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Place 3 hopefuls stress budget oversight, campus safety and rebuilding trust on Keller ISD board
Summary
Appointed trustee Chelsea Kelly and challenger Nikki Paris focused on restoring communication, finishing cuts and prioritizing student safety. Kelly emphasized her financial and local experience and said she is open to dialogue to reduce social-media conflict; Paris prioritized SROs at every campus and mentoring/tutoring supports for students.
At a Keller Republican Club forum Chelsea Kelly, the appointed trustee for Keller ISD Place 3, and challenger Nikki Paris addressed budget shortfalls, school safety and the board’s social-media disputes.
Kelly described herself as “homegrown,” cited experience in banking and small-business management and said she had been appointed to the board in August 2024. She urged colleagues to respond to constituent emails and said she was “willing to put our differences aside” to restore working relationships on the board. Kelly cited the cell-phone policy and recent budget trimming as board successes and said budget oversight and line-by-line scrutiny remain priorities.
Nikki Paris, a parent, coach and longtime volunteer, said strengthening students’ supports is a priority; she suggested mentoring programs and expanded tutoring and urged policies to reduce testing stress. Paris said she would pursue stronger campus safety measures, including school resource officers at every campus, and said removing age-inappropriate books from some campus collections had increased her confidence in returning students to school.
Both candidates addressed the district’s budget shortfall—panelists cited a target reduction of about $12–13 million. Kelly said administration identified approximately $10.8 million in savings so far and that the district was pursuing additional administrative cuts and reassignments of some positions; Paris said consolidation of under-enrolled buildings and other “outside-the-box” revenue ideas should be explored.
On school choice, Kelly said she is wary of broad voucher language and worried about universal programs; Paris said she opposed removing public-school funding when the system needs more resources. On TEA oversight, both candidates preferred local control and opposed state takeover as a default.
Ending: The Place 3 exchange focused on practical steps to close a budget gap, strengthen campus safety and end board infighting by prioritizing direct communication and policy work. Voters heard contrasting emphases: Kelly’s administrative and financial experience and Paris’s focus on student supports and safety.
