I am still learning about budgeting. I believe I have a unique set of skills which will allow me to do that. Irma Iris Duran de Rodriguez came close to coming out on top, with 31% of the votes. 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. Shedefeated Drastata Saturday with just under 59% of the vote. Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 3 and 5. Candidates set for May 7 school boards and City Council ballots, By Catherine Wilson and Steve Knight | The Herald-Zeitung. In following years, the tax rate is projected to lower back to 92 cents in 2022 and 91 cents in 2023 due to rising property appraisal values. My goal is not to raise taxes. What could it be doing better? FILE PHOTO: A vote sign sits on the curb at the Comal County Senior Center voting location Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 in New Braunfels. I am a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who served as a cyber officer, operations planner and strategist, systems analyst, and served our country at the Pentagon and in a combat environment after 9-11. Being a current teacher allows me the ability to understand teachers in the district in a different way. Don't Threaten. Comal ISD, located primarily in Comal County, also had an election to watch. 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! Success! I have over 13 years of experience making financial decisions. Being a teacher has always been my dream job, so Im thankful I am able to continue down this path. The statistics show that masks work in helping slow the spread of Covid. The forefront of our goals as board members should be student success, but success is not only grades and test scores. 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. 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. . Collecting information regarding the budget, profit and loss potential. I have used my skill sets of Cost Accounting, Capacity Planning and Engineering in multi-million dollar capacity manufacturing facility expansions. 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. The Boards primary functions are goal setting, approving the budget and policymaking. 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. Withitspassage, teachers and staff would receive a 3 percent pay increase this year with auxiliarypersonnelreceivinga$1.50 hourly pay increase. We are working to restore the radio signal. 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. Do you know this means your student scored about a 40% on the test? why is my cookies pen blinking purple is there mobile coverage across the nullarbor comal county fire department This would include being proactive in seeking out land to buy for future construction. While I acknowledge that each student has different learning style, I do not support charter schools. I would like to see teachers, teach and not have to focus on the standardized testing regulations. My top priorities include: Looking at our budget and finding where we are overspending so that we can find a way to pay teachers and support staff more; making sure we are being more transparent and accessible to parents, Comal ISD staff and all community members; offering support by listening to Comal ISD staff to find out what things need to change in our schools to ensure student success; and communicating with constituents. No board, no person, no institution is perfect. High 82F. Students, parents, and staffed should not have to worry about contracting the virus while going to school. Comal ISD, located primarily in Comal County, also had an election to watch. Answers from candidates have not been edited or fact-checked. Early voting begins April 25 and ends May 3. A keen eye must be kept on how our tax monies are being spent. Two incumbents and five challengers competed for three trustee seats on the Southwest ISD board. I am married to my wife Beverly for 36 years. I have been involved in the acquisition and approval of major capital projects while working for major corporations such as M&M/MARS-Wrigley. Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively. KTPD 89.3 FM in Del Rio's broadcast signal is currently down. 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 Voters in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties re-elected Place 4 trustee Edward Finley and chose retired teacher Belinda Evans to represent Place 7. Election day will be November 8, 2022. | By Lauren Canterberry 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. Both elections will be on Nov. 2 and early voting will be Oct. 18 to 29. If you are an incumbent, please defend your vote on the decision to rescind the districts mask mandate March 9. 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. I would have voted to keep the mask mandate. Enrollment (14-15) 20,327 students. Comal ISD is divided into single-member districts and has a seven-member Board of Trustees. NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - Comal Independent School District Superintendent Andrew Kim will be leaving the district after 10 years. 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. This is a state issue however. Alamo Heights ISD had two competitive races without incumbents. We must continue to study the projected growth in the district so we can make strategic decisions regarding when and where to purchase land. 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. 1 The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received not postmarked) is April 26. What is your stance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests? If you are in favor of the progressive ideas eating away at the root of our representative republic and democracy, then do not vote for me. 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. Comal Independent School District elections 2015 bond package See also: What was at stake in the 2015 Comal Independent School District election? We'd love to hear eyewitness Success! Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Joel Torres III 6. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. I served in the Army Corps of Engineers with the 25th Infantry Division. We have a daughter Carolyn who is a Pharmacist in Austin. 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 I want to participate in the process to fix it as your trustee. We need to reach out to local or even corporate businesses to see if we could get any donations from them. 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. Masks are a simple and effective way to help provide that safety. 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. Lauren joined Community Impact Newspaper as a reporter in October 2019. I believe handling growth is going to come down to understanding the data around that growth. Internet stream is unaffected. Board meetings should be live streamed so that all members of our community have the opportunity to attend and participate. Clark joins Megan Louise Willis, who will appear as Megan Stratemann-Willis on the ballot, and James Randall Lenard, who will appear on the ballot as Randy Lenard for one of two seats. 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. 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. Code 11.061; Tex. 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. Rule ISD. For TPR's full Voter Guide, click here. What is your current or most recent occupation? Louie G. Luna, the only viable candidate for Harlandales District 3, won election by just 16 votes. CISD has done a great job keeping the schools open and I hope they remain open through the end of the school year. | The last day to register to vote for this election is April 7. 5. Comal ISD is a very large land mass. I am a parent with a long-term vested interest in the district. Teachers must know their school board has their back. It is no secret that Comal ISD is growing at an unprecedented rate, and how well we handle additional student enrollment is crucial. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The celebration surrounding Damian Lillard's record-breaking performance was short-lived. | One of the biggest challenges the school district faces is student performance, and I dont mean just performance on state-mandated tests. 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. Drastata and four other board candidates voted to remove the districts mask mandate in March without surveying parents or giving them time to make alternative plans. The San Antonio Independent School District board elections are among the most hotly contested, with the district's largest teachers union backing a slate of candidates to unseat three incumbents and replace a departing trustee on the seven-member board. Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week. From my perspective Comal does not treat their school employees well. How should CISD handle growth within the district? What grade on an A-F scale would you give your districts response to the coronavirus pandemic. 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. They will be joined by Daniel Carrillo. Be a voice for all Comal ISD communities. We don't have the staff to meet currently enrolled needs, so this has to be addressed and continually assessed if we're ever going to have a hope of breaking out of the cycle of hiring contractors that take us over budget. 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. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. I am aware of the importance of replication of equipment in our school system to include school designs. Why do you want to serve on the school board? | Elections will be held for Comal ISD District 1, 2, and 5. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. 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. We do not need to do deficit budgeting. Copyright 2021 Comal County Republican Party Paid for by the Comal County Republican Party. 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. If the School Board approves the updated Hillsborough County District Map, the students of thousands could be affected during the next school year. Early voting will take place Oct. 18-29. 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. Sorensen is the mother of a 5th grader enrolled at SAISDs Bonham Academy and vice-president of the Lavaca Neighborhood Association. 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. 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. I also want to serve because I want ALL students to feel safe in our classrooms and hallways across the district. Updated 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. Amanda Jones and. Beginning on April 19, there will be an election for two members of the Board of Trustees for New Braunfels Independent School District. Revenue generated by the VATREcould fund compensation increasesofup tothree percent annually over the next three to four years. All meetings are at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. By. I enjoy hunting, fishing, or traveling when I have the time. I have served as a high school vice principal and have taught at colleges and universities in four states since 2000. 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. In addition, several San Antonio-area school districts are holding bond elections, including: Comal ISD: $500 . I plan to keep a students first mindset in all decisions. Comal ISD is very reliant on homeowners to provide growth funding. What experience do you have making financial decisions? Finally, high-quality teacher retention and recruitment is a significant challenge, and we must seek creative solutions to funding increases. 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. 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. 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. 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 Low 52F. 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. There was an error processing your request. My kids are twelve, six, four, and I recently had another child who is almost seven months now. 2. Also, Im a Latina this is important because the makeup of our board is not representative of our community. 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. Texas Public Radio. This could be done by being more proactive in reducing construction costs via replication of construction designs. 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. I am a full-time student at St. Phillips College. 7. Of adjoining school districts bordering Comal ISD, our teachers are number six in terms of compensation. *Tim Hennessee: District No. Each and every child in our district should be prepared for a productive and fulfilling future. May 7 Election results: School, College Districts Northside ISD, North East ISD, ACCD, Alamo Heights ISD, Boerne ISD, Comal ISD, Harlandale ISD, Ingram ISD, Kerrville ISD,. Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. 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. We are one of the fastest growing districts in the area if not the state. 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. Brittany Soto, 19, poses in front of Canyon High School in New Braunfels, where she graduated last May. 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. As for being an educator for 6 years, I have seen what works and what did not work in these other school districts. Please download the PDF file. 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. Transparency is critical to our constituents whether they have children in the district, or not. You have permission to edit this article. 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. One big challenge I have mentioned previously is to manage the phenomenal growth that Comal County has been experiencing the last 5 years. File Photo | Camille Phillips | Texas Public Radio. 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. M-F 10-2. Why or why not? Would you like to receive our daily news. With 16 competitive races spread across six different Bexar County school districts Saturday, familiar names held a lot of sway. 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. 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. 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. He received 120 votes. I am Orlando OJ Dona, and with your vote I will be your Trustee for Comal ISD SMD 7 on May 7, 2022. The base of this triangle is taxpayers who expect our schools to provide a good education for our students in an up to date learning environment who can be the leaders and workers of the future. Comal County Isd District Map - Comal County Isd District Map - Locating a map of your county's district may be difficult. How would you / do you decide whether or not to approve the budget recommended to you by district administration? 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. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. School Board Elections: Comal ISD Texas Public Radio Published April 19, 2021 at 1:20 AM CDT Note: Names are listed in order of appearance on the ballot according to the city clerks' office. Incumbents Flo Bernal and James Sullivan, Jr. retained their seats. 3:37 PM Feb 22, 2022 CST, Three New Braunfels ISD positions and two Comal ISD positions will appear on the ballot May 7. Increasing teacher pay to keep teachers in Comal ISD would be a step in the right direction. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. 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. We need to keep expanding our programs to keep up with our rapidly growing district. Those values, instilled in me from birth, will continue guiding my decision-making if I am elected to serve on the Board of Trustees. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. 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. We have difficult decisions ahead in the district that will challenge the resolve of the Trustees. At CI, Lauren covers education, local government, transportation, business, real estate development and nonprofits in New Braunfels. Sorensen said she wants parents and students to have more of a say in their schools, and to bring more transparency to the budgeting process. 1What is your current or most recent occupation? Would you like to receive our daily news? Those board member positions are occupied by Marty Bartlett and Cody Mueller, respectively.. Comal ISD is very reliant on homeowners to provide growth funding. 1 of 2. I plan to have town hall meetings with anyone in the district who wishes to be heard. Comal ISD Trustees Adopt Tax Rate, Approve Separate Elections to Address Compensation, Growth Stephanie Johnson August 17, 2021 Comal ISD's 2017 $263.5 million school-bond package included $94 million for the construction of two middle schools and $21.3 million for technology. My roots run deep in Comal County and I graduated from Comal ISD. Trustee (vote for 3) Amy Rogers 43. Error! 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. 3:37 PM Feb 22, 2022 CST Neither filed for re-election. These will be held outside of our regular board meetings. This would enable us to locate our schools within satisfactory distances for parents to send their children. Students go through immense amounts of stress and pressure to pass these tests. 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. Another challenge facing Comal ISD is the lack of transparency from board members and accessibility for community members. racist or sexually-oriented language. I would have polled the constituents in my district- all staff, parents and student input would be considered before casting my vote. Manage growth within the district by being as fiscally responsible as the Comal ISD Board should be. 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. I have worked in these fields for companies such as Texas Instruments, M&M/MARS-Wrigley, Russell Stover Candies, and John B. Sanfilippo & Sons/Fisher Nuts. Their futures rely on the education they receive while attending Comal ISD schools. Christopher Willis and Fabian Castillo Dealva are seeking the District 2 seat. Three possibilities exist to consider a new map in the future. Details about the VATRE and Bond 2021 can be found on theDistrictswebsite. Standardized tests should not exist. 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 publish election results following each election. *Courtney Beach Biasatti: District No. School discipline at some schools are lax and district policy is not always enforced. Proposition C, at$20,397,672, will fundstadium capacityexpansion projects at both Canyon Lake and Davenport High Schools. 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. Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. High 82F. 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. 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. CTE Spotlight: Health Science Students Gain Experience, Earn Certifications Be Proactive. Proposition A, at $411, 287,320, will fund the construction offournew schools:Elementary #19, which will provide relief for Clear Spring and Freiheit Elementary Schools; Elementary #20, which will provide relief for Garden Ridge and Morningside Elementary;Middle School #8, which will relieve Pieper Ranch Middle School; anda new Hill Country College Preparatory High School. Voters, in turn, approved the measure. Texas called me back home and I transferred to Texas Tech University, where I majored in Wildlife Management. 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. Because I have children in the district, I am 100% invested in what is best for students. I want to use my skills to help our districts children thrive in an educational environment. This says a lot about my passion and determination to help others. Proposition B, at $61,487,803, willfunda variety ofathletic programenhancementprojects at Canyon,Canyon Lake, Smithson Valley High and Mountain Valley Middle. 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.