In Non-Partisan School Board Races, Will Voters Put Partisanship Aside?
It’s October, which means that the Texas “Faux Fall” is in full swing. Yes, it’s time to wear that flannel or hoodie that it’s likely still too warm to need and enjoy your favorite seasonal beverage. It’s also election season so it’s time to do your research about the candidates and go vote! In addition to the presidential election and other state-level races, many school districts are having school board elections. Remember, school board races are still non-partisan, and a trustee should seek to represent the entire community in all its diversity and make decisions in the interest of all the district’s stakeholders. Will voters put partisanship aside and do the important research to identify the candidates who possess the right motivations and knowledge to govern Texas public schools in the interest of all Texas families?
Take it from someone in Cy-Fair ISD, a great district (and third largest in Texas) that has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons, that voters need to do their research and vote smart. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, it is likely that one of the best choices for your local school board is someone from the other party. Without weighing in on who you should vote for in any specific district, I do want to offer some criteria by which to judge school board candidates that may be helpful. I offer these questions as a tool to discern which candidates are motivated to serve public school children and which are motivated to serve themselves and their own agenda.
1. Has the candidate accepted partisan endorsements and outside PAC (political action committee) donations? If a candidate is endorsed by a political party (and proud of it) and running a partisan campaign, then that might be a red flag about their real motives. If they are receiving money from groups outside your local district, then that also raises questions about their intentions and independence. In the last few elections, far too many school board trustees have taken thousands of dollars from state and national groups that are pushing political or religious agendas. Do you want outside interests pressuring your school board members to support certain policies?
2. Is the candidate saying whatever they need to say to win even if it means misrepresenting or lying about their opponent? Too many candidates, because their real motivation is themselves and not the district, are willing to attack upstanding members of the community to win. In the suburbs, which often lean conservative, this results in conservatives lying about and smearing fellow conservatives. If someone cares first and foremost about themselves, then they will gladly tar the reputation of someone who largely agrees with them if it means getting ahead. If you hear a candidate bad-mouthing their opponent who you know has served the district well as an incumbent or has demonstrated they’re genuinely invested in the community, then that should be a red flag.
3. Does the candidate focus on the real local problems facing your district or parrot concerns about the manufactured crises discussed on national cable news? In recent elections, far too many candidates have acted as though “critical race theory” and “pornography” are the biggest challenges facing public schools today. Anyone running to protect the district from “woke” or “progressive” agendas likely doesn’t have an accurate understanding of what is going in Texas classrooms or how to solve the district’s real problems. Long is the list of candidates who have run for school board as a “Culture Warrior” who then have no clue how to help balance a budget.
I offer this advice as someone who has followed school board elections closely in recent years. I have witnessed more than once a conservative Republican with financial backing from an outside PAC like Texans for Educational Freedom or endorsements from the county or state GOP label a fellow conservative Republican a “leftist” or “progressive” to win the election. The practical result has often been a common-sense, bridge-building, and problem-solving conservative or moderate being replaced with a far-right partisan who spends more time offering ideological solutions in search of a problem. For example, many school districts in the greater Houston area with far-right partisans now waste precious time and resources on things like book bans and textbook censorship. If you elect someone who ran proudly touting their political and religious worldview, then you’ll likely gain unnecessary distractions, drama, and division.
Also, keep in mind that school board trustees are advocates for the district in Austin. The undeniable truth is that too many Republican state leaders, like Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott, have recently chosen to prioritize private school vouchers over public school funding. This has left all public-school districts without increased funding since 2019…and then factor in the inflation we’ve experienced since then! Long story short: your school board trustees need to be vocal and diplomatic advocates on behalf of public education. If a candidate dodges the issue of vouchers by saying “that’s a state level issue” then you should consider that a red flag. If you suspect that a candidate supports private school vouchers or are unlikely to demand more funding from Austin, then you probably don’t want them governing your school district.
The final thought I leave you with is to consider what it means to be an educational leader in the rapidly changing 21st century. Should leaders be trying to stop change or adapt and respond to it? Should leaders be glorifying the past and trying to recreate the “good old days” or looking with optimism to the future and trying to write the next chapter in the story? The fact is that Texas has already changed drastically in recent years. It is a fast-growing and diversifying state, which brings both challenges and opportunities. What are the candidates saying about this? Do they want to leverage the community’s potential or divide the community with fear-mongering?
If you believe that diversity is a strength and that your school district’s best days are ahead, then I would elect candidates whose vision is about serving, recognizing, and including all Texans, not just some Texans. Which candidates want to serve everyone, regardless of where they’re from or where they go to church, and which candidates seem focused on who has been here the longest and present themselves as a voice for one specific political or religious group? School board trustees must advocate for the district and serve everyone in it; not be loyal to a political party or specific group of residents. Do your research and vote for the candidate who wants to selflessly serve others and not selfishly make a name for themselves.
