10 Reasons to Vote in the Eanes ISD School Board Election on May 3rd

Mark your calendars: April 22-29 is early voting, and May 3, 2025, is our School Board election, and it’s a big deal—whether you’ve got kids in the district or not. No matter if you’re a parent, everyday taxpayer, or over 65—every one of us feels the ripple of the Board of Trustees’ decisions, from our wallets to our home values to our kids’ futures.

This year, we’ve got ten glaring reasons to get off the couch and vote, because turnout is usually pitiful, and the stakes are sky-high. It’s a fork in the road: stick with the same old crew or shift toward business-savvy leaders who can steer us out of this mess.

Who’s Running?

Two seats are up. John Troy’s running “effectively” unopposed for Ellen Balthazar’s retiring spot—I’ve met him once, seems nice, but I don’t know much beyond that. He’s a new face that I hope is open to fresh, business-driven ideas for the district and not easily assimilated into the 7-0 voting clique we’ve got now.

The real showdown is between six-year incumbent Heather Sheffield and challenger Catherine Walker. Sure, trustee races are “non-partisan,” but let’s not kid ourselves—everything’s got a political tint these days. Sheffield’s the type who’s swapped profile pics and boardroom looks for masking kids, BLM, and DEI faster than you can say “trending hashtag”—a paid lobbyist with an eye on bigger gigs. Authenticity is not exactly her calling card. I ran against Catherine in 2024 and lost alongside her to Westlake Smear Cartel CEO Kelly Marwill. Mrs. Walker and I don’t see eye-to-eye on everything—I lean more conservative—but she’s a whip-smart, details-matter businesswoman, a single mom of three Eanes kids, and a public sector CFO who actually gets budgets with more than three trailing zeros. No political ladder here, just a drive to serve. Last year, she pulled votes from Dems, centrists, and even some Republicans, splitting the left block. Sheffield’s six years of 7-0 “go-along-to-get-along” voting record tell you exactly where she stands—Walker appears to be a fresh lens who’ll question the admin’s rosy spreadsheets, not just nod along. That perspective is a significant improvement.

For the record, I’m not endorsing anyone. I’m just calling balls and strikes here. Sheffield’s got a six-year voting record, and honestly, her style rubs me the wrong way—but if she’s best for my kids, taxes, and parental rights, I’d swallow my gripes and vote for her in a heartbeat. Walker’s on her second run; we were opponents in 2024, and I barely know her. This isn’t about my feelings—it’s about what’s at stake for you. - Aaron Silva

1. Deficit Spending’s Our Middle Name

School budgets are quirky—nine months of cash flow, weird rules—but here’s the kicker: for six years straight, the Board’s green-lit deficits. Past luck (property booms, surprise funds) patched the gaps, but this year? Nope. We’re drowning in red ink after splurging COVID cash from 2020-2023 and forgetting to hit the brakes. Sheffield’s 6-year deficit voting streak is unbroken showing she was pushing us into the red her entire tenure; Walker swears she’ll never sign off on one. Want fiscal sanity? Show up to vote.

2. Another School’s on the Chopping Block

Valley View’s closure gutted families, but here’s the secret the Board’s mumbling past May 3rd: another elementary’s toast. My bet’s on Eanes Elementary—sorry, folks. They’ll dodge and protect Sheffield’s re-election hopes ‘til the Long Range Facility Planning Committee takes the heat for the decision, but two years ago, basic math could’ve flagged Valley View and at least one more campus closure by now. Look at the numbers published below by the school for yourself as of December 2024 (prior to VVE closure). Once we dip below 400 students—it’s likely not worth keeping the campus open.

Fact is, we’re headed to four elementaries (maybe 3), two middles, and Westlake High—fine, but we need leaders who’ll say it upfront, not after the ballots are counted. Demand the truth? Vote.

3. Lost Creek’s Tax Break? Kiss It Goodbye

Last year, 91% of Lost Creek folks voted to ditch Austin, snagging lower taxes and better services. Sweet, right? Not so fast. With Eanes facing a $7 million deficit this year—$11 million next—the Board’s itching to hike property taxes, aiming for a $20 million grab. Plot twist: $16 million of that vanishes to the state’s recapture beast, leaving us $4 million to plug a $15 million gap. They’ll burn through the last nine “copper pennies” to juice future bond taxes (see below). Sheffield voted with her trustee cohorts 7-0 for every tax hike since 2019.

4. Brace Yourself: A 90% Bond Tax Jump’s on Deck

This Tuesday, April 8th, the Board’s sneaking in a “special session” to muse about “bond capacity”—a polite way of saying they’re plotting how deep they can dig into our pockets to patch up our creaky schools or replace them. Their dream? $800 million by 2031, spiking bond taxes from $0.1200 to $0.2200 per $100 of home value—yep, a 90% gut punch. Sheffield will coo that it’s “low” next to some overtaxed district pulled from a hat, conveniently forgetting they siphoned $23 million (10.8%) of the 2019 $215M bond to prop up daily spending—and still landed us in the sea of red we have today.  Again, Sheffield has voted for every tax increase presented to her in the last six years serving EISD taxpayers.  Any wild guesses on her next vote?

5. If You’re 65+, Don’t Cozy Up to That Tax Freeze

Over-65? Your taxes might be “frozen,” but don’t get comfy. The Board’s tax hikes—like that $20 million grab or the bond jump—slam home affordability, tanking sale prices if you list in the next decade. Oh, and our Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate? It’s high compared to peers ($.7655) despite Mrs. Sheffield’s “lowest taxes” cheerleading. She’s half-right—our total rate’s low now because we’ve dodged big bonds lately —but half-truths are lies in my book.

6. Eanes’ Academic Edge = Your Home Value

Eanes was Texas’ crown jewel—elite academics, football championships, rock-solid property values. Now? Deficits, a 20% teacher churn (worse than the state average), shrinking enrollment, and rival schools eating our lunch have dulled the shine. Our elementary-aged “COVID kids” are now hitting middle and high school, and test scores don’t look too good. Home values—down 4.8% in January 2025—feel it. This election shapes whether we reclaim greatness or slide deeper. You don’t need a kid here to care—vote.

7. DEI: Dead or Defiant?

November 5th’s election lit a bonfire under DEI nationwide, and Texas is torching it—college laws are done, K-12’s next. Eanes has sunk millions into DEI training—weekly workshops for 1,100 teachers, “new lens” nonsense—stealing time and cash from actual education. Will the Board ditch it or defy Texas law like they ignored Abbott’s COVID orders on masks and closures? Sheffield’s DEI cheerleader-in-chief (Eanes DEI Committee, Eanes for Equity).

8. Hard Cuts or Happy Waiting?

“Natural attrition” is the Board’s feel-good buzzword—let staff retire or quit to trim costs. Cute, but when you’re $7 million in the hole (and it’s growing), waiting’s a fantasy. We need a Reduction In Force—RIF—now. Fire the weakest, starting with bloated admin, not teachers begging for less overhead. Sheffield’s all about natural attrition; Walker, a real CFO, knows tough calls beat wishful thinking. Want merit over mush? Vote.

9. The $210 Million Facepalm

Jeff Buch dangled a $210 million endowment in November 2024, and our Board botched it. Instead of “Yes, let’s deal,” Sheffield breadcrumbed him, then whined on Facebook about “waiting for his formal proposal.” Sheesh—lap at his boots, lady! Don’t put process in front of common business sense. Read more here. Business smarts could’ve saved us; we got dithering. Want competence? Vote.

10. Another Bond Bust—Already Over Budget

That shiny new $5 million admin building voters okayed? It’s $6 million and counting before a shovel hits dirt. Swell. We need a leaner shack for fewer paper-pushers, not a Taj Mahal for bureaucrats. Sheffield’s six-year rap sheet is littered with overruns she’s cheerfully backed; Walker might not be Elon-level ruthless, but she’s got the CFO chops to ask hard questions. Your tax dollars deserve better—vote.

Why Early Voting AND May 3rd Matters

This isn’t about picking winners—it’s about you deciding Eanes’ fate. Sheffield’s six years got us deficits, closures, and a fading reputation; Walker appears to be a business pro offering a reset. Troy’s a wildcard, but uncontested. One race, big impact. Low turnout hands it to the loudest few—let that be you. Citizen, taxpayer, parent, or not, your stake is real—taxes, homes, schools. Get informed, get out, early voting is April 22-29 and voting day is May 3rd. It’s your district—own it.