NISD Board President Endorsement Raises Governance Questions
When Public Endorsements by Sitting Trustees Raise Governance Questions
Northside ISD has long operated as a nonpartisan institution, with trustees focused on student outcomes and community trust rather than political alignment. Recently, a public campaign image has circulated showing the sitting Northside ISD Board President endorsing a candidate in a contested Bexar County district attorney race. While there is no legal prohibition on such endorsements, it raises a broader governance question about maintaining the district’s longstanding norm of nonpartisanship.
In a public education system that serves families across the full political spectrum, even the perception of partisanship can affect trust. Historically, Northside trustees have avoided public endorsements of candidates in partisan races, precisely to preserve that neutrality. The question is not about individual speech, but about institutional credibility: where should the line be drawn to ensure governance remains clearly focused on students rather than political alignment?
From a retired NISD teacher
Bobby Blount has $ 15,800 in campaign debt. Would you pay that to VOLUNTEER? It's not dark money impacting our students. AFT receives national $. How do we ensure students are the focus, not what the union tells a trustee to do?