CYPRESS, TX — The founder of The Owner School has entered the race for the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (CFISD) Board of Trustees, announcing a no-endorsement, no-frills campaign laser-focused on one thing: financial and fiscal management.
“Schools should be about the education of our children. It’s time to get back to the real business: strong academics built on disciplined, transparent budgeting,” the candidate said.
A District at a Crossroads
CFISD, the third-largest district in Texas, serves nearly 118,000 students and manages a budget that now tops $1.2 billion. In June, trustees approved a $1.226 billion budget for 2025–26, reversing previous cuts to transportation and investing in staff raises. Just a year earlier, the district faced a projected nine-figure deficit that shook public confidence and raised questions about long-term fiscal strategy.
Meanwhile, taxpayers continue to watch property valuations climb. CFISD’s 2024 adopted total tax rate was $1.0869 per $100 valuation, paired with a 20% local homestead exemption plus $100,000 and additional exemptions for seniors and disabled residents.
Even with these offsets, families want to know: Where does the money go?
The Fiscal-First Platform
The campaign promises five clear reforms designed to put classrooms and taxpayers first:
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Every Dollar, Online. A public ledger dashboard showing spending by campus, vendor, and student impact category, updated monthly.
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Zero-Based Budgeting Pilots. Non-instructional departments must re-justify expenses from scratch each year.
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Classroom-First Guardrails. Require a guaranteed minimum share of funds go directly to classroom instruction before discretionary programs.
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Transportation Transparency. Publish cost-per-rider, bus utilization, and on-time performance to keep services efficient and accountable.
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Debt & Tax Honesty. Plain-English explanations for every tax or bond measure—no jargon, no buried details, no surprises.
Why Run Unendorsed?
In a district often dominated by political endorsements and outside voices, this campaign is focused on the dollars. “I’m not running to win points with special interests. I’m running to protect every taxpayer dollar and put it to work where it matters most: in the classroom,” the candidate said.
Quick Context for Voters
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Leadership: Superintendent Dr. Douglas Killian took office in January 2024.
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Board Officers: President Scott Henry, Vice President Natalie Blasingame, Secretary Justin Ray. Other trustees include Todd LeCompte, Julie Hinaman, Christine Kalmbach, and Lucas H. Scanlon.
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Election Day: November 4, 2025 — with Positions 5, 6, and 7 on the ballot.
