Frisco United Endorses Bryan Powell and Jeff Snowden for Frisco ISD Board of Trustees

    FRISCO, TX, April 04, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Frisco United has endorsed Bryan Powell and Jeff Snowden in the upcoming May 6th election for Frisco ISD Board of Trustees. Mr. Powell and Mr. Snowden are the best candidates to prioritize teachers and students, represent the views of FISD residents, and ensure that taxpayers get the most for their dollars. With this election, FISD residents will not only elect a new board, but will also have a direct voice in selecting a new superintendent, pursuant to Dr. Jeremy Lyon's recent resignation.

PRIORITIZING TEACHERS - Frisco residents and their students deserve board members that put teachers and the classroom first. The newly created "Priority Based Budgeting" Stakeholder Committee, comprised of both citizens and FISD staff, quickly recognized that the current board has not prioritized teachers nor actively managed the spending habits of the district. This committee, including Jeff Snowden, recommended cutting almost $20 million of lower priority annual expenses, but simultaneously recommended increasing spending for teachers. Bryan Powell understands our schools as shown through his service on the Sparks Elementary PTA Board. Both candidates promote teachers as FISD's most important asset.

REPRESENTING CITIZENS - In August of 2016, FISD residents soundly defeated the board's decision to increase residents' taxes to maximum limits allowed by law. Ms. Anne McCausland and Ms. Debbie Gillespie both voted for and publicly promoted the Tax Ratification Election (TRE) along with the district's incomplete and ultimately inaccurate financial information. Their views did not represent the make-up of FISD residents. The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) promotes a board's role as "the public's voice" providing "citizen governance" yet our current board is off-balance and poorly represents the position of the voters. FISD residents deserve representatives like Bryan Powell and Jeff Snowden who will put the views of residents on the table, tackle the tough decisions, and actively lead our district.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY - Prior to the TRE, FISD and the board threatened to eliminate teacher increases and cited a 2016-17 budget deficit of $16 million. Within weeks of the failed vote, the district disclosed finding an extra $28 million from the 2015-16 school year. Shortly thereafter, the administration and board admitted that the four new schools under construction were unnecessary. While 'moth-balling' these schools saved another $15 million in 2017-18 operational expenses, it also exposed a massive mismanagement of $181 million in bond funds for which the board has fiduciary responsibility. Bryan Powell and Jeff Snowden have extensive business and financial experience to ensure sound budgetary decisions for FISD. Instead of finger pointing and asking for more, they have pledged that the $600+ million budget will be used wisely and in ways that will make taxpayers, parents, and teachers proud.

Frisco United urges FISD residents to vote for Bryan Powell and Jeff Snowden as the best candidates to select the next superintendent, put teachers first, represent citizens, and bring back financial leadership. Early voting starts Monday, April 24th and election day is Saturday, May 6th. More information can be found at www.friscounited.com.

Frisco United is a political action committee and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.friscounited.com
Contact: [email protected]

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