Three of the seven seats on the Round Rock ISD board of trustees are open for residents to file for a place on the Nov. 8 ballot. Filing begins July 25, and potential candidates have until Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. to file.

Places 1, 2 and 7, held by trustees Nikki Gonzales, Charles “Chad” Chadwell and Pauline Law, respectively, are up for election. Trustees are elected at-large to serve staggered four-year terms.

“We have some of the greatest staff and great leaders,” Gonzales said. “It is really humbling to be a part of.”

Gonzales secured her seat 20 months ago after being elected over the previously appointed incumbent. She said is eager to continue her work with the board and plans to run for re-election.

“I spent my first year listening, taking it all in and asking questions. When anyone comes onto a new board there is a learning curve. I have a vested interest in a 12-year-old daughter and a history in higher education, but by no means did I have any school board experience,” Gonzales said.

She said she was able to be a major contributor her second year on the board, and she wants to continue to serve in hopes of seeing more of the strategic plan materialize.

“There are many things left to accomplish with the visual and performing arts school and the 2018-19 tech and career high school that I want to be a part of,” Gonzales said. “What I’ve seen over my tenure has come together, and we are making things happen by making schools and innovations available.”

Chadwell, who has served on the board since 2008, also said he would file for re-election.

“I am running again because I’m still committed to advocating for the students and staff of RRISD as well as the taxpayers of our community,” Chadwell said.

He said his failed bid for the county commissioner’s seat advanced his fervor for continuing with the RRISD.

“I was able to be a part of the 2008 bond that lasted six years, which means we are managing the money well. In the passing of the 2014 bond, RRISD received the highest rating over 1,000 districts across Texas,” Chadwell said.

According to the RRISD website, the district has “maintained a AAA bond rating from Moody since 2010 and was upgraded to AAA by Fitch Ratings. AAA is the highest bond rating possible which demonstrates the manner in which the district carries out its fiscal responsibilities.”

“We have always been in the top 1 percent and are the only district with two AAA ratings,” Chadwell said. “We continue to grow and receive accolades for innovation as we look out for the welfare of the students and make sure the taxpayers get what they want—a great place for students, employees and community members alike.”

Chadwell said if re-elected he would work with the legislature to find new ways to improve accountability and growth within the district.

Law, who serves as vice president of the board, could not be reached for comment and has not yet announced whether she will run for re-election.

In a statement, Superintendent Steve Flores said projects on the horizon for the board include selecting a third-party auditor to evaluate safety at RRISD facilities as well as infrastructure needs and seeing the strategic plan to fruition.

Flores also said trustees would need to act as strong advocates for students in the coming legislative session.

"We are facing a legislative session in January where we expect public schools to be a focal point, from charter schools to accountability to fixing a finance system deemed inadequate by the state’s highest court," he said.

Early voting runs Oct.-Nov. 4.