Election to decide two CISD seats
May 4—One is a given, another contested but Saturday's Cleburne ISD school board election will make both seats official.
Up this election are the Place 1 and Place 2 seats.
In the Place 2 race, Trustee Jason Tennison sits unopposed in his reelection bid as he seeks his second term.
"I am passionate about the power of education to transform the lives of our children, community and world," Tennison said. "My hope is that I can be of some small help in the team effort of making decisions that will continually improve the quality of education in our school district."
Longtime Place 1 Trustee June Bates decided not to seek reelection after having served three terms. Three newcomers, Kathy Dinh Davis. Joe Trevino Jr. and John Long, subsequently filed for the seat.
Long, a 1982 Cleburne High School graduate and Cleburne resident since 1980, owns and operates John's Auto. Long's son also graduated from CHS.
"There are some things you see that are good and some you don't like so much," Long said of his decision to enter the race. "I think sometimes that new blood and a fresh, different way of looking at things can be a benefit."
Long, 60, stressed his desire to serve, community involvement and the importance he places on education.
"We're in a transition period right now between superintendents, so that's going to be a factor," Long said when asked what he plans to focus on if elected. "I think it's also important to work to ensure that our teachers have the proper equipment, support and leadership to help them do a better job. It's important to stress the importance of education to our kids and do all we can as a school board to help them realize those opportunities whether that's that they're wanting to go to college after high school or take advantage of our trade and career and technology programs at the high school."
Of the state and national topics of teachers leaving the profession, critical race theory and book banning, Long said he tends to oppose but continues to seek more information on CRT. Long said the other topics should be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Born and raised in Cleburne, Trevino, 40, graduated CHS in 2001 and has two sons attending CISD schools. Trevino works as a sales rep for Texas First Rentals in Alvarado.
"Safety concerns are my primary concern," Trevino said of his decision to run. "Things I hear from my kids, other kids and parents. The fact that a lot of kids are leaving CISD for Rio Vista or other districts because of safety concerns, and that's worrying"
Trevino said he also intends to focus on teacher accountability if elected.
"Not punishing teachers per se," Trevino said. "But I know there have been instances of teachers not reporting safety issues and just a lack of communication and answers. There has to be better communication between teachers and parents. And parents and teachers because it's not all teachers. I think a lot of parents have fallen short in disciplining their children and so discipline in schools is another big issue."
A situation that goes both ways, Trevino said.
"When you hear of teachers leaving the profession a lot of that has to do with safety issues as well," Trevino said. "Some teachers are being assaulted physically or verbally with no real repercussions and they have their hands tied as to what they can do."
Trevino said he would oppose attempts to introduce CRT into CISD.
"Carroll ISD walked away from the Texas Association of Schools Boards," Trevino said. "Personally, I think we should as well. Those decisions should be made within the communities for the school board to decide what's best for their communities. I don't think someone in an office in the capitol can decide what's best for everyone, because every community is not the same."
Trevino urged voters to research the candidates, visit their Facebook pages and the CISD website and ask questions of the candidates so as to vote informed.
Davis, 42, spoke of the role of education in her life.
"My parents are refugees from Vietnam and they always stressed the importance of education," Davis said. "Education launched me into where I am as far as my job and career and without it I would never be where I am today."
Davis said her 20 years of experience as a development manager in education technology have helped qualify her to serve on the school board.
"I think that experience gives me a unique set of skills and brings a different lens to the table having worked daily with educators, specifically in Texas K-12 schools, as well as being aligned to administrators and students in every aspect from curriculum to mental health, school safety and more," Davis said.
Davis said she is the parent and guardian of six children in CISD.
"My goal is to build community support," Davis said. "I want to be a listening ears and hopefully a voice for those who feel like they don't always have a seat at the table."
Davis spoke, too, of the importance of working to provide opportunities for students but also to instill a love of learning to sustain them past their high school years and into the responsibilities of adulthood.
"It's a tough time right now in education," Davis said of teacher shortages. "Many educators and administrators are leaving in droves so absolutely retaining teachers and maintaining morale if very high on my list. Educators are so key to the heart of our education system and make such a huge difference. I can still point to the teacher who inspired my love of reading."
A difficult problem with no easy answers.
"My hope is that collectively as a school board and community we can come up with good solutions," Davis said. "Part of that is listening to and hearing our teachers."
On questions of CRT and book bans, Davis said CISD should remain bound by state curriculum and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, standards.
"It's really what the state mandates we do," Davis said. "I think a lot of people have the misguided understanding the we can make, can call the shots when that's really not the role of school board trustees or the superintendents."
