Harlandale ISD told it may have to move May 2025 election after San Antonio charter changes; county cost sharing cited

Julia Grizzard of the Bexar County Education Coalition briefed the Harlandale ISD board Dec. 17 on potential changes to the district's election calendar, telling trustees that recent municipal charter changes in San Antonio and joint-election rules could require the district to move its May election. "It looks like Harlandale may need to move your election coming up in May 2025," Grizzard said, and she said the district had asked the secretary of state's office and TASB for written guidance.

Grizzard outlined three practical options for the board: adopt a resolution to move board elections to November even years, move to November odd years, or (more difficult under recent law) explore shifting to May even years. She explained the local cost implications stem from Bexar County's countywide polling-place model: each participating entity shares the cost of polling locations proportionally based on precinct coverage, so changing the election date alters which entities participate and can shift Harlandale's share of costs.

Trustees asked for Harlandale-specific estimates and examples from neighboring districts. Grizzard identified several area ISDs that have moved timing and corrected an earlier miscitation while speaking: she said Edgewood, East Central and South San have moved to November even and noted Schertz-Cibolo is November odd; she apologized for earlier confusion in her list. Grizzard recommended the district work with Bexar County Elections to estimate costs under each scenario and said the district should await the secretary-of-state opinion to confirm statutory timing and filing deadlines.

Board members raised timing and logistical questions, including whether the city council's decision on San Antonio's elections (under consideration at the time) would change Harlandale's options. Grizzard said a city decision could change the calculations and that the district should be prepared to make a choice ahead of candidate filing deadlines if required. She also referenced a recently passed bill mentioned in the presentation that permits school boards to move elections by adopting a resolution; Grizzard said she would provide follow-up documentation and cost estimates to the board.

Next steps identified at the meeting: staff will seek a written opinion from the secretary of state and coordinate with Bexar County Elections and TASB to estimate cost implications; trustees asked staff to request examples and invite representatives from districts that already changed timing to share lessons learned at a future meeting.