Texas school officials in hot water after email to district employees on how to vote in GOP primary

In an email published online by school reform advocate Corey DeAngelis, a Denton (Texas) Independent School District official instructs district employees, possibly illegally, how to vote and who to vote for in a GOP primary.

“Here is a list of all candidates and whether or not the [sic] SUPPORT or OPPOSE Public School Education,” writes a Denton ISD elementary school principal, Lindsay P. Lujan. “Denton ISD will NOT be able to provide raises next year if legislation doesn’t change!”

School district officials may not use public resources to advocate for or against any particular political candidates or groups of political candidates, says the Texas attorney general’s website.

Additionally, Sec. 255.003(a) of the Texas Code prohibits “an officer or employee of a political subdivision” from “knowingly spend[ing] or authorize the spending of public funds for political advertising.” 

People who violate subsection (a) are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and are subject to punishment of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, or both. 

In Lujan’s email, Diboll ISD Superintendent Brian Bowman is quoted in support. 

“If Texas educators do not come together & vote on the candidates that will support public schools, we are in trouble. We cannot wait,” writes Bowman. 

It’s unclear from the email how or whether Lujan got permission to quote Bowman. 

The email also promises to provide coverage for all the employees of Borman Elementary School so the school employees can go vote in the primary. 

“Our goal is 100% of Borman employees voting [in the Republican primary], because it is THAT important,” writes Lujan. 

Lujan is principal at Alexander Elementary. The reference to Borman Elementary in her email likely means that the same or similar emails went to staff of other Denton schools as well, writes Texas Scorecard. 

The email, which was provided by a whistleblower to DeAngelis, was dated Feb. 5. 

Denton ISD Chief Communications Officer Julie Zwahr doesn’t seem to be too troubled by the allegations of illegal electioneering. 

“We strive to create a culture of routine voting and believe that participating in the democratic process is every citizen’s civic duty,” she told the Scorecard in response to a request for comment by Denton ISD.  

However, violations of school electioneering laws can be submitted directly to the Texas Attorney General. 

In addition, the Republican primary also has a ballot question, called Proposition 11, which, if passed, supports parental choice in education.  

“Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student,” says the text of Prop 11.   

DeAngelis shared other posts online suggesting school choice opponents are desperate to stop the measure from passing and so are encouraging people to vote in the GOP primary.