Last Filing Day 03/09/2010
 
I did not draw a challenger in my bid for the District 4 seat. The district will cancel the election and I will be sworn in at the May 17 board meeting.

Please know that even though I will not be asking you to put signs in your yard or to knock on doors or to hold signs on election day, I will be calling on you to support our district. It will take all of us working together to keep improvements coming in search of excellence.

I am very much looking forward to serving you as your School Board Trustee and I am very interested in hearing your thoughts about the Hays CISD. Please let me know any questions or concerns that you may have.  

I am extremely grateful for the generous offerings of support that so many of you have extended to me.  

Again, I look forward to serving you and welcome your feedback.
 
 
Who says gearing up for a campaign can't be fun?  I expect for the campaign to begin in earnest on Monday and we had a great time today getting ready.  Thanks to everyone who showed up to help out with the signs and flyers!  A little laughter, a little planning and a lot of great ideas turned into action.

 
 

In talking to parents, teachers and community members about my campaign, I'm often asked about the role of the Hays CISD Board of Trustees.  The Texas Association of School Boards is a good resource for anyone interested in finding out more information.  I've included some information below from their website to help voters better understand the position I seek.  

Our system of local school districts and boards of education epitomizes representative and participatory government—citizens elected from their community making decisions about educational programs based on community needs, values, and expectations. School boards are entrusted by the public to translate the needs of students into policies, plans, and goals that will be supported by the community.
What is the primary function of the board and its members?

Governing the school district is the primary role of a school board. School board members are guardians of the public trust and, through the policies they make, are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of local public education. These policies dictate the standards and philosophy by which schools are run and the criteria used to judge whether they are being run well. The board serves as the advocate for educational excellence for the community’s youth and puts those interests first. 

This responsibility often entails difficult choices, self-sacrifice, and exposure to public criticism. However, it also brings a great deal of personal satisfaction in sharing with parents, staff, and students their academic successes. This crucial responsibility and the closeness of trustees to the voters make the local school board the purest example of democracy our society presents.

What are some of the key roles and responsibilities of a school board?
Ensure creation of a vision and goals for the district and evaluate district success.
Adopt policies that inform district actions.
Hire a superintendent to serve as the chief executive officer of the district and evaluate the superintendent’s success.
Approve an annual budget consistent with the district vision.
Communicate the district’s vision and success to the community.
 
 
Merideth Keller filed Monday morning for the District 4 seat of the Hays CISD School Board.

The current District 4 trustee, Ralph Pfluger, is not seeking reelection on May 8.

Keller’s involvement in Hays schools at the campus level includes eight years of service with the Campus Leadership Team, PTA and booster clubs. She broadened her service to include many district level committees such as the Strategic Planning Committee, District Leadership Team, Bond Action Committees, Growth Impact Committee and the Principal Hiring Team.

In 2004, she represented Hays CISD on the State Comptroller’s Task Force in Student Learning and Instruction.

Although Keller’s volunteer passion is with the Hays CISD, she has also served as an at-large board member on the Manchaca United Methodist Church CDC and volunteered for the Hays Youth Soccer Association.

“I have served this community for many years in many capacities,” Keller said. “I understand the needs of the district and it is critical that we move forward with defined plans that are well communicated to all stakeholders.”

Read More...
 
 
Two candidates announce for Hays CISD board
Long-time Hays CISD volunteer Merideth Keller filed Monday morning to run for election to the school district’s board of trustees, while interim appointee Willie Tenorio filed to win approval from voters in the May election.

Keller filed to run for the District 4 seat, which represents the northern reaches of the school district. Willie Tenorio, appointed in December to fill the District 2 seat vacated by Joe Munoz, is running in the May 8 election to fill out the term, which expires in May 2011.


read more...

 
Filing Day 02/08/2010
 
This morning, I filed for the District 4 seat on the Hays CISD Board of Trustees.  So, it's official and my campaign is off to a great start.  The actual filing was not extremely formal and was without much pomp and circumstance....which is good.  

I am extremely grateful for and humbled by the amount of support that has been offered before I even have an official opponent.  I am looking forward to a strong campaign and realize that I would not be in this position if I had not been encouraged to run by so many fellow parents, taxpayers and community members. 

I will try to update this blog periodically but please feel free to call, email, comment, etc anytime.
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Kyle Eagle Press 02/06/2010
 
Story in the Kyle Eagle: Community Digest: Keller announces bid in Hays CISD District 4 race
 
 
(Buda, TX – February 3, 2010)  Merideth Keller announced today that on February 8 she intends to file for the Hays CISD School Board district 4 seat.

Merideth Keller has announced plans to file for the District 4 seat of the Hays CISD School Board.  The position will come available in May when Ralph Pfluger vacates the seat he has held since 2004.  Pfluger has indicated he will not run for re-election and has offered Keller his support. 

Keller’s involvement in Hays schools at the campus level includes eight years of service with the Campus Leadership Team, PTA and booster clubs.  She further broadened her service to include many district level committees such as the District Leadership Team, Bond Action Committees, Growth Impact Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and the Principal Hiring Team.  Although Keller’s volunteer passion is with the Hays Consolidated ISD, she has also served as an at-large board member on the Manchaca United Methodist Church CDC as well as volunteering for the Hays Youth Soccer Association.

Announcing her candidacy, Keller stated, “I have served this community for many years in many capacities.  I understand the needs of the district and it is critical that we move forward with defined plans that are well communicated to all stakeholders.”

Prior to her most recent role as a community volunteer and full time parent, Keller has managed several businesses with staff and budgetary responsibilities.  Her service to Hays CISD began when she and her husband, Alan Keller, moved to Buda in 2002.  Keller has four children; a recent Hays High School graduate, a seventh grade daughter at Dahlstrom Middle School, a fourth grade son at Buda Elementary and a four year old son in preschool. 

Citing her work on the Strategic Planning Team, Keller stated, “I am a true believer in procedures and accountability.  I am confident that we can fulfill our obligation to students, teachers, parents and taxpayers by implementing the strategies and best practices resulting from this intensive planning process.”  

If elected, Keller said her efforts would embody the very meaning of Trustee.  “The definition of trustee is guardian.  I take those words very seriously and  I plan to provide trusted leadership to all stakeholders in our district.  While I am very student-centered, I also recognize the important role of parents, teachers and taxpayers, all of whom deserve representation and advocacy.”