Cy-Fair ISD board, parents grapple with curriculum changes From the cover
Meet the players
In a nutshell
Campaign nance reports show 2021 and 2023 elections featured tens of thousands of donation dollars from political action committees, including both local nonpartisan groups as well as conserva- tive groups such as CyFair4Liberty, Conservative Republicans of Harris County and Texans for Educational Freedom. Community Impact reached out to these groups but received no response. In the 2019 election, three of the four open posi- tions were uncontested. The contested candidates each spent $1,500-$2,900 on their campaigns. According to campaign nance reports, most fund- ing for 2021 and 2023 elections came from PACs. Local nonpartisan PACs have supported Julie Hinaman, among other candidates, in recent years. Friends for CFISD raised about $29,000 in 2019; ALL4CFISD raised about $76,000 in 2023.
Conservative Republicans of Harris County endorsed Blasingame, Henry and Scanlon in 2021 and spent nearly $25,000 on advertising for them. PAC support grew in 2023 with CyFair4Liberty pouring more than $78,000 into the election, supporting candidates including Todd LeCompte, Justin Ray and Christine Kalmbach. The organization is focused on “[taking] back our republic and [preserving] our liberty … [by ghting] to win every election from MUDs and HOAs to school boards, Texas House and U.S. Congressional districts,” according to the website. Most CFISD trustees have prior experience run- ning for oce, including serving on municipal util- ity district and homeowners association boards, at the city level, and as previous candidates for school board or state representative seats.
House Bill 1605, passed in 2023, permits school boards to adopt instructional materials that aren’t approved by the State Board of Education. CFISD’s board voted to remove chapters from textbooks approved by the majority-Republican state board and by CFISD educators. “Education is supposed to be about providing the very best up-to-date and factual information to our students and [making] sure that students are able to make decisions and be critical thinkers,” trustee Natalie Blasingame said June 17. Emily Witt, senior communications and media strategist at public education advocacy group Texas Freedom Network, said many policies passed by local school boards start at the state level. Library book policies and school chaplains, among other issues, have also been discussed in response to 2023 bills. “[If] school boards see it at the [Texas] Legislature, they certainly know that they have allies above them,” Witt said. Since Blasingame, Scott Henry and Lucas Scanlon were elected in 2021, the board has changed the way meetings are run, selected a new superintendent and altered several district policies. Per board operating procedures updated in May, media requests must go through Henry, the board president, who did not respond to an interview request. The board’s in uence Nov. 2021: Natalie Blasingame, Scott Henry and Lucas Scanlon are elected. Aug. 2022: The board adopts CFISD’s new character education program. Jan. 2023: A new policy requires educators to categorize all books by age level. Nov. 2023: Nonpartisan incumbent Julie Hinaman is re-elected alongside new conservative trustees Todd LeCompte, Justin Ray and Christine Kalmbach. Dec. 2023: Trustees create ve subcommittees, allowing them to discuss business outside of public meetings. March 2024: In a 5-2 decision, the board votes against allowing chaplains to be employed by the district. May-June 2024: The board approves budget cuts, science textbook omissions, and policy updates clarifying the board has ultimate authority over library books.
Campaign nance breakdown
Donations from individuals
*PAC contributions
Natalie Blasingame Elected: 2021 Previously ran in 2015, 2017 and 2019 Scott Henry Elected: 2021 Has served on MUD and HOA boards
$8,300
53.7% PAC
$7,142.34
Total: $15,442.34
$10,788.38
63% PAC
$6,332.34
Total: $17,120.72
Lucas Scanlon Elected: 2021
$10,338.38
60.1% PAC
$6,858
Total: $17,196.38
Todd LeCompte Elected: 2023 Previously ran in 2021
$25,485.24
85.9% PAC
$4,191.02 Total: $29,676.26
Julie Hinaman Re-elected: 2023 Currently serving second term
$5,750
49.1% PAC
$5,971.16
Total: $11,721.16
Justin Ray Elected: 2023
$26,682.54
88% PAC
$3,625
Former Jersey Village mayor; previous Texas House candidate
Total: $30,307.54
Christine Kalmbach Elected: 2023 Previous Texas House primary candidate
$14,719.94
81.6% PAC
$3,328.32
Total: $18,048.26
SOURCE: PRIOR COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORTINGCOMMUNITY IMPACT
*PAC CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE BOTH DIRECT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND INKIND DONATIONS LISTED IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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