Early Voting Begins for 3 Contentious May 4 School Board Elections

SAN ANGELO, TX — Voters in three school districts can cast ballots early in San Angelo beginning today. 

According to Tom Green County elections administrator Vona Hudson, voters in the San Angelo, Veribest and Wall Independent School Districts can cast ballots in the elections office in the Keyes building at 113 W. Beauregard from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and then from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday April 29 and 30.  

In the San Angelo ISD, the only contested race is for trustee at-large.  Incumbent trustee Lanny Layman is challenged by Chris Giroux.

Layman has been on the school board for 18 years and is currently board president.  

Giroux has never held public office.  He lost a bid for San Angelo city council in 2017 to Lucy Gonzales.  

At a candidate forum hosted by the San Angelo Pachyderm Club last week, Giroux said, “We need to be seriously looking at what the scores are of these students who are coming through our school system.  My opponent has been quoting the academic performance report that just came out and touting that the school district is scoring 77 in the state. I’m sitting here looking at this and the fourth grade reading scores.  If we want to look at mathematics, 38 percent of third graders meet grade level. That number is abysmal.” 

In contrast, Layman said the STAAR test the students took in April is a poor measure of how students are being educated.  “To look at the performance of our students based on one day of testing, the STAAR test they take on an annual basis in April, is a poor way to look at how we judge our district.  So let me tell you a few of the positive things about our district. SAT scores were about 50 points above the state average.  ACT scores were about three percent above the state average.  Graduation rates were about three percent above the state average. We are well above the state average in college readiness.”

Layman said he was disappointed the bond failed twice and that the district has to invest in its facilities just like any business does.  

In the Veribest ISD school board race, there are three candidates on the ballot and voters can cast a ballot for none, one or two.  

The candidates are Dalena Freeman, John Jackson and Mark Kellermeier. 

In the Wall ISD school board race, voters can cast ballots for none, one or two of the three candidates on the ballot. 

The candidates are Brett Schniers, Heather Braden and Chris Wilde.  

Registered voters can cast paper or electronic ballots in person during early voting. 

Election Day is Saturday, May 4 and voters can only cast electronic ballots at 18 countywide polling locations. 

Sample ballots are available here.