Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Due to health considerations related to possible spread of COVID-19, the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees voted during a Special Meeting on Monday, March 30, to postpone the district’s planned May election until Nov. 3, 2020. The vote was 6-0; Board Vice President Chris Gonzalez abstained.

The Board’s election decision was preceded by a recent proclamation issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that suspends specific provisions of the Texas Election Code and allows for election postponements during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In brief, the proclamation allows all candidate filings and ballot order actions already taken to remain the same and in effect, without added requirements.

SBISD Board of Trustee Positions 1 and 2 will be on the November election ballot. Current Board members Josef D. Klam, a local pastor, and Gonzalez, an education and marketing consultant, are opposed, respectively, by Augusta Karolys and Norma Alicia Ovalle, both of whom list their occupation as business woman.

“While it pains me to postpone an election – they are very important – our community is facing unprecedented times and, given the time frames for early voting for this [election] would require our current staff and workers to come in, presenting threats to them,” Board member Karen Peck said before voting, “and with the President now advocating social distancing through April 30 it would be a concern to early voters as well.”

“My paramount concern at this time is the safety of our staff and our community, and protecting them at this time seems very important,” Board member Minda Caesar also said before the Board vote.

During discussion, Board President Pam Goodson noted that several related dates or deadlines change with a Nov. 3 election. These include:

• Withdrawal, death and ineligibility deadline is August 24, 2020
• Voter registration deadline is Oct. 5, 2020
• Deadline to submit for a ballot by mail (ABBM) is Oct. 23, 2020
• Early Voting will take place between Oct. 19 and Oct. 30, 2020

Traditionally, Trustees serve for three-year terms; the election postponement will reduce these terms by several months. All registered voters who reside in SBISD are eligible to cast ballots in SBISD Board of Trustees Elections. 

For more information on the SBISD Board of Trustees, please visit the Board’s site.

Visit the SBISD Elections page for related updates.