Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications, Movies romanticized the Alamo. Students go through immense amounts of stress and pressure to pass these tests. 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. 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 Neither filed for re-election. I am married to my wife Beverly for 36 years. Use the 'Report' link on 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. Voters in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties re-elected Place 4 trustee Edward Finley and chose retired teacher Belinda Evans to represent Place 7. Conservative family values are my moral fiber and have guided me throughout my life. As a retired educator, I have a keen understanding of what goes on in the classroom and the issues facing our teachers and administrators. Eric joined Community Impact as an editor in July 2021, returning to journalism after several years in the New Braunfels business community. 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. . 5:11 PM Feb 2, 2021 CST I feel a very personal and serious responsibility for all children in our growing district and the quality education they receive. I believe handling growth is going to come down to understanding the data around that growth. 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. Beginning on April 19, there will be an election for three members of the Board of Trustees for Comal Independent School District. By Eric Weilbacher, Lauren Canterberry We've already got a shortfall of budget around special education. Comal ISD, located primarily in Comal County, also had an election to watch. 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. Currently, COMAL ISD comprises over 40% minorities in our student body; yet, representation on the school board does not reflect this. Error! Image courtesy of Comal ISD. Ballotpedia provides in-depth coverage of school board elections in America's largest school districts by enrollment. 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. 1, Did not respond. I would have polled the constituents in my district- all staff, parents and student input would be considered before casting my vote. During those three years of college, I cared for my four-year-old, married my husband, Ryan, and had two more children. Be Nice. In 2022, four of the seven board seats are up for election. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. This tally should include: Understanding of Texas and New Braunfels. Rule ISD. Brittany Soto, 19, poses in front of Canyon High School in New Braunfels, where she graduated last May. 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. The last day to register to vote for this election is April 7. What could it be doing better? Copyright 2021 Comal County Republican Party Paid for by the Comal County Republican Party. Revenue generated by the VATREcould fund compensation increasesofup tothree percent annually over the next three to four years. Don't Threaten. Camille Phillips can be reached at camille@tpr.org, on Instagram at camille.m.phillips and on Twitter at @cmpcamille. The Board's primary functions are goal setting, approving the budget and policymaking. These will be held outside of our regular board meetings. 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! She currently works as a COVID-19 contact tracer. | 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. We publish election results following each election. If the state wants to administer and test to collect data to evaluate the public school system, I have no problem with that. 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. Elec. 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. 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. 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. Early voting will take place Oct. 18-29. Our coverage includes school board member and candidate profiles, noteworthy election issues, district data, and more. Manage growth within the district by being as fiscally responsible as the Comal ISD Board should be. There was no communication with teachers or parents. 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. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 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.. Schools should keep students safe and secure while they learn. Voters in Bexar County's wealthiest school district overwhelmingly approved a tax rate election Tuesday night, but voters in three other Bexar County school districts rejected their districts' requests for bond funding. I want to use my skills to help our districts children thrive in an educational environment. 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. Proactively address district growth. While I feel that the other three candidates in the Comal ISD District 7 Trustee race have skills sets that are good and well meaning, I believe I possess the skill sets that encompass the broad picture of the Comal ISD. 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. I have started youth sport organizations and had to create and approve budgets from year to year. 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. *Courtney Beach Biasatti: District No. TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. I am still learning about budgeting. My goal is not to raise taxes. This is a challenge. Educ. Comal ISD incumbent Tim Hennessee received 61% of the vote in his race, despite facing two challengers. 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. He received 38% of the vote, placing him a fraction ahead of Lillian Zapata. Low 52F. Have my opponents served as a vice principal? We have difficult decisions ahead in the district that will challenge the resolve of the Trustees. While I was recruited to play football for McKendree College in Illinois, a knee injury ended my football career. 7. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. The next election for Board members is scheduled for May 6, 2023. 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. Two of seven seats on the Comal Independent School District board of trustees were up for by-district general election on May 6, 2017. Hes returning to the board after resigning to join the Alamo Colleges Board in 2019. Comal ISD is a very large land mass. I think it shows our message has resonated with the community, and people are ready for change, Sorensen said. Career Training is an important by product of our educational system. I have used my skill sets of Cost Accounting, Capacity Planning and Engineering in multi-million dollar capacity manufacturing facility expansions. 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. Proposition A will also fundcampusreinvestmentandinfrastructure projectsas well asthe purchase ofcampus safety and security,busesand land. Nine out of the 10 incumbents on the ballot won reelection. Comal ISD, located primarily in Comal County, also had an election to watch. VisitVotetexas.govfor more information on how to register. 9:53 AM Apr 21, 2021 CDT, Learn more about the candidates for districts 1 and 2 for the Comal ISD board of trustees. What experience do you have making financial decisions? 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.. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Where are our new students coming from? Each trustee on the Board is elected separately from the single-member district in which he/she resides. 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. Do you know this means your student scored about a 40% on the test? 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Be Proactive. 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'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. 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. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. One of the school boards primary responsibilities is to approve a budget. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. 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. Did not respond. FILE PHOTO: A sign tells people where to cast their ballots. That matters when we think about community involvement and equity. 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. Would you like to receive our daily news. 1 Served on the districts Safety Committee? Details about the VATRE and Bond 2021 can be found on theDistrictswebsite. 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. Teachers in some cases are even overworked due to the high demand to meet their high standards. This would enable us to locate our schools within satisfactory distances for parents to send their children. 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. Thats a responsibility I take really seriously coming into the board.. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Businesses and taxpayers are the end customers for our educational product we put out into the marketplace once students graduate. I am Orlando OJ Dona, and with your vote I will be your Trustee for Comal ISD SMD 7 on May 7, 2022. Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. By Lauren Canterberry Before this, I worked at Ed White Middle School in NEISD for four years. Get the latest breaking news from The Herald-Zeitung. What is your stance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests? Comal ISD Positions 1, 2 and 5all single-member districtswill be up for. Teacher retention and pay is crucial to insuring we have the best teachers for our children. We are working to restore the radio signal. In addition, utilizing school design replication would lower design costs, maintenance costs and fixture costs. Proposition D, at $34,540,000 will fund student and teacherinstructional technologyand network infrastructure projects. 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. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly clear. We need to keep expanding our programs to keep up with our rapidly growing district. My time as a teacher has been rewarding, exciting, and, at times, mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively.. Teachers must know their school board has their back. Alamo Heights ISD had two competitive races without incumbents. Also seeking to win one of the at-large trustee seats, which are currently held by Clark and David Heefner, is Matthew D. Sargent. Signup today! Maintain the ongoing academic and extracurricular success of our students. You have permission to edit this article. A top priority would be implementation of programs,. Support for TPR's Education News Desk comes from H-E-B Helping Here. One of the things that sets me apart from my opponents is that Im currently a teacher and still working with students every day. Questions regarding elections can be directed to Melanie Allen at (763)689-6202 or mallen@c-ischools.org. Six candidates are vying for Comal ISD single-member districts 6 and 7 in this May's election. I have lived in New Braunfels 11+ years and have a family of four two of which graduated from Canyon High School. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. 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 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. 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. Sorensen is the mother of a 5th grader enrolled at SAISDs Bonham Academy and vice-president of the Lavaca Neighborhood Association. Low 52F. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. In addition, several San Antonio-area school districts are holding bond elections, including: Comal ISD: $500 . Click here to find out what district you are in. I would decide on whether or not to approve a budget by seeing and listening to my districts needs. Brittany Soto: District No. 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. One big challenge I have mentioned previously is to manage the phenomenal growth that Comal County has been experiencing the last 5 years. We must continue to study the projected growth in the district so we can make strategic decisions regarding when and where to purchase land. 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. May 6, 2017. We'd love to hear eyewitness Error! 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Please download the PDF file. Most charter schools follow strict guidelines to for their test scores and are very selective of their students. He received 120 votes. What would be your top priorities if you are elected? TPR was founded by and is supported by our community. or anything. I believe I have a unique set of skills which will allow me to do that. We also need to make sure that before we continue to let people outside of the district register students here, we have sufficient staffing, especially for our students who are [in special education], [English language learners] and on 504 plans. Both elections will be on Nov. 2 and early voting will be Oct. 18 to 29. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. Four seats on the Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees were up for general election on May 9, 2015. This could be done by being more proactive in reducing construction costs via replication of construction designs. Signup today! I do not like the latest unofficial grades for our school district and how our students are not meeting basic educational standards set for the [State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness], and in Math and Science. Of adjoining school districts bordering Comal ISD, our teachers are number six in terms of compensation. One of the biggest challenges the school district faces is student performance, and I dont mean just performance on state-mandated tests. They will be joined by Daniel Carrillo. 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. Transparency is critical to our constituents whether they have children in the district, or not. 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. Oak Creek and Freiheit Elementary Schools, and a new middle school to relieve Canyon Middle School. Youth Development Director for Ignite Volleyball Association. 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. Joel Torres III 6. M-F 10-2. All meetings are at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. (Courtesy Adobe Stock). 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. I served in the Army Corps of Engineers with the 25th Infantry Division. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the school district and how do you plan to address them?
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