Hosted by the district, the forum featured questions submitted by community members in advance. Jason Culpepper, Houston market president at Community Impact, moderated the panel.
This is not a comprehensive breakdown of the questions.
Meet the candidates
Candidates Lesley Guilmart, Radele Walker and Terrance Edmond are on the ballot for board Position 5, currently held by trustee Natalie Blasingame. Edmond did not participate in the forum.
Incumbent Scott Henry and candidates Cleveland Lane Jr. and Blasingame are on the Position 6 ballot. Henry currently serves as president of the board.
Candidates Elecia Jones, Kendra Camarena and George Edwards Jr. are on the ballot for Position 7, currently held by trustee Lucas Scanlon, who is not seeking reelection.
Discipline in schools
When asked about student behavior and discipline protocols, the candidates overwhelmingly agreed that teachers need more support to maintain safety and decorum in the classroom.
Henry said the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated student behavior problems in CFISD. He said recent laws passed by the Texas Legislature helped the district establish tools for teachers, especially those who work with students in lower grade levels.
Lane said the district needs a “change of culture” when it comes to discipline, which he said starts with the parents. From there, the district should work closely with teachers and police to reinforce those expectations, he said.
Blasingame said students need to be taught behaviors that will allow them to be successful in life, but she said teachers and administrators “do not have enough hands and feet to deal with the issues that are happening during the day.” Part of addressing behavior includes looking at the budget and prioritizing extra support in the classroom, she said.
Walker said House Bill 6 set the framework to give teachers the “authority to reclaim their classrooms,” but the district needs to be firm in enforcing those policies. She said the board must pass policies that don’t allow for subjectivity.
Guilmart said students require both clarity and consistency for expectations to be successful. Classroom management requires training, mentorship and resources for teachers, she said, pulling from her experience as a former instructional coach.
Addressing the budget deficit
The Position 7 candidates were asked to identify their budget priorities and where they’d consider cuts to district spending. CFISD is expecting a shortfall of about $45.5 million in fiscal year 2025-26, according to Community Impact reporting.
Edwards said the district needs to do a forensic audit to dive into the efficiency of district spending so the board can make “intelligent choices.” Blasingame and Walker, who are running as a slate alongside Edwards, supported the call for a financial audit. Edwards also said teachers and classrooms should remain a top budget priority.
Jones said her top priority is teacher and paraprofessional pay, which she said should be adjusted to account for how much they pay in health care. Jones didn’t provide a specific recommendation for reducing costs, but she said her experience as an accountant will help her identify non-essential spending in the district budget.
Camarena reiterated the need for competitive salaries for district staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals and bus drivers, which she said will help with recruitment and retention. She said in addition to identifying saving opportunities, the district needs to continue to advocate for state funding and look for “low-hanging fruit” such as refunds for the local optional homestead exemption.
Board politics and decision-making
Several candidates were asked how they would navigate opposing board opinions and govern effectively.
Blasingame said board members have to find common ground on the issues. She said the board occasionally battles over values or “culture issues,” but she said trustees should be able to agree on most decisions.
Henry said trustees need to “act like adults and be adults,” and that at the end of the day, the most important considerations are academics and safety.
Lane pointed out the diversity of the district, saying issues must be looked at from all perspectives. He said serving on the board means listening to community members and ultimately making the best decision for the kids.
Jones said board decisions should not involve political affiliations or religious beliefs. Similarly, Camarena said politics needs to be checked at the door. Guilmart, who is running with Lane and Camarena as a slate, also said the district must bring back librarians, a past budget cut that has since been a point of contention in the community.
Before you go
Early voting starts Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. Election Day is Nov. 4. Find a recording of the full candidate forum on the district’s website.
