The change passed 4-2, with trustee Jennifer Erickson abstaining from a vote. Trustees John Birt, Chris Coker, Charles Randklev and Heather Washington voted in support of the change while trustees Randy Campbell and Chelsea Kelly voted against the change.
The gist
Keller ISD board members will now seek election during the November election cycle, with the next election occurring in November 2026. This change extends current trustee terms by six months to align with the November cycle.
Those for the change said November elections have a higher voter turnout, while those against it cited the cost and voter disruption.
“The legal advice that I’ve received is that, typically, a school board, whenever they’re making a decision to move their elections, they want as little change as possible as not to disrupt the community and the district,” Kelly said.
Other trustees were interested in waiting to make a decision until other municipalities or communities made a decision.
“Because we have voters from different municipalities, it’s not necessarily making it easier for them by moving [trustee elections] to November,” Erickson said. “If you’re in Fort Worth and Fort Worth keeps May elections, then you still have to go twice. You actually make it harder for the voters of Fort Worth.”
Moving the election date could also increase costs for the district if they do not have a partner municipality or other government entity to run the election with, officials said.
Those in support of the change noted that November elections have higher turnout than elections in May.
“At the end of the day, I don’t care how we increase voter turnout. I want to increase voter turnout,” Coker said. “I think the more people in the community that speak their mind and cast their vote, the better it is for the community. Not selective people, all people.”
Others voiced interest in making a decision as soon as possible out of urgency.
“I would agree that the primary purpose is increase voter turnout,” Birt said. “If that’s the premise, then why kick the can down for three years and not give people an opportunity to vote in current elections?”
Diving deeper
House Bill 3546 and Senate Bill 1494, two bills passed during this year’s 89th legislative session, provide school boards the option of moving their trustee elections, according to district documents. School boards have until Dec. 31, 2030, to make the change.
KISD board members first made a motion to keep trustee elections in May for the years 2026, 2027 and 2028 so current board trustees would still have normal term lengths. The motion failed in a 3-4 vote, with Campbell, Kelly and Erickson in support and Birt, Coker, Randklev and Washington in opposition.
Board members then made a motion to table the discussion until the district found a municipal partner to host elections with in November. The motion failed in a 3-4 vote with the same trustees in support and in opposition.
