Who Does What
You indicated that you live in Bell County. Not your county?
Let's start small:
Bell County School Board
What does the school board do?
- Create vision and goals for the district
- Evaluate district success
- Adopt policies to drive district actions
- Hire a superintendent and evaluate his/her success
- Approve district budget consistent with district vision
- Communicate district’s vision and success to the community
The school board consists of elected trustees who represent the interests of a school district. Here are the school districts in Bell County:
- Academy ISD. Academy ISD has seven trustees who serve three-year staggered terms. The next election will be in May 2017.
- Bartlett ISD. Bartlett ISD has seven trustees who serve three-year staggered terms. The next election will be in May 2017
- Belton ISD. Belton ISD has seven trustees. Two are elected at large. Five serve single-member districts. The next election will be in May 2017.
- Copperas Cove ISD. Coppera Cove ISD has seven trustees serving ___-year terms. They publish profiles of current board members, in case you're interested. Three places will be on the November 8, 2016 ballot: Place 3, Place 4, and Place 5.
- Florence ISD. Florence ISD has seven trustees who serve three-year staggered terms. The next election will be in May 2017.
- Gatesvile ISD. Gatesville ISD has seven trustees who serve 3-year staggered terms. Two places will be on the November 8, 2016 ballot.
- Holland ISD. Holland ISD has seven trustees who serve staggered three-year terms. The next election will be in May 2017.
- Killeen ISD. Kileen ISD has seven trustees who serve staggered three-year terms. The next election will be in May 2017.
- Lampasas ISD.
- Moody ISD. Moody ISD has seven trustees who serve staggered three-year terms. Three positions will be on the November 8, 2016 ballot.
- Rogers ISD. Rogers ISD has seven trustees who serve staggered three-year terms. The next election fo Rogers ISD school board is in May 2017.
- Rosebud-Lott ISD. Rosebud-Lott ISD has seven trustees. They serve four-year staggered terms. The next election for Rosebud-Lott trustees is in May 2017.
- Salado ISD. Salado ISD has seven trustees that serve three-year staggered terms. The next election for Salado ISD school board trustees is in May 2017.
- Temple ISD. Temple ISD has seven board trustees that serve three-year staggered terms. The next election for Temple ISD school board trustees is in May 2017.
- Troy ISD.
Central Texas College District Board of Trustees
The Central Texas College Board of Trustees is comprised of elected representatives from the College District. Trustees serve six-year at-large terms representing the District, which includes the Killeen and Copperas Cove independent school districts. The Board's regular meeting is generally held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Anderson Campus Center (Bldg. 156).
- Don Armstrong, Killeen, TX (term ends 2017)
- Bill Beebe, Harker Heights, TX (term ends 2021)
- Elwood Shemwell, Copperas Cove, TX (term ends 2019)
- Dr. Scott Isdale, Secretary, Belton, TX (term ends 2021)
- Jimmy Towers, Vice Chairperson, Killeen, TX (term ends 2019)
- Mari Meyer, Chairperson, Harker Heights, TX (term ends 2019)
- BG (Ret) Rex Weaver, Treasurer, Killeen, TX (term ends 2017)
Texas State Board of Education
What they do:
- Oversees the public education system in Texas
- Sets the Texas Essential Knowledge Standards (TEKS)
- Oversees the Permanent School Fund
- Sets curriculum standards
- Reviews and adopts instructional materials
- Establishes graduation requirements
- Approves or vetoes new charter schools
Who represents you:
Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature has 150 Representatives and 30 Senators. Bell County has one State Senator and Two State Representatives.
What does the Texas legislature do related to education?
Public Education:
- Pre-K
- Assessment
- Accountability
- School Finance
- School Choice (Public, Charters, Vouchers)
- Teacher preparation
Higher Education:
- College and Career Readiness
- Higher Ed Funding
- Dual Credit and AP credit policies
- Guns on Campus
- Tuition rates
Bell County is in Texas State Senate District 24. Senator Troy Fraser is retiring and candidates to replace him are:
Bell County Texas House Representative District 54. Representative Jimmie Don Aycock is retiring and the candidates to replace him are:
Bell County Texas House Representative District 55:
Federal role in education:
Education is primarily a state and local responsibility in the United States. The federal government provides about 8% of funding for the country’s public schools. The US Senate and Congress enact legislation regarding education funding and policy.
Your US Representative can enact legislation regarding Federal education funding and policy.
Who represents you:
- Texas U.S. Representatives, Congressional District 25: Congressman Roger Williams
- Congressional District 31: Congressman John Carter
Election 2016: District 25 Candidates
Your US Senator can enact legislation regarding Federal education funding and policy.
Who represents you:
Election 2016: U.S. Senators serve 6-year terms. Ted Cruz’s term ends January 3, 2019. John Cornyn’s term ends January 3, 2021.