The details
The filing period closed at 5 p.m. Feb. 14, and the following individuals filed for the three positions:
- Place 1 - Randy Campbell, Scott Bruce, Marissa Bryce
- Place 2 - Jennifer Erickson, Joni Shaw Smith
- Place 3 - Jennifer Ramsey, Chelsea Kelly, Ed Duncan, Phil Perez
What the candidates are facing
School districts across the state face a funding crisis after state funding hasn’t increased since 2019. School funding is the reason several board members said they want to explore the possibility of splitting KISD in two.
The subject of the split, which will allegedly divide the district along US 377 and serves as the border between the cities of Keller and Fort Worth, has caused much turmoil among KISD students, parents and staff.
The board initially held a special meeting Jan. 16 to discuss the subject with the community. At that meeting, Superintendent Tracy Johnson told the KISD school board she was prepared to offer her letter of resignation after speaking out against the possible plan, saying it wasn’t “right for kids.”
While an interim superintendent has been named, Johnson still remains an “active employee.” At a subsequent meeting Jan. 30, Board President Charles Randklev said the board will pick up Johnson's separation agreement "at a later date."
To show their opposition to the split, dozens of students at all four Keller ISD high schools walked out of classes the morning of Feb. 7.
