The results of Katy ISD’s recent school board elections could lead to a major shift in the way the district operates. By 7 votes, education activist and blogger George Scott unofficially beat out 27-year incumbent, Joe Adams, for Place 1 on the Board of Trustees.
Although Scott came in first in Saturday’s election, Katy’s ballot board will meet Friday, May 13th to make the Election Day results official and also count 12 provisional ballots along with any military ballots that come in. Adams has since said he will ask for a recount.
An official win by Scott would be a much-needed disruption of Katy ISD’s school board.
Adams, first elected to the board in 1989, has held every position on KISD’s board and has been president four times. Adams is currently the 2nd Vice President of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), a taxpayer-funded lobbying group that advocates for more power to school board officials.
The president-elect of TASB Charles Stafford even weighed in on the race saying, “Please keep Joe Adams working for Katy ISD and all of the children of Texas.” Scott’s win is a blow to TASB and to Katy ISD’s board; he has been critical of both entities for years.
A growing number of KISD taxpayers have been voicing concerns about the district’s lack of transparency and spending. They recently broke ground on the district’s massive $62 million stadium for which the board has already had to vote to approve additional funds.
Scott ran as an education reformer hoping to hold Katy Superintendent, Alton Frailey, accountable for implementing new programs without gauging effectiveness. After nine terms, Scott said that Adams should have been the one to lead the charge in holding Frailey accountable.
Of the probable loss Adams said, “We expected to win. I’ve been on the board 27 years, and I’ve done a great job. We really don’t have an explanation.”
Scott says he doesn’t consider the election over until the provisional and military ballots are counted on Friday.
