Update: 2022 Rockwall ISD School Board Races

Across the country and here in Texas, local school board races once considered afterthoughts in elections are now the center of politics and parents are listening to the controversial topics.

Rockwall County early voting in-person numbers are approximately 200 a day to vote on the May 7, 2022 two bi-partisan races for Place 4 and Place 5. Here is the link to Rockwall County’s Election Administration website RockwallVotes.com to view all the items on the general election ballot. This includes two constitutional amendments and a tax rollback for those who reside in McLendon-Chisholm.

If you read my last blog regarding Weeding Out The Hyperbole you would get the facts about how things got started with one candidate, Lee Harvey for Place 4 who wanted to focus on a smear campaign against the Rockwall school board and Candidate Stan Britton for Place 4. The allegation that President Jon Bailey resigned or stepped down from the Rockwall ISD School Board of Trustees has been proven false. Mr. Bailey decided to not run for re-election on February 18, 2022, but will be finishing his third term in May 2022. When you review the items secured from an open records request it may help address filing concerns. Especially knowing that there were a total of three candidates that had originally filed for Place 4.

In the last several weeks, I have personally attended candidate forums where all the candidates have come to introduce themselves and answer questions. Here is what I have gathered to address questions that you may be concerned with.

I believe both Stan Britton for Place 4 and Incumbent Trustee Jim White for Place 5 both have a genuine interest in improving public schools and are sincere in helping be part of the solution to address parental concerns in our District. Both candidates are knowledgeable about public schools and are very much aware of the biggest issues in Rockwall ISD, including the need for teacher employment and staffing to alleviate the extra burdens affecting teachers outside their main role.

Both understand the district’s policies, guidelines, needs, challenges, and strengths. Each have used them to address school administration issues to improve public safety issues and student challenges.

They believe in the importance that every child is deserving of an outstanding public education and they hope that each student will leave respectful, college ready and/or career ready. Each supports the continuation of the legacy of students becoming thriving members of our community and beyond. This includes supporting vocational education at the Gene Burton Academy which focuses also on service-related orientated occupations such as welding, electricians, plumbers, agriculture, etc.

Jim and Stan have demonstrated a passion for service by their own actions in the community. My husband Jason competed in a bowling tournament against Jim White‘s bowling team for the 4th Annual Rockwall ISD Education Foundation Bowling Classic. The monies raised were to sustain existing programs, fund Innovative Teaching Grants, and provide resources that otherwise aren’t possible for Rockwall ISD students.

During the madness of unconstitutional executive orders that influenced churches to close their doors, Stan Britton was visiting hospice patients regularly as a pastor, delivering annual Sonic drinks to Rockwall ISD teachers/staff as a way to show appreciation, donating school supplies for those that may be in need and in his free time, he is involved with Rockwall-Heath athletics as the “Voice of the Heath Hawks.”

Stan and his family are passionate about their Christian faith, foster care and adoption advocacy, families with special needs children and spending time in the outdoors. In fact, one of the reasons why he did not file for school board is because they were in China adopting their daughter. So this gentleman really has made quite an impression in our community for the last several years.

“I have amazing friends. Pastor Stan Britton pastors close to me and just adopted this beautiful little girl from China into his family. Her name is Joy! If you need better preaching than I can offer, go check this cat out. One of my heroes. Love you bro. Passionate feet on the ground for Jesus, man of God.” Pastor John Lea, Generations Church at Sabine Creek, a quote from June 25, 2019.

Both candidates have a commitment to serving the public. In fact, Stan Britton has been attending school board of trustee meetings. Incumbent Trustee Jim White is always present at the dais unless there was a work travel conflict, which is rare. Each commit a considerable amount of time and energy for weekly meetings, phone calls, conversations, visits to schools, and professional development seminars and workshops. In fact, Stan Britton volunteered to serve on the Rockwall ISD 2018 Strategic Design Team and expressed a genuine interest in serving on the school board.

School board members can, and ideally should, reflect the diversity of the community. One thing that stood out to me is how they are open to have controversial topics discussed. In March 2022, there was an event held at Rockwall’s Harry Myers Community Building where a documentary called Mind Polluters was being featured. Jim White invited protesters who were near the entrance of the building inside to join the viewing. The protestors were holding controversial signage and Trustee White asked them if they had seen the documentary? And he also asked what specifically they were protesting about? It was a very amicable conversation and he offered for them to at least watch the documentary inside with him. He literally found them chairs to sit and watch. MANY of them did take a seat and many of them asked questions to the hosts after the showing. During the Q & A one of the protestors asked a few questions and this male nurse left upset. When I walked out both Stan Britton and Jim White were having a discussion with this male nurse. I’m not sure if he was a voter or not. The point is they were meeting the man where he was and discussing sensitive topics. Regardless of what their personal beliefs are they engaged him respectfully and listened to what he had to say.

School districts are very large organizations and require a governing board that collectively has a range of skills. They have to manage a budget of millions of dollars to respond to needs of thousands of parents, guardians, and children. Decisions a school board makes will impact our children and us for years to come. We need a well-run school board to play a vital role in keeping our local schools on track and always keep the students’ best interests in mind. We need trustees to hold the administration accountable to manage the schools so that teachers can effectively teach and to support students to thrive in their learning environment.

Whether you are satisfied or unsatisfied with the current school board your vote in this school board election will be instrumental in helping to shape the board so that it answers the needs of its parents, students, and staff. We have single family home developments that will be here in the next few years. I currently live in a development where the three remaining phases were approved to proceed last year. We currently have approximately 18,000 students in 2021-2022 school year. Most likely we will see a spike in registrations in less than 5 years because we have to accommodate those future students and keep classrooms at 28 to 1 ratio. We need candidates that will be proactive in addressing our growth, take the initiative to reach out to various administrators to address questions or concerns and have strong community partnerships that will work with Rockwall ISD. I feel confident that both Stan Britton and Jim White will do that. Jim has already experienced bringing in a new school and other school renovations during his term of office.

After the ridiculous slander, personal attacks at the polls against the campaign volunteers for Stan and absurdity provided by Candidate Lee Harvey campaign, I decided to do something different and share with my readers who I will cast my vote for.

My husband and I only vote on Election Day. We will both be happy to cast our votes for Stan Britton for Place 4 and Incumbent Jim White for Place 5 on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

I want to thank candidate Nikki Harris for Place 5 for making the decision to file for office. Thank you for your decades of service in education and you certainly have a genuine heart to serve in an unpaid volunteer position. Thank you for showing up to all the forums, being willing to answer questions, and thank you for having integrity throughout all of this. Politics can get quite ugly and I just want to thank you for being kind throughout this election cycle. If the results cast you as the winner I want you to know that you are valued and appreciated in getting in the ring. And I wanted to be clear so that you will have peace in knowing how I voted.

Early voting ends on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the Rockwall County Library, Royse City Hall and McLendon-Chisholm City Hall.

Cover Photo Credit: Adrienne Balkum | Candidate Nikki Harris for Place 5, Candidate Stan Britton, Incumbent Candidate Jim White and Candidate Lee Harvey.