Boerne ISD Board President Schmidt and Secretary Sena Seek Re-Election, Cite Record of Academic and Financial Success
Incumbent Boerne ISD trustees Kristi Schmidt and Rich Sena are running for re-election on May 2, highlighting their achievements in maintaining an A rating, saving $85 million, and expanding career programs.
With the May 2 school board election approaching, Boerne Independent School District Board President Kristi Schmidt (Place 6) and Secretary Rich Sena (Place 7) have released a joint statement outlining their accomplishments and goals for a next term. The two trustees, who together bring more than 15 years of service to the board, emphasized their focus on academic excellence, responsible financial management, and protecting community values.
“We are parents, educators, volunteers, and neighbors who care deeply about this community,” Sena said. “Our service goes beyond board meetings because we believe in supporting Boerne in every way we can.”
Schmidt pointed to the district’s academic performance as evidence of the board’s effective approach. “Boerne ISD has maintained its A rating from the Texas Education Agency while also expanding programs such as our P-TECH academies in health careers and cybersecurity,” she said. “We have done that while receiving less per-student funding than the average Texas district.”
Under their leadership, Boerne ISD has achieved an A rating every year since the TEA accountability system began, making it one of only 31 districts statewide and the only medium-large district in the San Antonio area to do so. The district has saved $85 million through bond refinancing, early debt payoff, and disciplined financial management, with more savings expected as additional bond series become eligible for refinancing. Graduates have a 95 percent College, Career, and Military Readiness rate, compared with the state average of 82 percent. Two P-TECH academies have been launched—one in health careers at Boerne High School and one in cybersecurity at Champion High School—putting more than 200 seniors on track by 2028 to graduate with both a diploma and an associate degree at no added cost to families.
The board also eliminated $120 million in Robin Hood recapture after a seven-year advocacy effort, helping keep local tax dollars in Boerne. The district has received 15 consecutive Superior ratings from the Texas Financial Integrity Rating System, even as many districts across the state face budget shortfalls. Since 2019, the M&O tax rate has been reduced by 33 percent, and the district has the second-lowest Interest and Sinking tax rate among 17 fast-growth districts in the San Antonio-Austin corridor.
“Strong schools are built through teamwork, commitment, and responsible stewardship,” Sena said. “The progress we have made reflects the work of the board, administrators, teachers, and the community.”
Schmidt and Sena outlined four priorities for their next term: expanding career and technical education by building on P-TECH and exploring additional pathways tied to workforce opportunities; continuing to improve efficiency after identifying $1.5 million in central office and administrative reductions last year; supporting teacher recruitment and retention through higher pay and continued investment in staff; and preserving Boerne’s Hill Country character while managing enrollment growth.
“We have led this district through a period of extraordinary growth, adding nearly 4,000 students while maintaining academic excellence, keeping taxes low, and expanding student opportunities,” Schmidt said. “That takes experienced leadership and a board committed to working together.”
Early voting runs April 20 through April 28, with exact dates and times available here, at the Fair Oaks Ranch City Police Department headquarters and the Kendall County Annex across from Boerne High School. On Election Day, May 2, voters may cast ballots at Boerne City Hall or the Fair Oaks Ranch Police Department.