Three people, including a pair of incumbents, are tossing their hats into the ring for two Dripping Springs ISD board trustee seats that are open this May.
Board trustee Barbara Stroud, DSISD board vice president, trustee Ron Jones and resident Trey Powers filed for the May 6 election prior to Friday’s filing deadline.
Stroud, who has served on the board for nine years and has previously been board president, will vie for a fourth term on the dais. Her term expires this May.
Stroud, an attorney and mediator, said she had originally not intended to run for reelection but ended up changing her mind.
“Nine years is a long time and it’s a big time commitment to serve on the board. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to continue that ... But I just decided it was important to continue serving.” Board trustee Barbara Stroud
Stroud said reasons for running were based on the district just starting its strategic plan. She also felt the district was moving forward in a “positive way.” With a “young” board, Stroud felt she would be able to offer her experience on the dais.
“I just really felt it was important to keep the momentum going for the district,” Stroud said. “We’ve got a cohesive leadership team on the board and with our superintendent. I felt called to continue serving.”
She added the district has seen steady growth and that it will continue to grow into the next decade.
“I think we have always been such an excellent district and that’s why people move here, but we still have to constantly be improving and evaluating our processes and figure out a way to improve,” Stroud said.
Jones, a consultant who was elected in 2013, will run in his first reelection campaign as his term expires this May.
Maintaining academic rigor has been a “long standing tradition” in Dripping Springs and Jones said he hopes to continue that, if he is reelected. He said people who move out to Dripping Springs for the education and its public schools expect “an academic rigor.”
Jones said that includes the school board’s commitment to preparing students for post-graduation experiences, including college and post-graduate careers. He said students are informing the board they are “well prepared.”
“It’s been exciting to watch that evolve, especially as it relates to all of the growth in the district,” Jones said.
Jones said he enjoys the prospect of getting to talk to people during the campaign and gathering different viewpoints.
As far as the field, Jones said Stroud is “fantastic” and he has worked with her while on the dais. While Jones has met Powers once, he did not have knowledge of his platform.
Jones said advocating for building “innovative learners” is his goal.
“Our role is about governance and it’s about school board policy,” he said. “We don’t micromanage education processes.”
Powers, who has lived in Dripping Springs for six years, is a mortgage loan officer who has two children within the district. Powers said he has not run for public office, but spent several years as a policy advisor to state elected officials.
According to a bio provided to the News-Dispatch, Powers serves as a member of the Walnut Springs Elementary Watch DOGS, or Dads of Great Students. He was also invited by Superintendent Bruce Gearing to participate in “D.S. Dialogues,” which is a small round table discussion group.
Other activities include serving on the advisory board for Project Connect, which is a local non-profit, and is a current member of Leaderhsip Dripping Springs.
Powers, according to his bio, believes in “serving his community in both charitable and civic roles.” He said he is also a strong fiscal conservative.
He also said that he has “extensive experience” in policy development and implementation at all levels of government.
“Powers wishes to share his experience and passion to ensure DSISD continues to be the premiere Central Texas school district and that every child has a champion,” according to Powers’ bio.
Early Voting Schedule
All early voting will be done at Dripping Springs ISD Administrative Building, 510 West Mercer St.
Monday, April 24 - 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25 through Friday, April 28 - 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday, April 29 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, May 1 - 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
