Candidate Q&A – Jose Luis Perez – Hays CISD Board of Trustees District 2

Why are you running to be a trustee for the HCISD School Board?

I’m running for the HCISD School Board because this district is where my kids go to school, where I coach youth baseball and softball, and where my family’s life happens every day. The decisions the board makes affect my kids, my neighbor’s kids, and the future of our community.

I’m not running for politics or to push a political agenda. I’m running because I believe school boards should focus on the basics: strong academics, good teachers, safe schools, responsible budgeting, and making decisions that are in the best interest of students and taxpayers.

Like a lot of parents, I want our schools to prepare kids for real life, whether that’s college, a trade, the military, or going straight into the workforce. Not every student is on the same path, and our district should support all of them.

 

What is your experience volunteering with or supporting the school district?

My involvement with the school district has primarily been through volunteering and supporting students and school programs as a parent and community member. I’ve spent several years coaching youth baseball and softball, working with kids and families in our community, and supporting programs that give students opportunities to grow, build confidence, and be part of a team.

Through coaching and volunteering, I’ve had the opportunity to work with students from many different backgrounds and schools across the district. That experience has given me a good perspective on how important extracurricular programs, supportive teachers, and involved parents are to student success. Some students thrive in the classroom, some on the field, some in fine arts, and some in. career and technical programs, and all of those paths matter.

I’ve also attended school events, supported school fundraisers, I’m on the PTA at my kid’s school, and stayed engaged as a parent by communicating with teachers and staying involved in my children’s education.

 

With the state not providing adequate funding for public schools and the Tax Rate Election in November 2025 failing, Hays CISD may face cuts to programs and staff. How would you work to ensure the district continues delivering high-quality education while maintaining a strong accountability rating?

This is one of the most serious challenges facing our district right now. Recently, the district released a proposed 2026-2027 budget reduction of approximately $12,251,276, which is going to affect staffing, class size, stipends, and some programs. These cuts are being proposed largely because of rising costs, years of limited state funding increases, and the failure of the Tax Rate Election in November 2025.

In addition to the immediate reductions, the district is also looking at longer term measures to offset future budget challenges, such. As delaying the opening of new schools, increasing facility rental fees, selling district land, creating a virtual school program to increase enrollment funding, and working to improve student attendance since funding is tied to attendance in Texas.

The district must continue advocating at the state level for adequate public school funding. Local districts can only cut and stretch so much before it begins to affect educational quality, and long term solutions will require action at the state level.

 

Hays CISD currently partners with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office to provide School Resource Officers (SROs), but state law now requires armed security at every campus. With officer shortages making this challenging, how would you work to ensure compliance, and would you support the district creating its own police department?

Student safety has to be one of the top responsibilities of any school board. The state requirement for armed security on every campus is the law, so the district’s job is to comply with the law in the most effective and financially responsible way possible.

Right now, Hays CISD partners with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office to provide School Resources Officers, and I think partnerships like that are very valuable. SROs do mor than provide security, they build relationships with students, staff, and families and become part of the campus community.

Because officer shortages are a real issue, I think the district has to look at a combination off solutions. That could include continuing partnerships with local law enforcement, using trained district security officers where allowed by law, and making sure we are using officers strategically across campuses while still meeting state requirements.

Ultimately, the goal is to make sure every campus is safe, every campus is in compliance with state law, and we are using taxpayer dollars responsibly. Safety, compliance, and fiscal responsibility all have to be considered together when making that decision.

 

In 2025, the Texas Legislature passed SB13, giving parents more oversight of school library materials. Since then, groups like Moms for Liberty have shown up to meetings, raising concerns about certain books and labeling some content as inappropriate. How would you ensure that this review process is used responsibly and does not lead to the removal of books that present diverse perspectives or differing viewpoints?

I believe parents should absolutely have a voice in their children’s education, including concerns about library materials. At the same time, school libraries should expose students to a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and experiences. Both of those things can be true at the same time, and the key is having a fair, consistent process that is followed every time.

To ensure the review process is used responsibly, I would support policies that require any book challenge to go through a formal review committee made up of librarians, teachers, administrators, and parents. Decisions should not be made by one group, one organization, or based on who shows up to a meeting, they should be made through an established process with educational professionals involved.

I also believe decisions should be based on age appropriateness and educational value, not whether someone personally agrees or disagrees with the ideas in a book. Public schools serve a very diverse community, and our libraries should reflect that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.

 

In early 2026, Hays CISD students protested perceived injustices affecting immigrants and citizens by walking off campus during school hours. The district initially allowed protests but later restricted them after threats from the TEA, the Attorney General, and the Governor. As a trustee, how would you ensure future protests are handled responsibly, balancing student safety with the right to express themselves?

Students caring enough to speak up about issues they believe in is not a bad thing, that’s part of learning to be engaged citizens. At the same time, schools have a responsibility to keep students safe and maintain an environment where learning can continue.

As a trustee, my priority would be to make sure we have clear, consistent guidelines in place ahead of time so students, parents, and staff all understand what is allowed and what is not. Protests should not put students in unsafe situations, like leaving campus without supervision or creating situations where we lose accountability for where students are during the school day.

 

With Comprehensive High School No. 4 opening in Fall 2029, Hays CISD is planning a major rezoning in 2028; how will you ensure the process is fair, equitable, and considers the district’s diverse population, especially now that the zoning committee process has been discontinued and staff will create proposals for board approval?

It’s also important to consider the broader context the district is facing financially. The proposed 2026-2027 budget reductions include the possibility of delaying the opening of Comprehensive High School No. 4 until 2030 to allow time to build in the ongoing operating costs. That kind of decision directly impacts rezoning timeliness and planning, so it’s critical that the board is aligning growth, boundaries, and financial sustainability, not treating them as separate conversations.

I would want to carefully evaluate how any rezoning plan impacts all students, including transportation time, access to programs, and overall campus balance, to make sure no group of students is disproportionately affected.

Rezoning is never easy, and there’s no perfect map. But if the process is transparent, includes real community input, considers financial realities, and stays focused on what’s best for the students across the entire district, it will lead to better decisions and stronger trust with the community.