Beaumont Independent School District elections (2013)
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Method of election Elections What was at stake? Key deadlines Additional measures External links References |
Beaumont Independent School District Jefferson County, Texas ballot measures Local ballot measures, Texas |
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Three seats on the Beaumont Independent School District board were scheduled to be up for countywide election in 2013, covering Districts 4, 6, and 7. On October 21, 2013, Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, canceled the election following a lawsuit with plaintiffs who alleged that the board manipulated the election process.[1] In July 2014, the board was replaced with a board of managers who were appointed by the Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams.[2]
About the district
Beaumont Independent School District is located in Beaumont, Texas. It is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, it is home to 118,228 residents.[3] It is near the southeastern border of Texas and Louisiana, and the citywide district encompasses 153.34 square miles.
Demographics
Beaumont outperformed the rest of Texas with regards to graduation rate, but underperformed in regards to average household income and poverty rate in 2011. The graduation rate in Beaumont was 83.0% compared to 80.4% statewide. The US Census found that the average household income in Beaumont was $40,283 compared to $50,920 for Texas. Beaumont had a poverty rate of 21.6% in 2011, while Texas was 17.0%.[3]
| Racial Demographics, 2010[3] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Beaumont City (%) | Texas (%) |
| White | 39.8 | 70.4 |
| Black or African American | 47.3 | 11.8 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Asian | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| Two or More Races | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.4 | 37.6 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Method of board member selection
Prior to 2013, the seven members of the Beaumont Independent School District were elected by district to serve three-year terms. The 2013 election was canceled, however, and the board was replaced by an appointed board of managers in 2014. A school board election had to be scheduled before July 2016 to replace those appointed members.[2]
What was at stake?
Three seats on the board were scheduled up for election on November 5, 2013 following a lawsuit that alleged the board members of manipulating the election process to maintain their seats. The plaintiffs — three candidates that filed for the original election in May — alleged the board did not re-divide the voting districts as required before an election. On October 21, 2013, Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, canceled the election following a request from BISD.[4]
Case background
The board member election was originally scheduled for May 11, 2013, however a redistricting dispute postponed the election until November. Law states that Texas school boards may only hold elections in the spring of an odd-numbered year or the fall of an even-numbered year unless a court orders it. After two hearings on the matter, Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, issued a ruling on Sept. 24, which stated that the board’s decision to hold the election on Nov. 5 was permissable. Following this ruling, the plaintiffs filed a notice of accelerated appeal.[5] Judge Floyd made his final decision on October 21, 2013, following a request from BISD.
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the Beaumont Independent School District election in 2013:[6]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| July 27, 2013 | First day for filing nominating petitions |
| August 26, 2013 | Last day to file nominating petitions |
| November 5, 2013 | Election day |
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Beaumont+ Independent + School + District + Texas"
See also
- Texas school board candidates concentrate on funding, maintaining accountability
- School board election wrap-up: Incumbents re-elected overwhelmingly in November 5 elections
- School board elections review: Voters opt for experience over new blood in nation's largest school districts
- Texas
- Beaumont Independent School District, Texas
- List of school board elections in 2013
- Jefferson County, Texas ballot measures
- Local ballot measures, Texas
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ David Yates, Southeast Texas Record, "Judge Floyd nixes BISD’s Nov. 5 board elections," published October 22, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Breitbart, "Beaumont ISD School Board Saga Finally Ends With a TEA Takeover," July 16, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 U.S. Census Bureau, "QuickFacts – Beaumont, Texas," accessed August 5, 2013
- ↑ David Yates, Southeast Texas Record, "Judge Floyd nixes BISD’s Nov. 5 board elections," published October 22, 2013
- ↑ David Yates, The Southeast Texas Record, "Board candidates appeal ruling allowing BISD elections to move forward," published September 25, 2013
- ↑ "Notice of Deadline to File" accessed August 6, 2013
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