Two public servants vie for SISD Place 2 trustee

Isidro Quintero challenges incumbent Julio Cerda for a seat on the Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees.

THE CHALLENGER

Isidro Quintero

Quintero is a retired Sharyland ISD teacher and coach who currently serves on the board for the Sharyland Water Supply. He decided to run for school board trustee because he said he feels it’s time to be a conduit for the community and district that nurtured his family for generations.

“My daddy was born in 1927 in Mission, and we’ve been here ever since,” the Place 2 candidate said. “[Sharyland has] been good to me, and we gotta give back to people who have been good to us.”

The 67-year-old still has grandchildren in the district, and he said he wants to be involved in the decisions that affect their future and the futures of other kids in the community. The students, Quintero explained, are like a metaphorical body of water.

“A main waterway has tributaries — it has creeks, it has rivers, streams that flow into a main body of water. And that main body of water, think of it as the children. Everything we do, whether you’re a teacher or on the board or a parent, everything flows toward the children,” he said. “We lose focus on that, we lose children, and we can’t do that. They’re the recipients of everything we do.”

Although he doesn’t have anything against the current trustees, Quintero said it’s his turn to sit on the board. As an educator of 25 years, he believes he can be a voice for teachers. And his six years on the Sharyland Water Supply board provide him with the “parliamentary know-how.”

Quintero explained that he doesn’t want to change things at Sharyland ISD; he just wants “to listen and learn and make things better.” He likened it to cooking food on the stove.

“When something’s cooking, we have a tendency to stir it. And when you stir it, you find out what’s at the bottom. That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m not trying to create chaos, I’m just trying to make sure things are going well,” the school board candidate said. “Many times when you’re cooking and not paying attention to things that are going on, you can cook at the top and still burn at the bottom. Stirring it will help you out.”

THE INCUMBENT

Julio Cerda

Cerda has been an SISD school board member for nine nonconsecutive years, and he intends to keep his position. ​

The civil engineer is uniquely qualified to critique district infrastructure projects. And as a business owner and former Mission city manager, he knows what it takes to manage a budget for a large entity. Cerda believes his particular set of skills makes him an asset to the school board.

“We’ve always had excellent finances in the school district, and that’s one thing that we keep an eye on on a yearly basis,” the Place 2 incumbent said. “It’s something, with my background in city management, that is helpful with our team of eight.”​

Cerda described the last three years as a success and credited it to the district’s collective acclaim, such as earning an A in the state accountability ratings. If re-elected, he said his focus is on maintaining Sharyland’s reputation for success.

“The main goal that I have is just to continue our excellence,” he said. “All the accolades that we get has to do with our parents, teachers, administrators, the good policies that are set in place by the board to make sure that we provide everything for our kids.”​

The Place 2 trustee said he remains committed to transparency and preparing students for the future, both in post-secondary education and in their careers.

“I believe in this community, and I believe that our kids come out ahead more than any other community in the Valley,” Cerda said.

Early voting begins April 20 and runs until April 28. Polling locations will close April 21 and April 26. Election Day is May 2.