Catherine Wilson and Steve Knight | The Herald-Zeitung. 5. Proposition D, at $34,540,000 will fund student and teacherinstructional technologyand network infrastructure projects. I feel as if this prevents students from having a good learning environment and reaching their full potential. 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. 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. The biggest challenge facing Comal ISD is low teacher pay. If the state wants to administer and test to collect data to evaluate the public school system, I have no problem with that. 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. I have been involved in the acquisition and approval of major capital projects while working for major corporations such as M&M/MARS-Wrigley. We are working to restore the radio signal. My goal is to see our district continue being a pacesetter in statewide education. There was an error processing your request. Each and every child in our district should be prepared for a productive and fulfilling future. Christopher Willis and Fabian Castillo Dealva are seeking the District 2 seat. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. I stand up for what I believe in, and I am highly motivated to see our schools succeed. Enrollment (14-15) 20,327 students. CTE Spotlight: Health Science Students Gain Experience, Earn Certifications We need to fix these things. So, I plan to look at our current spending and see where we can make changes. In addition, taxpayers continue to receive the benefit of the 20 percent local homestead exemption, which equates to $65 per month, or $780 per year, in savings. Brittany Soto: District No. Click here to find out what district you are in. Each has . While I acknowledge that each student has different learning style, I do not support charter schools. 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. The Comal ISD board of trustees had a busy night Monday, but after some public comments on the district's mask policy the meeting largely focused on the district's tax rate and bond elections. please consider making your gift of support today. I would have voted to keep the mask mandate. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. With a very dynamic growth rate, Comal ISD is poised to continue growing at a rapid pace. 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. * denotes candidates who did not respond to survey requests sent via email and/or phone calls by time of publication. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. I believe handling growth is going to come down to understanding the data around that growth. She is a school board candidate in Comal ISD for the District 1 seat. There was an error processing your request. There was no communication with teachers or parents. 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. Elec. 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. Success! Teachers in some cases are even overworked due to the high demand to meet their high standards. Code 11.061; Tex. 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. Students go through immense amounts of stress and pressure to pass these tests. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. High 82F. As a retired educator, I have a keen understanding of what goes on in the classroom and the issues facing our teachers and administrators. 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. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly clear. Career Training is an important by product of our educational system. A keen eye must be kept on how our tax monies are being spent. Cheryl . 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. 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. Do you think your district treats its teachers, principals and support personnel well? School board terms are four years long. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. Why or why not? 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. It should also allow contractors to "sharpen their pencils" on how to rebuild similar buildings based on previous experience. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Success! With 16 competitive races spread across six different Bexar County school districts Saturday, familiar names held a lot of sway. I know what they are dealing with when it comes to changes from TEA or Governor Abbott because Im also dealing with those changes and learning how to navigate teaching and everything else that is being thrown at us. 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. Being a teacher has always been my dream job, so Im thankful I am able to continue down this path. I would look at copying other school designs for expansions so we can reduce design and architecture costs. Don't knowingly lie about anyone 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. Another challenge facing Comal ISD is the lack of transparency from board members and accessibility for community members. person will not be tolerated. 3:16 PM Apr 25, 2022 CDT, Learn more about the candidates for districts 6 and 7 for the Comal ISD board of trustees. Keep it Clean. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received not postmarked) is April 26. He received 120 votes. For more information about the Comal County Elections, click here. You have permission to edit this article. Meet the Teacher, Orientation, & Open House, Lamar University Educational Leadership Program. 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.. May 6, 2017. 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. Each Updated 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. why is my cookies pen blinking purple is there mobile coverage across the nullarbor comal county fire department I want to be your trustee because corrections are needed on this board. Would you like to receive our daily news. Signup today! Two of seven seats on the Comal Independent School District board of trustees were up for by-district general election on May 6, 2017. This skill set will lend itself well to future capital construction projects the Comal ISD will seek out to meet future expected growth. 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. 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. Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week. 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 I am an avid sportsman and wildlife conservationist. Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. While the district must manage the predicted exponential growth occurring in our area, the community should be aware of, and participate in, the efforts to maintain high-quality educational opportunities for our growing student population. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. Creating accountability to our parents, students and staff where it might be lacking now through open communication. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. This allows me to have a completely neutral view of Comal ISD as I do not have any favorites in terms of schools, teachers, and administrators nor do I have any negative views either. Rafael Diaz, who was appointed to replace Macias, won the District 7 seat, which represents all of Judson. or anything. We have a daughter Carolyn who is a Pharmacist in Austin. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. 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. (Courtesy Adobe Stock). Image courtesy of Comal ISD. No board, no person, no institution is perfect. Masks are a simple and effective way to help provide that safety. This says a lot about my passion and determination to help others. 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. Be a voice for all Comal ISD communities. Mainly sunny. 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. By Lauren Canterberry And though COVID is thought of as being to blame, math scores for students across all grade levels K-12 have dropped from 50% in 2019 to 35% in 2021, and similarly in other disciplines. 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. What experience do you have making financial decisions? This is a state issue however. Would you like to receive our daily news? Proposition C, at$20,397,672, will fundstadium capacityexpansion projects at both Canyon Lake and Davenport High Schools. What could it be doing better? One side consists of parents and students, another side consists of teachers and administrators and support staff. Have my opponents served as a vice principal? 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. 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. Our teachers work hard for our students, and, if I am elected, I plan to take a fiscally conservative approach to increase teacher compensation. 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. 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. Elections - District - Comal Independent School District Elections Notice of deadline to file an application for a place on the ballot Notice of Deadline to File It appears you don't have a PDF plugin for this browser. Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively.. In 2022, four of the seven board seats are up for election. Incumbent Laurie Schley lost to former board member Jason York in the race for District 3. Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively. 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. Note: Names are listed in order of appearance on the ballot according to the city clerks' office. I would have polled the constituents in my district- all staff, parents and student input would be considered before casting my vote. Voters in the San Antonio area will also vote in municipal and school board elections. Brittany Soto: District No. Three out of every four voters chose current Board President Norma Cavazos over former trustee David Abundis, who resigned during TEAs investigation into the district. By Lauren Canterberry Tex. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Ill focus on the latter. Amanda Jones and Amber Bracegirdle are vying for the District 6 position, and David Krawczynski, Kaila Stovall,. 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. 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. Amanda Jones and. 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. Our coverage includes school board member and candidate profiles, noteworthy election issues, district data, and more. What grade on an A-F scale would you give your districts response to the coronavirus pandemic. I am aware of the importance of replication of equipment in our school system to include school designs. 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. 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. Support for TPR's Education News Desk comes from H-E-B Helping Here. VisitVotetexas.govfor more information on how to register. 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 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. Threats of harming another 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. This will have a domino effect on our community if we do not address this before the coming school year. CISD has done a great job keeping the schools open and I hope they remain open through the end of the school year. I served in the Army Corps of Engineers with the 25th Infantry Division. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. 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. Those values, instilled in me from birth, will continue guiding my decision-making if I am elected to serve on the Board of Trustees. File Photo | Camille Phillips | Texas Public Radio. | While I was recruited to play football for McKendree College in Illinois, a knee injury ended my football career. 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. 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. Comal ISD Positions 1, 2 and 5all single-member districtswill be up for. I feel that I have the skill set necessary to meet future capacity demand requirements. I am a parent with a long-term vested interest in the district. | Why? 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